JESSICA JOHNSON* (Celie, Color Purple) is an actor and theatre maker currently based in Philadelphia. She began her artistic career in Philadelphia as a Dorothy Haas Acting Apprentice at the Walnut Street Theatre. She has performed in readings, workshops, and full-length productions all over the region. Some of her recent credits include Papa Ge in Once on This Island, Opal in Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater), Odessa in Sandblasted (Theatre Horizon), and Gina in a hit dog will holler. She received a Barrymore Award for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical as Celie in The Color Purple (2019) and a Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play for Gina in a hit dog will holler (2023). During her time in Philadelphia, she was awarded an Independence Foundation Fellowship (2019), Jilline Ringle Residency (2019), and the HATCH (2021) residency to develop independent work.