Meet Queens-based Artist Joanna Connolly Pepe
Joanna Connolly Pepe is a classically trained singer, a Meisner-trained actor, and the music director at a Catholic parish in Queens. Along with her two sisters, she’s a member of the musical trio, The Connolly Sisters, and a founder of the film production company, Three Leaf Productions. You can learn more about her at her website and on Instagram.
CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION: What brought you to NYC, and where did you come from?
JOANNA CONNOLLY PEPE: Queens girl, born and bred! I grew up going to Manhattan often and seeing as many Broadway shows as I could. I love the way the city is so full of life. I couldn’t imagine calling any other place home.
How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist? Do you call yourself a Catholic artist?
For me, that would almost seem redundant! My Catholic faith is such a huge part of who I am, it will undoubtedly be in every piece of work that I do/take part in. It’s something I cannot help. It’s in every note, every word, every scene. I find that my personal mission in the theater world is simply to do good work telling very human stories, but to maintain a very strong discerning heart of what is good, true, and beautiful. Messages found in artistic works can be extremely powerful, so you need to keep in mind what kind of stories you want to tell.
In a more concrete way, the artistry I bring to singing at Masses, weddings, and funerals or leading and conducting the parish choir is something I’ve found as a surprisingly fulfilling aspect of my work. I didn’t know there would be a job opportunity for me there. I feel like the biggest mission for me in that world is to maintain a reverence for the Mass and to hopefully bring comfort or inspiration to those coming to church. It’s easy for church musicians to become jaded and turn Masses into “just another performance.” It’s given me a heart for priests and their particular sacrifice. It’s a constant “pouring out” to do Mass after Mass.
Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist?
In a very tangible way, my job as music director! Not many people who graduate with a degree in music can say they earn a full-time salary with their music. I always joke that the Church is the original patron of the arts…but it’s true (or at least I have found it so in my case). My job offers me a tremendous amount of flexibility and stability while pursuing a tangential career in musical theater.
I’ve also had many contacts through the Church that have helped in developing and presenting work. For example, my sisters and I produced a Christmas concert as part of our group The Connolly Sisters this past year at the Emmaus Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The Diocese of Brooklyn had restored the Williamsburg Opera House, and it turned out to be such a beautiful venue for what turned into a beautiful night.
Where have you found support among your fellow artists for your Catholic faith?
I’ve found the theater community to be extremely open and nonjudgmental. The beauty of the theater community is that it is also a place (like the Church) for the lonely, the outcast, and the sometimes forgotten. In all my experiences with actors, I’ve found a universal acknowledgement of the spiritual, and that fosters hearts very open to hearing about the Catholic faith. I used to be very afraid of “admitting” to people in the theater community that I was Catholic—but I think I can chalk that up to my own insecurity.
Where in NYC do you regularly find artistic fulfillment?
I trained at the William Esper Studio—great Meisner training (would definitely recommend)! I still keep in touch with the other actors from my class. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them go on to produce work together—and some of them have also been involved in my own work. I’d also really recommend The New York Drama Center. They have great workshop classes. My friend who runs it is a great on camera coach and brings in master teachers. My sisters and I also started our own production company, Three Leaf Productions, so that has been a great avenue for being involved with artistic work. Our debut short film is in the final stages of post-production. My happy place is Lincoln Center. It’s right around the block from Fordham LC. I sat on the fountain many a time when I needed to feel like there was plenty of space and fresh air.
What is your daily spiritual practice?
Everyday looks a tad different (I’m hoping to grow in discipline), but I usually aim to do either a Mass, a rosary, or some kind of spiritual reading. I’m a huge fan of the “Three Hail Marys” devotion…it’s a great way to combat spiritual laziness (who can’t do three Hail Marys?). When I’m singing a wedding or a funeral, I usually like to take a moment to pray for the couple or the deceased. And then mostly when I sing a Mass, I work on taking that time for prayer and making the songs a offering.
Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.
I went to Mass with my husband, taped a callback, got some exercise, and went to an evening rehearsal for a production of Hello Dolly! I love days that have overlap between my varying to-dos.
What exciting projects do you have coming up?
On Stage: Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly! with Rockaway Theatre Company (July 14-30); Sarah Brown in Guys & Dolls with Sunrise Theatre Company (August 4-5)
On Screen: Accident Prone (Sam), currently in the final stages of post production