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JILLIAN LEFF
CHICAGO-BASED ACTOR | PLAYWRIGHT
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
MARCH 3 - 24, 2025
Jillian takes a Scene Study Master Class through Remy Bumppo, where participants tackle a new scene each week with a guest director from theatres such as Goodman, Rivendell, and Northlight.
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
Reading of The Lesbian Pirate Show as a part of Laughing Stock's Commedia dell'Arte New Work Festival. Jillian read as Columbina and Dottore.
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
Jillian's play Missed Opportunities is listed as a Finalist in the 2025 ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition.
FEBRUARY 6, 2025
Jillian is nominated for a Non-Equity Jeff Award in the "Artistic Specialization" category for her Fight Choreography in Die Hard 4 Your Luv at The Factory Theater.
JANUARY 14, 2025
First rehearsal for the staged reading of The Lesbian Pirate Show, a part of Laughing Stock Theatre's 2025 New Works Festival.
DECEMBER 15, 2024
Jillian is on set for the short film Isms and Ish, with OBE Studios. Jillian plays Megan, the lead's sister.
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
FLUSH
Jane: Abortion and the Underground*
Cymbeline
Richard III
Women of 4G
Last Night in Karaoke Town
Missed Opportunities
The Good Fight
She Kills Monsters
Twelfth Night
The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls
Goddam Geniuses
Women
Anon(ymous)
Peter/Wendy
Butch Lesbian
Heather Booth
Cornelius/Others/Fight Captain
Buckingham/Fight Captain
Ensign Pierce/Fight Captain
Shawn
Max
Cicely
Tilly
Valentine/Musician/Priest
Annie
Erwin Schrodinger
Beth/Carl
Calista/Serza
Lost Boy/Fight Captain
Campfire Repertory Theatre
Idle Muse Theatre Company
Midsommer Flight
Babes With Blades
Babes With Blades
The Factory Theater
Cuckoo's Theater Project
Babes With Blades
Cuckoo's Theater Project
Midsommer Flight
Cuckoo's Theater Project
Runaways Lab Theatre
Cuckoo's Theater Project
Cuckoo's Theater Project
Cuckoo's Theater Project
* - Jeff Nomination: Ensemble - Play (2024)
DOWNLOAD MY RESUMES
Writing
WRITING
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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