Braden JP Rood (’93) is one of the most influential actors in the Mount Vernon stage. She acts, mentors, and gives back to the community of Mount Vernon and Lisbon. Braden went to New York to pursue her professional acting career. She then met her husband while acting together in New York. They fell in love and eventually moved back to Mount Vernon together to start their life and family.

Even though she is no longer acting in New York, she still loves to act in her hometown. Braden loves the spotlight. When she is not working on community theater, she is working for the University of Iowa as an actor to help train medical doctors. She will act out what patients do when circumstances occur.

Braden acts in many local shows. Some including “Slices of Life,” “David’s Red Haired Death,” “Chamber Music,” “Oliver!,” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” In addition to acting, Braden produces these plays, directs some of them, schedules, and publicizes them. She loves local theater. Community theater is almost non existent without Braden.

When she can she is helping kids enhance their speech skills for the future. She is also on the board of Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theater. If Braden ever left community theater, it would never be the same. “She is what makes Mount Vernon great,” said Grant Freeman, president of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre.

Story by Noah Erickson