A polymath Brooklyn-based writer, actor, director, visual artist, activist, and producer committed to creating and participating in intersectional feminist work.
Jenny received her BFA in Acting and graduated Cum Laude from Emerson College.
Upon graduation, Jenny proudly worked for the NYC’s The Knowledge Project coordinating a 5-borough literacy, theater and mentoring program with at-risk youth.
In 2007, Jenny founded the production company The Process Group with Rebecca Whitehurst. TPG is responsible for NYC theater productions of John Patrick Shanley's Savage In Limbo, Nicholas Gray's Population:8, and Michael Aronov's Off-bway production of Manigma, as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Annual Required Reading Series, and the web series "Lady Business News."
Training
Jenny received her BFA in Acting and graduated Cum Laude from Emerson College.
Ms. Grace trained at Anne Bogart's SITI company in Suzuki and Viewpoints, J. Michael Miller's The Actor's Center in Advanced Studio, Scott Freeman's private studio, Shakespeare and Co.'s Shakespeare Intensive, and scene study at The Barrow Group.
Thomas G. Pullen School for the Performing Arts
Maryland Honor Choir
Levine School of Music
Corcoran College of Arts
She received the Maryland Distinguished Scholarship for the Performing Arts in 2000.
Acting
Jenny has had the privilege of performing varied and colorful characters throughout her career, from Shakespeare's naive and sweet Miranda, to the bold and feisty Linda Rotunda
“Standouts in the cast are Jenny Grace… she’s got the mannerisms down pat. When this broad lifts her index finger into the air or rolls her head, you know she ain’t takin’ nuttin’ from nobody.”
- Edge New York
“Grace and Whitehurst are dominant forces, dueling for titles in the most willful and most compelling categories.” The Ticker), from the noir femme fatale in Sebastian Piras's "Fog," to the confused and vulnerable romantic lead with multiple personalities, Gwen, in Robert Vornkahl's feature "Completely Normal" (available through Amazon Prime).
In 2010, Jenny was cast as the love-lorn photographer, Kate in Max Weissberg's feature Summertime. Summertime premiered at NYC's First Time Festival in 2012 and was honored with the "Best Screenplay" award by Martin Scorsese.
In 2011, Jenny had the honor of playing the dream role of Nora in Ibsen's A Dolls House at the historic Hamilton-Murray Theater.
"That would be Nora Helmer, who has been played on stage and screen by the likes of Ruth Gordon, Claire Bloom, Liv Ullmann, Jane Fonda, and Janet McTeer. That makes Jenny Grace’s fine take on Nora no small feat."
- U.S.1
"In the demanding central role, Ms. Grace’s Nora is charming and richly varied in her demeanor. The range of emotions she experiences and the transformation that takes place through the three acts of the play, but especially in the final act as she decides to take control of her life and leave her husband and children, present formidable difficulties for any actress, and most of the great actresses of the past century have taken on that challenge with varied success. This actress, along with her character, definitely comes into her own in the final act, and Ms. Grace presents a strong, articulate, and sympathetic Nora." - Town Topics
"This night belongs to Grace. Her Nora starts off energetic and full of life but notice how she expresses that energy as she practices dancing. Torvald plays piano as Nora says to him, “Direct me, teach me, the way you always have” with passion and anger. She is soon out of control in her dancing, just as the events in her life are spiraling out of control. Thanks to Grace and Dinkins, PST is ending its season in style."
- U.S.1
In 2012, Jenny was cast as Sarah in Eleanor Wilson's Possum. Possum was awarded Best Short Film at the Emerge Film Festival and the Nitehawk Shorts Festival and was the official selection at The New Hope Film Festival, The Garden State Film Festival, The Lighthouse International Film Festival, The Tall Grass Film Festival, The Post Alley Film Festival, The St. Kilda Film Festival, The New York Shorts Festival, The Maryland Film Festival, The Picture Farm Film Festival, The Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, The Catskill Mountains film Festival and WAMM Fest.
In 2013, Jenny was cast as Laura, one of the leads in Tina Cesa Ward's hit digital series, Producing Juliet. Producing Juliet's premier headlined London's Raindance Film Festival, and it's first season was nominated for three Independent Series Awards.
As an actress, Jenny is perhaps most known as the romantic lead in the indie darling Completely Normal . Completely Normal was nominated for Best Actress (Indie Gathering International Film Festival), Best Actor (Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Alahambra Theater Film Festival), and Best Director (Indie Gathering International Film Festival), and won Best Ensemble (Chain Film Festival), Best Feature (Kingston Film Festival). Best Cinematography (Chain Film Festival), Best Narrative Feature (Metropolitan Film Festival), Best Comedy Feature Film (Chain Film Festival), Best Score (Chain Film Festival), and Best Romantic Comedy (The Indie Gathering International Film Festival). Completely Normal is now available for streaming through Amazon Prime.
Writing
Ms. Makholm is also a published poet, playwright, and screenwriter. Her indie musical, Relent (book and lyrics by Jenny Grace, music by Ian Wehrle), was produced as a part of The WorkShop Theater's 2013-14 season and nominated for an Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding New Music.
Her most recent play, Vanquished, was a Eugene O'Neill conference 2019 Finalist; 21st Century Voices New Play Festival 2020 Finalist; and Jane Chambers Excellence in Feminist Playwriting Award 2020 Finalist.
Producing
Jenny has co-produced and directed the films He Looks and Looks, One Art, and Skin Balloon, co-produced the plays Savage In Limbo (w/Henry Zebrowski), Tony-award winner Michael Aronov's Off-Broadway production of Manigma, as well as the hit podcast The Blondes, based off the bestseller (Best Fiction Book of the Year by Kirkus, BookPage, and NPR) of the same name.
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