Jessica Altchiler is a multi-hyphenate artist and teacher, passionately spending time in the roles of actor, singer, dancer, associate director & choreographer, coach, teacher, writer, and podcast creator & host.
Her versatile career has included being the Dance Captain, Swing, and Assistant Choreographer for the Fiddler on the Roof 1st National Tour, playing the supporting role of Brandi Boardman in the feature film Candlewood, associate directing regional theater productions, creating and hosting The Story Project: Podcast, and teaching workshops at colleges around the country including Emerson College, Marymount Manhattan, and University of Arizona.
Jessica is based in Atlanta and frequently returns to New York City to work and spend time with family and friends. She most recently played the supporting role of Brandi Boardman in the feature film Candlewood.
Jessica began her career as the Dance Captain and Swing on the Fiddler on the Roof 1st National Tour (directed by Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Hofesh Shechter). She covered 8 roles, including the principal track of Chava. Following her run on the tour, she was asked to return as the Assistant Choreographer where she joined the creative team in bringing the tour back to life after the pandemic.
Jessica then became the Assistant Director for May We All: A New Country Musical (directed by Shelley Butler and produced by CuzBro Productions and Lively McCabe Entertainment), which had it’s world premiere at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Her most recent position was Associate Director for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Geva Theater Center, also directed by Shelley Butler.
Committed to supporting artists’ health, Jessica offers private coaching and workshops in dance, musical theater, yoga, audition preparation (for college and professional work), and overall career coaching. She has offered workshops at studios and colleges around the country including Emerson College, Marymount Manhattan College, University of Arizona, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Old Dominion University, Seattle Pacific University and more.
Jessica is the creator and host of the podcast, The Story Project, which invites artists to voice their experiences to heal through conversation, cultivate community, and create change in the industry and the world. She interviews some of the most talented and inspirational artists of this generation, and listeners are guaranteed to walk away with advice and wisdom to incorporate into their personal and professional lives. An avid writer, she also shares her essays, reflections, and poems on her blog and Substack newsletter.
Credits
Dance Captain & Swing — Fiddler on the Roof, 1st National Tour
Assistant Choreographer — Fiddler on the Roof, 1st National Tour
Assistant Director — May We All: A New Country Musical, TPAC
Associate Director — Cinderella, Geva Theater Center
Supporting Actress — Candlewood, feature film
Certifications & Training
BFA in Dance & BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College
ABT® Teacher Training Intensive (Primary through Level 3)
200-hr Certified Yoga Teacher (LL Studio)
Body Project Facilitator (National Eating Disorder Association)
Trauma-Informed Yoga Training (Exhale to Inhale)
Youth Protection Advocates in Dance® Safety & Wellness Certification.