Jan Turnquist

playing Marmee (NOTE: Susan Ellsworth is also playing Marmee. . . we are alternating performances. . . ONE REQUEST: Please don't call us "Marmee One" and "Marmee Two") Jan Turnquist is completing her third year as Executive Director of Orchard House, Home of the Alcotts, where Little Women was written in 1868. She has worked there since 1977 as an historic interpreter, Education Coordinator, Outreach Coordinator, and Resident Louisa May Alcott. Prior to becomming Executive Director of Orchard House, Jan started her own educational theater company, Inter*Act Performances, and is on the roster of Young Audiences of Massachusetts. She performs her original One-Woman show, "Louisa May Alcott, Dynamic Author," for schools, universities, libraries, museums and corporations across the U. S. She has also portrayed Miss Alcott in Public Service Announcements currently running nationally on the on FOX TV network, several BBC productions, including "Blue Peter," Britain's longest running children's TV show, "Book Worm" and their Open University programs, as well as on Public Television (PBS).

Jan portrayed "Marmee" in Concord Players 1992 production of Little Women and served as Publicity Chair for that production, as well. For the 1982 Little Women production, she worked backstage at every performance creating the split-second hair change for Jo when she steped off stage to "cut" and sell her hair!

A long time member of the Players, Jan has served on the Board as Membership Chair and has produced, acted and worked backstage. In addition to her Alcott related roles, Jan's acting experiences include multiple one-woman performances as Harriett Beecher Stowe and Phebe Bliss Emerson, 18th C. revivals of Alcott plays, "Phoebe" in Romantic Comedy with the Bedford Players, and Spoon River Anthology and Black and Silver with Concord Players. Jan studied acting with Karen Ross and Michael Allosso.

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