Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Because of Winn Dixie
Josie Todd, a 13-year-old rising star from Memphis, recently wrapped up her time performing the lead role as Opal in a pre-Broadway production of Because of Winn Dixie at Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Before landing her role with Goodspeed, the up-and-coming actress’ credits included playing Molly in Annie, Monica in Freaky Friday the Musical (ECS), Gracie Shinn in The Music Man, and Chip in Beauty and the Beast (Theatre Memphis), and a speaking role on an episode of the nationally recognized drama series Nashville.
Although she’s excited to be performing for the pre-Broadway production, which could potentially be selected to move to Broadway, Josie says she was initially unsure of leaving her hometown.
“My agent told me she found a play for me to audition for, but at first I was going to say no because I have school and didn’t think I’d have a lot of time,” she says. “But for some reason, I was just like, you know what, I’ll do it, because I just love the show and I had read the book. So then I got some calls back, and I got the part.”
Photo by Diane Sobolewski
Because of Winn Dixie
Toward the end of May, Josie and the rest of the cast spent a week in New York City learning music and conducting read-throughs of the play. While there, she celebrated her 13th birthday and received a special birthday surprise.
“Kate Rockwell of Mean Girls on Broadway surprised Josie during rehearsals with a cupcake, happy birthday wishes, and an invitation to come backstage to Mean Girls,” says her mother Melissa.
Josie says, “Mean Girls is my favorite Broadway show of all time, so it was really cool to get to meet Kate Rockwell and the rest of the cast.”
After the week of rehearsals in New York, Josie went back to Connecticut for nearly two months of fine-tuning her performance in the production, singing lyrics written by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls), which were backed by music written by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening).
While there, she also became acquainted with Bowdie, a rescue poodle mix, who played alongside her as Winn Dixie. “He’s the sweetest dog ever,” says Josie. “I couldn’t ask for a better dog to work with.”
Bowdie received training from the same trainer who worked with the canine star of Annie (the musical), which also premiered at Goodspeed Opera House before making its way to Broadway in the 1970s.
Josie got her start on the stage at age 3 in a Memphis-based production of Annie directed by her aunt. “I come from a family of entertainers,” she says. “My father and aunt have always been in theater, and I’ve got a cousin and a sister who sing. So I’ve kind of just grown up in it.”
Through the years, Josie has learned to be fearless on the stage. “My favorite thing about performing is being on stage and the light shining on my face because you can’t see anybody else, so it feels like you’re standing alone on stage,” she says. “I also love the bond that you make with your castmates.”
Because of Winn Dixie premiered at Goodspeed Opera House this summer and ran through September 1st. After an exciting summer, Josie’s headed back to class for her 8th grade studies at Evangelical Christian School (ECS).
Julia Baker, a second-generation journalist, is a staff writer for Memphis Parent magazine and a University of Memphis junior.