Joanna Parson

Humor. Trauma. Transcribing. ✍️✨ A little look into A Transcriber’s Tale. We took this show to Hollywood and Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, and now we’re ready for new stages. @aimee2thetod directed, @drewwutke MD! If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be a fly on the wall in a NYC newsroom during 9/11—while still trying to figure out how to be an adult—this show is for you. 🗓️ Now booking for 2026 and 2027! Reach out via the link in bio to bring @a_transcribers_tale to your city or venue. #SoloPerformance #Storytelling #911Memorial #TheaterTour #ComingOfAge #LiveTheater

Always a glorious day to celebrate the @52ndstproject with @gmstevens but yesterday was especially perfect.

First day of set for a well-written short film. Taking a chance on new collaborators feels so good when they create a working atmosphere you can feel proud about. Is this a shift in the wind? Sending “turning of the tide” energy to all of my fellow actors— our season is coming.

A Transcriber’s Tale at @astrolabproductions #Starstuff festival. A highlight of 2025; also a chance to debut Joanna’s creative workshop, “Getting Started with Autobiographical Writing.” Thanks to all the creative spirits involved who made this smart, innovative festival at the @reverie_ballroom a must-see and must-do. Seattle has such spirit. And a little Chihuly never hurt anyone either. Photo 1 by Gabriel Corey @gabrieltime Photo 3-4 by Nikki Womac @nikkiwomacphotography @joannaparsonactor

I have known some masterful actors in my life but June Squibb might be the most masterful— at truth, at fun, at resilience, at keeping herself able and agile, at inspiring, at text, at connection. I am so grateful to keep learning from her long after the times in life we had more frequent contact. I MEAN! Look at what she’s done!!!! I found this production of Marjorie Prime to be absolutely wonderful and thought provoking. Some other pieces lately that have tried to crack the themes of AI and human relationship haven’t quite given me enough space to have my own internal exploration, but this play and this production did that for me. You have until late February to check it out yourself. @marjorieprime

I love studying and collaborating in Take Action, a class taught by filmmaker and teacher Jon Shear, where filmmakers learn to direct actors in 50-minute sessions where a scene gets as full coverage as possible. I have learned so much over the years from people in the class and from Jon. A few take aways: 1) Construct a process where you can take any direction on set and fit it into the homework you have already done. 2) Staying facile with memorizing dialogue will pay off. Just keep doing it. 3) The entire game is collaboration. Prepare and let go. Prepare and let go.

Congratulations to @gmstevens and the cast, crew and team of Frozen at @papermillplayhouse ! Graham is the silliest of the sillies as Oaken, and as he sings about “Hygge” I am extra grateful to have been able to bring along some of my near and dears. Ready to snuggle through the rest of the run of this well-staged, magical show.

The aughts. And the oughtta still look like that Guild Guitar. 📸=Eric Stephen Jacobs

You can come and see “A Transcriber’s Tale” at our 2pm showcase on Saturday, but you also have the opportunity to join Joanna Parson for her workshop: Getting Started with Autobiographical Writing! 🗓 Saturday, Oct 25 | 10:00–11:00am 📍 Reverie Ballroom 💸 $25 / Included with your Plus Pass Feeling intimidated by the blank canvas before you? Even the first galactic explorers faced a similar moment—that initial step onto a new frontier. In this workshop, we’ll navigate that blank space together, exploring techniques to silence your inner critic and spark your creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler of the stars or just starting your journey, you’ll leave with the tools to chart your own narrative and the confidence to take the next step. Joanna Parson is an actor, writer, and musical performer whose work has appeared on WNYC’s The Next Big Thing. She has written and performed solo work for The Liar Show, The AtrainPlays, and hosted the long-running NYC new works series The Happy Hour Salon. Her musical comedy Reddy or Not has been produced nationwide—including in front of Helen Reddy herself—and she’s appeared on Law & Order: SVU, FBI: Most Wanted, Red Oaks, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. @joannaparsonactor #starstufffestival

I hope my paycheck for marching today comes soon. #NoKings #indivisible #nyc #community

I was so proud to have performed at the Endo March - AGCES 2025 Gala Global Coalition to Advance #Endometriosis Care Worldwide in Atlanta this past March. My ovarian cancer was endometrial in origin, and this is my 9th year cancer free thanks to the pioneering work of the Nezhat family of doctors. It was important to me to remember that there are heroes in the medical field who see and listen to women, and who will keep doing the work they were put on this Earth to do, regardless of any societal changes that make it harder or easier to do so. I was so proud to see this photo, in fact, that I asked ChatGPT to remove the spot on the bottom of the skirt so I could share it confidently. That’s all I asked it to do. The second two photos are what it did along with that spot removal. Readers, I begged. “Please leave the face alone.” It would not. So… who is that lady? #endometriosisawareness #womenshealth #photoshopfail

Forgot to post when it happened— the great @dannfink and @gmstevens and I at the 52nd Street Project Gala. All class, that organization. Now off to watch last night’s Who Wants to Be A Millionaire to see Trammell Tillman rep for the kids.