Cathy Roskam was in theatre for 16 years after she graduated college, first as an actress, then halfway through that time also as producer, director, writer, and founder of the Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company, which ran from 1972 to 1980, when she matriculated at General Theological Seminary in New York to study for the ministry. She was ordained Priest in 1984 and consecrated bishop in 1996, becoming the ‘The Right Reverend Catherine S. Roskam, the first female bishop in the Diocese of New York (and only the fourth female bishop in the Episcopal Church). 

Cathy appeared Off and Off-Off Broadway and in regional theatre in such plays as MAGGIE FLYNN, GETTING GERTIE’S GARTER, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, THE FANTASTICKS, UNCLE VANYA,  NO EXIT, THE MAIDS, I REMEMBER MAMA, THE FIREBUGS, REFLECTED GLORY at such theaters as Equity Library Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Queens Playhouse in the Park, Rising Star Theater, Stage West, Westbeth Women’s Collective, No Smoking Playhouse, the WPA and of course at the Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company.  In 1970 Cathy also appeared on Broadway in Ghandi at the 48^th Street Playhouse.  Roskam’s voiceover work brought her income in a fairly steady way, as well as voice recognition in commercials for Oil of Olay.   Cathy was in the movies The Godfather and Andy Warhol’s Bad, and performed on television on Camera 3 in Lanford Wilson’s This Is The Rill Speaking.  She also appeared from time to time in daytime serials like All My Children.   

In 1971 Cathy co-produced three plays with fellow actress Sally Gordon, including HER INFINITE VARIETY, a collage of women’s scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare, created and produced first at The Little Church Around the Corner and then at Lincoln Center Library Theater, with Cathy and Sally along with Suzanne Gilbert performing multiple parts.

The Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company was incorporated as a non-profit in 1972 and ran till 1980.  : (1972) THE LADY’S NOT FOR BURNING, NO EXIT, MANDRAGOLA, “!?”,   WHAT!  AND LEAVE BLOOMINGDALE’S?; (1973) THE FIREBUGS, RIP VAN WINKLE (Joseph Jefferson Version), HARPER AND FANNIE, BERNICE AND LENORE, EDDIE; (1974) I REMEMBER MAMA, AWAKE AND SING, THE AUTUMN GARDEN, GETTING GERTIE’S GARTER, ‘Inside Off Off’ panels with notable celebrities; (1975) JOHN, JACK FALLON AND FARE THEE WELL, MORNING’S AT SEVEN, APRIL FISH, THE WOOING OF LADY SUNDAY, RIP VAN WINKLE (end of 3 year residency at Sunnyside); (1976) U.S.A., THE WELL, JOHNNY BELINDA, THE SECOND MAN; (1977) INHERIT THE WIND, THE HAROLD ROME REVIEW, BED & BREAKFAST, MOON CRIES, THE ALGONQUIN SAMPLER; (1978) THE ENTERTAINER, TOO MUCH JOHNSON, ONWARD VICTORIA, SIGHTLINES, TALLULAH: A MEMORY, A ONE WOMAN SHOW BY EUGENIA RAWLS.  In addition to mainstage productions JJTC had projects in three separate areas that led to a breadth of interests.  Carol Nadel was Project Director for “Conversations,” inviting  the actors or producers or  directors of the original run of the shows JJTC produced for its 1974 season.  The popular series led to  Inside Off Off in which panelists included Mel Gussow, Michael Feingold, Christopher Martin, Richard Morse, and Virginia Kahn.  Susan Miller was Project Director for TOP (Theatre for Older People), a series of one-act plays, each followed by a discussion.  They took place in the afternoon at JJTC but were also toured to nursing homes and senior centers throughout the boroughs.  Christopher Cox was project director of our New Plays Series which complemented our mainstage theatre presentations of American revivals.

Why the name of Joseph Jefferson for the theatre?   In 1870 the famous actor Joseph Jefferson, renowned for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle throughout the country, was making arrangements for the burial of his friend George Holland at a church that used to be on 28^th Street in Manhattan. When asked by the minister what Mr. Holland’s profession was, Mr. Jefferson responded that he had been an actor,  the minister said, “I’m sorry.  We don’t bury actors from this church.  Go to the little church around the corner.  They do that sort of thing there.”. The next day 20 New York papers carried Jefferson’s response, “Well, if that be so, then God bless the little church around the corner!”. Thus began the nickname, ‘The Little Church Around the Corner,’ for Church of the Transfiguration and also the tradition of its being ‘the actors’ church’, which it still is today. .   

Joseph Jefferson was renowned through the country for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle.  He played it on tour off and on for forty years, developing his own own version of the play, which JJTC produced for three summers in a tent on the grounds of Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home in Tarrytown, culminating in 1976, the Bicentennial year.