Light Essence Design
Stephanie Anne Johnson — Photo by Joan Osanto
Stephanie Anne Johnson is a second-generation theater practitioner. Her mother Virginia Johnson (Green) worked with The American Negro Theatre In N.Y.
Johnson has been a lighting designer for over forty years. Nationally she has done designs for La Mama Theatre (N.Y.), Telluride Repertory Theatre (Colorado), The Arizona Repertory Theatre, The National Black Theater, and The Apollo (N.Y.). Locally, she has worked with Cultural Odyssey, Rhodessa Jones, Afro Solo, Ubuntu Theatre, African American Shakespeare Company, The Aurora Theater, Shotgun Players, The Marin Theatre Company, and many other groups.
Her design work has also been seen in India, The Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Canada and France. She was awarded a Gerbode Design Fellowship in partnership with Cultural Odyssey of San Francisco in 1998. Photographs of Ms. Johnson's designs were included in the show Onstage: A Century of African American Stage Design which was presented at The N.Y. Public Library For The Performing Arts in 1995.
Stephanie also has written, directed and performed in theater presentations.
Her design work has also been seen in India, The Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Canada and France. She was awarded a Gerbode Design Fellowship in partnership with Cultural Odyssey of San Francisco in 1998. Photographs of Ms. Johnson's designs were included in the show Onstage: A Century of African American Stage Design which was presented at The N.Y. Public Library For The Performing Arts in 1995.
Stephanie also has written, directed and performed in theater presentations.
Google Stephanie Anne Johnson and you’ll likely find a Wikipedia page written about her as both visual artist and lighting designer. The Afro Urban Society wanted to know a little more about her than a Wikipedia entry. After all, Wikipedia won’t tell you that she is a biblio-holic with a house filled with books. Or that she wants Black folks to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE and run for elected and policy-making commissions and committees. Or that she is one of very few professional Black lighting designers in California.
PODCAST • January 20, 2021 "When we Know Better We Can do Better" – Chris Lose with Stephanie Anne Johnson
On this episode, we discuss being one of very few professional Black lighting designers in California, being a second-generation theater practitioner, the role of race in shaping the work of the local theater and how to encourage diversity in entertainment, how public policy can be shaped to increase diversity, being able to express yourself in multiple mediums, the power of public performance, paving the way for future generations and the possibility of a Secretary of the Arts in the US cabinet.
On this episode, we discuss being one of very few professional Black lighting designers in California, being a second-generation theater practitioner, the role of race in shaping the work of the local theater and how to encourage diversity in entertainment, how public policy can be shaped to increase diversity, being able to express yourself in multiple mediums, the power of public performance, paving the way for future generations and the possibility of a Secretary of the Arts in the US cabinet.
