I’m so glad you found me. My name is Jamie Karen, and I’m an actor, singer, dancer and songwriter. Born in Miami and raised by two loving and encouraging Brooklyn-born parents, I now call New York home with my husband, actor Mark Deklin and two children. I guess you could say that NewYork was always in my blood. At seven years old, I saw my first Broadway show, fell in love with theatre and never looked back. I studied at the Coconut Grove Playhouse, The Dance Center, and completed the Royal Academy of Dancing ballet syllabus. I graduated from the prestigious New World School of the Arts in the dance department and went on to attain my B.A. from Hofstra University in both Dance and Psychology.

I’ve performed in the Broadway production of “Man of La Mancha” (with Brian Stokes Mitchell and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), and at the Hollywood Bowl in Monty Python’s “Spamalot” (with Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Christian Slater). I played “Mary Delgado” on the first national tour of “Jersey Boys”, and understudied and performed the role of “Lady of the Lake” on the first national tour of “Spamalot”. Some favorite regional venues I’ve had the honor of performing at include Broadway at Music Circus, North Shore Music Theater, Kansas City Starlight Theater, and The Muny to name a few. I recently played “Velma Kelly” in CHICAGO at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina for a glorious eight-week run. Recent TV credits include “Annabella Zenghi” opposite Kevin Bacon on “City On A Hill”. In the past couple of years I’ve written and performed two sold-out one-woman shows at The Green Room 42; “If You’re Coming, Don’t Tell Me” and “Ego”, and made several appearances at 54 Below, and Birdland Jazz Club. While living in LA a number of years ago, I wrote and sold my original music to CBS and joined BMI.

But enough about the past. You might’ve noticed a small gap in my résumè — I choicefully took some years off to raise my two children, and now I’ve come back wiser, more receptive, more vulnerable and more willing than ever. I love training. I love to set new goals and see how far I can stretch. The process thrills me. It’s amazing how the older we get, the more we become who we were always meant to be. I love telling stories; the ones that I’m deeply familiar with, and the ones that I’ve yet to live. Thanks for coming along with me.

Please follow me on Instagram @jamiekaren111