JoAnn's Interview
By
Shawn
Shawn: If you
had the ability to grant
yourself a perfect day, how
would it play out? What
would you do, go, stuff like
that?
Jo Ann: A perfect day
would be sitting on my deck
with my feet up reading a
good book with a glass of
iced tea. Not a sound
but the nature around me.
Shawn: You've stepped
onto an airplane. There,
seated next to you for the
entire trip, is your
favorite celebrity. They say
to you "You can ask me one
question and I'll tell you
tell you the honest to
goodness truth." First, Who
would the celebrity be and
second, what question would
you ask?
Jo Ann: That is so
not me. I believe
celebrities are just people
with jobs that put them in
the limelight. They
still put their pants on one
leg at a time. I guess
it would have to be the
author Jodi Picoult.
Why the twist at the end of
the story. Sometimes I
feel good about the book and
then with the twist I go
huh. She is a good
author though.
Shawn: What's your
favorite restaurant? What do
you love to eat there?
Jo Ann: My favorite
restaurant is a hard one.
I have so many. I
guess, if I had to choose
one, it would be Stoneforge
in Raynham. My
favorite food is either some
kind of seafood dish or
lamb. But, I guess if
I had to choose just one I
would have to say lamb.
I don't get to eat it very
often. Roger, my husband,
hates it. So when we
go out, if it is on menu, I
always get it.
Shawn: What has been
the most exciting moment of
your life thus far?
Jo Ann: Besides
getting married to Roger and
having my girls, I guess it
would be the 2 cruise trips
we went on. Especially
going through one of
the locks at the Panama
Canal. That was just
so fascinating. The
places we went to and the
things we saw during that
trip were amazing. I will
never forget the flying
banana's (toucans) in Costa
Rica. They really looked
like flying banana's. The
monkeys too. God's creation
surpasses anything we can
ever imagine. |
Previous Roles
-
Treasures
of
the
Heart
2002:
Minnie
Vann
-
The
Rose
Petal
2003:
Aunt
Lola
-
The
Scrooge
2005:
Gilda
-
The
Bennetts
Dinner
Theatre
2006-present:
EllieMay
"MAH"
Bennett
-
Something
Wonderful
2006:
Samantha
Wainscot
-
Something
Wonderful
2007:
Aunt
Rita
-
The
Trial
2008:
Adele
Beauregard
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Shawn: Besides
sewing, what are some of
your hobbies.
Jo Ann: I love to
read, am starting to quilt,
scrap booking, and
walking/hiking.
The genre for reading is
just about anything.
Depending on the book and if
the author can hold my
attention. I am
reading two books right now.
The first
one is "Extraordinary
Living: What happens when
God works through you " by
Andrea Jones Mullins.
It is very enlightening.
It is changing the way I
look at my life. The
other one is "The Covenant"
by Beverly Lewis. This
is a fiction about an Amish
family.
Shawn: Now some
theatre ones. Which
character stretched you the
most
as an actor?
Jo Ann: That is a
hard one. Mainly because
each character I have played
has stretched me in some way
or another. Mah was a huge
stretch. I enjoyed playing
her tremendously. But
as I look at this last
character, Adele Beauregard,
I guess I would have to say
her. With the improv
coming down the aisle and
also talking to strangers as
I went, really took me out
of my comfort zone. It
helped me to be less awkward
with strangers. In playing
other characters God has
used those experiences to
help me to grow as a person.
Shawn: Which play
stretched you as a costume
designer?
Jo Ann: Without a
doubt that would have to be
"Something Wonderful".
I had soooooo much fun doing
research for the costumes.
It was fascinating looking
back at what they wore way
back in the 1920's to the
1940's. It was also a lot of
work though. Trying to make
sure everyone looked the
part. Joan Motta was a big
help. Using some of her
mother's furs, hats, gloves,
etc., just made the play
that much nicer. Grace found
someone who lent her some
hats and furs also. So God
really worked that one out.
I really enjoy seeing what
you have in mind for your
character's also, Shawn.
Coming up with them has been
a little stressful, but
enjoyable especially to see
the finished product.
Everything just fits in.
Shawn: What has been
your all time favorite
character. Not necessarily
one you've portrayed.
Jo Ann: That is a
hard one. I tend to
gravitate toward the comedic
characters
for myself. But I think it
would be Jaqueline Baker
Anderson. Grace did such
a tremendous job playing
her. She was such a genuine
person. Caring and loving,
as well as human. I
think "Something Wonderful"
was our best play yet. "The
Trial" is very good, but
very intense. "Something
Wonderful" just made you
feel good. It brought
you back to the basics -
faith in God to work things
out.
Shawn: Out of all the
plays THM has performed,
what scene touched you the
most? What scene made
you laugh the most?
Jo Ann: The scene
that touched me the most was
the walnut scene between
Murray and Christina in "The
Bennetts". That just
pulled at my heart strings.
The one that I laughed the
most was also in "The
Bennetts". That had to
be the Charlie's Angels
scene, With Mealnie, Dakota
and Murray doing the
'angels' pose. I still
think of that and laugh.
Shawn: Which THM
play, that you were involved
with, helped you to grow the
most in your walk with the
Lord.
Jo Ann: Life is a
growing process. I am
going to say the next one.
Why?
Because each of the plays
that I have been involved
with has helped me grow as a
person, an actress, a
seamstress, and with my walk
with God. This journey
is not over yet. I am
looking forward to whatever
comes next. God and I can
handle it together.
Jo Ann, Thanks so much for
being our spotlight. Your
dedication to our ministry
is without question and I,
personally, am so grateful
to you for all you've done
for me, especially with my
late costume choices :). The
ministry is better with you
being a part of it.
You make all of our
performances successful, on
the stage and behind the
scenes!!! God bless you
abundantly, MAH!!!! LOL!! |
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