Part One with Joanne Camp (Sobel) was conducted on January 28, 2025

Part Two with Shepard Sobel was conducted on March 25, 2025

Shepard Sobel is the Founder and was Artistic Director of the Pearl Theatre Company from 1982 to 2009. Joanne Camp Sobel was a company member.  The Pearl opened in 1982 and closed in 2017, spending 15 years of that time at Theatre 80, St. Marks Place, between First and Second Avenues.  Its first season presented readings where it found its mission to present classical works and then created, rare in New York City, a LORT D Contract classical repertory company of resident actors.  Before St Mark’s Place, the Pearl spent 10 years at what was previously the Nameless Theatre on 22^nd between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, and after St. Mark’s Place went to City Center.  Finally in 2012, The Pearl renovated and moved into 555 West 42^nd, the original home of Signature Theatre.  The Pearl closed in 2017.  Shows directed by Sobel include: DEEP SWIMMER (1987), THE THREE ZEKS (1984), THE CAVE DWELLERS (2007), THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA (2004), DANCE OF DEATH (1991), LITTLE EYOLF (1994), THE LADY FROM THE SEA(1985), THE MASTER BUILDER (2005), UNCLE VANYA (1981), THE SEAGULL (1999), THE FOREST(1997), THE RIVALS (1986), THE COUNTRY WIFE (1999), THE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE (1993), PHAEDRA (1993), ANDROMACHE (2001), TARTUFFE (1991), HAMLET (2007), KING LEAR (1994), MACBETH (1987), ROMEO AND JULIET (2002), RICHARD II (1998), RICHARD III (2000), ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (1989), CYMBELINE (1996), MEASURE FOR MEASURE (1990), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (1984), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1989), TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (1985), AS YOU LIKE IT (1992), THE TROJAN WOMEN (1992), MEDEA (2010), IPHIGENIA AT AULIS (2002), HECUBA (2005), OEDIPUS THE KING (1993), THE ORESTEIA (2000), THE PERSIANS (2003).  The Pearl has been awarded numerous Obie awards including a special award in 1992 for Sustained Excellence of Performance along with a grant for Continued Artistic Excellence.  The Pearl also received the Board of Education’s Friend of Manhattan High School Award recognizing its support of education and providing opportunities for young people, and a Ross Wetzsteon Award presented to a theater nurturing new plays.

Joanne Camp is an American actress known for her extensive acting range.  Before becoming a company member of The Pearl, she spent time with the Charles Town West Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Folger Shakespeare Theatre, and Arena Stage.  Off-Broadway she appeared in GENIUSES (Playwrights Horizons) for which she won the Clarence Derwent Award and The Theatre World Award, PAINTING CHURCHES(Lamb’s Theatre), COASTAL DISTURBANCES (Manhattan Theatre Club), THE HEIDI CHRONICLES(Playwrights Horizons) for which she was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress, LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART (Manhattan Theatre Club), DINNER AT EIGHT (Lincoln Center).  On Broadway she appeared in The Sisters Rosensweig, The Heidi Chronicles for which she was nominated for a Tony for Actress in Featured Role, and The Last Night of Ballyhoo. She performed in over 50 shows at The Pearl including:  AS YOU LIKE IT, THE COUNTRY WIFE, DANCE OF DEATH, HECUBA, HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN, KING LEAR, LITTLE EYOLF, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE ORESTEIA, AGAMEMNON, THE PERSIANS, PHAEDRA, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE SEAGULL, TARTUFFE, THE TROJAN WOMEN, and UNCLE VANYA.  Camp’s work has been seen on television and in film, as well as at the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Mother Road Theater Company, and Albuquerque’s FUSION Theatre.

Some of Shepard Sobel’s earliest work as a director was with severely emotionally disturbed teenagers in a state hospital.  Doing a production of Our Town challenged the students with its themes of family, death and loss. Sobel felt he needed to know more about directing and went on to acquire a graduate degree at the University of Florida in Gainesville after which he went to the Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., enrolled in the Actors’ Equity EMC (Equity Membership Candidate) Program, eventually accumulating enough ‘points’ to qualify for Actors’ Equity membership.  When he had the points, he moved to New York City and joined Actors’ Equity.  A friend asked Sobel to direct UNCLE VANYA.  By this time Joanne Camp had arrived in New York City after working at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre and Arena Stage.  She auditioned for the part of Sonya.  Sobel thought she was too pretty for the role, but Camp won it anyway.  Camp spent the next 27 years with The Pearl acting as well as stepping in as press rep, development director, and intern coordinator as needed for the company.  Her work at The Pearl was recognized with an Obie Award for Continued Excellence and a Joseph A. Callaway Award for Classical Performance.