Jerusha Cavazos

Jerusha Cavazos is a first generation American actress and songwriter, seen on stage and screen in Musical theatre and Television film. She is best known for her roles as Janice/Marina in the Off-Broadway production on Between the Lines (musical), and Violet in season two of Atlanta (TV series). 
== Biography ==
Cavazos was born in Brooklyn, New York to a Trinidadians and Tobagonian mother and a Mexican of European descent- American father. She later moved to Central Florida during her childhood, and then back to New York City. 
A competitive gymnast by trade, Cavazos spent her childhood and teenage years heavily involved in athletics and dance. She was on the Track and field team and was also a competitive weightlifter at Osceola High School (Kissimmee, Florida). 
Cavazos grew up in a musical household. Her father, John CalebCavazos performed on Broadway theatre|Broadway in My Fair Lady starring Rex Harrison in 1981 . She spent her summers performing in choirs around Central Florida and would later join and her high school choir becoming president and Choreography|Choreographer. 
Cavazos attended The University of Central Florida were she holds a BFA in Musical Theatre. 
== Early Career ==
Cavazos started her professional acting career in 2014 at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. 
She played Flora Long in the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and Kibibi in The Theme park live adaptations of The Lion King. 
She also performed at Universal Pictures, FL in various shows like Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Banshees. In 2015, Cavazos starred as Aida in the Aida (musical) at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. 
== Career ==
Cavazos made her Broadway theatre Debut in 2018 in The Prom (musical) directed by Tony Awards, Casey Nicholaw . She also made her Network television debut in the same year as Violet in Season 2 episode 9 of Atlanta (TV series)|Atlanta on FX (TV channel)|FX starring Donald Glover.
Cavazos mad her Off-Broadway and New York Principal debut in 2022 as Janice/Marina in Between the Lines (musical)|Between The Lines based off the book by Jodi Picoult with songs by Samsel/Anderson and direction by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun (choreographer)|Jeff Calhoun. 
== Recordings/Songwriting ==
Cavazos began songwriting at age 10, but it wasn't until 2020 that she began to pursue a career with in it. She released her debut single 'Aquafina' in September of 2020. The song was produced by Mike Woods of Rice N' Peas, who has also produced for Bazzi (singer) and Anne-Marie among others. Her most recent single 'Monopoly' made it on to two Spotify Editorial Playlists: Fresh Finds and Pop Fresh Finds. She releases music under the name Jerusha on all streaming platforms. 
Cavazos is also featured on the Between the Lines (musical) original cast album, Vasthy's Friends Children's album, Ethan Carlson's Her Sound album and the Original Broadway Cast recording of The Prom (musical). 
Cavazos has a band in New York City. She has headlined venues such as Heaven Can Wait, Nublu, and The Delancy. She also played in Times Square in association with Broadway Buskers. 
== Personal Life ==
Cavazos's mother is from Trinidad and Tobago and is a professor at Florida A&M University, College of Law . Her father was born in Los Angeles, California and is an adjunct professor of voice at Rollins College . Her sister is a Health Law attorney at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough|Nelson Mullins. 
== Stage credits ==
Year(s)	Production 	Role 	Location 	Category 	Ref.
2017 	Evita 	Mistress 	Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival	Regional 	
2017 	Little Shop of Horrors	Chiffon/ Audrey u/s	Gateway Playhouse 	Regional 	
2018 	Jesus Christ Superstar	Ensemble 	Chicago Lyric Opera 	Regional 	
2018 	West Side Story 	Consuela 	Barrington Stage Company 	Regional 	
2018 	The Prom 	Ensemble OBC 	Longacre 	Broadway 	
2021 	Rent 	Mimi 	Starring Buffalo 	Regional 	
2022 	Between The Lines 	Janice/Marina 	Second Stage 	Off-Broadway	
=== Television ===
Year	Network	Title 	Role 	Notes 	Ref.
2018	FX 	Atlanta	Violet 	North of Border 	
2019	CBS 	FBI 	Trina Morton	An Imperfect Science	
== Awards and Titles ==
Cavazos was crowned Miss Orlando's Outstanding Teen in 2009.
Cavazos was crowned Miss America in 2012.
Cavazos received the Irene Ryan nomination for her portrayal of 'Sarah' in Ragtime (musical) at the University of Central Florida. 
Cavazos received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a short film in 2021 at the IndieX Film Festival. 
Category:American actresses
Category:American songwriters
Category:People from Brooklyn