JO'S BIO

My road to performing has been unique. I am trained as an architect and designer, so I'm asked all the time: How on earth did you get from a design studio to a stage? An astute producer recently said over drinks after hearing my story, "If you've been pitching projects, you've basically been doing acting and improv your entire professional life." He was joking, but he was also right - a boardroom is just another stage.

I've been singing all my life and have always loved theatre. Every show I found myself sitting out there in the dark, wondering what it would be like to stand onstage in that light. One morning I read an article in the New York Times about a community theater group holding open auditions for RENT. Intrigued, I thought: here's an opportunity to quit wondering if I could do it, and find out. So I took a very deep breath and did something unimaginable and utterly terrifying: I auditioned. I stood up and belted 16 bars of Take Me or Leave Me to a table of strangers. Then I got triple cast. Opening night was magic - I'd found a creative home and a whole new career.

​

I'm someone who's never halfway in so I went looking for serious teachers, and instead I found mentors. I have such incredible people behind me. In a way I've built my own "conservatory" through work with private coaches - vocal teachers who kick my butt; acting teachers and classes that push me to stay open and honest; dance teachers who challenge me to be in my body. Thanks to my design training I know how to work hard and how to stay focused. I love the work, the process, and the collaboration from table read to closing night.

​

Since playing Alexi Darling and the Blanket Lady in RENT, favorite roles  include Aunt Jane in STORMING HEAVEN, Mrs. Pugh in ANNIE WARBUCKS, a 110-year old Russian matriarch in THE NOSE, Zinaida in Chekhov's IVANOV, Dr. Brookner in THE NORMAL HEART, Heidi vonSturm in NINE, and Reggie Flutie in THE LARAMIE PROJECT. I've sung off-Broadway in THE EVENTS and THE CHRISTIANS and was privileged to conduct a group of singers in THE PUBLIC DOMAIN at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival. I've performed solo cabarets at small clubs in Manhattan. Several of my short plays have been staged and read. I'm a member of the Dramatists Guild and a founder of Four Quarter Theater www.fourquartertheater.com.

​

When I'm not auditioning or taking classes I write, paint, read voraciously, and travel. I speak Greek (long story!) and enough Spanish and German to get into trouble. This year I got the urge to learn tap - challenging, but mad fun.

I'm up for just about anything. And I love hats!

​