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Britta Johnson
Born1991 (age 32–33)
Stratford, Ontario
EducationUniversity of Toronto (BA)
OccupationComposer

Britta Johnson (born 1991) is a Canadian-American composer, lyricist, and playwright.

Early life and education

Johnson was born and raised in Stratford, Ontario.[1] Both of her parents were musicians in the pit orchestra for the Stratford Festival. She has two sisters, including Anika, whom she frequently writes musicals with. She first started learning to play the piano when she was three years old, and often spent evenings backstage at Stratford musicals with her parents.[1][2] Growing up, Johnson was inspired to

She attended Stratford Central Secondary School, and received her Bachelor's degree in music composition from the University of Toronto.

Career

Johnson wrote her first full-length musical when she was 18 years old.[3] The musical, Big Box Story, was a comedy loosely inspired by Stratford's youth opposing corporate big-box stores. Johnson wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the musical as part of her high school co-op. The musical was presented and performed at her high school for five days. The run was sold-out, and an additional performance was added which was also attended by local politicians. It caught the attention of Stratford Festival, where it was presented as a gala presentation on August 31, 2009.

The Art Gallery of Ontario partnered with The Musical Stage Company and Acting Up Stage Company to present three short musicals based on art exhibits on display at the museum. Johnson and Sara Farb chose He Is Coming by Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs, which was performed in April 2016.[4]

In 2016, Johnson first presented Life After at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for best musical theatre script, as well as the Patron's Pick for musical theatre. The musical was further developed and expanded with the Musical Stage Company and Canadian Stage Company, who presented the full-length musical in 2017. This production won 6 Dora Awards, including Best Musical. In March 2019, it then made its American premiere at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The musical was further developed with an expanded set and direction by Annie Tippe, when it was performed at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago between June and July 2022. The musical will return to Toronto, where it will play a limited engagement at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in April and May 2025.

Johnson also co-wrote and Stupidhead! with Katherine Cullen, who has dyscalculia.[5] The musical, performed by Cullen and Johnson, is a comedy that focuses on the challenges and frustrations of growing up with dyslexia.[5] It premiered at Theatre Passe Muraille in March 2017.[5]

In 2024, Johnson and her sister wrote the music and lyrics for The Last Timbit.[6] The musical, in celebration of Tim Hortons' 60th anniversary, was inspired by a 2010 snowstorm that forced people to shelter at a local Tim Hortons.[6] The musical will be performed at the Elgin Theatre between June 26 and 30, 2024.[7]

Works

Year Title Music Lyrics Book Notes Ref.
2009 Big Box Story Britta Johnson
2016 Reframed: He Is Coming Britta Johnson Sara Farb
2016 Life After Britta Johnson
2017 Stupidhead! Britta Johnson Britta Johnson & Katherine Cullen Also performer
2018 Dr. Silver Britta Johnson & Anika Johnson
2023 Kelly v. Kelly Britta Johnson Sara Farb
2024 The Last Timbit Britta Johnson & Anika Johnson Nick Green

Awards and recognition

Recently named one of "fifty women to watch" by the Broadway Women's Fund of America,[8] Johnson's writing credits include: Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life (co-written with her sister, Anika Johnson),[9] Kelly v. Kelly[10] (with Sara Farb), and Stupidhead![11] (with Katherine Cullen). In 2017, the Toronto Star called Johnson "Canadian musical theatre's next great hope".[12] Her work has been recognized by awards from the Playwrights Guild of Canada,[13] the Toronto Arts Foundation,[14] and the Toronto Fringe Festival.[15]

Year Award Category Work Result
2017 Dora Awards Outstanding New Play Stupidhead! A Musical Comedy Nominated
2018 Dora Awards Outstanding Musical Theatre Production Life After Won
Outstanding New Musical Won
2019 Dora Awards Outstanding New Musical Dr. Silver Nominated
2019 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Musical Life After Nominated
2024 Dora Awards Outstanding Musical Theatre Production Kelly v. Kelly Pending
Outstanding New Musical Pending

References

  1. ^ a b Doyle, Colin (22 March 2017). "Which Came First, Comedy or Music?". Intermission Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  2. ^ Chong, Joshua (19 July 2021). "Making music no matter what – songwriter Britta Johnson". TheWholeNote. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ Wong, Jessica (29 July 2009). "Stratford showcases high schooler's hit musical". CBC. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  4. ^ Murillo, Nick (9 April 2020). "A look back at Reframed". Musical Stage Company. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Wheeler, Brad (22 March 2017). "Stupidhead!: Katherine Cullen unfolds a life lived with dyslexia". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b Deschamps, Tara (25 April 2024). "Tim Hortons to stage theatrical production called 'The Last Timbit'". Global News. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  7. ^ Sumi, Glenn (4 June 2024). "It might be called 'The Last Timbit,' but this new musical is about 'real, honest people,' not doughnuts". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Women to Watch on Broadway". broadwaywomensfund.com. March 7, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  9. ^ "Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life". The Musical Stage Company. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  10. ^ "KELLY v. KELLY". The Musical Stage Company. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  11. ^ "Outside The March Stupidhead!". Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  12. ^ Critic, Karen Fricker Theatre (2017-09-26). "Britta Johnson is Canadian musical theatre's next great hope". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  13. ^ "Musical Award Past Recipients". Playwrights Guild of Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  14. ^ "Britta Johnson - Toronto Arts Foundation". torontoartsfoundation.org. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  15. ^ "Adams Prize for Musical Theatre". Toronto Fringe Festival. 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
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