Joanna Carpenter

Note from Kat: I met Joanna at a Thanksgiving feast this past year in Louisville, KY while she and Peter worked on a production of A Christmas Carol at Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Joanna is one of those special people who you meet and feel like you've been friends for years. 

She's a superhuman and we're lucky to have her in our lives. A few words that come to my mind when thinking of Joanna: kind, humble, hilarious, talented, determined, change maker, and dream chaser. She continues to open my eyes to new things, is a wonderful friend, and is talented to boot. Her story is unique, insightful, and exactly the kind of story we love sharing here at The Obvious Path. 

Full Disclosure: We interviewed Joanna in early February before Coronavirus had made it's way into our lives. She was generous enough to tag on our "Corona Coping" questions, so you can hear how Covid-19 has affected her life. Below you will see her feature as is, along with Corona Coping questions at the end. Both are equally informative, inspiring, and heartfelt. Enjoy!

Joanna! You have such a great story, and we are so happy to get to feature you! Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers?

Thank you so much for having me! I’m Joanna Carpenter, an actor, singer, and aggressive multi-hyphenate. 

Your journey to NY is not the typical ‘majored in MT and showcased in NY’. Can you talk to us about how you found yourself in NYC, the parallel career you developed, and the decision to deeply pursue this career?

My trajectory has definitely been the antithesis of typical. We can get real real here, right? I’ll share the abbreviated version: toward the end of high school, I was groping in the dark on the whole applying for college thing; there was a huge lack of positive support and guidance in my life. I was on the receiving end of some truly fantastic athletic scholarships to schools I was very interested in, but they were always torpedoed by those closest to me...so I just ran out of options. When that happened, I decided to join the military, but that also got shut down by those closest to me right as I was about to sign my papers. I was left with no support, no path to follow, no clue how anything was supposed to work. So I left home, made some bad decisions, then I got my life together after a couple years. I moved to New York with no money or connections but an absolute desire to do what my gut told me to do - be an artist. Regarding my parallel career, I’ve been lucky to have achieved a nice amount of success in the cocktail industry. Like so many of us, when I got to New York I bartended to pay the bills; that led to studying wine and beer, which led to starting my own education service, which led to running the New York market for a craft distillery, which led to building and running my own bar for a year, etc. etc. etc. I’ve had some truly wonderful experiences across the globe, and I have carved out a place for myself that I’m proud of (I was in the New York Times recently, speaking with a writer about industry issues that I’m passionate about). However, in the fall of 2018, I had been sitting with several months of that uncomfortable discontent we experience when we aren’t truly listening to our truth; I was caught up in the bar world and working 90-hour weeks and was deeply unfulfilled in many ways. I went with a couple friends to see Songs for a New World at City Center, and when the lights came up at the end of the show I knew I needed to step back from hospitality and commit myself to the arts in a way I never had -fully and unapologetically. It was the largest of many signs that it was time to really focus on my career. 

What advice would you give actors coming to NY with no rep out of showcase/did not showcase in NY on how to find representation?

It is so, so important to be a good person before anything. Then, you have to prioritize surrounding yourself with other good people, develop faithful relationships, and remember that everyone knows everyone. I personally despise pay-to-play showcases, but I find they’ve been successful for many people who aren’t well-connected or have the street cred of a certain school or program to back up their resume. I lucked out with my representation - my connections to my agents were entirely referral/relationship- based, and the gift of those connections taught me a lot about how important relationships and working with integrity really are. 

From knowing you, I know part of your story is overcoming the feeling of shame at the beginning of your artistic journey. How do you think your unique path has strengthened your artistic voice? What would you say to those of us still struggling with shame in parts of our story?

Oy. Yeah. The shame monster and I are well-acquainted. Part of it stems from growing up being so constantly shamed by those who were supposed to love me unconditionally - that type of damaged upbringing sets the tone for your adulthood, until you choose to do the work to break the patterns. That said - there has been something so empowering and special about making the choice to invest in overcoming my shame about certain experiences. I decided to own the fact that I am not less-than because I didn’t go to college, or because I don’t have a certain pedigree, no matter what anyone else thinks. That emotional labor is intimidating - we all carry shame in some form. So we have to love ourselves enough to invest in the work to be proud of who we are, even if it can feel at times like we are not worthy of success. In the process of overcoming shame, I recommend giving your therapist a raise and choosing to see the benefit in dismantling the urge to punch your own sweet spirit in the proverbial face. 

How did you define success at the beginning of your career, compared to now?

I was such a damn spazz when I got started here that I don’t even know if I could itemize what success looked like. Just booking a show was enough, I think. Nowadays, though.... Success to me now is defined by my ability to imbue everything I do with my integrity, while demanding to bring my positivity and joy to a piece or a room, while also staying strong and grounded in my technique. Overall, I feel successful if I do not apologize for who I am or the space I take up while taking on the epic job that is making people feel and think. I bet Joanna from a decade ago wouldn’t recognize Joanna now. 

Where are you on your mountain?

Such a good question!. I don’t know if I have a specific spot - I think I am constantly on a climb, and I don’t know if I ever actually want to feel like I’m at the top. Because that probably means I’m about to die. 

RAPID FIRE:

Favorite Broadway show: Come From Away

TV show you binge: Schitt’s Creek, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Podcasts you love: The Long & The Short Of It, Pod Save America, The Ensemblist

Religious, Spiritual, or nah?: Very spiritual

Moment that made you fall in love with performing: Realizing I could make people laugh!

Former side hustles: Car sales. Liquor sales. PR. Bartending. Personal Assistant.

Biggest tip for auditioning?: It’s not about you. Be a good person, do good work, and tune out the bullshit.

Any bad audition stories?: I got literally laughed out of my first audition here - if anyone is that curious, they can ask me in person, otherwise I’m saving it for an inevitable appearance on Jimmy Fallon.

You fight?! Where do you train?: I train with a guy named Dylan Hintz, and his company Saga Action Arts. It’s all fight technique for the camera and is one of my favorite parts of life right now.

Job you didn’t expect to book: All of them!

Biggest beef with the business: Racism.

Favorite part about the business: Having the audacity to step onto a stage and tell an audience that they are safe with me and that I am the right person to make them think and feel.

Social media handles?: @thejoannac on Instagram

Anything you’d like to promote?: I rolled out a podcast recently that I’m quite proud of, called “Asking For A Friend”. I cover some pretty great topics (you know, casual stuff like imposter syndrome, self-care, racism...) with some wonderful guests. 

CORONA COPING

What were you looking forward to that you lost because of COVID-19? In a general sense, I was sinking my teeth into some exciting auditions that would hopefully turn into bookings...so, the opportunity to make money. I also had to postpone a table read for a film I’m directing, and put my fight training on hold. 

What is something (a thought, a family member, a hope, a piece of art, a meme, a song, ANYTHING) that is getting you through? I really, REALLY believe in being of service. That’s my job as an artist. So everything I do right now is an attempt to be of service in some way - whether it’s through music, or making people laugh with my crazy Minnesota Brenda videos, or reaching out to friends and being fully emotionally present with and for them - I’m constantly asking how I can be of service. 

What do you think has an opportunity to change as a result of this time to reset? We as an industry are going to have to reinvent the wheel. It’s already happening. Look at the work being done by AEA to get new streaming contracts out to theatres. People are teaching hundreds of people at a time via Zoom. Everything from the groundwork of production to the hiring of performers is being rewritten. Some of the changes will be bandaids, while other changes may be more permanent. Jen Waldman said to me recently that it’s time to demand better of producers, directors, casting directors, other creatives - I think now is the time to rewrite the hierarchy for the greater good. 

Anything else you'd like our readers to know during this time? You may have seen photos with the hashtag “Racism Is A Virus” floating around. The Asian community is experiencing violence in ways unheard of since the internment camps. Two children (2 and 6 years old) were STABBED in Texas recently, with the attacker screaming that they were spreading Covid-19, and this is just one of many instances. I’m not someone who is easily taken by surprise or frightened, but there is a different insidiousness to what is happening now. I would ask your readers to do a couple things: 1) reach out to your Asian friends and colleagues. Ask them how they’re doing, be prepared for uncomfortable answers, and ask them what you can do to help. 2) Do. Not. Be. Complacent. I’m disappointed by just how many non-Asian friends and colleagues I’m seeing who are sitting on their hands and not standing up for what is right for the literal safety of all of us. Have the uncomfortable conversations, and stand with us. 

Quarantine Quickly:

Favorite snack: baby carrots and ranch dressing

Home workout routine (you know, if you're into that): I alternate between boxing/kickboxing and core/strength exercises, usually bookended by yoga

What are you watching: SO MANY CAT VIDEOS

What you are reading: “War Queens: Extraordinary Women Who Ruled the Battlefield”.

Yes or no... Out of pajamas before noon?: Yes, even if it’s just to hop into workout clothes. My sanity is being preserved by the routine of coffee/shower/get dressed/be productive. 

Photo Credits:

1) Headshot by Lauren Toub

2) Photo cred: Ruthie Stephens 

3) Photo Cred: Jason Moody