Biography
Jewel was born on November 18, 1991. Just two years later, she began performing for live television audiences. By age seven, she had recorded four CDs and eight music videos in local studios. Her first video, titled "Where Do I Go," was produced when she was only three. At four, she recorded a Christmas CD to raise funds for the Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her young cousin Anthony was treated for cancer. "A Christmas Jewel" attracted national media attention and placed Jewel in the spotlight with a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal. At five, she completed a motivational CD called "Show the World," along with a music video featuring Kurt Angle.
Jewel enjoys helping other sick children and those less fortunate. Her 1998 Christmas CD, "A Christmas Jewel II," is sold in music stores to support Pittsburgh Children's Hospital. It is available at select Sam Goody, Camelot, National Record Mart, Wal-Mart, Record Rack, Jukes, Colony, Sounds Familiar locations, and at all her live performances. In April 2000, Jewel and her sister Blaire Restaneo auditioned for the National Tour of "Annie," created and directed by Martin Charnin. Blaire played the youngest orphan, Molly, for the first month, then Jewel joined as Duffy, eventually playing Annie. Shortly after, both sisters were cast on Broadway in "Annie Get Your Gun."
During an August break from the "Annie" tour, Jewel went to Nashville with Blaire to record another Christmas CD, "Merry Christmas from LA," featuring several well-known Nashville country musicians. Recently, one of Jewel's recordings was selected for the soundtrack of the new "Casper" movie.
Jewel worked alongside her sister Blaire at the Marquis Theater on Broadway for about a year, sharing the stage with Cheryl Ladd, Patrick Cassidy, Reba McEntire, Brent Barrett, Crystal Bernard, Tom Wopat, Conrad John Schuck, Larry Storch, and many other talented actors.
She was cast as Fan, Scrooge's sister, and Martha Cratchit in the Broadway production of "A Christmas Carol" with Tim Curry at Madison Square Garden during the 2001 holiday season, and again in 2002 with F. Murray Abraham. In 2002, she portrayed Martha Cratchit, Tiny Tim's sister, on "The Christmas Carol" float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jewel has appeared on Saturday Night Live alongside Val Kilmer and Calista Flockhart, as well as in several episodes of All My Children.
Jewel and Blaire supported Erin Brockovich-Ellis on ABC's "Challenge America," along with some of their Broadway friends. Current projects include Jewel's own television show and "The Broadway Sisters" clothing line, created in collaboration with Blaire.
In her free time, Jewel writes music, excels academically, and enjoys fashion. She is a member of AFTRA, ASCAP, and SAG. Jewel also loves spending time with Blaire, friends, and family in New York, Pennsylvania, and Los Angeles.
