Johnna recently won the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award as Outstanding Director for The Triumph of Love (Blackbird Theatre, Vancouver), which was also voted Outstanding Production for 2007/08. She is also a recipient of Vancouver's Ray Michal Award for Outstanding Body of Work by an Emerging Director.

After nearly 10 years as a professional actor, Johnna began her directing career in 1996 with the critically-acclaimed Pintauro Cafe (Western Theatre Conspiracy, Vancouver). She then studied at the prestigious University of Alberta's MFA Directing program, where her thesis production, Maureen Hunter's Transit of Venus, was co-produced by Workshop West Theatre.

For nine years Johnna was co-Artistic and Managing Director of Vancouver's Solo Collective Theatre, a company that develops and premieres new work by Western Canadian playwrights. She directed seven new plays for the Collective, including David Mackay's Killjoy (Jessie Award nomination, Outstanding Direction).

Recent directing credits include Ian Weir's The Man Who Shot Chance Delaney for Western Canada Theatre, The Leading Ladies for the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC, Little Women for Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon, and The Rez Sisters for Theatre @ UBC.

For photos and press clippings, click here.

Download resume (pdf): click here

SELECTED CREDITS (* = new work)
Little Women (musical) Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon
The Man Who Shot Chance Delaney * Western Canada Theatre, Kamloops
The Leading Ladies Gateway Theatre, RIchmond
A Christmas Carol Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon
The Rez Sisters Theatre @ UBC, Vancouver
The Triumph of Love Blackbird Theatre, Vancouver
-> Jessie Richardson Awards: Outstanding Direction, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Supporting Actress
-> Jessie Award nominations: Outstanding Leading Actress, Outstanding Set Design, Outstanding Costume Design
Sign: The Monologue in Five Voices * (reading) University of Regina
Outside the Gallery * Studio 58, Langara College, Vancouver
Landscapes of the Dead * Solo Collective, Vancouver
Les Belles Soeurs Douglas College, New Westminster
Back to Berlin, Two (for Fear Some: Solo Performances) * Solo Collective Theatre, Vancouver
Marion Bridge (remount) shameless hussy productions, Vancouver
Berlin to Broadway (musical) Tin Can Collective, Vancouver
The Laramie Project Douglas College
The Malaysia Hotel * Visceral Visions (@ CBC Studio 41), Vancouver
Killjoy (for A Christmas 3: Solo Performances) * Solo Collective Theatre
-> Jessie Richardson Award Nominations: Outstanding Director, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Original Script
-> Jessie Award: Outstanding Leading Actress  
Waiting for the Parade Douglas College
cusp (for A 3 Way: Solo Performances) * Solo Collective Theatre
The Seagull (adaptation & staged reading) Playhouse Emerging Directors' Programme, Vancouver
If We Are Women United Players of Vancouver
Brown Wasp (for 3 by 3: Solo Performances) * Solo Collective Theatre
-> Jessie Richardson Award Nomination: Outstanding Production
Uncle Exile (for 2 by 2: Solo Performances) * Solo Collective Theatre
Transit of Venus Workshop West / Studio Thtr, Edmonton
Something Fierce * University of Alberta
Henry IV, Part 1 University of Alberta
Blue Window University of Alberta
The Pintauro Cafe (co-director) A Western Theatre Conspiracy, Vancouver
-> Jessie Richardson Awards: Outstanding Ensemble Cast, Leading Actor

ASSISTANT DIRECTING

Humble Boy Ass't to Glynis Leyshon Playhouse Thtr / National Arts Centre
Madama Butterfly Ass't to Glynis Leyshon Vancouver Opera
Lisa, Lisa * Ass't to Katrina Dunn Touchstone Theatre
Wit Ass't to Glynis Leyshon Playhouse Thtr / Canadian Stage
Keely and Du Ass't to Janet Wright Arts Club Theatre / Canadian Stage

EDUCATION
MFA Drama (Directing) University of Alberta
BA Theatre University of BC
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