Jessica Bower serves as an Artistic Specialist on the full-time education staff at The Judy, where she works closely with young artists as they develop their skills, confidence, and individuality onstage. She currently teaches Advanced Audition Lab, College Prep, Advanced Musical Theatre Scenes, Middle School Scene Study, and private audition coaching.

Jessica is especially passionate about helping students prepare for college and conservatory auditions. Many of her former students have gone on to programs including CCM, Point Park, Ithaca, Texas State, Stephens, and Webster.

As an actor, Jessica’s credits include NOISES OFF, A FEW GOOD MEN, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Springfield Little Theatre; MOON OVER BUFFALO and YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU with Tent Theatre; THE OTHER PLACE and THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN with Springfield Contemporary Theatre; and THE SCHUMANN PLAY with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Topeka Symphony. Her regional work has also included the NYC Fringe Festival, St. Louis Wisewrite Festival, The Storm Theatre, and Dalliance Theater.

Jessica’s SLT directing credits include MY SON PINOCCHIO JR., HUCK FINN, A CHRISTMAS STORY, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, and THE GIVER. She holds a BFA in Acting from Webster University’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

Whether she is coaching an audition, directing a scene, or preparing a student for their next step, Jessica loves helping young performers discover what makes them uniquely themselves as artists.