Meet Ann Harper

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Harper.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ann. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a farm child (my father owned a dairy), I had no great aspirations. My parents were not champions of higher education and any childhood dreams I had, such as being a commercial artist (I drew pretty well), or a fashion designer (I wiled away hours designing clothes for my paper dolls), were discouraged:” there’s too much competition in that field. You shouldn’t set yourself up for that kind of disappointment.” I was being groomed to be a wife and mother, as many young girls of my generation were.

I was in my late twenties when, as a navy wife, I was cast in my first play. It was a sitcom that I had agreed to do for a friend who was directing it. “You’d be PERfect!” she said and although I lived with knots in my stomach for six weeks, by the time we closed, the theater bug had bitten and I couldn’t wait to do it all again.

My husband’s next duty station was Annapolis, MD, teaching at the Academy for two years. It was there that I immersed myself in local theater culture, landing roles in such gems as Auntie Mame, Gershwin’s Oh, Kay!, Show Boat, The Taming of the Shrew, The Crucible (for which I was honored with the best actress award), and even contributed an occasional theater column to the local newspaper.

After Annapolis, my life changed radically and theater had to be shelved in favor of work schedules, single motherhood, and all the accompanying challenges. I managed to squeeze in Little Foxes, Oliver!, and Butterflies Are Free. This flutter of activity was followed by a fifteen-year hiatus, at the end of which I found myself here in Phoenix as the official grandmother of three incredible kids. It’s been a terrific gig, and a while back I auditioned for a community college production of The Crucible. This time ’round, I was a tad long in the tooth for my old role as Goodwife Proctor, but I was just right as one of the old ladies who gets hanged in the last act. Full circle!

Then, one day, I came across a Meetup Group for actors and decided to throw my hat in the ring again. This is how I became involved with Actors WorkHouse. The WorkHouse offers coaching in a variety of theater-related skills and has been instrumental in improving my abilities in character study and developments as well as my self-confidence. It was there that I was introduced to film acting. Some of my most gratifying experiences have been working with ASU film students on their Capstone projects. These young people are so hard working: scriptwriting, producing, directing, editing, creating soundtracks; it’s an absolute joy to get caught up in their energy fields.

Of course, I check audition listings constantly for good stage roles. Senescence (today’s Word Genius word) is working its inevitable magic. Of late I’ve played two elderly women, about to die. I worship at the feet of the director who chose to incorporate my cane into a tango number for a party scene. What a guy!

I do love theater people and theater environment. I’m convinced that the reason there are so many liberals in the performance arts world is because we open ourselves constantly to the human experience, becoming acquainted with our characters in the most intimate levels.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overcoming a natural shyness and building self-confidence have always been challenges. Excellent tutelage plus repeatedly sticking my neck out, have been most beneficial.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I like to think of myself as a character actress; meaning I enjoy bringing life to a variety of personalities. This requires a willingness to set Ann Harper over there in a chair as she observes and critiques the nuances of the character being created.

What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
I am a very senior citizen. At an earlier age, I might have considered success as making it in Hollywood or New York. Realistically, of late, I think of success as landing a role I’m particularly suited to and enriching an audience’s experience of that character.

Contact Info:

• Phone: (480) 652-6002
• Email: digbyhill@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Laura Durant (headshots)

Suggest a story: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.