Norma Jean

Born in Camden, New Jersey and raised in Watertown, New York, Norma Jean grew up as a typical small-town girl. Her mother actually named her after Marilyn Monroe because she wanted her to be a star. You can imagine a mother's horror when at age four, Norma Jean had a terrible accident with scissors and suffered near blindness in her left eye.Just a year later, with the strength of a locomotive, she became interested in dance to overcome her obstacle. Her mother enrolled her in ballet at age five. Little did her mother know, this gift of dance would not only evolve into tap, jazz, creative and ballroom, but would transcend itself into many other art-related interests. During her childhood, Norma Jean played the piano, the flute and the clarinet. She was in her high school band as color guard and majorette. She also won many USFSA (United States Figure Skating Association) badges, learned to roller skate, snow ski, water ski and operate a snowmobile.After high school graduation, she held down three jobs and began to live on her own. She got back into the performing arts and at the suggestion of a friend, tried her hand at Community Theater. In two years (and with no formal acting training), she performed in lead roles in four major productions with Little Theater of Watertown.Later, she attended college and earned an Associates Degree in Administrative Assistance and later a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. For her amazing efforts in college both academically and culturally, she was awarded both the Wall Street Journal Award for Outstanding Business Student and a spot in the Who's Who.After a telecommunications career in Corporate America, she ventured off to more alternative career choices, which afforded her extensive travel throughout the United States and Europe. She has been featured on Discovery Channel, various talk radio programs and had her writing featured in various alternative entertainment magazines and e-zines.Today, Norma Jean's life is very different from those days. She is now a devout Christian and although she doesn't mind talking about her past life, she tends to shy away from the subject.With a successful side career in the art of Stand-Up Comedy, she delivers big messages on ridding stereotypes of alternative lifestyles, acceptance, honesty, motivation, love and ridiculous behaviors in relationships and society in general. The material is raw, funny, thought-provoking and definitely hits home! Norma Jean not only performs as herself, but brings her opinionated (and sometimes offensive) mother to the stage in a character called "Bev," which has left audiences howling with rave reviews.Norma Jean is an outspoken advocate against Domestic Violence. Having been a victim herself three times, she knows full well the extent of the damage and how it affects so many life and relationship choices. She would love to one day be a National Spokesperson for the cause.Well, until now, the only things worth mentioning from Watertown were the original Five and Dime, Car Freshener Trees,Richard Grieco, 'Mary Margaret Humes' and Supermodel Maggie Rizer. Now Watertown can add someone else to its list. Show less «