JoAnn F. Peterson

About the Artist

JoAnn F. Peterson is an acclaimed film and stage actor who does first-person, living history portrayals which she calls “Amazing Women of History”.  Her well researched portrayals of Margaret “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” of Titanic fame, world-renowned opera singer Jenny Lind, tragic First Lady Mary Lincoln, child star and ambassador Shirley Temple Black, ground-breaking journalist and adventurer Nellie Bly, Founding Mother Abigail Adams, and first female Cabinet member Frances Perkins, have been performed at the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Victorian and Pennsylvania Chautauquas, Cooper Union in New York City, National Czech and Slovak Museum in Cedar Rapids, for Shirley Temple Collectors by the Sea in Ventura, and at numerous schools, colleges, historical societies, Woman’s Clubs, museums, festivals, conventions, conferences, libraries and more.   As each amazing woman of history she portrays, JoAnn draws in the audience to interact, engage and share little known facts about how they experienced what was happening in the world during their lifetimes (Revolutionary War, the Great Depression, World Wars I and II, women’s suffrage, the Civil War, the Cold War, etc.), what made them tick, and their many contributions, struggles, accomplishments, and lasting impact.  History is brought to life with first-person portrayals followed by a time of Q&A first of the historical figure and then as JoAnn the researcher.  Learn more about her portrayals at www.joannpeterson.com.

Artist's Statement

I call what I do "edutainment - educational entertainment."  You come away feeling you actually met that historical person and that they had fears, dreams, joys, and challenges just like we do.  You learn how they overcame some of life's circumstances, such as the assassination of a beloved husband (Mary Lincoln) and what it was like living through those times.  History comes alive and is not boring at all!