Jenny Mercein is an actor, teacher, director, producer, writer, and communication skills expert currently living in New Orleans. She is an Associate Professor at Tulane University teaching acting and storytelling and is the proud recipient of the 2023 Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award. She is a proud producer of Roleplay, a play and documentary film project exploring student perspectives on love, sex, power, and consent. The play script, which Jenny readied for publication during an earlier residency at A Studio in the Woods, is available via Dramatic Publishing. The Roleplay documentary premiered at SXSW in March of 2024 and is currently touring colleges across the country. At this residency, Jenny will be creating a study guide to accompany the documentary and amplify the impact of the film

Portrait by Laura Flannery

“In this time of global pandemic, it felt like one of the only places on earth where I could go and turn off my worries and temporarily focus on creative endeavors. I will most remember the sense of peace and serenity I found at A Studio in the Woods. And the new friendships I formed with fellow residents.” – Jenny Mercein, 2020