Laura Johnson resume header

Recent Employment

 


Lehigh University, Zoellner Arts Center: Guest Director for double bill of Earl Kim/Samuel Beckett music theatre productions EH JOE and FOOTFALLS, 2020

 

Lehigh University, Zoellner Arts Center: Guest Director for world premiere of HAUNTED, ballet opera by Paul Salerni and Dana Gioia, 2019

 

Lehigh University, Zoellner Arts Center: Guest Director for Kurt Weill One-Woman Show, “Music at Lehigh” Series

 

Lehigh University, Zoellner Arts Center: Guest Director for world premiere of THE LIFE AND LOVE OF JOE COOGAN

University of Iowa School of Music: Visiting Artist and Faculty Member

Great Mountains Music Festival, Korea:  Guest Director for Earl Kim music/theatre productions with Sejong Soloists, based on texts by Samuel Beckett and Anne Sexton


Directing Experience

 


University of Iowa Martha-Ellen Tye Opera Theatre: LA CLEMENZA DI TITO, TROUBLE IN TAHITI & AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL

Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy:  I PECCATI DI VECCHIEZZA (Director and auteur, mainstage production, Teatro del Giglio),  Director for Bel Canto Student Workshop

Temple Opera Theater:  LE ROSSIGNOL & L’ENFANT ET LES SORTILÈGES,  DIE FLEDERMAUS,  DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES,  ALBERT HERRING,
L’AMICO FRITZ (winner Best Production, National Opera Association Competition)

Opera in the Ozarks: Stage Director for LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Lafayette College:  MAJOR BARBARA,  SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR

Kutztown University:  ITALIAN AMERICAN RECONCILIATION

Opera at Lehigh:  IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA,  LE NOZZE DI FIGARO

Zoellner Arts Center -  Ulrich Artist-in-Residence as Director for TONY CARUSO’S FINAL BROADCAST & THE MUSIC MASTER

Lehigh University:  Music Dept. - Founder & Director of Opera/Music Theatre Workshop
PIRATES OF PENZANCE
,  A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC,  INTO THE WOODS  
LUVME (Lehigh University Very Modern Ensemble):  HIN UND ZURÜCK,  FOOTFALLS
Theatre Dept. - PILGRIMS

Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble:  THE SUICIDE

College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati:  DON GIOVANNI,  SUSANNA’S SECRET & FOOTFALLS (winner Outstanding Achievement Award, Midwest Chamber Opera Festival)

Williamstown Theatre Festival:  THE JEWISH WIFE,  COME & GO,  EH JOE

Harvard University:  FOOTFALLS,  THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

Other Representative College Theatre Productions:  THE MANDRAKE,  BASEBALL PLAY,  SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY,  FIGARO’S MARRIAGE,  SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS,  CAMINO REAL,  ANTIGONE,  WAITING FOR GODOT,  AMERICAN BUFFALO,  WOYZECK,  THE PLACE WHERE THE MAMMALS DIE,  BRECHT ONE-ACTS,  THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Pennsylvania Opera Theatre:  COMPOSER/LIBRETTIST PROJECT, David Ives, librettist

Buckingham Opera Theatre, NY:  THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO,  LA BOHÈME

Lenox Arts Center:  BERKSHIRE WRITERS’ FESTIVAL (Lyn Austin, Producer)

Pittsburgh Opera Theatre:  THE TELEPHONE,  THERE & BACK

Opera Renaissance, Pittsburgh, PA:  THE BELLOWS (Director and Translator)

Woods Hole Theatre Company:  TANGO

Whitewater Opera Company, Richmond, IN:  THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (recorded live for Indiana Public Television broadcast)



Assistant Directing Experience

 


Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, MA:  NARRATIVES (Beckett texts set by composer Earl Kim, featuring Irene Worth) world premiere

Williamstown Theatre Festival:  Assistant to Artistic Director (Nikos Psacharopoulos) for mainstage season

People’s Theatre Company, Cambridge, MA:  FANSHEN (Maxine Klein, Director)

Chicago Lyric Opera:  GIANNI SCHICCHI and LA SCALA DI SETA (Italo Tajo, Director)

Manhattan School of Music:  Assistant Director for Opera Program (Lou Galterio, Director) 

Opera Barga Festival, Italy:  Assistant Director to Italo Tajo



Teaching Experience

 


University of Iowa:  Visiting Assistant Professor and Opera Director, 2012-2013 (graduate and undergraduate level courses: Directing Seminar, Special Topics, Opera Workshops)

Temple University (Boyer College of Music & Dance):  Director and Acting Teacher for Opera Workshops (graduate and undergraduate levels), 2007-2008

Lehigh University:  Faculty member for Lehigh in Italia semester abroad, spring 2000
Adjunct Professor of Music, 1995-2002
Adjunct Professor of Theatre, 1991 and 1982

College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati:  Visiting Assistant Professor of
Opera and Resident Stage Director, 1983-1985
Opera Lucca Festival summer program faculty 1997 and 2002

Kutztown University:  Assistant Professor of Theatre (temporary contracts), 2005-2006;  1995-1997

Northampton Community College:  Adjunct Professor of Theatre, 2002-2003; 1980-1982

Stonehill College:  Adjunct Instructor of Speech and Theatre (One year replacement contract), 1977-1978



Education

 


Boston University School for Theatre Arts                                     
Master of Fine Arts (directing) THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA, thesis production    


Chatham College Bachelor of Arts (drama and music) MOZART & MAVRA, tutorial production     


Patrick Tucker Shakespeare Workshops for Actors and Directors
(New York City, funded by continuing education and faculty development grants)

Carnegie-Mellon University
Pre-college acting and fine arts student

Lovelace Theatre (Pittsburgh PA):  apprentice, actor, puppeteer, company tour manager  (Margo Lovelace, Artistic Director)

Languages:  Speaking/reading knowledge of Italian, French, Spanish and German