Juliette Marshall is an American actress, playwright, and solo theatre performer known for autobiographical one-woman stage shows. Her theatre works include Something in Her Genes, Something in His Genes, and Shift Happens, which have been performed in Los Angeles and San Francisco theatre venues.

Marshall began her screen career in the late 1970s and appeared as one of the muses in the musical fantasy film Xanadu (1980). She has also appeared in films including King of the Mountain (1981), Eating (1990), and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), as well as in television productions such as Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders (1993) and Nash Bridges.Richard Prouty, Variety and Daily Variety Television Reviews, 1993–1994, Garland Publishing, 1996.

Early life Marshall's father, Sidney Marshall, was born in the Bronx in 1928 and moved to California as a teenager. After attending the University of California, Los Angeles, he began working at the advertising agency Young & Rubicam and later rose to become chief executive of Y&R / Dentsu USA.“Sidney Marshall obituary.” Los Angeles Times, January 21, 2018.

In the late 1970s she worked as a dance instructor, teaching disco and jazz dance classes for teenagers at the East Valley YMCA in North Hollywood."Teen Dance Class", Los Angeles Times, November 26, 1978.

Career Marshall began working professionally in film and television in the late 1970s. Among her earliest screen appearances were roles on the television series The White Shadow and Trapper John, M.D.. Around the same time she appeared as one of the mythological muses in the musical fantasy film Xanadu (1980), starring Olivia Newton-John. She later appeared in the drama King of the Mountain (1981) and the ensemble comedy film Eating (1990). In 1993 she appeared as Miranda's attorney in the comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams.

During the early 1990s Marshall became increasingly involved in theatre, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area. She performed autobiographical solo pieces and comedic sketches at venues including The Marsh and Bindlestiff Studio.San Francisco Chronicle, theatre listings, 1993–1994. She also performed with the improvisational comedy group Skirts, which staged regular performances in San Francisco.Press Democrat, May 16, 1993.

Marshall also appeared in ensemble theatre productions. In 1995 she played Candy Starr in a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Marin Theatre Company. A review in the San Francisco Chronicle described her performance as “fragile, fluttery and very funny,” noting it as one of the highlights of the production.San Francisco Chronicle, September 29, 1995.

By the mid-1990s Marshall had begun developing original solo shows based on personal experience and character comedy. One of her best-known works was Something in Her Genes (1997), written and performed by Marshall and directed by Mark W. Travis. The production was staged at the Court Theater in Los Angeles. A review in the Daily Bruin noted Marshall's ability to portray multiple characters in the production, describing how she “breathes life into seven characters” during the performance.Marshall breathes life into seven characters, Daily Bruin, November 17, 1997.

Marshall followed this with Something in His Genes (1999), a companion solo show presented at the Other Space at Santa Monica Playhouse. The autobiographical comedy recounts an unlikely romance that begins with a disastrous blind date and develops into an unexpected relationship. Coverage in the Los Angeles Times and other outlets highlighted Marshall's energetic physical comedy and character work in the one-woman production.Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1999. The popularity of the show led to an extension of its run at Santa Monica Playhouse.Santa Monica Playhouse to Wear Marshall's Genes Till Nov. 18, Playbill, October 1, 1999.

Following the success of these productions, Marshall continued to perform her solo work in Los Angeles theatre venues including the Odyssey Theatre, Hudson Theatre, and Santa Monica Playhouse, and appeared in events connected with the Los Angeles Theatre Festival. In 2001 she produced and hosted the Juliette Marshall Variety Hour at Santa Monica Playhouse.The Argonaut, June 14, 2001.

Marshall continued writing for the stage in the 2000s. In 2004 she co-wrote the romantic comedy Dr. Tango with Anthony Caldarella and starred in the production at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica.Los Angeles Times, March 25, 2004.

Her later solo show Shift Happens combined autobiographical storytelling with cabaret-style performance and explored themes of divorce, dating and personal reinvention. The show was performed at the Improv Comedy Lab in Los Angeles and later featured at the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival in 2010.Don Grigware, "LA Women's Theatre Festival Opens with a Bang", 2010.

Marshall continued developing new solo theatre work during the 2010s, including Wavy and Blurry, which premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2016.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1979 The Muppet Movie Beauty pageant model Uncredited 1980 Xanadu Muse #5 1981 King of the Mountain Big Tom's girl 1990 Eating Party guest 1993 Mrs. Doubtfire Miranda's attorney

Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 The White Shadow Dancer 1 episode 1980 Trapper John, M.D. Candy Striper #1 1 episode 1993 Poisoned by Love: The Kern County Murders Lynda Television film 1994 Web of Deception Detective Adrienne Hays Television film 1998 Nash Bridges Beverly 1 episode

Stage Year Production Role Venue 1993 Monday Night Marsh Performer The Marsh, San Francisco 1994 Solo Sunday Stars of Summer Performer Bindlestiff Studio, San Francisco 1995 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Candy Starr Marin Theatre Company 1996 From Here to Maternity Writer / Performer Cable Car Theater, San Francisco 1997 Something in Her Genes Writer / Performer Court Theater, Los Angeles 1999 Something in His Genes Writer / Performer Santa Monica Playhouse 2001 Juliette Marshall Variety Hour Host Santa Monica Playhouse 2004 Dr. Tango Co-writer / Performer Edgemar Center for the Arts 2010 Shift Happens at the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Performer Electric Lodge 2016 Wavy and Blurry Writer / Performer Hollywood Fringe Festival

References