Joanna VanTrees is a force of nature who showers Pleasantville with energy, verve, warmth, and community spirit. She seems to be everywhere all at once.
President of the board of Pleasantville Community Television (PCTV), host of her own TV show, What’s Up Pleasantville? and regular participant in ARC Stages shows, often with her children, VanTrees has become an important part of the community.
Arriving from southern California with her two children, two cats and a service dog, VanTrees purchased a house in Pleasantville in 2018. Her mother grew up in Chappaqua and went to Greeley High School. VanTrees has a large, extended family living on the East Coast, and she had a friend who suggested that VanTrees settle in Pleasantville.
To meet people, she took her pug, Hamlet, to the town’s Starbucks, and sat down. VanTrees’ open, welcoming manner and easy smile, plus Hamlet’s natural charisma achieved her goal of making tons of new friends.
From there, VanTrees and her children, Julia, 24, and Will, 19, auditioned for ARC Stages shows. Mother and daughter landed parts in Avenue Q in the community stage wing of ARC in 2019. Will, reluctant at first to audition, won a part in Urinetown, and got bit by the acting bug. He has appeared in six ARC Stages shows and three Pleasantville High School productions. MORE
