Biography

Joel Drake Johnson

Joel Drake Johnson got his start with the Econo-Art Theatre where five of his plays were produced, including Beautiful Dreamer which was later produced at the Stonehill Theatre and the Ensemble Studio Theatre in NYC. As the Beaver, for Chicago's Zebra Crossing Theatre, was moved to the Theatre Building and later played the Burbage Theatre in L.A. and the Vortex Theatre in Austin, TX. Victory Gardens Theatre produced Before My Eyes, which was nominated for best new play by the Joseph Jefferson Committee. The play was later staged at The Neighborhood Playhouse in Atlanta. Other plays have been produced at the New Playwrights' Theatre; the Haunted Space; the West Bank Theatre in NYC, and the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Johnson won an Illinois Arts Council grant for Blind Hearts and for A Blue Moon, which was produced at Chicago Dramatists, Woodstock Theatre,and at the Steele Beam Theatre, and also nominated for best new play by the Joseph Jefferson Committee. Victory Gardens produced the 2003 Jeff-nominated The End of the Tour. The Jeff Award-winning production of The Fall to Earth was produced by Steppenwolf Theatre. Along with John Logan, Joel was nominated for an Emmy Award for the teleplay Moment of Rage. Joel is a resident playwright with Chicago Dramatists.