Joyce Johnson
(Passed away January 11, 2009)

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Peacefully at North Bay, Sunday, January 11, 2009. Joyce Johnson (nee Ryan) beloved wife of the late Alan Johnson in her 84th year. Dearly loved mother of Kit (Janet Sullivan), Steve , Matthew (Lori Johnson), John (Evelyn Davis), Marlo (John Garrett) and Mary Ann Johnson. Lovingly remembered by grandchildren Jake, Annie, Katie, Delaney and Emily. Dear sister of Matt Ryan (Isabel). Predeceased by her parents Eleanor Mae (Babs) nee Willars and Matthew(Max) Ryan of Timmins and brothers Rod and John Ryan. Graduated the University of Toronto in 1947, followed by Normal School. Joyce taught in Timmins and later at Chippewa Secondary School. A "grande dame" of theatre arts in northern Ontario and long-time force in the Gateway Theatre Guild, Joyce was an award-winning actor, director and stage manager, and member of the North Bay Musician's and Entertainer's Hall of Recognition. Proud Unitarian representative on the North Bay Multi-Faith Council. Lover of children and animals, and a true free spirit. Cremation at Forest Lawn Crematorium. Memorial visitation at the McGUINTYFUNERAL HOME, Wednesday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Memorial service will be conducted in the Funeral Home Chapel, Thursday at 11:00 a.m with a reception at 12:00 at the Capitol Centre. As expressions of sympathy, donations to UNICEF would be gratefully appreciated by the family.

 

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North Bay and Quonta lose 2 Grand Dames of theatre.

In the beginning – there was the revue called the Gateway Gaities.

Less than a decade later came another moment of superlative importance in the history of the Gateway Theatre Guild with the arrival of the Johnson family (Al, Joyce, and six progeny) in our fair city. Lucky North Bay! Lucky Theatre Guild!! Joyce joined the cast of The Great Dark, our entry to the One–Act Quonta Festival, directed by Gordon Lee. (They won).

Gordon then began auditions for Cry Havoc, a WWII play with an all–female cast. Another moment of superlative importance! The paths of Joyce Johnson, Jinx Barham, Ione Grainger and Edna Boyer cross. We rehearse in Luella Surtees’s recreation room and head for Quonta (now a three–act festival.)

Many decades later Joyce decided to count the number of Guild plays with which she had been officially involved either as actor, director, producer, costume mistress, props person, painter, set dresser, etc. She didn’t count the plays where she provided moral support to muddled or hysterical directors by “having a quiet word with them”, sharing her knowledge and understanding – a true mentor!

Nevertheless, the total number of plays with which she had been officially involved added up to an unbelievable “over a hundred”.

Some highlights of Joyce’s amazing Quonta performances were:

–Queen Eleanor in The Lion in Winter by James Goldman – Best Actress

–Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde – Best Supporting Actress

–Director of Best Play Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas.

Joyce also contributed to the Guild’s business responsibilities by serving several terms as president, secretary and member–at–large. She volunteered as our representative to the QUONTA executive and she was appointed QUONTA’s representative to Theatre Ontario’s founding committee.

And – – she wrote the Guild’s newsletter to members and patrons for a couple of decades. It was one classy newsletter– filled with official news and delicious gossip and generous acknowledgements of members’ contributions. Her style was realistic yet positive and garnished with wit and charm.

Joyce never gave up her quest to learn EVERYTHING about Theatre. To that end, she collected books, Theatre Ontario publications, and other helpful documents which she generously shared. She attended Theatre Ontario summer courses. (That’s where she met Rod Carley.) Besides attending most plays in this area (including Sudbury), Joyce loved to go to Quonta because one could learn so much from the adjudicator and she encouraged others (like me) to adopt her attitudes. QUONTA was never about winning or losing, it was about learning. It was about friendship and it was about fun!

If the Gateway Theatre Guild ever decides that it should have a Patron Saint or a Fairy Godmother or a Founding Mother, I’ve got just the girl for you!!!

Quotes from Lady Joyce:

On the best candidate for any role in community theatre:

“There’s talent– there’s dependability. If I have to choose, I’ll take dependability!”

On Life: “Virtue is mostly lack of opportunity.”

On theatrical endeavours– and Life: “Never whine – your audience won’t like you.”

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At the 2008 QUONTA brunch awards ceremony on Sunday, theatre veterans Sharon Sproule & Joyce Johnston along with host Ken Stephens, cut the first piece of Quonta cake!