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 said over cocktails, after hearing my story: "If you've been pitching projects, you've basically been doing acting and improv your entire professional life." He was right - a boardroom is just another kind of a stage.

I've been singing all my life and have always loved theatre. Sitting out there in the dark I wondered what it would be like to step onstage and perform 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 my creative home and a whole new career.

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

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Since playing Alexi Darling and the Blanket Lady in RENT, I've played everything from Heidi VonSturm in NINE to Zinaida in Chekhov's IVANOV. 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 starred as Arlene in the award-winning dramedy short film AWAKENING ARLENE and have worked in genres from horror to comedy. I've performed solo cabarets at small clubs in Manhattan, and my comedy improv duo Jed&Jo performs in venues around the city. I'm a proud member of Actors Equity, SAG/AFTRA and the Dramatists Guild. I've been busy!

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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 Italian and tap - challenging, but mad fun. I can make just about anything out of paper, and yes, I believe in the Oxford comma.

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