Mary Johnson

Review: THE 39 STEPS at Oyster Mill Playhouse
by Andrea Stephenson - Jul 14, 2024

Overall, The 39 Steps at Oyster Mill is a delightful production, filled with comedy, mystery, and energy. It is sure to be an audience favorite, so get your tickets before it completely sells out!

Opera Parallèle Will Present FELLOW TRAVELERS Next Month
by Stephi Wild - May 8, 2024

Opera Parallèle and Presidio Theatre will salute the upcoming LGBTQ+ Pride Month with the West Coast premiere of Fellow Travelers, the highly acclaimed musical drama by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce for three performances June 21 – 23 at the intimate Presidio Theatre.

Alphabetti's Autumn Season Continues With ANGELA
by Stephi Wild - Oct 18, 2023

Alphabetti's Autumn season continues with a debut show from local writer, Charlotte Small. Girl-guides, talking eggcups and wildlife disposal, Angela promises to be one of the most bizarre and hilarious stories to debut at the Award-Winning Fringe Venue.

Arizona Opera Reveals Casts and Creative Teams for 2023/24 Season Productions
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 21, 2023

Get the inside scoop on the cast members and creative teams for Arizona Opera's highly anticipated 2023/24 season productions. Discover the talented individuals bringing these performances to life.

Photos: WICKED Star Brittney Johnson Debuts Her Nightclub Act At Birdland Jazz
by A.A. Cristi - May 5, 2023

On May 1, Birdland welcomed former Wicked star Brittney Johnson to their stage with her debut nightclub act, titled 'Ripple Effect”. See photos from inside the show!

BWW Review: MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS at Oyster Mill Playhouse
by Andrea Stephenson - May 14, 2022

Moonlight and Magnolias is a farce that combines physical comedy with rapid-fire dialogue to create a hilariously funny, yet thought-provoking play. Treat yourself to an enjoyable evening with a talented cast and crew.

Opera Columbus Announces Cast For FELLOW TRAVELERS
by Stephi Wild - Feb 23, 2022

Opera Columbus takes on mid-20th-century American political intrigue, communism and the “lavender scare” in a work that the Chicago Tribune called “one of the most accomplished New American Operas.” 1950s Washington D.C. serves as a backdrop for Fellow Travelers, composed by Gregory Spears with a libretto by Greg Pierce, based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 bestselling novel of the same name. 

Des Moines Metro Opera Announces Repertory for 2021 Summer Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 15, 2020

Des Moines Metro Opera announced today the repertory for the organization's 2021 Summer Festival, which runs July 2 through July 25, 2021.

KPFK's Arts In Review To Air Pre-Recorded Short Plays From Local Theater Companies
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2020

During the current pandemic, KPFK Radio's Arts in Review, Los Angeles's longest-running radio showcase on live theater and cabaret, will be airing short plays. The works are being produced by local small theaters and cabarets. The debut production will be Air Repertory Players' original adaptation of Mark Twain's The Diary of Adam and Eve, written and directed by Julio Martinez, starring James Greene (Mark Twain), Nick Rogers (Adam) and Irene Arranga (Eve).

The 2020 George London Award Winners Are Announced; Five Singers Win Top Prize Of $10,000
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 22, 2020

a?oeI have known for three generations how difficult the career of an opera singer remains,a?? said George London Foundation President Nora London at the announcement of the 2020 George London Award winners. a?oeThis all started because George wanted to help a?" and now we have been giving these awards for almost 50 years.a??

San Diego Opera's Season Continues Next Month with HANSEL AND GRETEL
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 8, 2020

San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 mainstage season continues with Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, which opens on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances.

Madison Opera Will Present FELLOW TRAVELERS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 3, 2020

Madison Opera presents Gregory Spears' Fellow Travelers on Friday, February 7 at 8 PM and Sunday, February 9 at 2:30 PM in the Capitol Theater at Overture Center.

HANSEL AND GRETEL Continues at San Diego Opera's Main Stage
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 5, 2019

San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 mainstage season continues with Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, which opens on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances.

Good Theater Presents the Return of BROADWAY AT GOOD THEATER
by Stephi Wild - Nov 22, 2019

Good Theater has announced the line up of this year's Broadway at Good Theater. The annual musical event runs December 4th through December 8th at Good Theater's home, the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress Street, Portland. For tickets and information, please call the Box Office at (207) 835-0895 or visit www.goodtheater.com.

BWW Review: THE WINTER'S TALE, National Theatre
by Gary Naylor - Feb 11, 2019

A wonderful version of The Winter's Tale that is made for young people but has plenty to say to those of us as old as Leontes and Polixenes.

BWW Interview: Ruth Mary Johnson Talks THE WINTER'S TALE at the National Theatre
by Gary Naylor - Feb 6, 2019

BWW talks to Ruth Mary Johnson about her version of The Winter's Tale at the National Theatre and about her philosophy in making theatre works for young people.

THE WINTER'S TALE For Young Audiences Comes to the National Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Feb 1, 2019

Following a sold-out run at the Dorfman Theatre in 2018, The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare returns to the National Theatre from 6th - 21st February 2019. Adapted by Justin Audibert for primary-age children and directed by Ruth Mary Johnson, this new version is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for younger audiences.

National Theatre New Season Announced; Includes Lenny Henry, Annie Baker, Caryl Churchill, Inua Ellams
by Marianka Swain - Oct 3, 2018

The National Theatre has today announced its new season

Lyric Opera of Chicago Stages Regional Premiere of FELLOW TRAVELERS
by Julie Musbach - Feb 1, 2018

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to present the Chicago premiere of Fellow Travelers, the critically acclaimedopera based on the 2007 landmark novel of the same title by Thomas Mallon. With music by Gregory Spears and libretto by Greg Pierce, the opera reflects the tension between two men's professional and public lives, and their private, forbidden longings during the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington, D.C. Daniela Candillari (Lyric debut) will conduct the 17-piece orchestra and Kevin Newbury will direct.

BWW Review: TRAVELERS in a Strange Land Called Washington, D.C., in NY Debut at Prototype 2018
by Richard Sasanow - Jan 15, 2018

Even if it were just for its history lesson about the lavender scare of the '50s-- the witch hunt and the mass firings of gay men and women from the federal government during the McCarthy era--FELLOW TRAVELERS by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Greg Pierce would be well worth seeing. But there's so much more to the opera, which had its local debut at the New York PROTOTYPE 2018 this past weekend, directed by Kevin Newbury, at the Gerald Lynch Theatre--including some of the most gorgeous opera music in recent memory.