Santa Fe, New Mexico
Robert L. Johnson was a theatre educator and spokesperson for twenty-eight years. He sponsored a Thespian troupe in each of the four high schools in which he taught. For the twenty four years preceding his Hall of Fame induction, Mr. Johnson taught and directed at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois. As sponsor of Thespian Troupe 1714, he has directed three main stage shows presented at the Thespian Festival. He also served as director of three international cast productions presented at the Festival in 1980, 1982, and 1987. Mr. Johnson was director of Theatre 219, a community theatre group that he founded in 1973. In 1991, he received the Teacher’s Excellence Award from the state of Illinois’ Those Who Excel program.
Mr. Johnson became state Thespian director for Illinois in 1977 and served in that capacity until 1980. From 1979 to 1982, he served on the scholarship judging committee. In 1980, he was elected to the ITS Board of Directors. He was elected vice president in 1984, and assumed the presidency in 1986. In 1990, he was elected to the EdTA governing board as an at-large member.
