Today we’d like to introduce you to Javon Johnson. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Anderson, S.C. native, Javon Johnson received his BA from S.C. State University and his MFA from University of Pittsburgh. Johnson is a founding ensemble of the critically acclaimed Congo Square Theatre Company in Chicago, IL. Johnson is the owner of Javon Johnson Productions (JJP) and is 1/3 founder of Bear Fruit Conservatory (BFC) performing arts training school in S.C., and co-owner of the independent record label Authority Music Group (AMG)
Johnson is a nationally recognized award-winning actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, producer, acting and writing coach. Outside of BFC and his weekly acting class in Atlanta,G.A., Johnson teaches students all throughout the U.S.
Johnson’s acting credits range from regional theatre productions throughout the country to Broadway, television and film. Johnson currently stars in Tyler Perry’s “The Oval” on BET.
Born and raised in the small textile and industrial town of Anderson, S.C., hometown of his late great and dear friend Chadwick Boseman, Johnson, like most of his peers at the time, aspired to be athlete and perhaps in the music industry. A 30 to 40 years life at BMW or any industrial plant or medical career was the status quo. To be on TV without a football helmet on or shooting a basketball or on the local news didn’t seem as obtainable.
Deciding not to play college sports, Johnson enrolled at the S.C. State University on a choral scholarship, in spite of not being much of a singer. It was the heavy hand of his high school choir teacher who simply wanted to see Johnson further his education and arrange his scholarship. Johnson spent most of his days on campus marveling at the Henderson-Davis Theatre until he finally decided to go inside. Long story short, Johnson dropped his choir scholarship and received a theatre scholarship, became the theater president and thus… the journey began.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This industry is loaded with way too many obstacles and challenges to list so I’ll just mention a few. Understanding and processing “rejection”. “No” is a huge part of the journey and can be difficult to endure. Patience can be a daunting trait when it seems the world of opportunities is passing you by and happening for everyone else. Economically trying to balance life while in pursuit a career that is often economically insecure. And the list goes on… and most of us will experience most, if not all of them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Johnson’s acting credits range from Broadway, regional, television and film. Currently starring in Tyler Perry’s hit tv drama “The Oval”, other credits include BET’s “American Soul” and “The Quad”, Tyler Perry’s “Boo! A Madea Halloween”, “The Hate You Give”, “Barbershop 2”, “The Watsons Go to Birmingham”, “Shots Fired”, “Prison Break”, “Survivor’s Remorse”, “Containment”, “Saints & Sinners”, “The Mob Doctor” and more as well as regional productions throughout the U.S.
Johnson’s short film “Heaven” directed by Chadwick Boseman (star of “42” and “Black Panther”) was nominated for the African Movie Academy Award, featured in HollyShorts Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Cannes International Pan African Film Festival and Martha Vineyard’s African American Film Festival. Current projects include screenplay adaptations of novels by E. Lynn Harris and “In Our House” written by Marala Scott and the short film “The Leijend” co-written, produced and directed by Johnson as well as a slate of original feature screenplays and TV projects.
Johnson’s playwriting honors and awards include Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Play (Musical or Revue), Black Theater Alliance August Wilson Award, Black Theatre Alliance Lorraine Hansberry Award, Kenney Center’s Lorraine Hansberry Award, Eugene O’Neil National Playwrights Conference fellowship, New Professional Theatre Playwriting Award and many more.
He is the co-writer of the hit musical adaptation of E. Lynn Harris’ New York Times Best Seller novel “Invisible Life” with original music by Ashford and Simpson recently mounted at Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater. His plays “Breathe” and “Cryin’ Shame” were a huge success at the Biannual National Black Theatre Festival. His stageplay “Hambone” was a Sundance Theatre Lab selection and produced during Victory Gardens’ Tony Award Winning season. His short film “Heaven” directed by the late great Chadwick Boseman screened at the African Movie Academy Award nomination, HollyShorts Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Cannes International Pan African Film Festival and Martha Vineyard’s African American Film Festival. Johnson teaches acting and writing classes across the U.S.
As Regional theatre actor Johnson has appeared as Jackie Robinson (Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting) Lookingglass Theatre, Othello (Othello) Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre, Sterling (Two Trains Running) Geva Theatre, Mickey (Memoirs of a Junkie) Stage52, Los Angeles, Title Role (The Stuttering Preacher) at The Complex in Hollywood, Flip (Stick Fly) for The McCarter & True Colors, Herald Loomis (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone) for Baltimore Centerstage & The Goodman/Congo Square, Red Carter (Seven Guitars), Young Ali (Ali) and Wendell Bailey (Before it Hits Home) for Congo Square, Sherman (Cryin’ Shame) for St. Louis Black Repertory & Kuntu Repertory, Tone (Deep Azure) at the Apollo Theatre for the NY Hip Hop Theatre Festival, the Provost (Measure for Measure) for Pittsburgh Public, Asagai (A Raisin in the Sun) for City Theatre, Guy (Blues for an Alabama Sky) for Kuntu Repertory, Cory (Fences), Pericles (Pericles), Macbeth (Macbeth), and Joe (Pill Hill).
Publications: Dramatic Publishing Company, Smith and Krauss of New York, and 2004 Publication “Seven Black Plays” Northwestern University Press.
Current Projects: Numerous original works for screen, stage and television.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Is all a risk. The commitment to step out and pursue your dream warrants a risk. This is an industry where a big invisible X marks you for rejection and criticisms and opportunities seem scarce an elusive. This is an industry of sacrifices and requires a huge dose of faith and belief. There are no guarantees even when you give your best efforts. You must believe and you must persevere and you must be prepped and ready to be your best self when your time comes…. because it will.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.javonjohnson.net
- Instagram: @iamjavonjohnson
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JavonJohnson
- Other: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0425316/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
