We first met Jean on this blog back in 2015 when I did a two-part series on the history of the Workshop Players.
(Jean's husband, Dr. Roy E. Schaeffer, was featured on the blog himself back here.)
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The Workshop PlayersJean Schaeffer:
A Top Director
By BOB COTLEUR
Staff Writer
She can be a bolt of lightning or a clap of thunder, but she surrounds it with a warm spring day and you know, somehow, the lightning and the thunder only made you more alive.
Jean Schaeffer is the wife of Dr. Roy E. Schaeffer of Amherst and Oak Point Road, Lorain, the mother of John, 23; Bill, 21; Tane (pronounced Tah-nay), 18, and Narda, 15. She’s one of the play directors at Workshop Players, the stage director behind the girls of the Miss Lorain County Pageant, an actress, bike rider, golfer but most important of all, she’s a girl.
Her age is 53 but her spirit is 25 and you can easily find yourself fooled at a compromise, say around 37 or 38.
She lives a wonderful, full life, but others must tell you that. Although a lucid, engaging, well-read and knowledgeable woman, she goes blank on one major topic: herself.
This isn’t a pea-soup fog of modesty or embarrassment. She’s the rare woman who knows how and why she will react, and doesn’t worry. Her instincts are as natural as orchids in Bora-Bora.
PERHAPS THE greatest tribute to her instincts is found in the mountains and valleys of emotions she carves as a play director. No one ever said it, but if a character role called for a new emotion, those who know her could easily believe she’d research the emotion until she knew its full force, and could then successfully demand it of her actor or actress.
Mrs. Ted (Jeddie) Driscol, of Lorain, a friend for ten years, appeared in the Schaeffer-directed musical “The Bells Are Ringing.” She said, “Jean did a remarkable job with a cast of 50 and a musical (in a theatre not built for a musical). It was a real feat.
“The thing about Jean is that she can take what’s hidden inside you and bring it out. I’ve seen her work with people with no experience and she’d get remarkable reactions.
“She... well, she illuminates. You look at her and her eyes are bright and alive. And it always rubs off on those she works with.”
Over 20 years ago Orlando (Pete) Petrillo of 955 N. Pasadena, Elyria, joined the fledgling Workshop Players and appeared with Jean Schaeffer in “Lost Horizons,” and he’s appeared in at least a dozen Workshop plays since.
“She gets involved, deeply and thoroughly. I believe she is the biggest part of the success of this theatre and that’s caused, in turn, by her intense interest in theatre and its success.
“She caused it to become a part of the Amherst community and she spread the magic to the countryside. She’s brought in such groups as the Sheffield Lake Kiwanians, the Methodist Men’s Club of Elyria and organizations from Oberlin and Lorain.
“This gal has the tenacity of a bulldog. She goes to any length for authenticity. In one play (the musical version is Fiddler on the Roof) much depended upon Jewish customs and dialogue. She got a Jewish authority on the subject – to increase authenticity.
“I love her dearly. She’s my gal. And no job is too small for her. She’s swept floors, sold tickets, acted and directed,” he said.
Petrillo has only acted with Jean a couple of times “but I certainly hope a good vehicle comes along so we can again.”
He has appeared in such plays as “Teahouse of the August Moon,” “Solid Gold Cadillac” and the only two musicals ever produced at Workshop. He is considered one of the area’s finest actors as Jeddie Driscol, a vibrant ghost in Blythe Spirit, is considered one of the finest actresses here.
THE JOURNAL’S Society Editor Louella Kepler is a long time friend who traveled to Europe with Jean on the Journal’s special tour last summer. She sees her in a different light, the light of civic events, as a friend and fellow voyager.
“Jean is very knowledgeable and alert to what’s going on around her. She is extremely fashion conscious and has traveled extensively. She collects unusual items and has a special fondness for elephants, small carvings or large.
“She’s also invariably late for appointments since she is so engrossed in the present. Once, at Montmarte, a young artist was making a charcoal drawing of her. Thirty-one people waited on the bus. When Jean finally arrived she said sincerely, ‘Oh, were you waiting? I’m sorry,’ they were.
“She’s also a sticker for showing appreciation. Once, when she learned I was in New York, she called just to say she was thinking of me. She wrote more post cards than anyone else on the trip. And she’ll buy a little gift for someone because she knows they’ll like it.
“Her family is tops on her list. She thought nothing of calling from Europe just to find out if everyone was O.K.
“And she is a stickler for authenticity. Once she needed a copy of the London Times for a play. She wrote to London and got one. And she also got real high-button men’s and womens' shoes for another play.”
Mrs. Tom (Jennie) Heinzerling of Foster Park Road, Amherst, is another close friend of 10-years standing. She acted for Jean but also worked with her in all three Miss Lorain County Pageants/
“Jean is a taskmaster. If the girl was supposed to go down the runway and stop at ‘x’, turn at 90 degrees and proceed – that was it. If she stopped two inches too far or turned at 75 degrees, Jean repeated the rehearsal.
“It likely drove others a bit batty. Some kept saying “It’s after 11 p. m.” but Jean is a perfectionist.
“And the end result showed in the pageant.
“I think she’s wonderful, sort of kooky, like I am. She doesn’t worry about the state of the world and when she golfs, she gives it all she’s got. She’s wonderful to be with, warm, kind, considerate. At social events she makes sure people are introduced, really meet each other.
“I know Jean gets some sort of self satisfaction, by helping others. And I’m sure her family’s in love with her,” she said.
Miss Lorain County, Donna Jean Prosser, agreed. “Mrs. Schaeffer is somehow ever-youthful, never-changing.”
Jean Schaeffer was born in Detroit but moved to Pontiac, Mich. while a child. She and Doctor Schaeffer were both in their late 20s when they married in a formal Navy ceremony at Gross Ile, Mich., in 1944.
WHEN THE WAR ENDED they moved into an old farm house on Old Lake Road (now Oak Point Road) which had more than 100 crusty, crumbling years scratched on its hide.
The family lives in that same house today and it is now one of the most charming homes in Lorain County. The remodeling work went slowly but painstakingly over the years as they planned.
Speaking of the gal he’ll soon share a 25th wedding anniversary with, Dr. Schaeffer was philosophical.
“We kind of hit it off together. Mutually attracted. And we had four wonderful children. Jean and her parents had a good religious background and it brought us close to the church.
“When the children were young she spent a good deal of time with them even though she has always been active in civic things. But she was always home with the children.
“We’ve had the usual banter, but we always respected each other’s interests. I like bridge and golf. She plays golf, but not with my intensity. And she likes theatre. We’ve had our mutual interests, such as dancing, and our outside interests. Neither of us ever overshadowed the other.
“When it’s theatre, it’s her night. Bridge is mine.”
NOT TOO LONG ago the Schaeffers tried a new sport, surf riding on the wake of a cabin cruiser, and Jean holds the rope until riding speed is right for Bill or Dr. Roy.
Dr. Roy also has another new sport for Jean.
“He runs me around the block every morning,” she said, “It’s great exercise to start the day, he says.”
But run she does.
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