We had the good fortune of connecting with John Johnston and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi John, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After training on the East Coast at Boston College for my undergraduate degree and the Catholic University of America for my Master’s degree, I returned to Houston, and before long, began working in the professional theatre community here. This was almost 20 years ago, so much has changed since then, but at the time, there was a dearth of professional theatre here. My training was what was considered “classical,” which basically means that I studied and trained the great classical plays and forms of western theatre. I was coming from CUA, which is in Washington D.C., where there is a tremendous amount of classical theatre. Some of the most notable classical theatres are in the District, in fact. So, after spending a little time here in the professional theatre community, I noted that there was no year round classical theatre. There was the Houston Shakespeare Festival, but that only runs a couple of weeks each summer. There were over 100 professional year round classical theatre companies in the country, but none in Houston – or even in Texas. These are the most popular plays in the world, they get produced more than any other. Some of these stories go back thousands of years. So, I saw a need for a year round classical theatre here, and started the Classical Theatre Company. This season will be our 15th Anniversary.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At my heart, I am a creator. Yes, I’ve trained as a theatre artist – in particular, as an actor – but what I really love to do is create. I don’t just pigeonhole myself into acting. I’m a writer, a director, and a designer too. The type of theatre I produce at Classical Theatre Company is unique in a number of ways. First and foremost, the content that CTC produces is based on material that is 100 years old or older. That’s our definition of “classical.” We are the only company in the entire State of Texas that solely focuses on the year round production of these types of plays. In fact, despite professional plays being produced in Houston for over 150 years, Classical Theatre Company has produced more than 13 local professional premieres of these all-time great plays. We’re an award-winning company having garnered numerous Houston Press Theater nominations and awards as well as being one of only six companies in the nation to win the prestigious American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company Grant Award in 2016. We’ve experienced many trials, a financial collapse in 2008, two hurricanes, the loss of our performance space, and most keenly, the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve worked through numerous trials, and though the pandemic still has a tremendous impact on us to this day, we have survived to reach our 15th Anniversary Season.
On a side note: this past summer I created a new company as a new and interesting way to raise funds for Classical Theatre Company. It’s called To Be or RPG and it’s an actual play Dungeons & Dragons web series. I and a cast of professional actors from CTC play the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons live on the internet as a benefit for CTC. The story is typical fantasy fare (wizards and knights and monsters) but with a classical dramatic twist. We play live on Twitch where we request donations to CTC, but then afterwards, upload our game session to our YouTube channel and to all major podcast platforms. It’s been tremendously fun and a creative new way to raise funds.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I have friends or family visit Houston from out of town, I don’t do the typical touristy things: NASA, the water wall, the Galleria, etc. I take them out to eat. I’ve lived in a number of cities in my life, but Houston is, hands down, the best food city I’ve ever lived in. Simply the diversity of food alone makes it top of my list. I’d definitely hit up some of my favorite Tex-Mex places like Molina’s Cantina, La Mexicana, Chilosos Taco House, and Ruchis. I’ve got Tex-Mex joints for different dishes and different times of day or night. Then you’ve got to hit up some BBQ, I love Truth BBQ, the Pit Room, and Pappas BBQ as my trio of favorites (though I do give a shoutout to Goode Company). I also have an unhealthy obsession with ramen. Tops for me is Ramen Tatsuya followed by Ninja Ramen. Who can forget Whataburger for all your fast food needs? Whether it’s tasty burgers or chicken sandwiches or taquitos and honey butter chicken biscuits in the early hours of the morning, Whataburger has you covered. I promise, if you’re going to come visit me, you’re leaving full and in need of a cleanse.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many people who have supported me throughout this very long journey that goes back more than 30 years. First and foremost, my parents, John and Christine, have supported me my whole life. Whether it was the ten minutes I played lacrosse, or my decision to become a professional actor, my mom and dad never wavered (at least to my face). I owe them everything. At each level of education I’ve been lucky enough to have a mentor. In high school it was G’ann Boyd. She was the mother hen who corralled all of us wild hormonal kids and put together spectacular productions, and teaching us important life lessons along the way. In undergrad, Dr. John Houchin took me under his wing my very first month in college. His intelligence and dry humor was only surpassed by his keen artistry. He showed me what it was to be an artist. In graduate school, Gary Sloan was my guide. He pushed me as an actor well beyond what I thought were my bounds. He took me from acting student to professional artist. His lessons are still touchstones for me to this very day.
The last I’ll mention here (I could go on for ages) is Ivar Siem. Ivar was the gentleman who heard my diatribe about a lack of a year round classical theatre in Houston and offered his support. He saw the need as well, and was the first person to join Classical Theatre Company’s board of directors. We certainly wouldn’t be here today without his decade and a half of support.
Website: https://www.classicaltheatre.org https://www.tobeorrpg.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctchouston https://www.instagram.com/tobeorrpg
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CTCHouston https://twitter.com/ToBeorRPG
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classicaltheatrecompany https://www.facebook.com/ToBeorRPG
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ToBeorRPG
Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/tobeorrpg
Image Credits
Photos 1-3: Pin Lim Photo 4: Natasha Niven Photography