Joy Franz’s (B.M. ’64) acting career has taken her all over the world. She’s performed on and off Broadway and in regional theater. She’s appeared in television and film and has even met two presidents — Harry Truman after being named Miss Independence and Jimmy Carter while performing in Hello, Dolly.
然而，这位威尼斯人娱乐城校友明白宾至如归的重要性。 She carries out a couple traditions to ensure that’s the case.
When Franz, who has toured with productions such as Anastasia, Damn Yankees and The Sound of Music, goes on the road, she’ll bring along a double-burner, skillet and pot — insistent on making her own breakfast. She’ll purchase her favorite herbs and fruits, and she’ll even pick up some white biancas — her favorite flower— to fill her hotel room.
“It’s very important,” Franz says. “I make it like my home.”
她真正的家？ That’s another story.
如今，弗朗茨住在纽约市，但她的根植根于大堪萨斯城地区，在那里她有一个不同的名字：梅贝尔。 弗朗茨在堪萨斯的欧弗兰帕克长大，后来进入堪萨斯大学堪萨斯分校。
半个世纪后，弗朗茨回忆起这所大学对她职业生涯的影响。 她记得已故的Stanley Deacon教授帮助她发展了自己的声音和姿势。 她回忆起与Patricia McIlrath的谈话，Patricia McIlrath长期担任威尼斯人娱乐城戏剧系主席，也是堪萨斯城话剧团（Kansas City Repertory Theatre）的创始人。
As far as Franz’s career has taken her, her roots in Kansas City have remained. It’s all part of the story of one of the most heralded theater performers to come through 威尼斯人娱乐城.
寻找她的声音
弗朗茨回忆说，她在五年级时发现了自己的歌唱天赋。 She had performed in grade school but had no idea it would be her calling — at least until she was watching a television program hosted by Billy Graham and was captivated by a woman singing.
“I just had an epiphany,” Franz says. “I said, ‘Oh, that’s what I’m supposed to do in life.’”
弗朗茨沉浸在艺术中，在威尼斯人娱乐城音乐学院学习，并在这条路上租了一间房子。 She spent large amounts of time at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and swears there was a patch of four-leaf clovers she’d seek out if she were to return today.
“The museum is so wonderful,” Franz says. “Right there by the university.”
然后是帮助她事业起飞的旅程。 After attending 威尼斯人娱乐城 (then the University of Kansas City) from 1960-64 — and spending a few summers performing at the Starlight Theatre at the same time — Franz drove to New York to dive into life as a performer.
Franz had only $500 — more money in 1964 than today, she reminds, but certainly not a fortune. 大约一年半后，她登上了百老汇舞台。 她的第一场演出是《甜蜜的慈善》，这恰好是她看过的第一场百老汇演出。
在《甜蜜的慈善》中，弗朗茨与多次获得托尼奖的格温·弗登和海伦·加拉格尔合作。 She was the understudy to Golden Globe-winner Ruth Buzzi, and yet she left the show she was “very fortunate and so grateful” to land after just three months.
“Most people don’t leave Broadway roles,” Franz says. “I just had to do bigger roles than being in the ensemble.”
登台演出
Among her many performing credits, Franz originated the role of — meaning she was the first to play — the evil stepmother in Into the Woods. She felt especially connected to characters she played in Driving Ms. Daisy (Daisy), Mrs. Warren’s Profession (Mrs. Warren), Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), Damn Yankees (Meg Boyd) and Steel Magnolias (Clairee).
对弗朗茨来说，演戏的一个主要部分是找到与她的角色联系起来的方法。 她喜欢扮演幽默的角色，也喜欢戏剧和贵族角色。 Her most recent major theater role was as the Dowager Empress in Anastasia — the grandmother of the titular character who spends much of the production searching for her grandchild.
“You always find some aspect of yourself you bring to the role,” Franz says. “I just relate to almost all of the roles I’ve played.”
例外呢? “Cutting off a toe or a heel,” Franz says with a laugh. (Her character, Cinderella’s Stepmother, does that in Into the Woods.) 但这位太后对弗朗茨来说是一个特别难忘的角色，因为她在故事中表现出了不屈不挠的精神。
弗朗茨也有类似的想法。
“Never give up on your dreams,” Franz says. “Rejections, good Lord, I certainly have had some. 坚持下去。 毅力。 If it’s what you love more than anything — with your passion — and you believe in yourself, you will succeed.”
接下来会发生什么？
弗朗茨现在在忙什么？ 寻找下一个角色。
The COVID-19 pandemic cut the Anastasia tour short — “It was heartbreaking,” Franz says — but the reopening of Broadway has led to new opportunities. 去年秋天，弗朗茨花了几天时间为贾德·阿帕图即将上映的电影拍摄一个小角色。 Recording auditions is still very much part of her life, and she’s also made time to catch up on Broadway performances she couldn’t see in the past while she was on the road.
“Broadway is open again, thank God,” Franz says. “It’s thrilling.Getting on the subway and coming up and seeing all the lights on,… I’m very excited and happy for everyone.”