Schemke

Jennifer Schemke is a writer, actor and comedian, born in the California Bay Area. Jennifer grew up watching the great comedians of the 70's/80's. Between racing frogs, performing in talent shows, and going door-to-door pretending to be an orphan, she bloomed into a multi-disciplinary, multi-dimensional creative artist.

Jennifer studied Theatre and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University, and attended grad school at the Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago. She studied Comedy Writing and Improvisation at The Groundlings and Second City in Los Angeles, while earning her living as a substitute teacher, production assistant (on "Curb Your Enthusiasm") and washing hair for Beverly Hills celebrity hairstylist Lorenzo Martin.

Called by a jazzy, powder-sugared yearning, Jennifer moved to New Orleans, where she facilitated improv team-building workshops, taught theatre at UL Lafayette and Southern Rep and drank coffee with chicory in it. Besides loving the city with all her heart, Jennifer adores the New Orleans Saints. Who Dat!

Two short films she wrote/directed, “Pimp My Rascal” and “Abs Like Jesus” were official selections in the Los Angeles Comedy Shorts Festival and the Toronto Indie Film Festival, respectively. Her latest film, "Soleil Ombre", a romp inspired by the French New Wave, is looking for its festivals now.

Jennifer now shares time between California, Louisiana, and the Big Apple (where she had the pleasure of living while she brushed up her acting skills at the Tom Todoroff Conservatory.)

Her last show before the world was forced to press pause in 2020, was her dream role of Miss Hannigan in Annie (harkening back to the door-to-door days mentioned previously.) She was thrilled to return to the stage in October 2021, playing “Veronica” in Yasmina Reza's God of Carnageat the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in New Orleans.

Current inspirations include: Rita Moreno, the cast of Schitt's Creek, The Golden State Warriors, Ru Paul, and fellow Groundlings alumnus, Naomi Grossman ("Pepper" on American Horror Story), who all prove that hard work, love, and chutzpah prevail!