Not all teens would enjoy portraying an old lady, but Joy Woods threw herself into the role during a production of “Big Fish” in January at the Illinois High School Theatre Fest All State Production.
“It was so much fun,” said Woods, 18. “I just got to be goofy.
Woods has also enjoyed being in a number of theatre productions at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, where she is a graduating senior, including Agnes in “She Kills Monsters,” Dolores in “Sister Act” and Alex the Lion in “Madagascar.”
That acting talent recently earned Woods a nomination as best high school actress by Broadway in Chicago and the chance to compete Monday in the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago. She will be one of 24 nominees to sing in a group performance of “My Shot” from the musical “Hamilton” as well as give a solo performance of “Fabulous, Baby” from “Sister Act.”
Woods, who lives in Flossmoor, will have her performance judged by casting agents and theatre professionals. The winner will be sent to New York for a week of private coaching, master classes and rehearsals.
“She definitely has the ability to adapt characters very quickly and powerfully,” said Janine Stroemer, a group interpretation coach at the high school, who has Woods in her speech class and on a speech team last year.
Stroemer said when she expanded the “Elephant Man” role of Mrs. Kendall for Woods, she was able to become the storyteller from beginning to end “so it became the story through her eyes.”
It was Woods’ talent that helped the school win the state tournament for Group Interpretation, said Stroemer. She was named an All-State member of the IHSA State Champion Group Interpretation cast for “A Head Full of Dreams: The Life of John Merrick.”
Woods loved acting in elementary school and then also started dancing in her freshman and sophomore years.
“I love telling the story and interpreting it in ways the audience may not have thought about, especially for those who haven’t seen it before … and sort of opening their eyes to something new and making them feel a certain way,” Woods said. “Being able to connect with an audience and tell a story is my favorite part.”
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Jill Bonavia, a drama coach at H-F, who has known Woods since a sophomore honors English class, said Woods had an innate ability to understand and put herself into characters.
“When she reads a script, she’s outstanding at understanding character motivation, subtext and where the climax should be,” Bonavia said. “She just gets it.
“I can’t tell you how many times when I’m directing her where I would have something written in my script for her to do and she would automatically do it before I said it,” Bonavia said.
Both Bonavia and Stroemer said they expected Woods to go far.
“I feel she has all the foundational pieces she needs and once she leaves here I expect her to soar,” Stroemer said.