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T H E A T R E

2009

Rebecca in Passages (workshop; selected scenes) by Fiona Graham
STAMP Double Shot

Mrs. Sowerberry and Mrs. Bedwin in Oliver! by Lionel Bart
Auckland Theatre Company

Tekla in Creditors by August Strindberg
Ford Transit Productions

Kaye in Ghost Train by Fiona Samuels
Auckland Theatre Company Literary Unit (playreading)

2008

The Look of Love, Evocative/Provocative
Downstage Theatre

Dominique Le Bons in Le Sud by Dave Armstrong
Auckland Theatre Company "The Next Stage" (semi-staged reading)

Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill
Silo Theatre and The Large Group

2007

Connie White in My Name is Gary Cooper by Victor Rodger
Auckland Theatre Company

Jennifer Ward-Lealand Falling in Love Again
Downstage Theatre

Helen and Sybil in Decadence by Steven Berkoff
Licentious Productions

Mrs. Williams in Advance in Order by James Milne and Kip Chapman
Auckland Theatre Company Literary Unit (playreading)

Danielle in Mike and Virginia by Kathryn Burnett and Nick Ward
Auckland Theatre Company "The Next Stage" (semi-staged reading)

2006

Sabine Leutenegger in Berlin--Cabaret of Desire conceived by John Verryt, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Paul Barrett
Silo Theatre

Danielle in Mike and Virginia by Kathryn Burnett and Nick Ward
Auckland Theatre Company Literary Unit (playreading)

Olivia in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Auckland Theatre Company

2005

Rachel in Sex with Strangers-Second Edition by Maria Gaoa and actors
Colin Mitchell production

Stevie in The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? by Edward Albee
Silo Theatre (click here for The Goat photo gallery--off-site)

Sally in The Bach by Stephen Sinclair
Auckland Theatre Company

2004

Sally in The Bach by Stephen Sinclair
Auckland Theatre Company

Aunt Dottie/Emily Greenleaf in
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Phyllis Nagy
Auckland Theatre Company

2003

Sally in The Bach by Stephen Sinclair
Auckland Theatre Company "Second Unit" (semi-staged reading)

Annie in The Love of Humankind by Brian Sergent
Auckland Theatre Company Literary Unit (playreading)

Marlene in Marlene by Pam Gems
(potent pause) Productions

Mrs. Braddock in The Graduate by Terry Johnson
Auckland Theatre Company

2002

Anna in Old Times by Harold Pinter
(potent pause) Productions

2000

The Witch in Into the Woods
by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
Auckland Theatre Company

1998

Susanna Hall in The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan
Auckland Theatre Company

1996

Sara Jane Moore/Emma Goldman in Assassins by Stephen Sondheim
Watershed Theatre

1995

Janet in The New Rocky Horror Show (NZ National Tour)
Paul Dainty/Stetson Productions

1992

Sally Bowles in Cabaret by Kander and Ebb
Watershed Theatre

Singer/Actor in Side by Side by Sondheim
Wellington Music Theatre

Viola in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Adelaide International Festival of the Arts

1991

Phyllis Rodgers-Stone in Follies by Stephen Sondheim
Baycourt Theatre

Singer/Actor in A Marvellous Party by Noel Coward
Mercury Theatre Company

Lyn in Via Satellite by Anthony McCarten
Mercury Theatre Company

Renee/Girl in Magazine/Woman at Party in M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang
Mercury Theatre Company

Eileen in The Sex Fiend by Stephen Sinclair and Danny Mulheron
Mercury Theatre Company

1990

Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Mercury Theatre Company

Singer/Actor in This Joint is Jumpin'
Mercury Theatre Company

Bridget in Slice of Saturday Night by the Heather Brothers
Mercury Theatre Company

Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weil and Bertolt Brecht
Inside Out Theatre
 
1989-1990

Glenda in The One That Got Away -
The Front Lawn
National Tour (NZ); International Tour to: London (Pick of The Fringe), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Melbourne Comedy Festival
See an interview with The Front Lawn as they left New Zealand, including brief excerpts from the show.

1988

Singer/Actor in The Irving Berlin Show
Mercury Theatre Company

Lt. Genevieve Marshall in South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Mercury Theatre Company

Young Girl in Yerma by Garcia Lorca
Mercury Theatre Company

Nana in Nana by Olwen Wymark (novel by Emile Zola)
Mercury Theatre Company

Singer/Actor in Rodgers and Hart
Mercury Theatre Company

Various roles in The Three Musketeers (adapted by Stuart Hoar from Alexander Dumas)
Mercury Theatre Company

Polly Peachum in The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weil and Bertolt Brecht
Downstage Theatre

1987

Singer/Actor in Side by Side by Sondheim
Centrepoint Theatre

Charlotte in The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard
Centrepoint Theatre

Eugenia in Breaking the Silence by Stephen Poliakoff
Centrepoint Theatre

Lavinia in Strip by Lorae Parry
Centrepoint Theatre

1986

Helen of Troy in The Trojan Women by Euripides
Independent Production

Nell in Pass it On by Renee
Theatre Corporate

Lily in As Is by William Hoffman
Theatre Corporate

Singer/Actor in Stretchmarks by Sarah Delahunty
Theatre Corporate

First Witch in Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Theatre Corporate

Eva in Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
Theatre Corporate

Hedda in Hedda Gabler
Theatre Corporate

Moll in The Threepenny Opera by Brecht
Theatre Corporate

1985

Agnes in Agnes of God by John Pielmeier
Mercury Theatre Company

Platinum Sue in Trafford Tanzi by Claire Luckham
Theatre Corporate

Various roles in Catastrophe by Samuel Beckett
Theatre Corporate
 
1984

Kit Kat Girl in Cabaret by Kander and Ebb
Theatre Corporate

Various parts in Amphigouri Allegretto
Theatre Corporate

Angie and Pope Joan in Top Girls by Caryl Churchill
Theatre Corporate

Emilia and Mopsa in A Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
Theatre Corporate

Pip in The Clowns by Raymond Hawthome
Theatre Corporate

Zero in Ictus by Michael Hurst
Theatre Corporate
 
1983

Leni in The Trial by Stephen Berkoff (from Kafka)
Theatre Corporate

Bolette in The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen
Theatre Corporate

The Daughter in Rip Tide by Harry Sinclair
Theatre Corporate

Dance Hall Doll in A Street Called Straight by Seamus Quinn
Theatre Corporate

Regan in King Lear by William Shakespeare
Theatre Corporate

Theatre Corporate Community Theatre Company
(Theatre in Education touring company):

Maori Myths

Story Theatre

Starters by Norelle Scott
 
1981

Viola in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
BATS Theatre

The Town and Country Players
(community theatre company touring North Island of New Zealand):

various roles in Coming Through the Rye

Blossom the Clown in You Can't Be Brave Until You've Been Afraid by Murray Edmond

Madame Popova in The Bear by Anton Chekhov

various roles in Once Twice Thrice Upon a Tale by Joy Cowley

1980

Mary Warren in The Crucible by Arthur Miller
BATS Theatre

1978

Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Downstage Youth Theatre

 

  



2008:  As Mrs. Sowerberry in Oliver!

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand flexes her versatile character skills first as the awfully unpleasant shrew Mrs. Sowerberry . . . and in act two as the gentle and dignified noblewoman Mrs. Bedwin"." (Theatreview)


2009:  As Tekla in Creditors
(photo:  Andrew Malmo)

"The triangle is powerfully closed by Jennifer Ward-Lealand's mercurial performance as the alluring and infuriating Tekla - a restless, volatile woman who flits between frivolous vanity, steely determination and moments of selfless compassion."(NZ Herald)

2008:  As Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera

" BEST PLAY:  THE THREEPENNY OPERA.   . . . Jennifer Ward-Lealand's intoxicating rendition of Mac the Knife is still ringing in our ears." (Best of Auckland 2008, Metro)

See Jennifer on You Tube performing during the dress rehearsal.




2007:  As Connie White in My Name is Gary Cooper

" . . . the cast of eight is superb.  Standouts:   Ward-Lealand--taut, tanned and attached to a martini glass . . . " (Listener)


2007:   As Helen in Decadence
(photo:  Andrew Malmo)

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Lawrence . . . give a master class in acting that makes for must-see theatre.  Their accents, physicality and characterisation are pretty much faultless; a joy for an audience to watch and an inspiration for wannabe actors." (NZ Herald)


2006:  As Sabine Leutenegger in Berlin

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand's Sabine is chillingly Teutonic, with a comic wryness and leggy sauciness." (Listener)

 


(photo:  Andrew Malmo)



(photo:  John McDermott)

 

2006:   As Olivia in Twelfth Night

"The delicate interactions between Viola and Olivia produce some wonderfully poignant moments, notably when Jennifer Ward-Lealand's magisterial countess dissolves into a lovestruck teenager as she is captivated by the overpowering sweetness of Viola" (NZ Herald)

2005:   As Stevie in The Goat

" . . . Ward-Lealand is formidable. As she unleashes primal howls, her depth of pain and rage is terrifying." (Listener)


(photo:  Andrew Malmo)


(photo:  Andrew Malmo)

2005:  As Sally in The Bach

"Ward-Lealand has impeccable timing as Sally." (Listener)

 

 

2002:  As Marlene

" . . . Ward-Lealand is glorious as Marlene.  She sings; she is coquettish; she cracks one-liners with cruel glee." (New Zealand Herald)



(photo:  Andrew Malmo)
2002:  As Anna in Old Times

"Ward-Lealand, like her character, rather devours the other two. Her Anna, charming and dangerous, is the link between them and she performs with a juggler's dexterity." (New Zealand Herald)


2000:   As The Witch in Into the Woods

"If there's one standout moment, it's when the Witch (Jennifer Ward-Lealand) sings 'Last Midnight' - truly spinetingling." (Listener)

1998:  As Susanna Hall in The Herbal Bed

"The central character, a jewel of a role, is played with a contained complexity by Jennifer Ward-Lealand.  She has the right mix of intelligence, shrewdness and purity of spirit." (Listener)

1995:   As Janet in The New Rocky Horror Show

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand is the deliciously ditzy Janet that Susan Sarandon might have wished she could be."  (Sunday Star-Times)


1992:  As Sally Bowles in Cabaret

"When Jennifer Ward-Lealand, singing Sally Bowles - the role she was born to play - finishes the title song unaccompanied and with a wild-eyed desperation in her eyes and we don't even dare applaud, we realise that we're watching great theatre - and not just great cabaret." (New Zealand Herald)

1990:   As Carrie Pepperidge in Carousel

"Ward-Lealand snares every comedy opportunity, and her singing . . . is as good as any in town . . . she tops the list."   (Auckland Star)


1990:  As Glenda in The One That Got Away

"The acting is fabulous. . . . (The Front Lawn) are an extremely polished and talented trio, and those who were worried about the recent addition of a woman to the group can relax; Jennifer Ward-Lealand is just terrific."  (Melbourne In Press)


1988:  In The Irving Berlin Show

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand is splendid.  She has a gutsy, glamorous presence and a strong, true voice to match." (New Zealand Herald)


1988:  As Nana

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand gives a commanding performance in the title role.  She is alternatively regarded as the object of the audience's delight, pity, distaste and desire and manipulates these turns in her character well.  She brings considerable strength to the part and holds her sometimes captivated audience with obvious confidence and relish."  (Inner City News)


"Rodgers and Hart . . . belongs to Jennifer Ward-Lealand.  She subtly and stylishly stole what we knew would be a subtle and stylish show. . . . She was comic and catastrophe in perfect balance in Ten Cents a Dance; a clever blend of smart and innocent in You Took Advantage of Me; bedazzling in Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered; and she swung Johnny One Note the right note, right on."  (New Zealand Herald)
1988: In Rodgers and Hart

 

1987:  As Lavinia in Strip

"But the pre-eminent performer . . . is Jennifer Ward-Lealand.  She has built on her 'gawky innocent' in recent performances, until here she wins our hearts as the aspiring actress quoting from The Seagull." (Dominion)


1986:   As Hedda Gabler

"Jennifer Ward-Lealand's portrayal of Hedda Gabler is arresting . . . (she) captures the audience's undivided attention from the very first time she walks on stage.  Most importantly, her portrayal shows fine sensitivity to the nuances of the script."  (Inner City News)

 

1985:  As Agnes in Agnes of God

"As Agnes, Jennifer Ward-Lealand is an electrifying combination of distracted guilt and vengeful rage."  (New Zealand Herald)

 
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