Evan Johnson

EVAN JOHNSON (he/they) is a San Francisco–based theater maker and cultural producer. His work focuses on collaboration, care, and shared authorship in performance. Johnson has produced three original queer plays locally: Don’t Feel, Pansy, and Barn Owl (CounterPulse). His writing has been described as a “riveting communion with the dead” (SF Bay Guardian) and a success in “understanding the thinking behind the unthinkable” (Theatre Bay Area). Alongside his playwriting, he brings over 15 years of experience in character comedy, cabaret performances, and devised theater, specifically through his drag persona Martha T. Lipton (the failed actress). He is a graduate of Dell’Arte International and has trained with Bill Irwin and Giovanni Fusetti. In December 2025, Johnson led the Proud & Present Theatre Lab at Curry Senior Center in the creation of Cosmic Jailbreak!, which premiered at CounterPulse. As a teaching artist, he founded programs at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, including the Junior Acting Troupe and Cosmic Elders, creating a safe container for LGBTQ+ youth and their families. He is currently developing The Rub, a new solo work created with support from Libby King (The TEAM). This June, Evan is collaborating with BANDALOOP on Beautiful Bird. He is co-creating this week-long project alongside Melecio Estrella and Ben Juodvalkis, exploring ensemble process and collective presence. For more info on past projects or to get in touch: evanjohnsonplays.com