ENMU Sets the Stage for Jennifer Sanchez

By Rachel Forrester

From the halls of ENMU to the stages of Broadway, Jennifer Sanchez (BM 03) is well on her way to making it big. A stage performer in New York City, since 2009 Jennifer has landed roles in Broadway’s “West Side Story,” “Ghost the Musical,” “On Your Feet!,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and more. However, even with the hustle and bustle of the big city, she hasn’t forgotten her small town beginning.

“It’s like learning your alphabet and then reading a book,” Jennifer explained. “I couldn’t have been successful without my excellent training from ENMU. A special shout out to Dr. Gretchen Foley. Her music theory training has been invaluable. I do so many readings and workshops now where you have a very short amount of time to learn the music before you present it to people and producers, and being able to sight read and read music at a high level – because Dr. Foley was so good – it has been a game changer for me. It has been the gift that keeps on giving.”

Even with her quality training, Jennifer’s Eastern experience was a bit more unconventional than your average undergraduate student. Many of the more vivid memories she attaches to ENMU involve being a young pregnant student and a brand new mother.

“I went into labor in the Music Building at ENMU during my freshman music theory final,” Jennifer recalled. “18 years ago I was literally in the halls of ENMU with a little yellow clock that Dr. Foley gave me during my final to keep track of my contractions. I called my friend and asked her to pack my bags and said I’m having a baby.”

Jennifer prepares to go onstage for her performance in Broadway’s “Sunday in the Park with George.”

Photo by Laura Irion

After only 48 hours of recovery, a few of Jennifer’s professors allowed her to take her finals late – Dr. Offerle even took the exam to Jennifer’s apartment to ensure she’d be able to complete it. Seeing the amount of support she received, Jennifer knew “the show must go on.” She enrolled for classes that next fall, determined to complete her education as a single mom with a newborn and a part time job.

Jennifer moved into an apartment next door to Katie Levine (attended). “She helped me raise my son during those formative years (sophomore through senior year). I couldn’t have done it without her. It takes a village and she was mine!”

After graduating from ENMU, Jennifer earned her master’s in musical theater from Oklahoma City University. Jennifer’s son Jared has stuck with her through each of the hectic transitions, including when they first moved to the Big Apple, into one bedroom

with bunk beds in a fifth-floor walkup. Although thejourney has been turbulent at times, Jennifer wouldn’thave it any other way.

“I always say ‘embrace the hustle,’” Jennifer noted. “Iwould like to move on to a point in my life where it’s notsuch a hustle, but maybe it’ll just be a different type ofhustle next year. I love New York City and I love living anartistic life. I’m so happy that I made this choice.”

Smith Davis Photography

I know it was meant to be for me at ENMU because everyone was so supportive and loving and accepting. I just can’t express my gratitude for that. I was able to have a full college experience and it wouldn’t have been the same anywhere else.

– Jennifer Sanchez

In her down time, Jennifer supplements herperformance lifestyle as a daytime tour guide,escorting groups through Broadway theaters andsometimes teaching classes. She is also part of asongwriting group that meets in Brooklyn every month.Jennifer’s father taught her to play guitar when shewas very young, and she actually wrote her first songwhen she was in fourth grade.

“I didn’t know that was going to continue but it has,”she explained. “My sister and I are close in age and mymother taught us how to harmonize. My dad would playguitar and we would all sing at like the 4th of July picnicin the park in Alamogordo. So we were always kind ofmusical from a young age.”

Currently, Jennifer rehearses six days per week forBroadway’s “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” which opens onAug. 16, 2018. Eventually, she hopes to record an album ofher own, and write a theater show. Overall, Jennifer can’timagine her life without performing.

“I can imagine doing other jobs and having more money.I can imagine having more stability. Those are fantasies,but I can’t really imagine doing anything else.”