Spotlight On: JoAnn DeWind

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into our talented cast of Moon Over Buffalo. Get to know the amazing JoAnn DeWind…

Please introduce yourself and tell me why you wanted to be in the cast of Moon Over Buffalo?

I prefer to do non-musicals and this show has a great role (Ethel) for actresses of a certain age. Also, I figured with Duane and Tony directing, this would be a fun experience and the show would be well crafted.

Who do you play in the show and how do you relate to your character?

I play Ethel who is a little hard of hearing but the hard-working mother of Charlotte Hay and the precious granddaughter, Roxanne. Then there is my #^+# son-in-law!
Ethel has great love for the first two and nothing but malice for the son-in-law … but he deserves it.

How do I relate to her? I love theater as she does, I am very slow to anger, but when I do get angry it is deep-seated (not my fault I am a Scorpio) and she has a deep-seated loathing of George, but I don’t see myself as committed to theater as she is. Ethel says it is her life line to humanity and it is all she’s got. Plus she does a lot of mending in the show and I don’t sew or mend very often.

She has a strong commitment to her family and the family business. She seems to take her age in stride and just keeps going. She is opinionated. She is a democrat. I share two of those qualities.

What have been some of the funniest moments of playing your character?

Mike Zizka is a hoot to play opposite. My character’s animosity towards his character is in inverse proportion to the respect I have for him as an actor. I enjoy our barbs at each other’s character in the show.

A lot of the fun of being in this show occurs when I’m not on stage and I’m listening to the rest of the cast. I still laugh out loud during rehearsals. The cast is fantastic.

Why should audiences come and see Moon Over Buffalo?

The script, the directing, and the cast of this show are fantastic.

This show when it was on Broadway was clocked at 4 laughs per minute. Ken Ludwig’s script is very cleverly written.

The egos and childish behaviors of actors are exposed, but you end up rooting for them anyway. You will leave the theater with a smile on your face.