#45 - Mary Jo McConnell: Healing: The Artist & The Combat Soldier

“I am a believer in the ‘Why’. Once I owned that purpose, once I
identified that that was my purpose… all my hyphens made sense.
Instead of feeling like a jack of all trades, master of none - I
was finally under this umbrella of ‘Why’. I’m a healer.”  Mary
Jo McConnell’s purpose is simple: to heal. Not only is this
incredible artist a part of the theatre industry for 35+ years as
an actor, but her identity as a Veteran has provided her the
incredible opportunity to work with, and most importantly heal,
Veterans by using theatre as medicine tools in personal healing.
This episode is incredibly unique in a multitude of ways. Mary Jo
opens us up to the perspective of Veterans healing by using theatre
and also leads us through an exercise to ground ourselves and be
present in the moment without judgement.  “Oftentimes the
givers, the healers will extend themselves to show compassion for
others, and hold space for others, and forget about the need to do
it for themselves.”  As we emerge from the pandemic, healing
should be in the forefront of our mind. How can we help heal the
world around us, while still being present for ourselves? After
recharging her batteries, Mary Jo has the perspective and
experience to lend expertise as we gently guide ourselves towards
recovering from the trauma.  If you’re looking to begin to
move on, this episode is the gateway to start. Mary Jo’s voice is
calming, shifting, and above all else: healing. While her voice is
soothing, her intensity shines through. When asked about the
comparisons between a soldier and an actor, she says, “I think the
fact that they are two very committed beings, two incredibly
committed entities, and committed in mind, body, and spirit. All of
those things need to be aligned in order to achieve the mission.
There’s something about being in the military - that level of
camaraderie - that I have not found duplicated… even in the
theatre.” Please be advised this episode contains conversation of
sexual assault in the military.  Broadway National Tours: The
Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), All Shook
Up, Sister Act. Original Soap Star in the off-Broadway production
of Menopause, the Musical. Regional theaters: Alabama Shakespeare
Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Paper Mill
Playhouse, and more. Currently: UNA, the Nazi bombmaker in the
Amazon Prime Series Hunters. Other TV: Pan Am, Masters of Sex, and
One Life to Live. Indie films: “Trumped” (producing, co-writing and
starring). Proud founding artist and winner of an inaugural
“Builder Award” from The Musical Theatre Factory. Veteran:
De-Cruit: using personal narrative and Shakespeare to mitigate
trauma. CD: “A Voice for Healing”. Co-founder of the Veteran Arts
Workshop-Online Portal (VAW-OP) and is offering free classes in
arts/mindfulness to veterans and their families. IG:
@maryjomcconnell Connect with Michael: @themichaelkushner (IG
and TikTok) @dearmultihyphenate (IG)
www.michaelkushneronline.com Produced by Alan Seales and
the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad
choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices