Britta Johnson

Britta Johnson (born 7 May 1991) is a Canadian-American composer, lyricist, and playwright. She is best known for her musical, Life After.

Early life and education Johnson was born and raised in Stratford, Ontario. Both of her parents were musicians in the pit orchestra for the Stratford Festival. She has two older sisters, Anika, whom she frequently writes musicals with, and Eliza, who is an opera singer. She first started learning to play the piano when she was three years old, and often spent evenings backstage at Stratford musicals with her parents. Growing up, Johnson was inspired to get involved in music and comedy after her father showed her videos of Victor Borge. The musical, Big Box Story, was a comedy loosely inspired by Stratford's youth opposing corporate big-box stores taking over the small town. It caught the attention of Stratford Festival, where it was presented as a gala presentation on August 31, 2009.

In 2016, Johnson first presented Life After at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it won the Paul O’Sullivan Prize for best musical theatre script, as well as the Patron's Pick for musical theatre. The musical was further developed and expanded with the Musical Stage Company and Canadian Stage Company, who presented the full-length musical in 2017. This production won 6 Dora Awards, including Best Musical. In March 2019, it then made its American premiere at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The musical was further developed with an expanded set and direction by Annie Tippe, when it was performed at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago between June and July 2022. The musical will return to Toronto, where it will play a limited engagement at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in April and May 2025.

Johnson also co-wrote and Stupidhead! with Katherine Cullen, who has dyscalculia. The musical, performed by Cullen and Johnson, is a comedy that focuses on the challenges and frustrations of growing up with dyslexia.

In 2018, Johnson and her sister, Anika, co-created the immersive musical, Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life. The musical revolves around a funeral for Dr. Silver, who is a fictional cult leader. The musical, which was produced by The Musical Stage Company, was performed at the Heliconian Club in Toronto between September 13 and October 21, 2018.

Johnson co-created the musical Kelly v. Kelly with Sara Farb. The musical had its world premiere at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto, where it played between May 26 and June 18, 2023. This production was nominated for six Dora Awards in 2024, including Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Musical Theatre Production.

In 2024, Johnson and her sister wrote the music and lyrics for The Last Timbit. The musical, in celebration of Tim Hortons' 60th anniversary, was inspired by a 2010 snowstorm that forced people to shelter at a local Tim Hortons.

Works Year Title Music Lyrics Book Notes Ref. 2009 Big Box Story Britta Johnson Written for high school credit In 2023, the Playwrights Guild of Canada awarded Johnson and Sara Farb the Playwrights Guild Musical Award for creating Kelly v. Kelly. The Toronto Star has also referred to Johnson as "Canada's next great musical theatre hope". 2024 Dora AwardsOutstanding Musical Theatre Production Kelly v. Kelly Outstanding New Musical