Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva awarded FY26 IAF in Theatre
Nashville-based performing artist Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva has received the Tennessee Arts Commission’s 2026 Individual Artist Fellowship in Theatre.
Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva
The fellowship recognizes her original solo works, “Void” and “Sirens,” which blend theater, movement, poetry and music. “Void,” presented at the 2024 Kindling Arts Festival, is a work exploring themes of identity and self-awareness. “Sirens,” developed for the Brave New Works Lab at OZ Arts Nashville, combines a cinematic soundscape, poetic text and movement.
An award-winning performer with more than 10 years of professional experience, Whitcomb-Oliva’s credits span theater, opera and musical theater. Her stage work includes “A Christmas Carol” at The Rabbit Room Theatre, “Next to Normal” at Street Theatre Company, “Little Shop of Horrors” with Studio Tenn and the Emmy-winning “One Vote Won” with Nashville Opera. She also creates and performs original works, including her first film project, “SEVEN.”
In addition to her performance career, she is a teaching artist who mentors young actors through programs such as the 10-Minute Play Festival at The Theatre Bug and the Young Voices program at Nashville Repertory Theatre.