Jannett Thomas Amelia Community Theatre Volunteer

 

Janett was an active volunteer at ACT for over 25 years. She worked on backstage crews for costumes and props, often as the chairman, for shows such as "The Rainmaker" and "God’s Favorite." She was also a talented set decorator who painted and dressed numerous sets, including the first show in the mainstage theatre, "The Pirates of Penzance." Despite health issues, Janett was still painting sets at ACT this past fall.

 

Janett was most comfortable being backstage, but she did have a walk-on role onstage in "The Trip to Bountiful." Since Janett was English, she became one of our go-to accent coaches anytime we performed a show requiring British accents, like "Calendar Girls." Janett took her job very seriously. An actor recalls that even though she only had eleven lines, Janett recorded the lines and worked with her until she sounded authentic.

 

Amelia Community Theatre was a family affair for the talented Thomas family, which included husband Graham who was chairman of our 2005-2010 capital campaign and passed away in 2013. Two of their grandchildren performed in ACT summer camp productions. Along with Graham, Janett was a wonderful ambassador for ACT, inviting friends and neighbors to attend shows and volunteer.

 

Besides her ACT activities, Janett was a competitive tennis player and an accomplished knitter and bridge player. We are reminded of the tremendous impact that Janett and Graham made at Amelia Community Theatre every time we see the plaque by the theatre front doors which is a testament to their dedication and financial support in making our main stage theatre a reality.

 

On behalf of everyone at ACT, we offer our condolences to Janett’s sons Paul and Lawrence and their families.

-- Amelia Community Theater

 

Born in 1943 in London, England she married Graham Thomas in 1964, then emigrated to Canada and eventually settled in Florida. Janett was social and energetic with a concern for people everywhere. She loved tennis, always joining the local club wherever she lived.

 

She leaves behind sons Paul/Jacksonville, USA and Lawrence/Sydney, Australia.

Donations may be made in her name to Purple Dove.