BRENDA GARTON-SJOBERG
Performing as MELISSA in LOVE LETTERS at Springfield Community Theater of MA & 52Sumner. February 13 & 14, 6 pm.

Brenda was intrigued when she first heard about a new performing arts venue and community theater opening in Springfield’s Forest Park neighborhood.

When Executive Director Angela Park and Artistic Director Vana Nespor asked Brenda to reprise her role in Love Letters, this time with Mayor Domenic Sarno, she was delighted to be a part of its first production and was thrilled that Mayor Sarno would open the theater with a ribbon cutting and lighting ceremony at their first performance. The show launches Springfield Community Theater of MA at 52Sumner.

When accepting her role, Brenda said she believes community theater is uniquely powerful in bringing people together, creating pride, and recognizing and applauding local talent. Brenda continued, “an active performing arts stage makes for a stronger, more vibrant, robust, well-rounded city. How wonderful to celebrate this new stage for Springfield.” She looks forward to her February performances and for her family to attend many future productions at 52Sumner.

Brenda dedicates her performance to her mother, Barb Garton, who introduced her to theater as a little girl. She also loves that her husband, John Sjoberg, and their sons Bo and Stefan and Stefan’s wife Alison could also be in the audience for Love Letters and she applauds both Vana Nespor and Angela Park for their tireless efforts to making this venue possible.

Media Career
Brenda Garton-Sjoberg’s career began in television news, working at four television stations across the Midwest and Northeast before joining Springfield’s WWLP-TV 22News, (NBC) where she was a long-time evening news anchor.
Brenda’s favorite part of her work as a journalist was reporting on those stories that helped the community. She loved airing reports that lifted people’s spirits in sharing positive stories. She developed a long-running segment on 22News called “On the Brighter Side with Brenda,” which featured profiles of area residents for their contributions in making our region a great place to live.
Yet, Brenda never shied away from delivering serious news, especially when she could make a difference. Her reporting earned her four Associated Press Awards. She also developed a series of reports on the prevention of child abuse and abduction. Her reporting was recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for its impact in increasing awareness and prevention of the crimes. When she learned women were avoiding mammograms, Brenda had a TV crew follow her through the procedure to demystify the experience and to encourage women to have the lifesaving procedure. She found producing stories like these brought immense satisfaction. She also produced a series of reports from Saudia Arabia during Desert Shield leading up to the first Gulf War reporting on local troops stationed in the Mid-East. Brenda left the anchor desk and newsroom for a new teaching career in the classroom, although she continued reporting at for several years for a daily segment she started called the “Health Watch Report.”
Service to Community

In 2001, Brenda began working at Western New England University, where she serves as a full-time faculty member in the Department of Communication, Media and the Arts and she Directs the university’s Study Abroad Program in Sorrento, Italy. Prof. Garton-Sjoberg is proud to inspire the newest generation of media professionals and instill in them important life lessons of giving back and paying it forward. “Service to community” has always been a deeply personal mantra for Brenda and also her husband of 33 years, John Sjoberg, president and owner of New England Business Machine Company - along with their two sons, Springfield attorneys Stefan and Bo, and Stefan’s wife, Alison.
The family has given countless hours to numerous causes and their volunteer work has not gone unnoticed. Both Brenda and John have been active in the Spirit of Springfield for most of the organization’s 30 years, where John serves as Chairman of the Board. They continue to support programs and services at Mercy Medical Center, where John also served as Chair. Brenda was honored to receive the “Angel of the Year Award” at the hospital’s “Gift of Light Ceremony,” where they have participated in lighting the hospital’s Christmas Tree for three decades. Brenda was recognized with the “Service Award” from WNE’s College of Arts and Sciences, and this past December, John and Brenda, received the coveted “Service Above Self Award” from the Basketball Hall of Fame and Greater Springfield Rotary. They were overwhelmed to receive this honor together as a couple. They believe there's “nothing that gives more joy and purpose in life than giving back and helping others.” Brenda and John have passed on their legacy of giving to Stefan and Bo Sjoberg. Brenda proudly points out their sons’ commitment to community service, and their daughter-in-law’s past work to end homeless through Journey Home in Hartford, and Alison’s new position of overseeing volunteers at the Western Mass Food Bank.

A few additional causes close to their hearts include Sisters of Providence, the Ronald McDonald House, Rachel's Table, Link to Libraries - and they are proud to support performing arts programs and theaters in our area.

Loving Theater
Brenda has always enjoyed theater as it’s always been a part of her life. Her passion for the stage was ignited as a young girl participating in Mill Race Park theater productions growing up in Columbus, Indiana. She enjoyed performing in high school productions. She fondly remembers the thrill of being on stage, “As a teenager, when you're in high school, and you're involved in a big show, it feels like Broadway,” Garton-Sjoberg said. At her undergraduate college, Brenda was a member of Ball State University Singers and performed throughout Indiana, Greece, and Romania. Most recently, Brenda performed the lead role as “Julie” for two years in The Big Broadcast productions at Mt. Holyoke College. She previously appeared in Love Letters with local Gold Medalist Tim Daggett at former City Stage. Brenda and John have enjoyed and supported performing arts throughout the region, including the Majestic Theater, Barrington Stage Company, the Berkshires Theater, Jacob’s Pillow - and now Springfield Community Theater. Garton-Sjoberg is honored to be a part of its premiere production.