Jane Krakowski's mom, a Parsippany theater 'icon,' honored by her hometown

PARSIPPANY — The Women's Theater Company had to dim its lights during the COVID-19 pandemic. But on Tuesday night, Barbara Krajkowski got to take one more bow in front of a standing ovation.

Krajkowski, a longtime Lake Hiawatha resident, was summoned to the municipal building Tuesday to receive a proclamation from the township honoring her for decades of service as a co-founder and artistic director of Parsippany's professional theater in residence at the Community Center's Parsippany Playhouse.

Barberio read from the proclamation as Krajkowski's daughter, Emmy and Tony award-winning actress Jane Krakowski, beamed in the front row.

The honor was "on behalf of the residents as a token of admiration for Barbara Krajkowski and I urge the residents of our community to follow her example of service and accomplishment," Barberio said.

"She's an icon in Parsippany-Troy Hills," he added.

"I want to thank Parsippany and the mayor. I think they're so wonderful," Krajkowski said. "I lived here for 50 wonderful years. I'm so happy to get this. It's my hometown and will always be."

"I'm just so proud of my mom," Jane Krakowski said. "She has dedicated her whole life to her passion of the arts. It's really an honor to come back to Parsippany and to see my mom be honored for all the hard work she's put in over the years."

Council President Michael dePierro told Krajkowski he and his wife saw "just about every show you had there, and we enjoyed every one of them."

The proclamation summarized the history of the theater company, co-founded by Krajkowski with fellow actresses Keaton Douglas and Margie Schiller in Montclair in 1993.

"We started with readings of original plays by women," Krajkowski recalled in a 2010 Daily Record interview. "We were working in a space on the second floor of Tierney's [a bar in Montclair]. We had to be out by 10 p.m., because that was when the band downstairs would start."

"Under her tutelage as a producing artistic director, the company evolved from only original works by women to include a broader mission to produce established works, productions of interest to women and productions by local playwrights," Barberio read from the proclamation.

The company moved from Montclair to Playwrights Theatre in Madison and then the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum before taking permanent residency at the Parsippany Playhouse in 2005.

The company ceased operations and Krajkowski retired during the COVID pandemic shutdown. Lauren Mills, a longtime WTC director, choreographer, performer and marketing chief, said she will be producing new live performances there in the near future.

Mills and several members of the Women's Club of Parsippany were there to cheer on their friend.

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"Barbara means so much to me," Mills said. "She is one of my best friends, she is my greatest mentor, my chosen family. I am so blessed to have her in my life. I am the person I am today because of Barbara."

Her accolades include being named a 2010 "Female Legend of Morris County" by the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.

In a 2017 interview with the Daily Record, Jane recalled growing up a theater kid as her mother and father were both actors. Her father, Edward Krajkowski, died in 2016.

"From the earliest time, I can remember both my parents had such an appreciation and respect for the theater," Krakowski said. "They were enthusiasts and participants. From the time I was born, they were very involved with the community theaters in New Jersey."

Krakowski said that the walls of her childhood home in Parsippany were lined with photographs of her parents (and, later, of her and her older brother, John) in various theatrical productions at such venues as the Barn Theatre in Montville.

"The community theaters of New Jersey are where I saw my parents displaying their passion and having fun," Krakowski said. "I am sure that was a huge influence in why I love what I do and feel so lucky to do it."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Parsippany native Jane Krakowski's mom honored for work with theater