"As the crown jewel of the piece, Jillian Michelle Smith as Ariel was equal parts ingenue and ingenious." (Sam Desmond, The Long Island Advance)

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Jillian Michelle Smith is an actor, singer, dancer, and theatre-maker based in New York City. Born and raised an hour outside the bright lights of Manhattan, Jillian spent her childhood training and performing in the NYC metro area. In pursuit of a conservatory environment, Jillian fled the nest early as a teen to study theatre at Interlochen Arts Academy, where she graduated with honors. She then went on to Marymount Manhattan College, where she recently graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre!

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Notably, Jillian earned recognition and critical acclaim for her portrayal of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, which has garnered more than a million views on TikTok alone and inspired the 54 Below concert, The Little Mersisters. While in college, Jillian was also seen on the Broadway Princess Party tour, handpicked by Benjamin Rauhala, Susan Egan, Christy Altomare, Courtney Reed, and Adam J. Levy. Other select credits include Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Ella), The Sound of Music (Liesl), and Spring Awakening (Anna).

 

Jillian also loves working behind the table. As the artistic director of Jillian Michelle Entertainment LLC (aka JME), her producing and directing work has been seen on major stages in NYC and London, such as 54 Below and Crazy Coqs.

 

As a Jewish and neurodivergent artist, Jillian aims to increase acceptance and accurate representation of these communities that she is so proudly a part of. Jillian is also skilled in graphic design, is an experienced social media manager and adores working with children and inspiring the next generation. Jillian aims to bring love, light and positive energy into every room she enters.