Jessica Lynn Johnson News

This Spotlight focuses on Jessica Lynn Johnson, proud founder and CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the direction and development of one person plays who has collaborated on well over 100 solo shows and is still going strong despite the current shutdown. And now she is offering free classes on ZOOM until it is possible to do theatre in a theater again.

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series of interviews with some of am the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the arts alive in the City of the Angels. And like all of us, how are they dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved? This Spotlight focuses on Anzu Lawson, an Asian-American Actress, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, and Yoko Ono doppelganger who I first met during the 2014 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The Whitefire Theatre presents SOLOFEST 2020, the largest solo theater festival on the West Coast. Now in its 8th year, SOLOFEST 2020 brings 80 shows in 90 days celebrating solo artists from around the globe - each story-teller sharing their compelling and often unusual take on life. SOLOFEST 2020 runs January 4 - March 28.

The Whitefire Theatre presents SOLOFEST 2020, the largest solo theater festival on the West Coast. Now in its 8th year, SOLOFEST 2020 brings 80 shows in 90 days celebrating solo artists from around the globe a?' each story-teller sharing their compelling and often unusual take on life. SOLOFEST 2020 will run January 4 a?' March 28.

The award- winning one woman show, written and performed by Jannica Olin, is coming back to The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, where it all began last summer with a sold out run in The Hollywood Fringe Festival.

The Whitefire Theatre presents SOLOFEST 2020, the largest solo theater festival on the West Coast. Now in its 8th year, SOLOFEST 2020 brings 80 shows in 90 days celebrating solo artists from around the globe - each story-teller sharing their compelling and often unusual take on life. SOLOFEST 2020 runs January 4 - March 28.

Following successful 2019 engagements at the Whitefire Theatre and Santa Monica Playhouse, the acclaimed show Dear Yoko returns to the Whitefire Theatre for a single performance as part of the Whitefire's Solofest 2020. Anzu Lawson (who plays Ashley Kim on NBC's Chicago Med) is an Asian-American actress who grew up in Southern California in a broken family.

In 2016, Heather Keller's world was rocked by a breast cancer diagnosis. Overnight, she went from being a healthy, vegan runner to a cancer patient and since then her life has been and continues to be an inspiring journey of growth filled with love, friendships, disappointments, betrayals and yes, even some humor. 

Ageless Wonders: A Grown up kids Guide to Realizing we are NEW: is a triumphant one woman performance designed to enlighten people on aging in modern times under the direction of Best National Solo Artist Jessica Lynn Johnson. This musical/dramedy promises to shed light on the benefits of entering the club of senior wonderhood. This 70 minute play promises to evoke some tears, guarantee smiles and even laughter. The show has a catchy original score written by Roland Mousaa, Grammy Winner & Mindy Fradkin, both of whom had the privilege of working and befriending the late great Pete Seeger, folk icon/activist.

Actress Crystal Bush explores her personal story of addiction and redemption in her celebrated new original solo show CHRISSY METH - A Dance with the Devil and the Journey Back to Self, at the Santa Monica Playhouse presents The BFF Binge Fringe Festival of Free Theatre Event on October 25th.

Actress Jannica Olin was the stereotypical blonde blue eyed Swede. Her long hair had always been a big part of her identity. Until suddenly, she lost it all.

Corina, From Lap Dance to Sundance recounts the journey of how Corina Calderon went from working as a stripper in Austin, Texas, to being cast as the lead in a feature film that was nominated for the Grand Jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival. From hiding the truth from her judgmental, Mexican-American Catholic family, to finding support and friendship in the strip club. Written and performed by Corina Calderon, and directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson,and playing for one night only, September 14th at 8:00 pm at Santa Monica Playhouse.

Speaking to the #metoo and #timesup movement, Susy Porter brings her darkest secrets into the light. Will she shed her shame and embrace her inner strength? Will she learn to turn her passiveness into power? It's time to Wake Up Little Susy. One night only, Saturday, September 7th at 7:30 pm.

I was unaware of how Anzu's personal history inspired Ono's spirit to speak so directly to her until I was in the audience at her World Premiere solo show, DEAR YOKO, in which Anzu opened her heart and soul as she revealed how her personal history of non-acceptance as an Asian woman and her overwhelming depression was turned around when she discovered Ono as she studied her story and writings. During her 90-minute performance, directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson at the Whitefire Theatre, Anzu not only portrayed Ono with her signature dialect, hat and sunglasses, but also personal family members, rock musicians she met while touring as a singer/songwriter, agents and entertainment moguls who brought on the need for the #MeToo movement, and others who assisted her in turning her life around and accepting herself as the person she really was meant to be. And that road was never easy but so worth the journey.

Actress/Playwright Terra Taylor Knudson is about to open her award-winning solo show Willy's Lil Virgin Queen at the Garage Theatre in Long Beach after Labor Day. In our conversation she talks about why Shakespeare's work is so important to her and gives welcome advice to our readers on how to fully understand and appreciate him more. Actress/Playwright Terra Taylor Knudson is about to open her award-winning solo show Willy's Lil Virgin Queen at the Garage Theatre in Long Beach after Labor Day. In our conversation she talks about why Shakespeare's work is so important to her and gives welcome advice to our readers on how to fully understand and appreciate him more. Willy's Lil Virgin Queen sounds delightful. Tell us about how you and Shakespeare first got acquainted. TTK: I grew up in Bouldeilly's Lil Virgin Queen sounds delightful. Tell us about how you and Shakespeare first got acquainted. TTK: I grew up in Boulde

Award-Winning playwright and performer, Terra Taylor Knudson, (2017 Encore Producer's Award, 2005 Arts Professional of the Year, Long Beach Arts Council), brings her solo show; Willy's Lil Virgin Queen fresh from the boards of the Santa Monica Playhouse to The Garage Theatre in Long Beach for very special three night engagement September 5th, 6th & 7th at 8:00pm. 

Santa Monica Playhouse has been a cultural treasure in the seaside community for 60 years. Now, the Playhouse is giving love back with its Fourth Annual Binge Free Festival (BFF), a full month of free performances, workshops, readings, music and poetry in Santa Monica's ONLY fringe festival. The BFF's primary focus will be on Santa Monica and Los Angeles-based artists.

In January 2017, Denver native Diana Varco premiered her solo show Shattered at the Whitefire Theatre SoloFest in Los Angeles to a standing ovation. 'I was nervous to do the show because sexual assault (rape) wasn't a topic most people openly talked about' Varco said. Today, in 2019, it's a conversation hard to avoid.

All her life Diana hasn't hit it off with the fellas. In 3rd grade, she kicked her crush in the crotch and her dating life didn't improve from there.