Meet Emily Jones | Comedy Writer and Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When people think about risky decisions that were made in 2005, they probably think about George Bush starting his 2nd term as President, not Troy Bolton risking his jock popularity to sing onstage in High School Musical. I was far from the star athlete of my 5th grade class (more like last picked in kickball) and had a group of friends that totalled 3, but that movie still sent my 10 year old heart ablaze. I decided performing onstage like those wildcats was my destiny, and for the first time in my 10 years of living, I was ready to risk it all and audition for a local production of High School Musical where I would *spoiler* play a cheerleader for the first and last time in my life. As terrifying as that audition was, I decided that the chance to experience telling that story with a bunch of other theatre nerds was worth the risk. After I started making creativity and performing a huge part of my life, I never wanted to stop.

Today, when I think about the role of risk in my life, it’s just as scary. When you’re an anxious child, everything seems daunting. But, when you grow up and you’re still kinda anxious, there’s new things to worry about. Instead of worrying about getting the right shade of blue rubber bands to match my Abercrombie shirt for the middle school dance, I worry about whether my new healthcare plan will cover my trip to the hospital if I tragically get run over by a wild hippo. As a writer and performer, every time I start a new project, it feels like a risk. I always hesitate because now I think about whether my time would be better spent starting a small business or getting an MBA, or dare I say, going corporate? But then what am I risking? A life of creative highs and uncertain lows for stability? Would that help my anxiety? Am I asking too many questions?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ever since High School Musical rocked my world, I knew I wanted to pursue a life in the arts. I chased my theatre kid dreams all the way through college where I studied Musical Theatre in a competitive conservatory program. Near the end of my training, I realized just how limiting an education in musical theatre was. There are so many different roles in the creative process and I was exposed to such a small part of it. That was when I became fascinated with different creative women who also worked behind the scenes. These hilarious women took charge of their own narratives by writing complex, nuanced, and quirky characters. Many of these people had performance backgrounds, some even specifically in musical theatre. Women like Rachel Bloom and Abbi Jacobson made me realize that I was allowed to be more than just a performer. I became invested in learning about sketch writing and screenwriting. I met amazing people who also shared the dream of wanting to put their own ideas out there. Now, I spend my time writing spec scripts, original pilots, comedic songs, and satire. I believe my background in musical theatre gives me a unique perspective as a writer, because I’m able to approach things from an actor’s perspective, but also from a musician’s perspective. Blending the two worlds of sketch comedy and musical theatre has allowed me to work on some really innovative projects that I’m so excited for others to see.

Getting to where I am today has not been an easy road. It’s been a continuous journey filled with self doubt and imposter syndrome (yay for being a woman!). That being said, I do feel more confident in myself as a creator and collaborator than I ever have before. I’m so thankful to be growing as an artist right now, because I feel I have so many women that I can look to who have totally changed the game when it comes to comedy writing. I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned from them is to be bold enough to make your own stuff happen. If you don’t like the auditions you’re being given or the characters you see written, and you have that creative itch, start working on material you wish was out there. In an industry that puts people in a box, it can be really freeing to put pen to paper and change the narrative. I am really proud of a comedy pilot that my writing partner, Savannah, and I worked on all throughout Covid called Seitan Staffing. We are currently in pre-production mode and I’m so excited to see our hard work come to life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I wanted to sell LA to a close friend (which I have tried to do), I would take them to Palisades Park so that they could see Santa Monica in the morning after the marine layer burns off. What’s more beautiful than watching the waves crash just beyond the Pacific Coast Highway?! Next we’d drive back to my neck of the woods, and visit one of my favorite lunch spots, Yuko Kitchen in Miracle Mile. Assuming this plan is pandemic proof, I would take them to see a sketch show at The Groundlings. Afterwards, we would dance the night away at my favorite musical theatre themed bar, Tramp Stamp Granny’s in Hollywood. And somewhere in there, we’d have to get tacos.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be pursuing a creative life if it wasn’t for the supportive people around me. The people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet through classes, writer’s groups, and different casts have completely changed my life. I have a network of people who also care a lot about what they make and how their art will make others feel. I’d love to shout out my writing partner, Savannah Lobel, the friends that I can Facetime crying, my ever attentive roommate, and ultimately my parents. It takes a village and I couldn’t pursue what I’m trying to do without my amazing friends who are ready and willing to do a reading of something I wrote and provide constructive feedback.

I also want to dedicate this shout out to the autobiographies of really awesome funny women that make my colorful bookshelf what it is. Special shout out to Mindy Kaling for writing the funniest book I’ve ever read: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Website: emilyelizabethjones.com

Instagram: EJonesy__

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-elizabeth-jones/

Twitter: EJonesy__

Image Credits
Alex Zuniga Photography