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Show Reflections, May 31, 1984, Page 2( Up Curtain! On Stage Johnsons! Margaret VanNoy When the curtain comes up on the stage at Salt Lakes Promised Valley Playhouse, Theatre 138, the New Triad Center or on The Opera House Memorial Theatre, chances are you will find the name of Johnson prominently displayed on the program. Not just one Johnson there could be as many as nine. Like Frank Foy and the seven little Foys, Ron Johnson and wife Joan of Grantsville and their seven little Johnsons, Jeremy 18, Jessica 17, Judd 14, Joshua 11, Jordan 9, Jacob 5 and1 Juliana 2, are making a name for themselves in theatrical circles along the Wasatch Front. Many families have made it in the entertainment world as a group, but the Johnsons have found their niche as individual performers. It takes dedication, hard work and lots of juggling of time for the Johnson family. "It's a give and take matter," they said. "If Ron and I are in a show together, Jessica tends. But we both not until dont practice every night just before the show opens," Joan said. Singly or together in groups, the family have appeared in more than two dozen productions. The youngest, Julianna, has been in five productions. Some of them before she was born, quipped Joan. Some people spend their time and money on the ski slopes or on other hobbies. This is our hobby, and we enjoy it," they said. According to Joshua, the hardest part is auditioning. "Trying out is really by I - I Joan Johnson, second from right, in character for her role in the original play, The Customers Always Right Local entertainer Wendy Stain Garbett is third from left (Busath Photography) theatre. Jordan remembers auditioning for "Promised Valley. "We had to sing," he said. They looked us over and sorta measured us. If you were good enough you got a call back,' which means you go back and read a script." He got the part as one of the through the audition mill. At age two he got up and sang, "I Am A Little Man" from "Promised Valley." Half way through, he got mixed up. He stopped, exclaiming, "Ive made a mistake. Then he started all over with the air of a seasoned trooper. "But we withdrew him from the competition," said Joan. "We thought he was a little young." trying!" The family agreed. When Ron auditioned for "Fiddler on the Roof at Promised Valley Playhouse, there were 650 hopefuls there. And 350 kids wanted to be in "Annie". The kids know the vernacular of the Discover for yourself why Golden Corral is the best family steak house in America! Sun.-Thur- s. 11-1- Fri. 411 No. Main 11-1- .F vF 0 & Sat. 1 ff- W 1ft "Every Aspect of Your Business and Personal Life" TOTAL COLOR CONCEPT ANALYSIS Receive your color palette Have a personal make over Leam about a basic survival wardrobe Leam to mix and match your wardrobe to save money and look great! For information or appointment 882-038- 0 or 802-359- 9 role, she tries to see every performance. love to watch him, she said. And Ron and the cast can expect to hear a familiar enthusiastic whistle from the audience at each curtain call. Joan also has a hard time choosing her favorite role. Like Rons theyve been varied. "I loved the type of role that Yente, the Matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof called for, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific," she said, "but I also loved playing Mrs. Crachett, in Christmas Carol. For the Johnson kids, show biz is part of the business of life. With little boy enthusiasm, Joshua stated that he likes being in plays because of the many things there are to do in Salt Lake while the family is appearing on stage things like the arcade. But when it is time to be on stage, he is all business. He has learned that someone is looking at me every minute, and so have to always be in character. At the age of 14, being in the theatre means making decisions for Judd. When a play conflicts with sports or Scouts, he usually picks the latter. Jordan is more enthusiastic. Un- But age has not kept anyone in the family from appearing on stage. The whole family has been in both productions of "Behold The Lamb of God," a show whose popularity has already made it a traditional hit with Utah audiences. "Breaking in is the trick, pointed out Ron. "Once a director becomes familiar with what you can do and likes you, it is not difficult." After Ron appeared in "Fiddler on the Roof, he found himself in demand. None of the many characters he has played is his favorite. "Ive enjoyed every one that Ive done," he said. "Sometimes a role is a favorite because thats what others like to see." To many Grantsville fans, Ron is the tattooed Luther Billis from "South Pacific." To others he is the monoclepopping Col. Pickering from "My Fair Lady," Little Chief Brown Bear in "Little Mary Sunshine," (his favorite play) or Eddie in "The Customers Always Right." "What most people dont realize," said Joan, "is that Ron is basically a very shy individual. But when he gets on the stage, something magic happens. He just seems to light up as he gets into character." According to Joan, Ron's popularity has gotten the rest of the family into a lot of plays. Their contact with directors and other actors has gotten them roles in movies and commercials as well. Ron slips in and out of his roles easily. By day, he teaches at Grants-ville'new Middle School. By night, he may become a Yiddish innkeeper, a pompous English gentleman, a 1920s gangster, or an American Indian chief. But sometimes he is especially affected by his role. As a priest in "Behold the Lamb of God," he had to slap the face of the actor who played Jesus Christ. Although it was only a play, it was a difficult role, and often brought tears to his eyes. Joan is Rons best audience. Whenever he is in a play in which she has no s Be One Of The First 10 People To Make An Appointment And Save 5.00 on your Total Color Concept Analysis abashed by auditions, he was disappointed to learn that there were no roles for those under 14 in a recent production. For Jessica, being in a play means doing her homework backstage. "It can become pretty boring while you are waiting to go on if you dont have something to do. It also means hard work and loss of sleep for the whole family. Rehearsals often last beyond midnight and there are times when there is an early morning call, sometimes as early as 5 a.m. Often there are new lines to learn and others to forget at the last minute. But Jessica can see many advantages to her experiences onstage. She has completely overcome a case of extreme shyness. It has paid off too, in stage presence, and "It's the that amazes Joan out. When me," pointed Jeremy was only 17, he could handle confusing and embarassing situations on stage or off, that would devastate most teenagers, with a coolness and confidence far beyond his years. Doing shows in Salt Lake has meant meeting and making new lifelong friends in a manner that would not have been possible otherwise. "But it was the same in the Grantsville productions," Joan pointed out. "It gives another dimension to your life that you really dont get in church." It was in the opera house production of "Fiddler" in the role of Mordcha that Ron found his niche, and he has been there ever since. And so have the rest of the family. "Jeremy was born singing," Joan said. "At two years, he was belting out My Favorite Things. " His performance at age nine as Withrop Paroo in "Music Man," captivated audiences and stole the spot from such favorites as Marge Durfee Staple and Tom Stam. "I teach all the kids to sing when they are babies," said their mother. The family has been in demand throughout the area performing on holidays and other special occasions. As each of the younger children came along, they were lulled to sleep |
