Dr. Sybil Johnson has been involved with the theatre for most of her life. She has worked with children’s theatre, community theatre, as well as college and university programs.

Before coming to USP, she was the Director of Theatre at American Samoa Community College in Pago Pago AS. While at ASCC she directed a Samoan version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Nights Dream” which opened with a Samoan Prologue delivered by a Talking Chief. In collaboration with the author, she also adapted Sia Figiel’s Novella “The Girl in the Moon Circle” and produced it for the first time on stage.

Sybil obtained her Doctorate degree in Theatre at Florida State University with a dissertation on Robert Macbeth and the New Lafayette Theatre, one of the most influential companies of the Black Theatre Movement.

Sybil’s work has been funded by The National Endowment of the Arts, The Florida Humanities Council, The Florida Arts Council and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County. She has written numerous plays for children and has been interested in the use of theatre to promote social change since the 1970’s.

Sybil’s current research interest is the perception of self, as expressed among the literature of women of color. She is currently writing a series of monologues entitled “Talk Stories” which explores the intergenerational conflict of Pacific women.