At the recommendation of Gower Champion, she was picked to be
Carol Channing's standby in the original 1964 Broadway
production of "Hello Dolly!" Channing, unfortunately, was known for
never missing a performance. Jo Anne later played the title role on the
road.
Had made a tour bid in 1999 when she was cast as Pseudolus in the
current tour of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
However, due to reported problems with transporting her dogs, she left
the tour to be replaced by Rip Taylor.
In August 2007, appeared on Broadway in the hit musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" in the role of ditsy dowager Mrs. Tottendale.
In January 2007 president of "Actors and Others for Animals". A Los Angeles-based organization founded by Doris Day, "Actors and Others for Animals" is a highly dedicated organization focused on the humane treatment of animals.
The third of five children, she also has two half-brothers and two
half-sisters from her father's second marriage in 1962.