"Perseverance is Key!" - Chatting with Jennifer Barnaba

I would like you to meet Jennifer Barnaba. This very talented alumni of Ohio Northern University is currently starring as Eileen in Moon Over Buffalo at Myers Dinner Theatre and soon after will be playing Suzy in their production of The Marvelous Wonderettes. She previously performed in their production of The Ark this past September. Some of her other regional credits include: Next to Normal (Natalie; Tibbits Opera House), A Little Night Music (Anne Egerman; Short North Stage), The Addams Family (Wednesday Addams; Tibbits Opera House), Mamma Mia (Ali u/s perf Sophie; La Comedia Dinner Theatre), Saturday Night Fever (Pauline; Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse), and Violet (Young Violet; Dare to Defy Productions) among many others. Jennifer has also toured with The National Theatre for Children.

"Jennifer Barnaba is that rare commodity, the quiet professional who doesn't need to make a big deal of being one of the most talented people in the room. She gracefully goes about her work and easily earns the respect of her peers and admiration from the audience." Says Myers Dinner Theatre Artistic Director Jeremy Littlejohn.

With the sky truly being the limit for this talented young lady, I can say emphatically that I am so happy to have the chance to feature Jennifer!

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a performer?

I think I was sixteen or so. I was in high school trying to decide what I wanted to major in for college, and all I could think of was performing. I honestly tried to talk myself out of it and choose something else, but ultimately, I couldn’t think of anything that would make me as happy! 

Are there any teachers or mentors in your life who truly helped you become the wonderful singer you are today?

My wonderful college voice professor, Summer Aebker, gets so much of the credit! She taught me to sing in both classical and musical theatre styles and really strengthened my voice. She also taught me other lessons like how to safely sing while sick which is honestly so important. I didn’t think I was capable of belting until I was 20 years old and did a workshop with Matt Edwards, who probably doesn’t remember me, but he changed my life in an hour, so I always have to mention him. I also would like to give a shout-out to my voice teachers in high school and before, Mike Siler and Sarah Roush, who taught me so much and had to deal with me back when I thought vibrato was only for old people.

We are living in some unprecedented times in the world but are very fortunate right now to see a light at the end of the tunnel. For all artists (especially performers) it has definitely been a time of uncertainty. What has your everyday routine been like during Quarantine, and how does it feel to have the chance to perform safely during the pandemic? 

I’m afraid my quarantine routine is quite boring, but typically I get up and cross-stitch in the mornings while watching Netflix, eventually make lunch, hang out with my cat, and in the afternoons, I try to work on some music, whether that be playing piano or ukulele, or practicing songs from the Johnny Cash revue show I’ve been working on that will premiere soon!

Having a project to work on has made so much difference in my quarantine life. I’ve also been able to take socially distant dance classes on certain evenings which has been a wonderful outlet. Getting a chance to perform during the pandemic has been an amazing opportunity! Each performance and show means more than it did before, when booked work was certain to happen and not be canceled mid-contract. You really learn to be more grateful for everything you have. 

Are there any musicals or performances that you have done in your career that will always stick out and be near and dear to your heart? 

I got the chance to do Next to Normal at the Tibbits Opera House a couple of years ago, and I think it will forever remain one of my favorite shows. It was a dream role to get to play, and we did the production with the sponsorship of local mental health professionals who gave talkbacks after every show. We got to hear firsthand how the audience was affected by the show and how seeing mental illness talked about onstage affected them and helped them. It was such a humbling and gratifying reminder of why what we do is so important and how art really can affect positive change. 

What advice would you give any young aspiring artists during these times?

I’ve never been great at giving advice, so I’ll just say this: try not to be discouraged. The theatre is coming back. It will always come back. It may take some time, but people will always want to be entertained and experience the thrill of being in a live audience. The energy in a theatre is like nothing else and could never truly end.

Secondly, perseverance is key. This career is full of so much rejection, but you can’t take it personally as difficult as that may seem. Timing is everything, and no one can control time.

Thirdly, try not to compare your journey to anyone else’s. That can be so hard, but everyone’s path is different and your own path may even be different from year to year; just let it flow and everything will fall how it’s supposed to. 

To learn more about Jennifer make sure you visit her website at - http://www.jenniferbarnaba.com; and to learn more about her productions of Moon Over Buffalo and The Marvelous Wonderettes please visit - https://myersdt.com

Check out Jennifer's showreel