Home

Coming Soon - 

August/September 2008
Sweeney Todd
Barter Theatre, Abingdon, VA

Jill will portray Mrs. Lovett opposite Tony-award nominated Broadway
superstar Robert Cuccioli in the title role.  The dark Sondheim musical
opens August 16 for a five week run at the Barter.  See information about
Robert Cuccioli by clicking on his name.

Click here for the Barter web site.

Recently...

April 24 through May 24, 2008  
Keep on the Sunny Side
Barter Theatre, Abingdon, VA

Jill starred as Sara Carter in this biographical musical about the famous Carter Family,
the "First Family of Country Music."  The musical focuses on the love affair between 
A.P Carter and Sara and features the famous "Bristol Sessions" of 1927, when the
trio of A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter (mother of June Carter Cash) recorded and
made famous the Appalachian folk songs they had grown up with.

Jill plays autoharp at right above.  

Click REVIEWS for the reviewers' comments and another photo

"Sunny Side" is the most requested show at the Barter.  Standing ovations were the rule
throughout the run of the show.  

March 14, 15  & 16, 2008
Celtic Cabaret
PS Collective, 6056 Maple Street in Benson
Friday & Saturday at 8 pm    Sunday at 6 pm 

Jill, Bernie Lowis and Christopher Bonds  presented a Celtic music
program at the intimate PS Collective.  Jill has been a member of the Irish trio, 
Beyond the Pale and also had a solo career in Irish music for many 
years.  She has recorded three CD collections of songs from Ireland 
and Scotland and has a great love for the traditional folk music of 
these countries.  From plaintive laments to songs of battle to 
comedic tunes, Jill, with the able accompaniment of Bernie and Christopher 
on guitar, cello, violin, bass, bodhran drum, and keyboards, presented
favorites such as "Fields of Athenry," "Lea Boys Lassie," "Patriot Game"
"She Moves Through the Fair" and other selections.
An enthusiastic crowd filled the room each evening.

January 19, 2008
80th Birthday of Orpheum Theatre
At this private event, Jill sang duets from "Phantom of the Opera" 
with Broadway star Gary Mauer at Omaha's historic downtown 
Orpheum Theatre. The gala event honored t e theatre as well as the 
Charles and Marge Durham family, who have been instrumental 
in the history of the theatre.  
Take a look at Gary Mauer's impressive Bio by clicking here.

Friday & Saturday, Dec. 21 & 22 at 8 pm
Sunday, December 23 at 6 pm
WINTER SONGS
A Holiday Cabaret
Starring Jill Anderson, Seth Fox, and Mark Kurtz
With the able accompaniment of the talented Mark Kurtz, Jill and Seth brought new takes
on some old standards plus some fresh new songs that went down as smooth as eggnog on a
chilly night.  A little sexy, a little silly, a little profound, the song list included such gems
 as: "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "Good King Wenceslas," "The Man With the Bag," and "Bring
 a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella.”  Three wonderful audiences enjoyed the music and the excellent
food and drinks of the Pizza Shoppe.  Big thanks to Amy Ryan, venue owner, and her staff.
PS Collective
6056 Maple in Benson - enter through Pizza Shoppe.
Reservations and Information:  402-346-6580

Click  to be linked to Seth Fox's Royal Bohemian  Productions website 
for further information.

Moonfaced and Starry Eyed
Oct. 26 & 27, Nov. 2 & 3, 2007  9 pm   $20
ADDED DATES:  Tuesday and Wednesday, November 20 and 21  at 8 pm
PS Collective next to Pizza Shoppe & Pub in Benson, 6056 Maple St. Omaha
Reservations:  402-346-6580

Jill teamed up with "Millie" leading man Seth Fox and 
Playhouse music director Jim Boggess for a special 
cabaret show that provided great evenings
of song and fun at the PS Collective in Benson
here in Omaha.  Click here for a poster and details! 

Creepy Classics
Omaha Symphony's Family Series
Sunday, October 28, 2007  2 p.m.
The Holland Center, Omaha
Jill was a featured soloist at this Halloween themed family show.  
She sang "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid,
and "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast as a duet with 
co-star Seth Fox.

At the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha NE
Jill played Millie in
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
Sept 14 - October 14, 2007
As a guest artist at the Omaha Community Playhouse ( www.omahaplayhouse.com )

The Omaha World Herald's reviewer wrote
 "Jill Anderson, as irrepressible 1920s flapper Millie, has the fast feet, the vocal chops 
and the larger-than-life comedic skills to lead with polish and flair as the small-town 
Kansas girl determined to snag a rich husband in New York City."
Full Review

The Omaha City Weekly raved:
"Jill Anderson, that toothy chanteuse with the adorable overbite and bobbed hair, is sure to sing and dance her way into your heart as the Omaha Community Playhouse opens a new main stage season with 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.'
...Equity actor Anderson is simply marvelous as she croons and high-steps her way to a discovery of the meaning of true love in this riotous homage to a floozy and flapper-infested Great White Way."
Full Review

The Omaha Weekly Reader said,
"As for Anderson and Fox, theater students should be required to attend this show just to take notes on what constitutes professionalism. Their flawless performances represent two reasons why Omaha remains a theater mecca, a reputation that the Omaha Community Playhouse initiated decades back."
Full Review

The Neola Gazette said:
"Jill Anderson, appearing courtesy Actors Equity, plays Millie Dillmount with spunk. She is the central character as the naïve lady from Kansas who comes to New York in the 1920s to work for a company as a secretary. She has a beautiful voice, can dance and is bubbling with excitement when on stage."
Full Review

JILL NEWS:  In early September 2007 The Omaha World Herald ran a lengthy interview 
with Jill prior to the opening of Thoroughly Modern Millie.  To read that article, click here.

June, 2007
The Blue Barn Music Festival, with Hal France & Friends
Jill was the featured artist on June 22 and participated in several 
other performances in the three-week festival as well as the finale.

  
At the Milwaukee Rep Theatre in Wisconsin.  
January 12 - March 10, 2007 
"They Came from Way Out There"
by Jahnna Beecham, Malcolm Hillgartner and Michael Hume

The candidates for president of the Paranormal Society are set to present a 
musical comedy show reenacting actual paranormal events that have 
happened to them. Personal friction, a limited budget, the fact that they are
amateur performers take this meeting to other-worldly levels of fun.  

The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reviewer called Jill's character "a delightfully 
wonky paranormalist with just the right amount of clumsy brio."  Click for full review.

American Theatre Magazine featured this show in a photo in its March 7/2007 issue, page 78.

At the Blue Barn Theatre in Omaha 
MAD ABOUT THE BOY
A WORLD PREMIERE LIP-SYNCED BEEFCAKE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
by Max Sparber (author of Minstrel Show and Cruelties)
November 24 - December 17, 2006  --  See Photos
Jill choreographs, costumes, and performs in this exciting production.
It's 1964.  America is conservative, staid, repressed, and busting a nut.  In a small Pacific Coast
town, G. Dansforth Pettibottom, a milquetoast camera salesman is in love, a love that darest not
speak its name.  In the most sensational and hilarious new musical to come along in years, MAD
ABOUT THE BOY! is based on a series of gay-themed novelty albums put out by "Camp Records"
in the 1960s and sold through ads in the back of beefcake magazines of the time.  Watch as the
hapless Pettibottom dances and lip-syncs at the YMCA, with Biker Boys and Swingers and at
the secret Tranny Bar in his quest for true love.  With songs like "Stanley, the Manly Transvestite,"
"Old Fashioned Balls," "I'd Rather Fight than Swish," and "Mixed Nuts," MAD ABOUT THE BOY
is a "Holiday Treat" for the whole (adult) family!
What the reviewers said:
"There's plenty to love about Mad About the Boy.  For one thing, Anderson, who left Omaha
for bigger and better theatrical opportunities, is back, and as always, is riveting.  As Darla,
she's an insecure, bespectacled lonely hearts, with a little girl voice to match.  Contrast Darla
with Anderson's brazen Swinger Wife, the long cigarette holder chomping sexual explorer who
has a hankering for her Latino houseboy, and you can see why this actress is one of our greats.
The minute she steps onto the stage, your eyes are drawn to her and when she's absent from
the boards, you can feel it.  (Luckily she has several cameos including a French soap enthusiast
and an Army t-shirt wearing grease monkey....The costumes and choreography, both by 
Anderson, keep the show fresh and fun."  --Julien Fielding, Omaha City Weekly

"There's campy, and then there's campy trampy.  And then there's the Blue Barn's Mad About
the Boy, in which grown men romp in their BVDs singing double entendre lyrics that can't
be printed in a family newspaper- a hilarious and biting send-up of the time before the gay
rights movement. ... And there's Jill Anderson, making people double over with laughter at the
banal dialogue of a bored suburban-swinger housewife.  The line may not be intentionally funny,
but her take on it sure is. Two scenes later she's Darla, a demure office worker at the camera
store.  Darla temporarily lost her mind after her gay husband committed suicide rather than
face being outed after that unfortunate arrest.  But she has a new friend in door-to-door camera
salesman, Pettibottom."  -- Bob Fischbach, Omaha World Herald.

"Anderson adds immeasurably to the fun, with both Darla, who went bonkers and was
institutionalized after her gay husband's suicide, and a Swinger wife with a Honduran houseboy.
As the loony Darla, she excites the boss, Mr. Pantankerous, who advises Pettibottom that
a man hasn't lived until he's had 'crazy poon'."  --Warren Francke, Omaha Reader.

October 21, 22, 28, 29, 2006
Jill and friends Bernie and Erin Lowis performed opening music for the Trinity
Church Players production of The Crimson Thread, an Irish play.

September 21, 2006 - 
Private retirement party, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha                                                          

  Jill is pictured with some of the talented 
  musicians  who accompanied her as 
  featured entertainer at the retirement 
  party for prominent Omaha insurance 
  industry leader, Robert Bates.
  She included a ukulele set along with
  "Orange Colored Sky" and "Murder, He
  Said."  Chuck Penington was musical
  director and accompanist for the program.  

August 17 - September 16, 2006
Almost Heaven - A Tribute to the Music of John Denver
Barter Theater, Abingdon, VA
Jill was part of a 6-member ensemble for this musical evening featuring the songs 
of John Denver.  More details can be found on the website of the Barter Theatre.

June 25, 2006
Hal France & Friends Finale
Omaha's Holland Center for Performing Arts, Recital Hall
Jill was part of the Blue Barn Music Festival's grand finale held at
the Scott Recital Hall at the beautiful Holland Center in downtown
Omaha.

June 9,10,22, 2006
Hal France & Friends
featuring Jill Anderson
Blue Barn Theatre, in Omaha's Old Market
Tickets:  $25  Phone:  402-345-1576
 
The Blue Barn welcomes summer with a festival featuring Hal France and
guest musicians, visual artists, and food from select local restaurants.  
On Friday and Saturday June 9 and 10, Jill will be one of two guest vocalists.  
She's doing three styles of music including an Irish set featuring "Fields of Athenry,"
her hit from the CD "7 Songs"; a medley of ukelele tunes; and a wonderful set of 
big band favorites popularized by Betty Hutton, among others.  She will be accompanied 
by a host of talented musicians.  In the second half of the program, they'll blow 
the roof off with their exciting renditions of swing era favorites such as "Orange
Colored Sky" and "Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four."

Hal France, artistic director of the Orlando Symphony and former artistic director
of Opera Omaha, is the creator/director of this festival series, and distinguished 
master of ceremonies. Jill co-headlines this program with nationally known Kirsten
Chavez, whose claim to fame is her passionate Carmen.  Her musical selections 
will include excerpts from the opera and Spanish-flavored music.

All tickets are $25 for these shows. Call the Blue Barn at 402-345-1576 to reserve
tickets.  Find out more information about the entire festival, which covers three 
weekends, on the Blue Barn's website.  

Ended April 2, 2006
 Jill directed and performed in "Honky Tonk Laundry" at 
the Oregon Cabaret Theatre, where she previously  starred 
in their sell-out show, Five Course Love.   Click for preview 
news article about Honky Tonk  in the Ashland OR newspaper.  


Jill (right) as Lana Mae with co-star Ginger Simons (Katie)  in Honky Tonk Laundry.
 "The two women have wonderful voices with astonishing range.
Their harmony could stop traffic."  (Roberta Kent, Ashland Tidings)

Honky Tonk Laundry
February 3 -- April 2, 2006
Lana Mae Hopkins and Katie Lane have a world of trouble -- man trouble. Fortunately, they 
also have each other. And a whole world of country songs to sing as they work side by side 
at the Wishy Washy Washeteria, wringing their hearts out and hanging them on the line. Songs
 include classic tunes like I Fall To Pieces, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Nine To Five, These Boots Were
 Made For Walkin' and I Will Always Love You as well as the newer breed of country songs 
like Independence Day (Martina McBride), Long Time Gone, Sin Wagon and Good-bye, Earl
 (Dixie Chicks). These two country angels turn their good ol' laundromat into a boot-scooting 
honky tonk.  Click here for the Oregon Cabaret Theatre website.

.Click here for REVIEWS

RECENTLY:
"Every Christmas Story Ever Told"
By Carleton, Fitzgerald and Alvarez
Original music by Will Knapp
Nov. 25 - Dec. 23 at Cape May Stage in Cape May, NJ
Thursday through Saturday, 8pm; Sundays at 3pm
Jill is one of a cast of 3 actors in a "madcap romp through all the
holiday traditions we can remember, and a few we'd like to forget..."
according to the theatre's web site.  This is Jill's first experience 
at Cape May Stage.  The show was a sellout in 2003 and 2004.
"This hilarious hit is back and funnier than ever, and updated for
the new year!"   We'll update when reviews are available.

 
Photo from Cape May Times

Five Course Love
A musical at Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, OR
By Gregg Coffin
Directed & Choreographed by Jim Giancarlo
Musical Direction by Darcy Danielson
September 16 - November 6, 2005
www.oregoncabaret.com

Photo from one course in "5-Course Love"!  Jill is pictured with co-stars Paul
Edward Hope and Chip DuFord  in the vignette called "Barbeque Blind Date."

Wicked City Blues
A comedy at the Utah Musical Theatre in Ogden, UT
Book, Lyrics, Music: Norman Thalheimer
Story by: Cornell Christianson
Opens: July 22   Runs: July 23, 28-30 & August 4-6, 2005
"Wicked City Blues " is a National Premiere

KUDOS...."Wicked City Blues was named .... one of the Ten Best Plays of 2005
 in Utah by that state's largest circulation newspaper, the Deseret News. The 1940s 
film noir musical-comedy played this summer at the 350-seat Allred Theatre outside
Salt Lake City."  Jill played the female lead in this hit play in August 2005.  

private detective Mickey Morrison's just been in the fight of his life and he's got 
trouble up to his eyeballs: a dame who's too hot to handle, a dead body, a couple 
of ruthless mobsters and a police lieutenant looking for answers. It all points to 
Charlotte, an apparent femme fatale.  The year is 1947, and The Neptune Radio Theater 
presents a live mystery show featuring the adventures of Mickey, a hard-boiled private
eye.Come on this nostalgic journey into the fabulous 40's with this new musical. Mix 
in the madcap hilarity of a live radio show with the somber shadows of a classic Film Noir 
detective story and you just bought yourself a ticket to the Wicked City Blues.  For details,
check the website:  http://community.weber.edu/umt/  [Jill is Charlotte Blane, the "apparent
femme fatale."] 

Click here for a preview article and photo including Jill from the Deseret News!

Click here  for a review appearing in Utah's on-line Standard Examiner, where Jill's performance
 is described as "flawless" and her voice modulation compared to Judy Garland in Wizard of Oz!

The Home Team by Kim Carney - A Staged Reading
Saturday, April 30 at 8pm at Queens Theatre in the Park, part of the 
Plays A Mother Would Love Series.
The Home Team is a zany family comedy with some hard-hitting moments of
true poignancy and drama.  The Gurley family of of Lansing, Michigan
has been in developmental stasis since the death of the patriarch and
now the arrival of one of the sons "date" shakes everything loose to
uproarious and shocking effect.  This hilarious and touching play is
featured in a new works series at Queens Theatre in the Park.  Jill's
character is Marion, a straight-talking, lovable factory worker who
does not hesitate to make her immature older brother eat grass and
whose method of making a point is smashing the TV with a sledgehammer. 
But we mustn't divulge TOO much.  If you are anywhere near New York, it
would be sinful to miss the first ever reading of this delectable and
raucous new comedy.

In These Shoes  - Wendy Lane Bailey
Duplex Cabaret Theatre, 61 Christopher St., NY, NY
Wednesdays:   April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11
Jill provides harmonies for this Cabaret show featuring the talented Wendy Lane Bailey.  Musical direction:  Rick Jensen.  Directed by Sally Mayes.   Jill says, "Her musical selections are superb and varied, with an emphasis on up-tempo and comedy songs.  Wendy is an absolute delight.  Don't miss it."
Cost:  $15.00 Music Charge / 2 drink minimum
Reservations:  (212) 255-5438

Coup de Graae
Dec. 6 - 18, 2004  The Hideaway Room at Helen's, in Manhattan
Jill enjoyed being a guest performer on the cabaret show of Jason Graae, Broadway, film and television actor and singer.   Alex Rybeck was musical director.   The evening of music and comedy,  which earned raves at The Plush Room in San Francisco and at The Cinegrill in LA, had an equally warm reception in New York with outstanding reviews. 

Richard Rodgers Spectacular!
On November 6, 2004 Jill performed as a featured artist with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Hal France.    

The Three Penny Opera 
by Kurt Weill
Presented by OPERA OMAHA in October, 2004
Jill played Jenny Diver in Opera Omaha's opening production to rave reviews.  She was especially touched by a tribute on the editorial page of the Omaha World Herald on October 14:

• What a Midlands treasure is Jill Anderson. She is adept in musical comedy, Elizabethan and Irish vocal numbers and satiric drama. She has had movie roles, including a bit part in "About Schmidt." Last summer, at Elmwood Park, she was dynamite on the Shakespearean stage, playing Mistress Ford in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and, on alternate nights, Lady Anne in "Richard III." This week, the versatile Anderson turned in a polished and powerful vocal and acting performance as Jenny Diver in "The Threepenny Opera." Her work has contributed much to the local cultural scene.

The Omaha City Weekly wrote of her performance:
"Jill Anderson, in her portrayal of Macheath's prostitute girlfriend Jenny Diver, is endlessly captivating on stage.  Well-known locally as a brazen talent, Anderson resembles a youonger, updated version of Pat Benatar.  Not only is Anderson gorgeous, but she has a very compelling stage presence.  With black hair cropped in a flapper girl haircut, Anderson possesses a classic Brechtian look.  Possessing the essence of "Cabaret's" Sally Bowles, Anderson walks inside her character.  Oh, did I mention she can sing?  Her rendition of "Pirate Jenny" brought to the surface heartbreaking angst only a woman scorned and a professional singer could produce.  As a highly gifted and well-studied mezzo soprano, Anderson makes singing look natural--as if anybody could do it.  Not quite.

Click for full Omaha W-H REVIEW

Other activities ...
August 2004 - Cabaret Conference at Yale University 
Jill auditioned for and secured one of 36 slots in this prestigious 8-day training program.  Learn more about this program by clicking this link.   

July 17, 2004 - Omaha's 150th Birthday 
Jill sang with the Omaha Symphony Saturday night, July 17, in celebration of Omaha's 150th birthday.  The free outdoor concert  at the Heartland of America Park in Omaha attracted an enormous crowd.   Jill was featured as a soloist on "All That Jazz" and "Fascinatin' Rhythm" as well as singing a duet with Camille Metoyer Moten from the Broadway musical, "Jekyll and Hyde."  They were joined by Lauren Pascale to reprise some of their popular Andrews Sisters trios.  

June / July 2004 Nebraska Shakespeare Festival 
Jill was featured in both of the 2004 NSF shows, playing Mistress Ford in the comedy, Merry Wives of Windsor, and Lady Anne in Richard III.  

Spokesong at the Storm Theatre in New York 
Feb. 6  through Feb. 28, 2004.
Jill performed in this Irish play at a theatre near Times Square.  She had a great time in her first opportunity in NYC,  putting her dialect and musical skills to work.    Click on the theatre's name above to learn more about this show and venue.   Critics praised the play and Jill's work in it.
 
"As Kitty Carberry and Daisy Bell, the Belfast girls who love, respectively, Frank and Francis, Colleen Crawford and Jill Anderson are standouts."   (Joseph Hurley, The Irish Echo newspaper)

 "Robin Haynes and Jill Anderson are delightful as Frank's grandparents, seen in the flashbacks..."  (Martin Denton in an nytheatre.com review) 

"Robin Haynes and Jill Anderson as the Grandparent Stocks age gracefully and realistically.  The sweetness of their relationship is a contrast to the intensity......"  (Macey Levin, reviewing for internet theatre magazine, Curtain Up)             

Highlights of 2003:
NEBRASKA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL  2003
Twelfth Night  &  Measure for Measure in repertory,  June 19 - July 6, 2003 
Jill was Viola in Twelfth Night  (photo below)  Click for  Review

She donned the breeches as one of Shakespeare's most delightful comic heroines in Omaha's favorite outdoor theatrical event of the year.  

In Measure for Measure, she played Marianna, the jilted lover of the wicked and hypocritical villain, Angelo.  This role featured her musical talents as well when the lovelorn Marianna sang an Elizabethan song.   Click for  Review

Crowds of up to 5000 strong  gathered under the stars in beautiful Elmwood park to enjoy the genius of the bard.  This is one of the USA's largest free outdoor Shakespeare festivals.  More information is available at the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival website.  Click here for the NSF link.

Back to Top
September/October 2003:  
Jill had a major role in Chelsea, part of the Omaha Blue Barn Theatre's season opener.  Chelsea, a short play inspired by Andy Warhol, was paired with Cruelties, inspired by Truman Capote, making for an intense and unusual evening of theatre.  Both plays were written by Max Sparber for the Blue Barn.  The world premiere was guest directed by Rob Urbinoti.  

And music, music, music..... 

Sunday Serenade
Jill and Camille Metoyer Moten with special guest Lauren Pascale  brought back their Moonlight Melodies concert magic on three Sunday afternoons, Sept. 28, Oct. 5 and Oct. 19 at the Blue Barn Theatre in Omaha.   The final performance played to an enthusiastic standing room only audience.  See below for a report of the earlier concert.

Moonlight Melodies
Jill's concert with Camille Metoyer Moten was held at the Strauss Performing Arts center at the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday, May 31.  One audience member e-mailed:  "Saturday night's show, Moonlight Melodies, was absolutely fabulous!  I enjoyed every minute.  We Omahans are very fortunate to have world-class entertainers in our midst.  Thanks for producing and performing a truly great show."

To view the press release and poster for Moonlight Melodies, click here.

TOP OF PAGE

2002 Performance Highlights:

Little Nellie's Naughty Noel :  A Steamy Sod House Spectacular 
November-December, 2002 
This original play was Omaha's Blue Barn Theatre's first show of the 2002-2003 season.   Jill  worked with playwright  Tim Siragusa to bring the Bad Rep touch to an irreverent look back at a pioneer Nebraska yuletide.  She played two characters, Chastity (pictured above...click for larger view) and a Poppy Palace chorine. Jill wrote songs and choreographed several numbers.  A comedy for adults,  Little Nellie opened in late November and played to sold-out houses weekends through December 22.   A photo gallery is under construction!

Opera Omaha - Richard Rodgers' America
Friday, October 25, 2002   Orpheum Theatre
Jill worked as a principle vocalist with a great cast , including Sylvia McNair, Tim Noble, Joyce Compana, and Merwin Foard for Opera Omaha's season-opener featuring the music of Richard Rodgers.   Her solos included "I Cain't say NO" (Oklahoma), "Johnny One-note," (Babes in arms) and "Wash that Man out of My Hair" (South Pacific).  She also sang with Sylvia and Joyce in an opening number, "Sing for Your Supper."  The World Herald reviewer praised the show and gave special mention to Jill's spirited rendition of the song from Oklahoma.

BOMBSHELL BABES - October 5, 2002
Jill and two of her all-time favorite singers, Camille Metoyer-Moten and Lauren Pascale, developed an Andrews Sisters style program, dressed up in authentic 1940s gowns, and wowed the members of a World War II veterans reunion in Abilene, Kansas.   Bernie Lowis, handled the piano accompaniment as well as sound and video duties.  Calling themselves the Bombshell Babes, they sang a rousing 45 minute set that started and ended with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" for the vets and their families.    Jill was delighted to be able to arrange this program for her uncle, Norman Smith of Albion, who was one of the hosts of the event.

Summer  2002 

FILM & TV
 - Jill learned from Alexander Payne himself that her role in About Schmidt survived the cutting room.  The movie, which stars Jack Nicholson, opened late in 2002   Alexander Payne was  the featured guest at a Blue Barn fundraiser on October 5, and clips of the movie were shown during his presentation.   

-  She portrayed  Emma Goldman in live action vignettes for a PBS documentary about the early 20th century anarchist.  It was filmed in July  in various Nebraska locations for broadcast in The American Experience series.  The segment title is "An Exceedingly Dangerous Woman," directed by Mel Bucklin of Nebraska ETV.   The program premiered in the Spring of 2004.  

-  She played a chemotherapy patient in a July commercial shoot  for a Nebraska hospital.

Spring 2002
Fuddy Meers
by David Lindsay-Abaire
April 4th - 28th, 2002
Blue Barn Theatre in Omaha
Jill played a lead role, Claire, in Fuddy Meers, the Blue Barn's Spring production.  (See photo of Jill and Aaron Zavitz.)  She received a "best actress" nomination for her work in this production from the Theatre Arts Guild in Omaha.. 

 The World Herald reviewer began by saying, 
"Led by brilliant performances from Aaron Zavitz and Jill Anderson, the Blue Barn Theatre is offering the rip-roaring farcical comedy 'Fuddy Meers' by David Lindsay-Abaire."

For full text of the Omaha World-Herald's review click here.    For an interview with Jill from the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, click here.

Backstage at the Blue Barn:  
Jill was also busy backstage at The Blue Barn during the 2001- 2002 season, costuming Night of the Iguana and The Ice Fishing Play.  She recorded voice-overs for the Barn's 2001 holiday knockout, David Sedaris's Santaland Diaries, a one-man show delivered to hysterical sellout audiences by her good friend and creative partner Tim Siragusa.  (Remember Ghetto Claus and Psychobilly Jamboree?) The Blue Barn under Kevin Lawler's steady leadership and direction had a string of hits this season beginning with last summer's Vampire Lesbians of Sodom which featured Jill and Tim as the lead vampire lesbians  (click here for link to Vampire page and photos on this site) and concluding with the consistently sold-out Five Women Wearing the Same Dress in the summer of 2002.  See Links page to connect with The Blue Barn's web site for current theatre news.

                                                            Back to Quick Links                         Top of page

2001 Performances and Links.....

"Holiday Fanfare:  Christmas in New York" 
Orpheum Theatre, Omaha  December 14, 15, 16, 2001
       Jill was part of the Omaha Symphony's annual Christmas extravaganza with resident conductor Ernest Richardson, Dave Webber and other guests.    Preparation for this performance took her to NY for a weekend to learn tap dance steps to teach to the rest of the local dancers/singers for the song "Be a Santa."    The World-Herald reviewer called it one of the highlights of the show!

All American! 
Oct. 26, 2001  Opera Omaha, Orpheum Theater
Jill performed in the 2001 season opener October 26th at Omaha's  Orpheum Theater,  featuring  American folk, musical theatre and patriotic song productions with orchestra and dance.   220 performers participated in the sold-out show.   Jill was one of nine principle artists and was featured soloist on two numbers from South Pacific: "Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair" and 'Honeybun."   She also sang Stephen Sondheim's "The Miller's Son" from A Little Night Music.   Jill was teamed with Sylvia McNair and Camille Metoyer-Moten for a rousing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" a la Andrews Sisters.  Hal France conducted the Omaha Symphony and Greg Ganakas was guest director and choreographer.  

Arts on the Green - Joslyn Art Museum
20th & Dodge, Omaha   
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001
At this annual arts extravaganza, Jill sang on the stately front steps of the Joslyn Art Museum, performing in one solo and as part of a trio with  internationally known vocalist Sylvia McNair and accomplished soprano, Anne DeVries, known for her work with Opera Omaha.   The weather was gorgeous and 7000 people came out to celebrate the beginning of the 2001-2001 season for the Arts.  The  Omaha World-Herald reviewer wrote:  "Anderson, DeVries and McNair stole the stage with their tight, sassy, three-part harmony in tunes including "Sing for Your Supper" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy."  In addition, Easy & Slow,  a song from Jill's CD, was featured at the concert! Hal France conducted the Omaha symphony and guest musician Steve Horner to accompany Jill on a special arrangement of the song that leads off her "7 Songs" CD.