Profile profile for GarnerJ

Julie is a professionally trained actor, educator and improviser. At NMAH, she devises theatre programs to complement the exhibits, themes, and mission of the museum. She researches, designs, writes, prototypes, edits, and performs. The end result of the process is a historically accurate interactive experience for visitors. Audience interactions involve artifacts, storytelling, and discussions about how a moment or movement in history has contributed to big changes for Americans today. Each performance is adjusted to connect with different audiences, and can shift according to the interests and curiosities of the visitors. Currently, you can see her wheeling her 1898 antique bicycle around 1 West, rallying support for the Suffrage Movement from her 1917 soapbox in 2 West, or holding an anti-slavery society meeting in “Within These Walls” in 2 West.

Julie also performs regularly outside the museum. She has been in numerous professional theatre productions in DC (two-time Helen Hayes Award nominee). She also does improv comedy, commercials, films, voice-over and industrial videos. As a faculty member at The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory, she teaches acting and improvisation classes for adults.

Smithsonian Blog Posts:

https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/becoming-louise-wheelwoman

https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/wheelwoman-louise-rolls-museum