Actress, Writer and Producer Christine Toy Johnson Receives AEA's 2013 Rosetta LeNoire Award

Christine Toy Johnson, a stage actress, writer and producer was named the recipient of Actors' Equity Association's (AEA) prestigious 2013 Rosetta LeNoire Award, which recognizes outstanding artistic contributions to the universality of the human experience in American Theater.

The award was presented to Johnson by Charles Randolph Wright today, April 12 at AEA's Eastern Regional Membership meeting. In his introduction he spoke of her tireless work on behalf of everyone who is different and said: "Christine has helped and inspired so many people and I am thrilled she has been honored with this this award.

In accepting her award, Johnson thanked numerous people, including her parents and her husband. "Thank you for supporting my work, and reminding me that no matter how steep the incline, this dream I have of full diversity and inclusion in the theater is worth holding on to, and running with, right up to the finish line."

Johnson has worked throughout her entire career to eliminate cultural and racial barriers in theatre, film and television, and has been an articulate advocate for broader issues of cultural diversity and inclusion, including disability. She has been on the front lines of bringing awareness to casting directors, directors and producers about discrimination and lack of employment opportunities for Asian-American artists.

As an actress, Johnson has always made a point of auditioning for roles that are normally given to non-Asian actors, challenging the preconceptions of those with casting authority. She has succeeded in these efforts, and her résumé is noteworthy for the number of non-traditional roles she has played in numerous Broadway, touring, regional and off-Broadway Equity productions across the country.

Over the past ten years, she produced and co-directed the award-winning documentary feature film, "Transcending - the Wat Misaka Story," (based on the life of the Japanese-American basketball star who played with the 1947 Knicks); and has written 11 plays, a musical libretto and four screenplays. These works were included in the Library of Congress Asian-Pacific American Performing Arts Collection in 2010. Additionally, Johnson has received 13 grant awards from arts funding organizations in support of her work.

Johnson has been recognized by the Japanese-American Citizens League for her "exemplary leadership and dedication" and in 2012, she received the Asian-American Arts Alliance Wai Look Award for "Outstanding Service to the Arts."

A member of Actors' Equity Associations' National Council since 1992, Johnson has served on numerous committees including the Eastern Region's Equal Employment Opportunity Committee (Co-Chair); the joint AEA-Broadway League Equal Employment Opportunity Committee; the Equity News Committee (Chair); and several negotiating teams. She spearheaded the union's Asian Heritage Month celebrations, and is a founding member of AAPAC, the Asian American Performing Arts Coalition, which has provoked a meaningful, industry dialogue about the lack of representation of Asian-American actors on American stages. She has served on the Board of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts for 13 years.

Actors' Equity Association, which represents more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers nationwide, will celebrate its 100th Anniversary on May 26th of this year.

Pictured: Christine Toy Johnson, recipient of the AEA 2013 Rosetta LeNoire Award, and Charles Randolph Wright