Jonalyn Saxer
Jonalyn Saxer is an American theatre actress. She is best known for her roles in Mean Girls and for performing in ensemble and swing roles in multiple Broadway productions.
Early life
[edit]Saxer grew up in Agoura Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles, California, and attended Oak Park High School.[1][2] Saxer comes from a family of musicians and performers known for local performances.[3]
She graduated from Syracuse University in 2014.[4]
Career
[edit]In 2013, Saxer earned her Actors Equity card performing in 42nd Street at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.[1]
Saxer made her Broadway debut in 2014 as a swing in Bullets Over Broadway.[2] She also opened Broadway productions as an ensemble member in Honeymoon in Vegas and Holiday Inn.
In 2016, Saxer covered five different roles, or "tracks," in Cats.[5]
In 2018, Saxer joined the cast of Mean Girls. She was with the cast during its Washington, DC previews and was in the original Broadway cast as a member of the ensemble.[6] Saxer understudied the roles of Regina George, Karen Smith, and Cady Heron.[7] Saxer starred as Karen Smith in the North American national tour.[8]
In 2021, Saxer performed as a Jet girl in West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg.[9]
In 2023, Saxer joined the original Broadway cast of Back to the Future.[10] In keeping with a longtime Broadway opening tradition, Saxer donned the Legacy Robe.[1]
Saxer participated in a workshop of Smash in 2024.[11]
Personal life
[edit]Saxer is close friends with Ashley Park, with whom she performed in Mean Girls; during the COVID-19 pandemic, Park lived with Saxer's family for a period of time.[12]
Stage credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 42nd Street | Ensemble | Regional, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera | [1][13] |
| 2014 | Bullets Over Broadway | Ensemble (replacement) | Broadway, St. James Theatre | [14] |
| Honeymoon in Vegas | Swing | Broadway, Nederlander Theatre | [15][16] | |
| 2015 | Moonshine: The Hee Haw Musical | April | Regional, Dallas Theater Center | [17] |
| 2016 | Cats | Swing (replacement) | Broadway, Neil Simon Theatre | [18] |
| Holiday Inn: The New Irving Berlin Musical | Ensemble | Broadway, Studio 54 | [19][20] | |
| 2017 | Mean Girls | Ensemble | Regional, National Theatre | [21] |
| 2018 | Broadway, August Wilson Theatre | [22] | ||
| 2021 | Karen Smith | U.S. National Tour | [23] | |
| 2023 | Back to the Future | Ensemble | Broadway, Winter Garden Theatre | [24] |
| 2024 | Death Becomes Her | Ensemble (replacement) | Broadway, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | [25] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "The Future Is Now! Jonalyn Saxer Dons the Robe for 'Back to the Future' · Actors' Equity Association". www.actorsequity.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- 1 2 Ginell, Cary (July 3, 2022). "Prodigal Daughter Returns Home: Jonalyn Saxer Stars in 5-Star's "Newsies"".
- ↑ Staff, TO Acorn (2018-01-25). "Saxer clan builds musical legacy". Thousand Oaks Acorn -. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "Cuse Conversation Jonalyn Saxer '14" (PDF). September 20, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ↑ Kircher, Madison Malone (2019-12-17). "Is Cats Actually a Good Broadway Gig? 3 Former Cats Weigh In". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "Jonalyn Saxer Talks About Her Return to the Stage and the Enduring Nature of "Mean Girls"". Encore Spotlight. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ Medeiros, Linnae. "VIDEO: MEAN GIRLS' Jonalyn Saxer Takes Over Instagram!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "Broadway Podcast Network - #141 - Jonalyn Saxer - MEAN GIRLS / WEST SIDE STORY MOVIE". broadwaypodcastnetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "Mike Faist to Bring 'Cool' Factor to Steven Spielberg's West Side Story Film as Riff". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "Back to the Future™ Trilogy — Announcing the Complete Broadway Cast of Back to the Future: The Musical Who Are Destined to Change Musical Theatre History". Back to the Future™ Trilogy. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ jessezolisnki (2024-01-04). "Smash Continues Broadway Development With Six-Week Workshop". Columbus. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "'Emily in Paris Star' Ashley Park on Season 2 — Interview Broadway Mean Girls Netflix". L'Officiel USA. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "42nd Street - Program" (PDF). Pittsburgh CLO. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Jonalyn Saxer: Welcome to Broadway". VCON Stage. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Tony Danza in 'Honeymoon in Vegas': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 15, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Honeymoon in Vegas". Playbill. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ ""We Love Jesus, But We Drink a Little": Hear First Clips of 'Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical'". Playbill. August 26, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Is Cats a Good Broadway Gig? Three Former Cats Weigh In". Vulture. December 20, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Spend a Two-Show Day at Holiday Inn With Jonalyn Saxer". Playbill. December 22, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Holiday Inn". Roundabout Theatre Company. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "World Premiere of Mean Girls Musical Officially Opens November 19". Playbill. November 19, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Mean Girls". Playbill. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Get a First Look at the National Tour of Mean Girls". Playbill. September 24, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Back to the Future: The Musical Officially Opens on Broadway August 3". Playbill. August 3, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Death Becomes Her". Playbill. Retrieved June 18, 2026.