Bio

Jesse Graham began her acting and singing career at the tender age of seven. She appeared as an orphan in Annie at the Cumberland Co. Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee. She continued to perform in musicals at the CCP through high school (Godspell, Working), and went on to get her BA in Theatre from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She enjoyed many exciting roles at the Clarence Brown Theatre (A Christmas Carol – Ghost of Christmas Past; Fiddler on the Roof - Grandma Tzeitel), to name a few. She then spent the next six years working at regional theaters all over the Midwest (Truvy in Steel Magnolias - Derby Dinner Playhouse, Mrs. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol - Troupe America), and then returned to the Cumberland Co. Playhouse to join the staff as a company member, and oddly enough, a scenic art intern.

 "We have an example of a young professional, Jesse Graham, who is back with us this summer. She's has had a very successful year since graduating from us and the University of Tennessee. She is playing the wardrobe, Madame de la Grande Bouche." (Jim Crabtree, Producer - broadwaytovegas.com)

She remained a company member for 3 years, playing such roles as The Wardrobe - Beauty and the Beast (above), and The Stepmother (US Witch) - Into the Woods, as well as the Regional Tours of Always, Patsy Cline - Louise, and June Sanders (Oglethorpe) in the Smoke on the Mountain Trilogy.

 

While she loves the Playhouse, and it holds many fond memories for her, she couldn’t help but feel that something was still missing. It was only when she decided to audition for Grad Schools, and was accepted into Ohio University on full scholarship that the missing puzzle piece finally fell into place.

“While Tom tries his hardest to find work for everyone, the real hero of the play may be the passionate and feisty Ma Joad, played by Jesse Graham. She serves as the emotional backbone of the family, and becomes more and more frustrated by the toll the journey is taking on the people she loves.” (Athens News)

She was thrilled to get to tackle such roles as Ma Joad – The Grapes of Wrath, Hecuba – The Trojan Women, and Rosaline – Love’s Labour's Lost, just to name a few. She was also very excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the Playwright Department in New Work workshops (Inherit the Whole by Dana Formby, which enjoyed a reading at Victory Gardens in Chicago). She also worked on some student films, (Trailerpark, Blute, Death of the Cool), that have gone to several film festivals, including Lake Placid.

 “But we wanted to introduce [an] exciting new cast member, Jesse Graham as Irene, the plucky bar maid… ”(Trailerparkmovie.com)

One of the most rewarding aspects of her education was the joy she found in teaching others.  As part of her Graduate Assistantship, she taught Freshman BFA and Sophomore-level acting classes, for majors and non-majors alike.  She discovered that you can truly only learn something bone deep when you have to teach it to others - a most valuable lesson for her career.

 

After three years of hard work and equal amounts of success and failure, she earned her MFA in the Professional Actor Training Program, headed by Shelley Delaney, and supported by David Haugen, Rebecca VerNooy, Laura Parrotti, and Brian Evans.  Her education continues to be one of the defining aspects of her life, and she can only continue to express her joy and thankfulness for the amazing mentors and classmates that shaped her journey.

 

The next chapter of her life begins in New York, her new home base, with a quick detour through South Boston, VA, where she finally got the opportunity to play Miss Hannigan in Annie, the fulfillment of a childhood dream.  With that milestone behind her, she looks to the future, and is more than inspired by the road that lies ahead.