MEET JEAN McCORMICK
Ensemble and Mrs. Lovett understudy, Sweeney Todd

At the Theatre Company: Debut. Regional theatres: A Christmas Carol (Geva Theatre), My Fair Lady (Cape Playhouse), Mary Poppins (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Les Miserables (Northern Stage) and Oklahoma! (Tent Theatre). New York credits include: On The Air (York Theatre Developmental Reading Series), ‘Til Death Do Us Part (Gallery Players Overtures Series), Silk Stockings (Lost Musicals), Goldilocks, I Love My Wife (Opening Doors Theater Company). Others: Encore (Tokyo Disney Sea), Hairspray (RCCL) and various studio recordings for Disney and Royal Caribbean Productions.
​

• Hometown: Bethpage, N.Y. 
• Training: BA in Drama, Hofstra University 
• What was the role that changed your life? I got involved in a youth group production of Godspell in high school – having no idea if I could sing, act or do anything useful on stage. I was just looking to have fun with friends. I ended up getting positive feedback, and had such a good time performing in the show that I decided I wanted to feel that good all the time. Thus, a career path was born, and my life was changed.
• Why are you an actor? As a kid, I wanted to grow up and be everything –  a singer, a dancer, a vet, a baker – I think acting gives me the opportunity to be all the different things I want to be – at least for a little while – all in one lifetime. It’s always creative, always changing, never boring – what a fantastic job to be lucky enough to have! 
• What would you be doing for a career if you weren’t an actor? I would still be in the arts. Writing, probably. Part of me always wanted to be Sally Rogers from The Dick Van Dyke Show – if that doesn’t date me too much.
• Ideal scene partner: Katharine Hepburn. She worked in every medium and had an incredibly strong point of view. I feel like it would be equal parts thrilling and terrifying to work a scene with her. So, why not live on the edge?
• Why does this production of Sweeney Todd matter? I think Stephen Sondheim is the most brilliant writer musical theater has ever known, and I think that this is his greatest piece. So, it matters. 
• What do you hope the audience gets out of it? I like to say this show is ‘demented and de-lovely.’ I hope they get the joy out of it. This show is usually thought of as dark – and it is. But, there is a joy you can find in moments of the music, the lyrics and the characters that really gives the show an even greater dimension and makes the show that much more effective – I think.
  
• Finish this sentence: “All I want is …”
  “… peace, love, music and chocolate.”
• Twitter handle: @JeanMccormickNY
• Website: JeanMccormick.com

​More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Sweeney Todd: Ticket information

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by High Wheeler (adapted by Christopher Bond); musical adaptation by DeVotchKa

Previous NewsCenter coverage of Sweeney Todd:
Theatre Company giddily going down rabbit hole in 2015-16
DeVotchKa frontman promises a Sweeney Todd that’s ‘loud and proud’
DCPA announces DeVotchka-infused Sweeney Todd casting
​Where the band meets the blade: Rehearsals open
Co-stars on bringing DeVotchKa’s fresh blood to Sondheim
Video sneak peek with DeVotchKa

Previous Sweeney Todd profiles (to date):
Meet Danny Rothman

Previous 2015-16 ‘Meet the Cast’ profiles
Meet Adeoye of Lookingglass Alice and All the Way
Meet Kevin Berntson of The Nest
Meet J. Paul Boehmer of As You Like It
Meet Molly Brennan of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Courtney Capek of A Christmas Carol
Meet Todd Cerveris of All the Way
Meet Brian D. Coats of The Nest
Meet Tad Cooley of Tribes
Meet Paul DeBoy of All the Way
Meet Allen Dorsey of A Christmas Carol
Meet Kevin Douglas of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Napoleon M. Douglas of A Christmas Carol
Meet Brian Dykstra of The Nest
Meet Isabel Ellison of Tribes
Meet Mariana Fernandez of FADE
Meet Kate Finch of Tribes
Meet Ella Galaty of A Christmas Carol
Meet Mike Hartman of All the Way
Meet Ben Heil of A Christmas Carol
Meet Carolyn Holding of As You Like It
Meet Drew Horwitz of As You Like It
Meet Maurice Jones of As You Like It
Meet Geoffrey Kent of As You Like It and All the Way
Meet Emily Kron of As You Like It
Meet Nick LaMedica of As You Like It
Meet Victoria Mack of The Nest
Meet Bianca Mikahn of How I Got Over
Meet Andrew Pastides of Tribes
Meet Ralonda Simmons of How I Got Over
Meet Shannan Steele of A Christmas Carol
Meet Carly Street of The Nest
Meet Samuel Taylor of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Lindsey Noel Whiting of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Jake Williamson  of A Christmas Carol
Meet Matt Zambrano of As You Like It