"At the Forefront"

James J. Johnson Actor & Writer

James J. Johnson has been bringing his blend of charm, poise, and humor to roles across DMV stages for almost 30 years, working at companies such as the African Continuum Theatre, Arena Stage, Imagination Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Theater J, and Keegan. Now making his name as a playwright--with his play, Wannabe, debuting at the 2024 Capital Fringe Festival and Central Time with Mosaic's H Street Oral History Project--he is also an established educator and audiobook narrator. He shares the growth in opportunities for Black artists he's witnessed over his career, how he stays motivated while working on multiple projects at once, his love of standup, and growing up with a community of peer artists.