rocker

With her endless enthusiasm, cheerful aplomb and uniquely diverse background, Jennifah Chard epitomizes the phrase often used to describe her: “Jill of all trades.”
Chard worked in punk rock clubs in the 1980s (”I saw all the great groups”), was a landscaper (”it got me in shape”) and a nanny (”I love children”), acted as department store security (”I pretended to shop for eight hours at a time”) and made candy at Harmony Foods (”the recipe for Gummi bears is a trade secret”).
And those are only her past jobs. At present, Chard is a part-time actor, radio DJ, professional organizer, sous chef and cafe assistant, as well as a stage manager/house manager/theater technician for various local arts groups. Her velvety, melodious voice is familiar to fans of her late-night KUSP radio show.
But the occupation that she calls the most challenging - and rewarding - is her current position as company manager for Shakespeare Santa Cruz, a group she’s worked with since 2004. “There are so many details,” she says with relish, listing a daunting array of responsibilities from assisting with casting to securing housing for nearly 100 designers, directors, technicians and actors.
“We’re basically creating alchemy for the company,” says Jennifah, “trying to make them autonomous but connected with the community.” She adds, “We make art together, as a team - that’s why I do what I do. I’m very excited about the company that (new artistic director) Marco Barricelli has brought
Chard’s high energy was evident early: “From about age 8, I was always organizing neighborhood kids and putting on shows.” As an adult she studied communications at two colleges and earned a theater arts degree at Cabrillo College, where she received the James Brewer Award.
She laughs, “I got sucked into theater at Cabrillo when someone dropped out of ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.’” Chard loves acting and recalls her 1998 experience in “Rashomon,” directed by Wilma Marcus Chandler, as a high point.

mercurynews.com


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