"Do the Thing.”

Jen Jurek is a director, teacher, stage player, and the founder of Hallet's Cove Theater ® based out of Astoria Queens.  Jen is also the founder of Astoria Women's Improv, a community loving program that has become its own tour de force where attendees tend to return again and again for more.    After graduating from Ball State University in 1999 Jen worked in theaters across the country in various roles. Then, settling back into NYC, Jen joined the Blue Hill Troupe’s charity organization as well as the Congregation Rodeph Sholom Theater Company.  Through these organizations Jen discovered the intrinsic value of community arts programming and its power to hold individuals that are looking for a soft place to land. Jen worked on understanding the traps of creative blockage through a lifetime of trial and error in what is known as “the business”. Recently, Jen presented alongside esteemed colleague, Jessica Koblenz, PsyD, CGP, Licensed Psychologist and Certified Group Practitioner at the Expressive Arts Therapy Conference in NYC. There they were able to present the results of an IRB approved study of improv; This, as well as, engage a group of professional therapists in specialized programming designed to inspire new ways of reaching their clients. Jen is so happy to continue to explore our humane-ness in and through interpretation of Spolin based improvisational games, wonder, and a personalized theatrical approach for every single person.