Tony-Winning 'JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO & ONLY' Closes at the Laguna Playhouse 6/20

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to offer the funny, magical and moving theatrical event, Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY!, starring acclaimed actor, playwright and master ventriloquist Jay Johnson, running for an exclusive two week engagement on June 11 – 20 at The Laguna Playhouse.

Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! is a captivating theatrical experience incorporating a variety of theatre and storytelling techniques. This Tony Award-winning production illuminates the art form of ventriloquism as Johnson, along with a parade of characters, take audiences on a surprising and emotionally touching journey that combines his skill and personal history as an accomplished writer, ventriloquist and actor.

Johnson's tour-de-force performance is 90-minutes of pure theatrical enjoyment. Johnson breathes life into a number of quirky characters during the show, including an edgy puppet named "Bob" and a spunky, smart-mouthed monkey named "Darwin," who is a direct reflection of Johnson's wild side.

"That's really the inner part of my core, the unbridled soul that is primitive," Johnson says of Darwin. "He can do anything because it's primitive. You don't get upset when a monkey goes crazy, because it's a monkey."

Johnson started his journey into the world of ventriloquism at age 11, when he realized that his startling ability to make his cousin's doll "talk" was a gift. Johnson launched his career while performing at a high school benefit concert, where he met up with old friends Paul Kreppel and Murphy Cross (now co-conceivers and directors of THE TWO AND ONLY!). From there, Johnson wrote the script for his one-man show and performed it in a workshop production at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA.

After the Whitefire came an Off-Broadway run, followed by the big-time: Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! opened at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre On September 28, 2006, and went on to receive a Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event. Johnson's act has also topped The New York Times' "Most Highly Rated Broadway Shows" list, coming in at number two, just below Jersey Boys.

Johnson has since performed his show at theaters across the country, garnering critical acclaim and standing ovations.

Photo by Carol Rosegg.

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Performances of Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! at the Laguna Playhouse run from June 11 through June 20, 2010. Friday & Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and matinees on Saturday & Sunday are at 2 p.m. (Dates and times subject to change)

Tickets to Jay Johnson: THE TWO AND ONLY! are $35 to $65. For more information, call (949) 497-2787 or visit www.LagunaPlayhouse.com. The theater is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California.

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