Today we’d like to introduce you to MARY ANN JUNG.
Hi MARY ANN, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Greetings! I am an award-winning actress, writer, director and Smithsonian Scholar who performs fun, interactive and inspiring shows about amazing heroines of history. I have appeared on CNN, Good Morning America and in newspapers around the world. I research and write my own shows and always perform in the authentic accent, clothing and attitude for my characters. I have performed for the Smithsonian Museums, National Archives, Kennedy Space Center, Chautauquas and in countless, schools, libraries, and corporate events for over 40 years. I learned how to do my uniquely entertaining but accurate historical programs at the MD Renaissance Festival where I have been the Tudor History and Shakespearean Language Director as well as a lead actress for 47 years. I love making people smile and think by by bringing History Alive!-which is both. my company name and mission. I perform one-hour shows that cover not only the woman’s story but their time period, clothes and personal obstacles that make them the inspiring ladies they are. I also love to surprise my audiences with fun and unusual facts about them so they say “I didn’t know that!” I have 13 shows in all having just introduced Martha Washington for the 250th anniversary. I portray Queen Elizabeth I, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart, Julia Child, Sally Ride, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and others. For the full list please see my website. I also do strolling entertainment for events so am often asked to play other women. What is so wonderful, about my living is that I’m always learning as well as teaching history. I do shows for many retirement homes and have met 8 people who knew Amelia Earhart and know stories not in any book or tv show! I am incredibly lucky to do what I love. For show details and other information, my website is www.HistoryAliveShows.com and number is 410-647-8699. Many Thanks! Mary Ann Jung
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being self-employed is always a struggle. Marketing is Not my strong suit. It took Many long years to develop my business before I could leave my corporate job as a Personnel Manager and make a living as an actress. I lost almost All my income during the pandemic although I did a few shows over Zoom. But my style is so dependent on playing with a live audience it was a poor substitute and I barely got by. I nearly gave up performing entirely which was deeply distressing. But happily I have bounced back and had my busiest year for bookings ever. Winter months are typically slower so it’s always worrisome if I will make enough to pay the bills. But I share my love of people and history in my shows- they are my heart and soul.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets my performances apart is their energy, humor and heart -my connection with and love of audiences of all ages from school children to seniors. I am most proud of helping people laugh and smile while learning and being uplifted by my heroines’ stories. I love seeing children’s eyes light up as they realize history is not dates, it’s people who had the same emotions they do. They were imperfect and struggled like we all do but still did wonderful things. I especially love my senior audiences who appreciate the research and humor of my programs and want to share their own fascinating histories with me. I Love that I’m always learning. One of my proudest and most touching moments was at Charlestown Retirement Home. A lovely lady who taught 8th grade history for 40 years and enjoys my shows told me before one recent one ” Mary Ann, I now have Parkinson’s and will be losing my memory. But I will Never forget you and your shows- I love you” I wanted to cry but took that emotion to give her and the others the best show I possibly could. What a gift!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been outgoing, maybe bossy (!), always the leader in games as a child. I loved school and was an A-student. I represented MD, VA and Washington DC in the National Spelling Bee in 1974. I later went on to run the Comfort Room for them for several years. I got my love of history, books, and music from my parents. My father Leonard Jung was a WWII naval hero, principal bass in the Navy Band, so we were blessed with a rich musical upbringing. I love music form Beethoven to the Beatles. He gave me a love of military history as well as general world history. My mother Rose Marie Jung was a dynamic lady who raised 7 children while my father was away much of the time on the road with the Navy Band. From her I got my love of dancing-any era, and I have taught both Renaissance and Colonial dancing. Dance was a big part of the social lives of many of my characters. I did school plays and although never the lead I enjoyed them greatly. I could never have dreamed I’d be a full-time actress some day!
Pricing:
- Flexible since budgets vary widely where I perform
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HistoryAliveShows.com
