#jen bender

[beginningspod]

It's time for Beginnings, the podcast where writer and performer Andy Beckerman talks to the comedians, writers, filmmakers and musicians he admires about their earliest creative experiences and the numerous ways in which a creative life can unfold.

On today's episode, I talk to Jen Bender of Cusp. Originally from Long Island, Jen and her bandmates formed Cusp a little over five years ago in Rochester, before moving to Chicago in 2022. A year later, they released their first album You Can Do It All, followed by the Thanks So Much EP in 2024, and their latest, What I Want Doesn't Want Me Back, which came out in October last year and was one of my favorite albums of 2025!

I'm on Twitter , Bluesky and Instagram, and you can get the show with:

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[juliaeffingmurney]

There’s so much bad going on, we wanted to share some recent Julia pics, because a little bit of loveliness can make things better.

(Credits: Jennifer Broski/BWW, Monica Simoes/Playbill, and twitter posts by Teddy Schober, Keala Settle, Covenant House, WOW Summit MMT, and Julia herself.)

[the-ensemblist]

Q&A: Jen Bender

Connect with Jen: website | twitter | instagram

Jen's Episode: Associate & Resident Directors (#73)

Where are you from? Marion, Ohio

Broadway credits: The Lion King, Avenue Q, Honeymoon in Vegas, Steel Magnolias, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Smell of Success

How did you hear you’d booked your first Broadway show? I was the music assistant on Sweet Smell of Success during their out-of-town tryout in Chicago, where I lived at the time. The producers said, “It’s a shame we can’t take you with us to Broadway.” I said, “You can! Just tell me when to be in New York!” And I moved from Chicago to New York on our one-week hiatus. 

What is your favorite event in the Broadway community? Broadway Bowling!

What’s something about Broadway that fascinates you? Shows open and shows close, but Broadway an entity and a community is a consistent force.

What, other than theatre, has inspired you recently? Nature. Every day. 

If I could have coffee with any living person, it would be… President Obama. 

If I could trade places with anybody for a day, I would choose… LeBron James.

To be successful in this business, it takes… Saying yes to every opportunity that comes your way, without regard for the paycheck or hours or location.

Tell us a secret. I would, but then I’d have to kill you. 

[songbookers-blog]

Artist Bios updated!

[songbookers-blog]

Press page has been updated!