CLIFTON FORGE — Fresh from filming in Atlanta, Jana Allen will return home to the Alleghany Highlands to perform at The Historic Masonic Theatre as emcee/vocalist for “Duos Night at The Virginia Opry.”
Since singing “Buttons and Bows” as a sixth-grader there in 1992 in “A Musical Tribute to the Railroad,” she has followed her dream, one that has led to a career in show business. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SGA) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).
Her pursuit of a theatrical career has taken her to Hollywood, New York, Atlanta and Wilmington, considered as the Hollywood of the East Coast. She resides in Snead’s Ferry, N.C., not far from Wilmington.
After graduating from Alleghany High School in 2000, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in video broadcasting from Liberty University where she gained experience via an internship as a reporter at WTKR Channel 3 News in Norfolk.
Also, she honed her talent by serving as a radio host at 90.9 WWMC and 88.3 FM WRVL, Lynchburg.
Recently, she complete filming “Remember Yesterday: A Wilmington Love Story” that is in post-production with an anticipated release in 2022. She landed the lead female role in the independent film.
Another lead role she has been cast in is Discovery ID’s production of “Your Worst Nightmare,” and she returned home to play a leading role in “Gift from a Yankee” which was filmed in the Alleghany Highlands and aired on WVPBS.
Her role as a secretary in the yet-to-be publicized filming she has completed the first episode of in Atlanta is a reoccurring role in the upcoming series.
Other reoccurring roles that she has landed are in HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones” and Discovery’s “Manhunter Unabomber.”
She has co-starred in “Creep Show,” Shudder; “Welcome to Fatch,” FOX; “Genius: Aretha Franklin;” NATGEO; “Mr. Mercedes,” Audience; “Shots Fired,” FOX; “Vice Principals,” HBO; and “Eastbound and Down,” HBO.
Her roles as a supporting actress have been in “The Shunning,” Hallmark; “The Office “Roy’s Wedding,”’ NBC; and “Psychic Witness: Why My Child,” TLC.
Film roles include a lead role in a short film, “The Tracker,” directed by Valerie Sebestyen and supporting roles in “Fear Street Trilogy,” Leigh Janiak, director; “The Hollow,” Miles Doleac, director; “The Taking of Deborah Logan,” Adam Robitel, director; and “The Bleeding,” Charlie Picerni, director.
Short films that she has performed supporting roles in are “Mercy,” Dino Muccio, director; “Firmly Grounded,” Dan Jones, director; and “In the End,” Michael Sorvino, director.
After graduating from Liberty University, Allen completed a two-year acting program at The William Esper Studio in Manhattan.
As for live theater, she has performed at the Cape Fear Playhouse as Natalia Stepenovna in “The Marriage Proposal,” and she portrayed Ceily in “The Importance of Being Ernest” at the North Theater in Danville.
While performing at The Historic Masonic Theatre that was operating as the Historic Stonewall Theatre at the time, she portrayed Rita in “Free Mel Greenberg” and was cast in other roles in such productions as “Preacher Takes a Wife.” Also, in a Missoula Children’s Theater production she performed as Jill in “Johnny Appleseed” at Curfman Hall in an Alleghany Highlands Arts Council presentation.
She studied musical theatre under Dr. Joy Blackett in Lynchburg, and she has performed as a vocalist with the Virginia Junior Opry, with The Virginia Opry, and Opry of the Virginias that she traveled with to perform in the Mountain Art Center, home of the Kentucky Opry, in Prestonsburg, KY and at the Dandelion Festival in White Sulphur Springs, WV before moving to Studio City, CA where she performed as a vocalist at El Sid’s in Hollywood.
Also, she has recorded “Home Sweet Home, Virginia,” The Virginia Opry’s official theme song.
While living in CA, she filmed a TV commercial, appeared on a TV show and completed Scene Study Workshop conducted by Gary Imhoff.
While she was living in NY, she completed an on-camera workshop led by Katja Blichfield, and in Wilmington, she completed Peter Jurasik’s on-camera intensive. Also, she has studied under Lynn O’Connell, a voice coach.
Workshops she has completed in Virginia Beach are Meisner/Scene Study led by Sylvia Harman at The Actor’s Place, and she completed Commercial Workshop conducted by Tom Logan.
From Clifton Forge to Liberty University to New York City to Hollywood and back to the East Coast, Allen has pursued her theatrical career.
Along the way she met Douglas Bahrns, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps who graduated from VMI. The couple was married at VMI. Recently, they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.
Tickets for “Duos Night at The Virginia Opry” can be purchased by visiting www.historicmasonictheatre.com or call by calling (540) 862-5655. The theatre’s box office is located at 510 Main Street, Clifton Forge.
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