Jacquelyn Piro Donovan

Jacquelyn has starred as Mama Who in Broadway's The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Betty Schaefer (opposite Petula Clark) in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, Lily in the Tony award winning The Secret Garden, (both directed by Susan H. Schulman), Susan Lawrence in Maltby/Shire's big, (directed by Eric Schaeffer), Ellen in Miss Saigon; a role she later recreated on Broadway, and most recently in Andrew Lloyd Weber's new version of The Wizard of Oz as The Wicked Witch.

No stranger to Schonberg and Boublil, Jacquelyn holds the distinction of portraying both Cosette and Fantine in the mega-hit Les Miserables, the only actor in the original Broadway Company to do so. She originated the role of Cosette in the Third National and San Francisco Companies, later reprised the role for her Broadway debut, and in 1996, and most recently 2002, returned to Broadway as Fantine.
Off Broadway Jacquelyn has starred in Sweet Adeline (Nellie, City Center Encores!), Kathie Lee Gifford's Under the Bridge (Madame Calcet, Zipper Theatre, Recording - Lambchop Productions), Suburb (Alison, York Theatre), The Ark (Sariah, 37 Arts Theatre, Recording), Have a Nice Life (Jackie, New World Stages, NYMF), I Remember Mama (Mama, York Theatre), and most recently in the critically acclaimed revival of Close Than Ever (York Theatre).
She has performed in many pre-broadway workshops and readings including The Witches of Eastwick (Sukie, American Premiere at The Signature Thetatre directed by Eric Schaefer), Behind the Limelight (Hedda Hopper, NYS&F @ Vassar), Marty (Mary, Reading starring John C. Reilly), Time and Again (Kate, Reading), Winchell, the Musical (June Winchell, Workshop), the world premieres of Nevermore (Elmira, Signature Theatre) and Heartland (Sarah, Madison Rep & Dallas Summer Musicals).
She won the 2004 Helen Hayes Award, Best Actress, for her portrayal as Lizzie Curry in Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's 110 in the Shade at Eric Schaeffer's Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 2005, she won the Conneticut Critics Award, Outstanding Actress, for her portrayal as Millie in Goodspeed Opera House's production of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.
Regional Favorites include the title roles in Evita and Gypsy (co-starring with JoAnne Worley), Grey Gardens (Edith/Little Edie), Funny Girl (Fanny), Hello Dolly (Dolly Levi), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Cats (Grizabella), She Loves Me (Amalia), Into The Woods (Witch), Guys and Dolls, (Sarah), and Eve Harrington in All about Eve (co-starring with Gena Rowlands). Television appearances include Paul Sorvino's Movie Development of King Lear (Reagan), Another World, Broadway on Broadway, CBS's The Early Show and the final broadcast of The Rosie O'Donnell Show.
In concert, Jacquelyn most recently sang with The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, and on separate occasions, had the honor of singing for President Bush and President Reagan. Her "rafter-reaching vocal chords" were heard singing the National Anthem for the Orlando Magics and the Rochester Americans.