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JILLIAN LEFF
ACTOR | PLAYWRIGHT | STAGE COMBAT NERD
JILLIAN LEFF (she/her) is a Chicago based actor, playwright, and stage combat nerd. She is originally from Cleveland, OH and holds a BFA in Acting from Ball State University. In addition to working with different theatres across the city, she is an Ensemble Member and Literary Manager of Babes With Blades Theatre Company, and an Advanced Actor Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. When she isn't focused on the acting and writing thing, she can most likely be found binging a TV Show or eating potatoes. Find her on the internet @jilleleff.
About
RECENT NEWS
APRIL 17 - MAY 24, 2026
Run of 12 Ophelias by Caridad Svich and directed by Kamille Dawkins with Strawdog Theatre. Jillian is playing R (aka Rosencrantz) in this riff on Hamlet.
APRIL 17 - 18, 2026
Run of Luchadora! by Alvaro Saar Rios and directed by Lilyana Haugen at Benito Juarez Community School. Jillian is the Fight Director for this production.
APRIL 11 - MAY 10, 2026
Run of Poor Behavior by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Lauren Katz at Oil Lamp Theater. Jillian is the Fight Director for this production.
MARCH 21, 2026
Jillian is one of the panelists for Babes With Blades' webinar "Writing Violence and Intimacy for the Stage"
MARCH 16, 2026
Jillian receives a Recommended Pass in her Quarterstaff Renewal with the SAFD. The class was taught by Chuck Coyl.
MARCH 5 - 9, 2026
Jillian attends the Fight Director Training Workshop in Silver Spring, MD, as a part of their 2026 cohort.
News
Resume
ACTING RESUME
HEIGHT: 5'3" EYES: Brown HAIR: Black
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY BFA Acting, Cum Laude
STAGE COMBAT Advanced Actor Combatant - The Society of American Fight Directors
MEISNER Technique & Scene Study
THEATRE
12 Ophelias
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins
The Distrikt of Lake Michugun
Jane: Abortion and the Underground*
Richard III
Women of 4G
The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls
Missed Opportunities
She Kills Monsters
Goddam Geniuses
The Good Fight
Last Night in Karaoke Town
Cymbeline
Twelfth Night
Women
Anon(ymous)
Peter/Wendy
R
Leor/Musician
Chorus
Heather Booth
Buckingham/Fight Captain
Ensign Pierce/Fight Captain
Annie
Max
Tilly
Erwin Schrodinger
Cicely
Shawn
Cornelius/Others/Fight Captain
Valentine/Priest/Musician
Beth/Carl
Calista/Serza
Lost Boy/Fight Captain
Strawdog Theatre
Strawdog Theatre
Stage Left Theatre
Idle Muse Theatre Company
Babes With Blades
Babes With Blades
Cuckoo's Theatre
Cuckoo's Theatre
Cuckoo's Theatre
Runaways Lab Theatre
Babes With Blades
The Factory Theater
Midsommer Flight
Midsommer Flight
Cuckoo's Theatre
Cuckoo's Theatre
Cuckoo's Theatre
* - Jeff Nomination: Ensemble - Play (2024)
DOWNLOAD MY RESUMES
Writing
WRITING
THE MARK
-Henley Rose Playwright Competition for Women Finalist (2024)
-World Premiere with Babes With Blades (2025)
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THE S PARADOX
-Winner of Babes With Blades Theatre Company's Joining Sword & Pen Competition / Margaret W. Martin Award (2022)
-World Premiere with Babes With Blades (2024)
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SMALL WORLD
Co-Written with Joe Lino
-Jeff Award Nominee for New Work (2020)
-World Premiere with The New Coordinates (2019)
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MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
-World Premiere with The Cuckoo's Theater Project (2019)
-West Cost Premiere with Loft Ensemble (Los Angeles, CA) (2023)
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(NON)FICTION
-World Premiere with The Right Brain Project (2019)
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SHORT PLAYS
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CONTACT ME
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