Artist Bio

Jenapher Zheng (she/her/hers) is a first generation Chinese American actor, writer, gamer, and artist with her B.A.s in English and Theatre from UC Riverside and her MFA in acting from CalArts. Theatrical credits include acting in productions at the Geffen Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, East West Players, South Coast Rep, and the San Diego Old Globe. She is a Twitch streamer under the moniker JenZany and is one fourth of the AAPI hosts on the geek podcast PanGeekery.

How Does Your Identity Affect Your Work?

I find that my Chinese upbringing and my creative inclinations are either battling one another (wanting to be expressive vs. needing to be reserved) or thriving because and in spite of each other (when the pent up need to speak bursts open and what comes out is simply true). I was taught to believe that staying silent and not showing how I felt was a courtesy for others, but now I know that speaking my truth is a courtesy I can give to myself.

Website: Jenapherzheng.com

Insta/Twitter/TikTok: @jenapherzheng