In Part 6 of a series of interviews with the Director and cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company‘s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, meet Julie Janson
Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they may have seen you perform on local stages.
Julie Janson: My name is Julie Janson and I am playing Ann in this production of All My Sons. For my day job, I am a Captain in the United States Air Force. I moved to the DC area almost two years ago and since then I have appeared as Maggie the Cat in Glass Mendacity, Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men and Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, all with the Providence Players of Fairfax.
Why did you want to appear in this production of All My Sons?
I find All My Sons to be extremely powerful and I believed that the role of Ann would be a significant challenge for me. I specifically wanted to work with Laurie because she was described to me as a tough but talented director which is the type of director I most like working with – someone who will push me to the next level.
Tell us about who you play in the show.
Anne is the daughter of Steve Deever (Joe Keller’s former partner), sister of George, and was engaged to Larry Keller when he left for the war. She was raised alongside the Kellers and considers them to be her family, sometimes more than her own blood. She is generally liked by all and is a kind, loving person, but her experiences during the war have toughened her. Out of everyone in the show, she possesses the most facts about what happened between the two families, but this doesn’t make her situation any easier.
Why is this show relevant for today’s theatregoers?
This show deals with the aftermath of a significant war, which is something we are facing today. While veterans in WWII and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are considered heroes and occasionally receive a hero’s welcome when they return, the reality is that most veterans return to their normal lives with the expectation that they simply pick up where they left off. I believe this show provides critical insight into the everyday challenges our veterans quietly face without pomp and circumstance, which may help people better understand and interact with the veterans in their own lives.
What stands out most to you about All My Sons?
The realness of the characters. The people in All My Sons are people you know, or have met, or who your parents knew. You may even see yourself in one of them. I believe the best stories are about real people dealing with real life situations, and arguably, no one does that better than Arthur Miller.
What do you want audiences to take away with them after seeing All My Sons?
An understanding that while we may view veterans as heroes, they rarely feel the same. They are normal people who today, as in WWII, are placed in extraordinary circumstances then return home to the struggle of making sense of what they just did mixed with the normal life they are trying to lead.
All My Sons plays from October 15-25, 2015 at Peace Mountain Theatre Company performing at Congregation Har Shalom – 11510 Falls Road, in Potomac, MD. For tickets, call (301) 299-7087, or purchase them online.
LINKS
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 1: Director Laurie T. Freed.
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 2: Elyon Topolosky.
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 3: Chris Daileader.
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 4: Michael Sigler.
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 5: Natalie McManus.
Meet the Director and Cast of ‘All My Sons’ at Peace Mountain Theatre Company: Part 6: Julie Janson.
