Mary Donnet Johnson Artistic Statement

What fuels my desire to write plays? Unrelenting news about trauma impacting people, places, and our whole planet washes over us daily, causing real concern — even panic. We need clear, strong, and accessible stories that have the power to resonate broadly and affect change. I’m here to bring my unique skills and passionate voice to that task.

Coming from a place of positivity serves me well. I work fast with a determined and indefatigable spirit. It’s my style to respect every voice in the room and be quick to acknowledge where improvements can be made in a line, a scene, a moment, even if I’m not the first to see it. Collaboration is bliss for me, and I am told the room brightens and good energy flows when I am present. This may sound obnoxiously prideful, but my strength is born from overcoming a lifetime of obstacles. I am not afraid to own it.

To that point I can identify one person in my life who has perhaps shaped me more than anyone. Our son. He has severe autism and barely talks. From the time he was a toddler I quit all outside commitments to focus on his development. At first, I thought what a cruel joke it was for an actor and a writer to have a child with no words. And then I realized there was a huge gift within this challenge. I had to listen and watch to divine his needs and access critical information in unconventional ways. How eloquent his voice was once I learned his language! Dealing with his struggle helped me build the muscles I needed to work harder and more intuitively. He has taught me to value every word. Every breath. My powers of observation have been honed and I now carry a well-earned passport to finding the flipside of any situation and uncovering abundant treasure in the most unlikely places.

Now that he is an adult and requires less care, I have been able to return to the theatre with a feeling of empowerment and a pent-up desire to create important work. It is my privilege now to write plays that ride the crest of courage, insights, and humor I discovered while raising him and bathe others in waves of optimism and joy.