James J. Johnson

James J. Johnson, BFA

Adjunct Professor
Areas of Specialization - Acting, Hip Hop Theatre, Playwriting

James J. Johnson (J. J.) is a professional actor, playwright and screenwriter. He currently resides in the DC Metro Area with his wife. He has appeared with many theatres across the area, including the historic African-Continuum Theatre Co., Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Ford's Theatre, Theater J, Rep Stage, Kennedy Center,  1st Stage and Imagination Stage. In 2020, he received a Solo Works commission from 1^st Stage in Tyson’s Corner, VA. His first full-length play, WANNABE, is an exploration of his childhood in a small Virginia town, growing up with hip-hop in the 1980s. He co-wrote the award-winning short film, “Silent Partner,” which is directed by Aristotle Torres and was an official selection in several national film festivals in 2021, including the NYC Latino Film Festival and the Detroit Black Film Festival where it won “Best Short.” He narrates audiobooks for Potomac Talking Books. As a voice actor, his voice appears in the new podcasts “Seizing Freedom,” “Grounds” and in various graphic novel audiobooks produced by Graphic Audio. He is a proud member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association. He received his B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1997, graduating magna cum laude. A fervent believer in networking, J. J. is a co-founder of Galvanize DC, a local support network for Black theatre artists.