Hometown: Sacramento California
Education: NYU
Select Credits: Tour: We Will Rock You (Killer Queen and Oz u/s), All Shook Up (u/s Miss Sandra); Regional: Legally Blonde (Elle)
Why theater?: Why the hell NOT theatre? Human beings are naturally artists, just observe young children. Before we learn to read or write, we sing the alphabet, we dance around the living room, we use our imaginations and pretend to be a T-Rex or princess....or even a princess T-Rex!!! Theatre is a part of our lives before we even fully realize it, I'm just one of those individuals who happened to never stop. I believe the true reason is because I am fascinated by the human experience and the power that theatre can have on its audience....to connect one's life to another. As human beings, when we grow up and become more self-realized, we naturally start separating ourselves from those who are different than us and who live in different situations. Theatre has the ability to break down that barrier of separation. It allows us to see and experience the life of another person while still somehow connecting it to our own. It allows us to experience, understand, and question, both emotionally and intellectually, how our world connects to another's world. Thats some pretty powerful stuff... So yea, that's why I do theatre, plus Laurence Olivier's "look at me" answer ain't too far off either. If you don't know what I'm talking about....google it.
Who do you play in Napoleon?: Therese Tallien "Highly influential and worth a fortune" She's got some smirk in her step, and a secret or two.
Tell us about Napoleon: Well first, this is not be confused with "Napoleon Dynamite". I've had to explain this to friends several times...perhaps that speaks more into the kind of work I do? Napoleon is the story of Napoleon Bonaparte told through the eyes of Talleyrand. But to its core the story is about the only two things in life that people ever really fight for: Love and Power.
What is it like being a part of Napoleon?: Napoleon is a part of the NYMF Festival, so it's a crazy whirlwind contending with all kinds of constraints. But it is all about your outlook. Constraints allow for more imagination, forward thinking, and real team work in order to create the story you want to tell. We've got a group of some really talented people here that I enjoy playing with every day.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I love my good old classical musical theatre, but I am really fascinated by the new, edgy, complex pieces of work that make you think outside the box of what theatre can and should be. Sadly those works rarely get produced and they don't get the audiences they deserve.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I mean there's the typical (Eva Peron), but I am not too worried about that cause they will either come when I'm older (Witch in Into the Woods) or they won't at all cause I'm too old (any of the kids in Matilda), or totally miscast (Aida). I am more interested in new works and creating characters these days. Wait I just remembered....can I change my answer to Nomi in Showgirls?
What’s your favorite showtune?: That's just an unfair question. Probably "I Got Lost in His Arms" Simple and perfect.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Are we dreaming big here? Sir Ian Mckellen and Sir Patrick Stewart, not singularly...only as a duo. I wanna be a part of that party.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called: I had a joke about this years ago. I would want my movie to be a god awful D-list movie starring Coco Austin (Ice-T's wife) No title yet, but I have cabaret show idea floating in my head, and the title seems somewhat appropriate for this... "Jessica Crouch: A series of awkward and humiliating moments separated by snacks".
If you could go back in time and see any musical or play you missed what would it be?: Another mean question. I probably would want to see Chita play Anita. But if we talking time travel here, can we fast forward to Hamilton? I want a ticket to that.
What show have you recommended to your friends: The one right now? Hand To God
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: A friend of mine made me my own personal "cone of shame"... So perhaps I should feel guilty about how much I enjoy wearing it. But in all seriousness, I despise how attached people (including me) are to their phones. I hate when I catch myself hanging with group of friends and there is that moment where we are silent cause we are all collectively engrossed in our phones.
What’s up next: Hair at Music Circus
For more on Jessica, visit www.jessica-crouch.com. For more on Napoleon, visit nymf.org
