ERIC JOHNSON

Jun 28

Tribute to M. Eric Johnson 1951-2019

written by Jan Swank

Jill and I first met Eric in early June of 1978 at the BHP where we were all members of the company. That fall, we all attended USD for grad school. In those first 15 months, we were involved with Mr. Johnson in 8 productions. After the next BHP season, Eric, to our dismay, left for New York. He acted in a National tour of Annie and became a featured performer, singing and dancing “Doing the Lambeth Walk” in the Broadway hit Me and My Girl. See Eric performing on the Tony’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgKn3SbCYQ After he left New York, he worked theatre in Minneapolis, and then I hired him to direct a play (his first), and act and music direct for the BHP. What followed were decades of collaboration with Eric. He continued working at the BHP, served as Artistic Director of Black Hills Community Theatre, worked guest acting and directing jobs around the country, teaching a stable of private students, and keeping busy singing all around. He wrote one and two-person revues that were in constant demand during holidays, meetings, and special occasions. Eventually, he would return to New York and began developing shows that were performed all over the city. Most of this is what some of his friends could tell you.

What they might not know, or maybe forgot, the real Eric- the one whose car door from his purple Gremlin came off in-his-hand while asking us, and Larry and Mary Jo Johnson where to meet on the day off. Or- the one who whispered naughty words to Janet Azelton Fritz just as they were entering curtain call for The Boyfriend, causing Janet to laugh and lose control of her bladder, which resulted in their dancing and singing throughout the curtain call in an ever – widening pool at their feet. You may have heard from his grad school housemates about them ordering pizza to be delivered to the laundromat to the “Incredible Fat People.” Eric rarely had lots of money, but whatever he had, he spent on his friends. I have fond memories of Jill and I running with Eric through various airports to auditions, with things flying out his luggage (the luggage seemed to contain everything he owned). I always enjoyed the angry looks he gave onstage to actors, singers, or accompanists when he made a mistake—convincing the audience that someone else was wrong. He had fun onstage. He was easy to break up. But he was professional – he knew how to get away with things.

As I sat at Eric’s Celebration of Life in New York, which was held at one of his favorite Theatre District restaurants (perhaps, because he was treated well there by its two managers – both BHP alums), I was pleased to be in the company of many Playhouse alumni who had worked with us both during our tenure at the BHP. The celebration had been arranged by Emily Fellner Zeig, with Abby Gillick supplying the venue. The BHP alums were all people whose further careers had led them to places close enough to attend. There were also several performers from New York who had worked with Eric. They had films of shows they had performed with Eric – self written reviews about life in small midwestern towns, WWI, and the travails of being professional performers. One man had written a song for Eric’s passing, which he sang. Almost everyone sang along with “Doing the Lambeth Walk,” although none of us had been in his production. The final film clip at the conclusion of the celebration was of Eric singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” I couldn’t escape. There was no dry eye in the house. He was a great and generous friend with whom we shared a lifetime. Eric was loved.

Jan Swank

1978-80 Actor, 1985 Director,

1986 Artistic Director,

1987-2007 Managing Director