JoAnn Evans

My first public performance on stage was in the first grade when I bravely sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to a talent show audience of elementary students. Acting on stage was what I most wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I competed in speech contests throughout elementary and high school and acted in all our high school plays. Senior year I starred as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and sang “Over the Rainbow” again. Then I went off to Northwestern University to major in theater. I had amazing training there and the chance to act with Frank Gallati who has gone on to be a successful and lauded actor, writer, and director. I married my college sweetheart Don and, as a young mother, developed and directed a creative drama class and a children’s theatre program for the local park district. I acted in the children’s theatre plays performed by the local Junior Women’s Club, and ultimately started working with the Chicago Heights Drama Group, starring in, and directing numerous plays over a period of 30+ years. When my youngest son went to preschool, I earned a talent scholarship for acting and attended Governor’s State University to earn a master’s degree in theatre, emphasis on acting, and my secondary teaching certificate. With my three boys all in school, I began my career in secondary education, teaching English and Speech, directing plays and coaching our speech and group interpretation teams. Both the speech team and my group interpretation were state champions, multiple times. I was honored as a Governor’s Master Teacher and earned a National Endowment for the Humanities to study at Vanderbilt University. This time the topic was Ancient Greece. After ten years of teaching, I became the department chair in speech and moved into administration first as an assistant principle, then as director of instruction, and as assistant superintendent. In 2000, my husband and I had the opportunity to retire early, and we moved to South Padre. I missed the Drama Group and was lucky to find the Camille Playhouse where I have starred in five shows, the final one being Driving Miss Daisy, for which I was honored with the Camille best actor award. I also started El Paseo Arts Foundation along with Ralph Ayers and Glenda Stafford of Port Isabel, Linda Rodino of Bayview, and Mary Hartman of Laguna Vista. We can proudly boast 20+ years of quality performances both by our local community theatre actors and professional groups. Our audience best remembers me as Muriel in the hilarious one act  “I’m Herbert,” which I have performed several times with my dear friend and retired professional actor Ray Stewart. My acting days now behind me, I continue to direct multiple shows each year and serve as President of El Paseo Arts Foundation.