Jill Bess is an actress, director, and award-winning playwright. Jill has been involved in more than 60 productions from as far south as San Diego, California, up through Los Angeles, Reno, Seattle and on up to Anchorage, Alaska. Her work includes drama, musical theatre, children's theatre, light opera and comedic improvisation. In the state of Alaska Jill has directed, written for or acted for the original Alaska Repertory Theatre, Alaska Light Opera Theatre, Anchorage Opera, Alaska Theatre of Youth, Toast Theatre, Kokopelli, Eccentric Theatre Company and Anchorage Community Theatre and spent two crazy years as a part of the popular Whale Fat Follies. Jill has been teaching drama and musical theatre to children and adults for 22 years, including private classes, summer camps at Alaska Pacific University, Alaska Light Opera Theatre’s Artist’s in Residency program, and several Artist in Residency programs for the Anchorage School District. She served as Artistic Director for Anchorage Community Theatre for two seasons and is the founder and co-director of a new children's musical theatre troupe called "Alaska's Broadway Kidz!" Jill's other original works include "This Stranger My Friend", "No More", "The End of the Beginning" and other short plays and stories. Jill and her husband Joel, along with their kids Kevin and Katie, live in Anchorage.