On November 11, 2005, the world was given June Elizabeth Lehmann – a kind soul. Like many of us, she has lived in the Corry/Columbus area all her life and attended the schools here. She loves her family, frequently referencing her parents, brother, and grandmothers. When talking with June, I noticed she remembered a lot of stuff that would seemingly be unimportant to anyone else. It goes to show, that sometimes, the small things can have a lasting impact on someone.
She talked fondly about her time in the musicals over middle and high school, including minor details I entirely forgot about. Convinced by Peyton Earls, her first musical was “James and The Giant Peach” way back in seventh grade. She remembers being surprised when getting a callback to read lines. She ended up being cast in the ensemble. For some, being cast as ensemble is the equivalent of losing. However, in June’s own words, “When you’re in an ensemble, you’re seeing everything unfold from every angle. You have better seats than the audience!” She is happy to play her part in the ensemble, and I can attest, she does a very good job. Her favorite musical she has been in was “Shrek,” mentioning that her favorite song was “Let Your Freak Flag Fly”.
When asked her favorite subject in school, June comically answered, “Theatre doesn’t count does it?” After some consideration, she determined that she enjoys English class for the writing aspect and chemistry because she is going into the nursing field. She plans to attend Mercyhurst University for nursing. Deciding on Mercyhurst was tough. She also was accepted by and considered Gannon and Allegany. With counsel from her grandmother, a nurse who is one of the few family members who attended college, June decided Mercyhurst made the most sense. It was just far enough away, but still homely. She plans to continue theater through her time in college.
June’s favorite color is what she described as “galaxy,” a kind of blueish-purple in a nebulous shade.
When asked to compare her personality to an animal, she quickly answered “not a lion.” After a little more thought, the only thing coming to mind was a snail, “I hate running.”
Throughout the interview, June frequently joked and laughed. She was very kind and open with me. She enjoys painting anything from oddly shaped pieces of firewood to scrap metal. When asked if any favorite quotes came to mind, she thought of two famously known in this school. “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard,” and “Get out your handy dandy notebooks,” both famously said by Mr. Brady.
June’s message to readers was this, “Sometimes bad things happen and you can feel like you’re not in control, and everything you know is going to shambles. But it’s important to know that you are loved, there are people who care about you, and you are not an outsider.”
She ended our interview with a smile and a fist-bump, something she says is a staple of how she connects with others.
