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Jody's beautiful daughter, Emily Cameron
HOW Army Veteran Jody Cameron

has healed through the power of theatre

by Jillian Keith, TNP, Marketing Coordinator

ince actor and Army veteran Jody She was cast as Gretl. That was my first time in a theater in over
Cameron’s return from war over a 20 years.”
Sdecade ago, he’s been looking for Despite not performing in The Sound of Music, Jody was
something that will make him feel fulfilled drawn to the atmosphere of the community. “As soon as I
and healed again. Jody has found it in the stepped foot in the green room, I felt welcome. Emily was
most “unlikely of places”: the stage. “Being bouncing all around and with all of her cast mates, and it was
here (at TNP) is like being reborn. I did great seeing how much they loved her company. The cast and
theatre long before I served, and coming crew sparked up conversations with me instantly and we started
back to it has been challenging, freeing, playing games together right there in the green room. It made
and beautiful. I feel like I’ve found myself and my purpose me realize that while I had changed, theatre hadn’t. All the jokes
again.” were the same - the personalities were the same. I felt at home
“I’ve had to learn how to get over myself, my insecurities, for the first time in a while in that green room.”
unwelcome thoughts of ‘what if’ and anxieties, and learn how Since then, Jody has performed in The Hunchback of Notre
to trust my director and cast mates. I feel free to be myself here Dame and The Dining Room. The stage has not only allowed
and not be judged, and free to explore different aspects of my him to rediscover himself, but to develop deeper and more
characters and myself. Every day I’m here I feel like onion layers meaningful relationships with his family. “Emily’s older
of myself are being peeled back and I’m feeling more and more brother, Joseph, is 11, and we jive on all the same things. For
secure in putting my demons to rest. It’s cathartic and beautiful the past seven years, I’ve been looking, searching, and praying
how therapeutic it’s been coming off stage and applying for something to connect with Emily on. It’s been really hard
everything I’m learning in rehearsals to the rest of my life.” and challenging. When she got cast in The Sound of Music,
Jody has lived in Naples for 12 years and moved here from and I started going to rehearsal with her, she started to see a
Atlanta. He did theatre throughout middle and high school, side of me that she hadn’t ever seen before. Singing the songs
but after joining the Army, he left behind that part of himself. together really brought us together. And then when I was cast
“I remember my wife, Jessica, told me about The Sound of Music in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, we started singing those songs
auditions and wanted our daughter, Emily, to audition for it.

Those interested can visit NaplesPlayers.org anytime or call the TNP Box Office at (239)263-7990.

66 66 Life in Naples | December 2023