A.A. Bakhrushin Central State Theatre Museum

Virgil C. Johnson has been an active professional costume designer in the American regional theatre and opera for the past 45 years. His interest in historic fashion, opera, and classical and pre-modern drama are reflected in his innovative costume designs. Favourite recent productions include; MACBETH and THE VOYAGE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE (Lyric Opera of Chicago), GYPSY, FOLLIES, and AMADEUS directed by Gary Griffin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST), HENRY IV, parts 1 & 2, directed by Barbara Gaines, performed at the CST and at the RSC, Stratford, England, THE MARCH adapted and directed by Frank Galati, THE CRUCIBLE directed by Anna D. Shapiro (Steppenwolf Theater), THE MATCHMAKER, FALLEN ANGELS, and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, directed by Peter Amster (Asolo Repertory Theatre). In addition, His designs have been seen at the Guthrie Theatre, Northlight Theater, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Court Theater, Colorado Shakespeare, Body Politic, Victory Gardens Theater, and the Goodman Theatre (GT) where he designed costumes from 1969 to 1997. A recipient of four Joseph Jefferson Awards for Best Costume Design (Chicago) for HENRY IV, Parts 1 & 2 and FOLLIES (CST), A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (GT). In 2001, Mr. Johnson received the Michael Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration. Mr. Johnson trained at Boston University (BFA) under Raymond Sovey and Horace Armistead, house designer for the Metropolitan Opera. His graduate degree is from Northwestern University. He is a professor emeritus of Northwestern University.

Designer Gallery

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