Johanna Day
Johanna Day is currently playing the role of Margie Walsh, a woman just trying to make ends meet in Good People at Arena Stage where she has also performed in The Quality of Life and The Rainmaker for which she received a Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress. She had previously played the role of Margie Booth at Huntington Theatre. Johanna has been seen on Broadway in August: Osage County, Proof (Tony and Lucille Lortel Award nominations) and Lombardi. Regional credits include Misery (Bucks County Playhouse), In a Forest: Dark and Deep (Contemporary American Theater Festival), The Realistic Joneses (Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble), God of Carnage, Carol Mulroney (Huntington Theatre), The Evildoers (Yale Repertory Theatre), Vigils (Goodman Theatre), Ethan Coen’s Almost an Evening (Atlantic Theater Company), Peter and Jerry (Second Stage Theatre, Drama Desk Award nomination), Satellites (New York Shakespeare Festival), How I Learned to Drive (original cast), Middletown (Vineyard Theatre), Distracted (Mark Taper Forum), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hartford Stage), and Blue Window (Manhattan Theatre Club). Johanna’s film and TV credits include Unbreakable, The Exonerated, Henry, The Eternal Pedicure, Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Judging Amy, Royal Pains, and Fringe. You have until Sunday to catch Johanna Day and company in Good People at Arena Stage. Her performance is funny and touching at the same time.
What was your first professional job as a performer?
Well, I was a featured extra in the movie Big. I was behind Tom Hanks wearing a green dress when he was eating the caviar.
Johanna Day as Margie. Photo by Margot Schulman.
Can you please tell us about your character in Good People.
Margie Walsh is from Southie Boston. She’s a no-nonsense gal. She’s funny, brave and kind and doesn’t take crap from anyone.
You have performed at Arena Stage in multiple productions. What are some of the things you like about working at Arena Stage?
The production of their shows is so brilliant, really quality work and kind people here. My family also lives nearby.
You were part of the original Broadway cast of Proof and received a Tony Award nomination for your performance. What are your memories of working on that production?
Well, it was nothing but fun. We started out off-Broadway, so finding out we were going to Broadway was incredibly exciting, and it was my first Broadway show. It was my second show with Mary Louise Parker and we’ve stayed friends ever since. It was all around an awesome experience.
After Good People ends its run, where can we see you next?
Probably the unemployment office.
