Union City resident Sharan

Mansfield started acting at the very early age of three years old. She

doesn't remember much about the play, other than the fact that she

played an Indian princess. Now, Mansfield gives life to the role of Viola

four nights a week in the successful comedy, "Veranda," being

staged at Ansley Park Playhouse in Atlanta.

Mansfield grew up in Columbus, Ohio and performed in every level of school,

through college at Kent State University. After college, she continued

her acting career by participating in community theater until 1989 when

she moved to the Atlanta area.

Then she stopped.

Mansfield was busy with a new marriage, her career as a psychiatric social

worker, her church and later was blessed with a grandson to dote on. She

also had two open heart surgeries in 1999 and when she recovered she realized

that whatever she wanted to do, she had to try and get it done. Mansfield

eventually felt the pull of the theater and slowly started working her

way back in. She became the resident head stage manager for Triune Productions,

a Christian theater company, and enjoyed sharing her knowledge with others.

While she enjoyed helping bring productions to life, she wanted to get

out from behind the curtain and get back on stage. She started looking

for auditions and decided to try out for everything and anything that

interested her.

"I saw there were auditions for "To Kill a Mockingbird"

at Newnan Community Theater and decided to try out, even though I didn't

know how to find the theater," said Mansfield, who knew she was meant

to get a part in the play when she saw the sign for the theater, just

as she was about to drive home, discouraged that she couldn't find

the auditions. Mansfield got the part of Calpurnia, worked under director

Michael McClendon, and performed for sold out audiences for weeks. She

was hooked, again and decided to try out for "Harvey," also

at Newnan Community Theater. She got the part of Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet

and her confidence level was soaring.

Soon, while looking for auditions for her grandson, she stumbled across

the audition listing for a play called "Veranda." Mansfield

knew nothing of the playwrights John Gibson and Anthony Morris, who had

also written the wildly successful "Peachtree Battle," and "The

Limousine Ride" but decided to go for a part anyway.

"I see each audition as a learning experience," said Mansfield.

"I never feel like I'll die if I don't get a part. It just

so happened that I came out of the "Veranda" auditions with

the part of Viola Duncan."

Viola is a longtime friend of Mrs. Edwards, the lead in the play. Viola

ends up running Edwards' household and helping raise her children

while Edwards is busy with her charitable tasks as she tries to win the

title of "Christian Woman of the Year." Mansfield sees Viola

as a feisty character with a very dry sense of humor. Because Viola has

grown up with Edwards, she sees right through her schemes. Mansfield stated

that this production is the first time that the role of Viola is being

played by a black woman. It also marks the second time in as many shows

that she has performed roles typically played by white women. "Veranda"

is part of a trilogy written by Gibson and Morris and a fourth installment

is in the works.

"It's been a really fun experience," said Mansfield of

her work in "Veranda." The show is scheduled to run Thursdays-Sundays

through Nov. 23 but will possibly be held over, as both "Peachtree

Battle" and "The Limousine Ride" have been. After Mansfield

wraps up "Veranda," she is open to the entire Atlanta theater

experience.

"I would love to do dinner theater or work with Kenny Leon,"

said Mansfield, who will also likely continue to do shows with Newnan

Community Theater, which she considers to be her home community theater.

"Theater is my passion and I just want to cram as much in as I possibly

can," said Mansfield. With her talent and dedication to the craft,

she should have no problem finding more roles for her to sink her teeth

into.