Jen Bender is the Senior Vice President of Production and Development for The Araca Group, a theatrical production and brand management company. Previously, she served as Director of Programming and Artist Services of the New York Musical Festival (NYMF). She is also currently the Resident Director for Avenue Q at New World Stages.

Her Broadway credits include The Lion King (Resident Director), Avenue Q, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Wedding Singer, Steel Magnolias (Associate Director), and Sweet Smell of Success (Music Assistant).

She toured North America, Asia, and Australia as the Assistant Artistic Director of Cirque du Soleil’s Ovo and directed the world-premiere of Do You Hear the People Sing: The Dream Concert, by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg featuring Lea Salonga, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Terrence Mann. Additionally, she co-founded Broadway in South Africa, a non-profit arts empowerment organization for children in need. Jen is a graduate of Northwestern University and a member of SDC. www.jenbenderonline.com