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"Jessica Gruver is sensational as the gypsy dancer Esmeralda" - Herald Journal
"As the faithless Mayzie la Bird, the luscious Jessica Gruver uses her enormous singing and dancing talent to channel the glamorous "it" girls of the 1950's." - Herald Journal
"Jessica Gruver makes a lovely and sparkling Anna Held. Her performance of the penultimate song “Toyland” is beautifully simple and mesmerizing." North Country Public Radio
"As the faithless Mayzie la Bird, the luscious Jessica Gruver uses her enormous singing and dancing talent to channel the glamorous "it" girls of the 1950's." - Herald Journal
"Jessica Gruver makes a lovely and sparkling Anna Held. Her performance of the penultimate song “Toyland” is beautifully simple and mesmerizing." North Country Public Radio
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania didn’t offer many opportunities for engagement with the stage but Jessica (Jessy to her friends and family) didn’t let that stop her from performing. Young Jessy occupied her time dancing, playing piano, climbing trees and appearing in a McDonald’s commercial alongside a cartoon dinosaur. It wasn’t until high school, however, that Jessy really began exploring singing and acting. After school, she worked as an accompanist in a private vocal studio, and after months of gazing longingly (and with much coaxing from this beloved teacher) Jessy ventured over to the other side of the piano. Since that fateful push, Jessy has performed throughout the United States and Asia.
Jessy is so grateful for the time she spent performing at the Venetian Macau Resort in China. She was thrilled to perform all over Asia including Hong Kong, Osaka, Tokyo and throughout India. She was especially delighted to share the stage with a string sextet comprised of members of her hometown Philadelphia Orchestra! Jessy loves to travel and this amazing six month engagement allowed her to explore eight Asian countries where she learned that Southeast Asian beaches and sunsets may just be the best, that it’s never too hot to delight in some yummy local soups, and that a Vespa can be a safe mode of transportation for three people, a goat and some chickens.
Jessy recently performed with PIFA on Cristal Palace, a collaboration between the Kimmel Center and Transe Expresse. Jessy's recent credits include the roles of Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mayzie in Seussical with the Utah Festival of Opera and Musical Theatre, as well as the role of Janet MacGregor and understudy for Liat in the Walnut Street Theatre's production of South Pacific.
Jessy appeared as Mayannah in Jose Rivera's Brainpeople with Luna Theatre Company and Kathleen and ensemble in Ragtime at Bristol Riverside Theatre. Other recent projects include performing both Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice at BRT as well as a soloist in BRT’s Broadway Collection Musicale and in their production of The Pirates of Penzance. She has appeared with Arden Theatre, The Broward StageDoor Theatre, The Media Theatre, The Savoy Company, ConcertOPERA Philadelphia, among others. Jessica holds an MM in Voice Performance and a BM in Music History from Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music. Jessy maintains an active private voice and piano studio throughout the Philadelphia area. When not performing, Jessy can be found on a yoga mat, riding her bike through the city, or snuggling her two loves E and P as well as her pup, and striving to be someone who always chooses adventure.