About Jen

Jen Kober's "B True Hollywood Story" begins in New Orleans, where I was born the only son of a poor sharecropper. Soon after, I spent my formative years at an all-girl's school in Memphis, Tennessee. It was there that I first developed a love for the arts. I took classes in ballet, violin, and acting and soon realized what a flair I had for the dramatic. Actually the melodramatic as my friends and family will tell you! In 4th grade I was dealt the devastating blow that we would be leaving Memphis to head for Lake Charles, or "Chuck" as I lovingly call our fair city. I went to EDS, Queen of Heaven, and Barbe High School, wreaking havoc in the halls and bringing great pains to the lives of many educators. To all of those extremely saintly, patient teachers, I say thank you!

Once my high school career came to it's bittersweet end, I found myself in an acting conservatory in Chicago, living it up in the BIG city. Chicago was AWESOME. I studied acting and improv at the Second City Player's Workshop (The old stomping ground of Comedy legends like John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin and Bill Murray) and took classes at Improv Olympic (The theatre that trained Mike Myers, Chris Farley and Andy Dick).

Then, after getting robbed and pistol whipped on my front porch, I decided to leave Chicago and head back to Chuck to finish my degree at Good Ole McNeese. Once I had enrolled, I began the daunting task of trying to pass Math 113. They say the third time's a charm, but in my case it took four. Thank goodness I finally got the teacher who spoke English. While in college pursuing my degree in theatre, I hooked up with Dr. Susan Kelso, who suggested I work on a one-woman show that I had been writing for about a year. She produced and directed my show, sUbcIty, in the fall of 1996,which opened to critical acclaim (which at McNeese means the girl from The Contraband said it was good), and it went on to win the state and regional American College Theatre Festivals. McNeese was also the spawning ground for an improv/sketch comedy troupe I led called Dysfunction Junction. This hilarious group of comedians included Jeff Derouen, Jeff Moreaux, Lance Nelson, Steven Cooper, Amy Brassette and me. We performed weekly shows both at McNeese (The old 3rd floor Kaufman Theatre Lab) and at Dagostino's.

With my illustrious college career behind me, I paved several new paths for myself. I tried teaching in Dallas, selling records in Chicago, I even worked for a few years at Walt Disneyworld's Pleasure Island as an improvisor at the Comedy Warehouse where I performed with Wayne Brady, Drew Carey, Chris Tucker and Lily Tomlin. But something bigger was waiting for me. That's right. I was primed and ready to take my place among the UNEMPLOYED. So I gathered up my friends, and hit the open road. Me and The Wicked Funny Hella Cool Band played cities all across the U.S. and Canada including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Vancouver, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Miami. But after all the glamour of 200 mile drives and gas station food wore off, we decided that the easiest place to be poor was right here in Chuck. After all, my Mama's fridge is always full, and her laundry facilities are free! Then, I met Justin Kase and BOOM! I gots a job, some insurance, and all the free CDs I can carry <grin>