Jeri- Broadway Star!

Jeri was born in Würzburg, Germany, into a military family. She is the youngest of three kids known as “the three J’s”—Jo, Jim, and Jeri. Not long after, the family moved back to the States, living in Massachusetts, Virginia, Kansas, and Texas. She spent quite a few years—grades 5 through 12—in the DC area, in Springfield, VA.

Even as a seventh grader, Jeri had a clear vision of herself as a Broadway actor. However, she didn’t share this vision with anyone at the time, leading to quite a few amusing and clueless conversations with her parents.

She began college in Ashville, North Carolina before transferring to Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where she studied Voice, specifically Opera, because they didn’t offer Musical Theater at the time. Then it was off to New York City to chase her Broadway dreams—auditioning by day and waiting tables by night.
One of her favorite roles, and the show with which she earned her union card was The Mystery of Edwin Drood, where she performed and learned alongside Broadway’s best.

After joining the union, Jeri toured with the 25th Anniversary Production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF starring TOPOL. She played Fruma-Sarah, performing the iconic dream sequence every night, while atop a dancer’s shoulders. After 2 years of international touring with the show, it opened on Broadway at the Gershwin Theater on November 18, 1990, winning the Tony in 1991 for best Broadway Revival of a Musical and breaking all Broadway attendance records. One of her most iconic roles? Grizabella in Cats—yes, the Grizabella who sings the legendary “Memory” (not Memories, as so many mistakenly say!). Other Broadway roles include Fantine in Les Miserables, and Eva Peron in EVITA. She also performed Prudie Cupp at the Ryman Auditorium in PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, which led to her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Some may remember her as the American Home Design spokesperson, here in Nashville.

It was during a tour that she met her now-husband, Randy, who was driving the crew show coach. They had met in a previous city earlier on the tour but reunited unexpectedly one night in Toronto when both had a rare evening off. A year and a half later on Thanksgiving Day, under a magnolia tree at the famous SAN DIEGO ZOO Randy asked, and Jeri said YES - the rest, as they say, is history!
They married—only to find their schedules kept them apart more than together, as he was on the road, and Jeri was in NYC. Jeri eventually accepted a job to appear on RV Today, a travel show that ran for several seasons, and so the Rickels moved to Nashville, TN from New York City. The show started filming in Nashville, but then moved production to Los Angeles, so Jeri flew out to L.A. every few months to film.

She’s now called Nashville home for over 20 years. Today, Jeri headlines her own one-woman show, blending storytelling with beloved Broadway hits. Jeri's performances run the gamut from solo piano accompaniment to full Symphony Orchestra, small intimate venues to large Performing Arts Centers. She also brings that same magic to cruise ships, traveling the globe and tailoring her show for audiences from every corner of the world—a true performer’s challenge! Jeri continues to audition for shows, recently doing an industry showcase in NYC for a new musical called BRILLIANCE, about the life of the Hollywood actress Francis Farmer.

Jeri is a cancer survivor and proud dog mom to a tiny pup named Eddie. She’s full of energy, wit, and incredible stories. Photographing her was such fun—her warmth and sparkle lit up the studio. I hope she brings her one-woman show to Nashville- I have no doubt it is fabulous!

I would love to photograph YOU next and feature your story on my blog!! I have met so many remarkable women so far and want to keep it going! If this is something you are thinking you might want to do, I would love to talk to you further.

Click the button below for info on the 40 Over 40 Campaign

40 Over 40

40 Over 40: Spotlight on Jeri

Jeri- Broadway Star!

Archive

Quick Links

Contact Me