Jennifer Cody Biography

Jennifer Cody (born November 10, 1969) is an American dancer and actress.

Early life

Cody was born November 10, 1969 in Henrietta, New York. She began dancing at an early age. She studied acting at Fredonia State University. She and her husband, actor and occasional co-star Hunter Foster, live in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Stage

Cody's career began on the road as Dainty June in the touring production of Gypsy. She then began her lengthy career on the Broadway stage as a replacement in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats in the role of Rumpleteazer (after touring with the production). Her stage career continued to grow when she was featured in Grease as Cha-Cha, Beauty and the Beast as a Silly Girl, Seussical (opposite Rosie O'Donnell), The Pajama Game, Urinetown, Taboo. She recently starred as the Shoemaker's Elf, among other characters, in the original Broadway cast of Shrek the Musical, opposite sister-in-law Sutton Foster. Opening Night took place December 14, 2008. She played in the company for nine months, from when previews began in November 2008 through August 2009.

Cody has also played in Milburn, N.J. at the Paper Mill Playhouse as the ugly stepsister Joy in the musical Cinderella and as Hildy in On The Town. Cody played Natalie Haller in All Shook Up at the Ogunquit Playhouse (opposite Sally Struthers) as well as off-Broadway productions of Junie B. Jones (as Junie), Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party (as Mae), and the acclaimed Henry and Mudge (as Annie), the latter of which earned her a Drama League Nomination. She also played Betty in No, No Nanette at New York City Center Encores opposite Sandy Duncan and Mara Davi. Cody is a Pittsburgh CLO veteran playing roles in Oklahoma! (as Ado Annie) and Sondheim's Into the Woods (as Little Red).

Cody has also made her mark at the esteemed Sacramento Music Circus, starring in productions of West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, A Chorus Line, 42nd St, and Oklahoma.

Cody appeared at the Cape Playhouse at Cape Cod in productions of Lend Me a Tenor (as Maggie), Moon Over Buffalo (as Roz) with Gary Beach, John Scherer and her longtime husband, fellow actor Hunter Foster, whom she met during Cats (star of Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors and The Producers).

Cody played Little Sally, and Don Richard played Officer Lockstock in Urinetown, the Musical. Cody and Richard usually appear at such events as Rosie Live and the Annual Easter Bonnet Competition.

She is best known for her role as Charlotte in The Princess and the Frog'.

Cody has also been a part of Broadway Bares, a benefit show to raise money and awareness for BC/EFA.

Cody was seen as Linda Lou in the Actor's Fund Benefit production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Film

Cody voiced Charlotte La Bouff in the Disney film The Princess and the Frog. Cody voiced Fifi the Zebra in the Triggerfish animation Khumba

Television

Cody was featured on the Law and Order episode "Crimebusters" as Vicki Saunders, a beauty shop associate. Cody was a series regular on the short-lived Untitled Paul Reiser Project, playing the sassy secretary and friend Clarissa. She also does the voice of Darcy on the Nickelodeon version of Winx Club.

Recordings

Cody's voice can be heard on the cast albums of The Pajama Game, with Harry Connick Jr. and Kelli O'Hara, Shrek the Musical with Sutton Foster and Brian d'Arcy James, Lippa's The Wild Party, Taboo, Seussical, and Vincent Youmans's Through The Years.

Awards and nominations

• For her work on The Princess and the Frog, Cody won an Annie Award for Outstanding Voice Acting in a Feature Production.
• Cody also received a Drama League Nomination for her work in the off-Broadway show by Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan, Henry and Mudge.
• Cody received a Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in the role of Minnie Fay in the MUNY's production of Hello, Dolly!

Other information

After attending a call for Guys and Dolls early in her career, Cody was cut for not meeting the height requirement, but the casting director thought she would fit in Cats and auditioned her the next day.