African American Living Legend: Je’Caryous Johnson-I’m Ready Productions
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/1175/1/African-American-Living-Legend-JeCaryous-Johnson-Im-Ready--Productions/Page1.html
Staff Writer
By Staff Writer
Published on 12/2/2009
HOUSTON- At the age of fourteen, teachers, counselors, and other school officials told I’m Ready founder and CEO Je’Caryous Johnson he should learn a trade. A failing score on a school competency exam and a lack of interest in school led to their belief Johnson should pursue a labor-intensive, non-academic career. A rigorous search revealed Johnson’s greatest endowment and his perfect niche: the stage.
HOUSTON- At the age of fourteen, teachers, counselors, and other school officials told I’m Ready founder and CEO Je’Caryous Johnson he should learn a trade. A failing score on a school competency exam and a lack of interest in school led to their belief Johnson should pursue a labor-intensive, non-academic career. A rigorous search revealed Johnson’s greatest endowment and his perfect niche: the stage.
After writing his first play in high school, Johnson soon found himself training with theatre masters Edward Albee and Jose Quintero. An accomplished playwright and author, Johnson is lauded as a pioneer for his adaptations of many best-selling novels into plays. Additionally, Johnson is an actor who has performed in more than fifty productions, including drama and musical theatre.
In 2007 his work, which includes nearly two dozen stage plays, was acknowledged by the NAACP Theatre Awards Association when Johnson was the recipient of its revered Trailblazer Award. Recently, he penned his first novel, Men, Money & Gold Diggers, based on the stage play that carries the same name. It was followed by his first nonfiction piece, I’m a Good Man, You’re a Good Woman…Why Can’t We Find Each Other?
He was handpicked by the estate of Sammy Davis, Jr., to write Mr. Bojangles on Broadway. This production titled, Sammy Davis, Jr.: The World’s Greatest Entertainer has received critical acclaim, making Johnson the youngest creator of a Las Vegas show.
He is now focused on a several new endeavors. The I’m Ready School of the Arts, home to the Je’Caryous Johnson Acting Studio, will allow those interested in a career in the performing arts to study with some of the greatest actors, writers, and directors in the industry. Johnson is also determined to make Houston, Texas, the next Hollywood, shooting six films in his hometown over the next five years. The shooting of the first project is set to launch in the fall 2009.
We salute Je’Caryous Johnson as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.
After writing his first play in high school, Johnson soon found himself training with theatre masters Edward Albee and Jose Quintero. An accomplished playwright and author, Johnson is lauded as a pioneer for his adaptations of many best-selling novels into plays. Additionally, Johnson is an actor who has performed in more than fifty productions, including drama and musical theatre.
In 2007 his work, which includes nearly two dozen stage plays, was acknowledged by the NAACP Theatre Awards Association when Johnson was the recipient of its revered Trailblazer Award. Recently, he penned his first novel, Men, Money & Gold Diggers, based on the stage play that carries the same name. It was followed by his first nonfiction piece, I’m a Good Man, You’re a Good Woman…Why Can’t We Find Each Other?
He was handpicked by the estate of Sammy Davis, Jr., to write Mr. Bojangles on Broadway. This production titled, Sammy Davis, Jr.: The World’s Greatest Entertainer has received critical acclaim, making Johnson the youngest creator of a Las Vegas show.
He is now focused on a several new endeavors. The I’m Ready School of the Arts, home to the Je’Caryous Johnson Acting Studio, will allow those interested in a career in the performing arts to study with some of the greatest actors, writers, and directors in the industry. Johnson is also determined to make Houston, Texas, the next Hollywood, shooting six films in his hometown over the next five years. The shooting of the first project is set to launch in the fall 2009.
We salute Je’Caryous Johnson as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.