If the words effervescent, sparkly, and bubbly bring to mind a nice cold bottle of vintage champagne, they also aptly describe Wilton Manors reigning queen of nightlife and cabaret entertainment, Jennifer McClain. South Florida theater impresario Ronnie Larsen, a big fan of the songstress, calls McClain “The Meryl Streep of Dixie Highway.” And just like Meryl, Jennifer seems to be everywhere at once, entertaining us up and down Wilton Drive with her ribald tunes, witticisms, and musical theater standards. Her shows tend to be full-blown “lovefests” where members of the audience are welcomed with open arms and many times personally mentioned from the stage. In fact, promoting fellow entertainers is one of McClain’s biggest missions.
I had a chance to ZOOM with this busy diva on a rare night off and discuss everything from Broadway legends to her favorite leading men.
Charles Baran: Hi Jennifer! You look great!
Jennifer McClain: Thanks Charles! I did my hair just for you.
Charles Baran: You are definitely the busiest person I know. Every night you are doing a show somewhere.
Jennifer McClain: December was super crazy this year. I did 29 shows in one month!
Charles Baran: Wow. Where can we catch you this month?
Jennifer McClain: I’m at Alibi every Saturday at 7pm and on Monday’s I have my Cast Party at Aquaplex at 8:30. Twice a month, I’m with Miss Bouvèé at Alibi in our Boozy Belters show. This year, for Pride, I’ll be back in Key West. Plus, I’ll be up in Fire Island this summer.
Charles Baran: Cast Party is lots of fun. You bring such joy to everyone. And you do a lot for the theater community in South Florida.
Jennifer McClain: I love to promote my friends and the shows they are doing. We have a good time. A few members from the cast of the & Juliet tour stopped by last week and sang a few songs. It was great.
Charles Baran: At what age did you discover your love of musical theater and performing?
Jennifer McClain: I was seven years old and taking tap lessons. We did a performance where we wore these shiny green overalls. It was so much fun. I knew right away performing was my life. I’m from Buffalo, but I got my bachelor’s in musical theater from Baldwin Wallace in Ohio.
Charles Baran: Did your parents have cast albums?
Jennifer McClain: Not too many. We had Man of La Mancha and Evita. I remember my mom had a book of sheet music called Broadway Shows of the 20’s and 30’s. I loved that book. I think it’s still in her house.
Charles Baran: What new Broadway shows do you love?
Jennifer McClain: Well, I’m obsessed with Operation Mincemeat. Obsessed. But there’s nothing I can really sing from it. On the other hand, Death Becomes Her is amazing and there’s lots of stuff I can sing. I’m doing For The Gaze. It’s a great number. I’d love, love to play the Megan Hilty role.
Charles Baran: You’d be perfect! Let’s find out who your favorites are. Carol Channing or Ethel Merman?
Jennifer McClain: Ethel Merman. She has balls!
Charles Baran: Sutton Foster or Kelli O’Hara?
Jennifer McClain: That’s a tough one. I’d have to go with Kelli O’Hara. If you’ve never heard her sing They Don’t Let You in the Opera (If You’re a Country Star), pull it up on YouTube. It’s brilliant!
Charles Baran: What Broadway leading man would you want to share the stage with?
Jennifer McClain: OMG. There’s so many of them. Ramin Karimloo, Cheyenne Jackson, Neil Patrick Harris…Josh Gad!! And of course, Mandy Patinkin. I think he’s just the best.
Charles Baran: Are you a Rodgers and Hammerstein gal or a Kander and Ebb gal?
Jennifer McClain: Kander and Ebb all the way!
Charles Baran: Somehow I knew you’d say that. Thank you Jennifer for a great interview. As we say in the theater, “Break a leg!”
Jennifer McClain: Thank you Charles! See you soon!
