KINGWOOD — JoAnn Peterson is more than one woman. But it’s not a psychological condition; it’s an historical one.
Peterson does portrayals of five “Amazing Women of History,” telling the true stories of how they impacted the world. And she researches each one in-depth.
For example, last month she went to California, where she followed in the footsteps of U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (and former child star) Shirley Temple Black. She has also gone to Prague to portray Black and follow in her footsteps there.
Peterson portrays Black, Nellie Bly, Margaret Brown, Mary Lincoln and Jenny Lind.
“Since I am so enthusiastic about each of the women I portray, I spend so much time researching them in depth that I feel I know them, how they think and how they feel,” Peterson said. “I come to love them and consider them to be my friends. And, I will only ever portray women that I really like and admire.”
There is just “something that clicks” between her and the women, Peterson said. For example, when she heard about Black’s life, she was intrigued.
“We read so much in history books about men. These are all about women, so it’s a way of bringing them to be known,” Peterson said. She also seeks to set the record straight on their lives versus the popular perception.
The first woman she portrayed was Jenny Lind, an opera singer known as the “Swedish nightingale.” Lind was misrepresented in the movie
The Greatest Showman as a femme fatale, Peterson said.
And Mary Lincoln — who never called herself Mary Todd Lincoln — was not crazy, Peterson said. “She was the inspiration behind Abraham Lincoln. I do not believe he would have become president without her.”
Nellie Bly was one of the first undercover reporters and traveled around the world. “She changed the way that women were treated in journalism,” Peterson said. Bly exposed the horrors of facilities for the treatment of the mentally ill and was the first reporter on the eastern front during World War I.
Margaret Brown was made famous as “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” but never used Molly as her name.
Black is probably the last woman she will add to her repertoire, Peterson said. She has attended three auctions of Black’s estate and bought some clothing and met Black’s children. Peterson is also one of a select group that calls itself, “Shirley’s army.”
Peterson has no formal training in acting but has been at it since she was a child. “It’s just a God-given talent,” she said.
“I love history and I love acting, and it’s just a great combination of the two.”
She writes and directs murder mystery plays and portrayed Julia Pierpont in the PBS documentary “West Virginia: Road to Statehood” and was recently filmed as the late Robert C. Byrd’s wide, Erma, in a sci-fi movie, Kecksburg. She has performed at West Virginia Public Theatre and The Cumberland Theatre.
She has been approached about performing at Disney World, but nothing has been finalized. A tour operator by profession, she sometimes does her characters as part of tours.
Upcoming performances by Peterson include:
- May 28, 2 p.m. River City Festival, Rowlesburg — Nellie Bly
- June 22, 11 a.m. Allegany County Historical Society (Gordon-Roberts House), Cumberland, Md. — Nellie Bly
- July 4, 8 p.m. Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis — Nellie Bly
- Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Mayflower Tours in Grantsville, Md. — A Mother’s Heart Divided
Submitted Photo – Peterson as Nellie Bly. The satchel she carries is the same size as one Bly carried on an around the globe trip as her only luggage. - Sept. 25, noon, Ohio Co. Library, Wheeling — Nellie Bly
- Oct. 16, 4 p.m. Perkiomen tour group, Cumberland, Md. —- Mary Lincoln
To book a portrayal by JoAnn Peterson, contact her at 304-329-6336, 301-268-5116 or mountaineer@atlanticbb.net. On Facebook go to Amazing Women of History.
