As a young girl growing up in Cheshire Connecticut, Rachel Johnson ’09 dappled in many activities in order to search out her particular talents. She sang, practiced gymnastics and did horseback riding; “this is what stuck,” Rachel laughs, referring to her acting.
At the age of ten, Rachel acted in her first play, starring as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Growing up, she starred in plays including The King and I, Meet Me in St. Louis, in addition to another production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Rachel was inspired to come to continue her acting career at Choate after her first experience at Choate’s summer day camp in third grade. Since then, she has flourished under the Choate theater department, taking Acting I and Acting II freshmen and sophomore year.
Now, she is a second year Arts Concentration student taking Acting 350. This fall, the Acting 350 class is devoted to monologues, while next term, they will be working on one-person shows. As part of the Arts Concentration requirement, Rachel has also taken both Directing I and Directing II, an experience that gave her a “different perspective on the process of an entire show, instead of one individual performance.” Not only was Directing an educational experience, but it was fun and memorable because the cast she directed “was wonderful.”
At Choate, Rachel performed in the winter Cabaret, and part of the nun ensemble in the Sound of Music her freshman year, and Antigone and Sweet Charity her sophomore year. Last year, she played the role Hecuba of Troy Women, was Winnie Winslow for the spring musical No, No Nanette, and also costume designed for She Stoops to Conquer.
This fall Rachel plays Aunt Abby in Arsenic and Old Lace. “It’s a story of an insane family,” described Rachel. “[Shira Hereld ’11] and I are two old ladies who [murder] men as their charity. The story plays out as their nephew discovers their murders.”
Not only is Rachel a talented actress, but she is also a gifted singer and this year’s Wimawehs’ president. Haven taken classes for what is now her sixth year, Rachel has always been in chorus and chamber chorus. Throughout her four years, she has been part of various chorus groups of the school: Milagros, Whimawehs, and Stonatos.
When described, “Rachel is the type of person who when walks into a room lighten ups everybody’s day. Her smile and enthusiasm makes people just want to live,” says George Ramirez ’11. “I love her, she’s one of my favorite people,” chimes Jennifer Xiao ’09. “She’s a great actress, very mature and put together.”
Cameron Cuffe ’11 agrees. “Rachel is the most talented and wonderful actress I know. On stage she is concentrated on being focused, off stage she is warm and loving—I cannot ask for a better cast mate.”
Rachel Johnson ’09 poses with David Lim ’09 during a well deserved break from No, No Nanette, last year’s spring musical. PHOTO/Contributed Photo
