For the past 25 years, Randy Johnson has directed,

produced or written some of the most groundbreaking,historic and landmark events in the business.

 

 

For the 20^th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, Randy was asked to co-conceive and direct the now landmark show business event – ELVIS THE CONCERT, which reunited Elvis’ original band, singers and musical director in a virtual interactive concert featuring Elvis, his band, singers and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The show was an immediate success and went on to play 3 sold out nights at Radio City Music Hall and subsequently toured arenas worldwide. The show for the past 13 years has broken box office records wherever it plays.  The 25^th Anniversary show, which also featured appearances by Priscilla Presley and a performance by Lisa Marie Presley, was released on DVD and appears on PBS annually. The show is in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The most successful rock tour performed by an artist deceased”. The show tours Europe again in spring of 2010.

 

Randy staged and directed Pope Benedict’s most recent appearance in New York. The event attended by over 100,000 people featured a 4 hour concert featuring top music acts from all over the world including Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson. The event culminated in a Papal Mass led by the Holy Father. The entire event was broadcast worldwide.

 

Randy has staged concert tours for; Michael Bolton – Bolton Swings Sinatra world tour; Carly Simon at the Apollo Theatre, a 3 night concert that also featured performances by Rob Thomas, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Livingston Taylor and the 50 member Apollo Theatre Choir. He also directed and choreographed the PBS Special for Sony Music, CARLY SIMON - A MOONLIGHT SERENADE ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY 2, which was shot on board the Queen Mary 2.

Randy directed "THE COLORS OF CHRISTMAS, an international tour that featured; Patti Austin, Roberta Flack, Al Jarreau, Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Melissa Manchester, James Ingram, Jeffrey Osbourne and Sheena Easton. The show had its final performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

 

Selected Theatre Credits; Directing the west coast premiere of THE NORMAL HEART starring Richard Dreyfus and Kathy Bates, ALWAYS PATSY CLINE which he produced from its inception, regional theatre productions, national tours, and the successful Off Broadway Production. He also executive produced the MCA Records Cast Album for ALWAYS PATSY CLINE. At the Savoy Theatre in London, England, he staged and directed SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME – THE MUSIC OF JUDY GARLAND starring Lorna Luft. He directed, wrote and produced AMERICAN BANDSTAND – LIVE, hosted by Dick Clark (via video). The production featured the best of AMERICAN BANDSTAND with a cast of 20 singer/dancers.

 

He wrote and directed; THE WILDEST – HIP, COOL AND SWINGING – THE MUSICAL SOUNDS OF LOUIS PRIMA and KEELY SMITH. The musical premiered at PCPA Theatre Fest and has been published by Samuel French.  In 2008, he wrote, directed and choreographed - CONWAY TWITTY, THE MAN, THE MUSIC, THE LEGEND which premiered at Tennessee’s Performing Arts Center in 2008 and toured performing arts centers across the US and Canada the 2008-2009 season.

 

Directed Events; Audrey Hepburn in the staged reading of A DIARY OF ANNE FRANK for UNICEF, Katharine Hepburn in the documentary of A WONDERFUL LIFE – A Tribute to Jimmy Stewart, and the grand opening of Universal Studios ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE, executive producer was Steven Spielberg. The event featured 500 dancers, daytime pyrotechnics, 50 aerialists, giant inflatable and an original score by William Kidd - performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.  He  conceived, staged and directed HORIZONS – the grand opening of General Motors Place, a 22,000-seat arena. The event featured performances by David Foster, Sara McLaughlin, Shania Twain, 200 member fife and drum corps, a 500 member choir, ice skating performance by Kurt Browing and Kristi Yamaguchi and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Other events include; President Ronald Reagan’s 80^th birthday celebration at the Beverly Wilshire, The Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations in Houston, and Tennessee’s Bi-centennial celebration, which was hosted by Vice President Al Gore, featuring performances by Wynonna, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee, Carl Perkins, Chet Atkins and the Nashville Symphony.

 

For 5 consecutive years, he and Bernie Taupin co-produced, and Randy also directed the historic "COMMITMENT TO LIFE" at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.  The evenings featured performances by Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Bette Midler, Sarah Brightman, Liza Minnelli, Melissa Etheridge, Salt N Pepa, Terence Trent Darby, Patti Austin, Carol Channing, Billy Joel, Julie Andrews, Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Sheila E, Wynonna, Garth Brooks, Joni Mitchell, George Michael, Madonna, Rod Stewart, Vanessa Redgrave, Tom Cruise, Neil Diamond, Tom Hanks and many others. The events raised over 35 million dollars for Aids Project Los Angeles.  The events honored David Geffen, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bette Midler, Barry Diller. Elizabeth Taylor and First Lady Hillary Clinton.

 

Randy was asked by Governor Howard Dean to be on his staff as The National Events Producer for his Presidential Campaign. For Governor Dean, he produced events across the nation featuring; Bonnie Raitt, Sean Penn, David Crosby, Sandra Bernhard, John Leguizamo, Phoebe Snow, The Bangles and Carly Simon.

 

He wrote and directed for Celebrity Cruises the production shows for 3 years on 2 ships including the inaugural cruise of the MV Mercury.

 

He is a recipient of ‘’THE CRYSTAL APPLE AWARD” for his work with Aids Project Los Angeles, He received the "VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR" for his work with LA SHANTI, and 2 ISIS Awards for HORIZONS at General Motors Place in Vancouver, Canada.

 

He credits his artistic mentors and major influences in his life - John Houseman, Geoffrey Holder, Lee Strasberg, John Blankenchip and most importantly - The great Joe Layton.

 

He is a graduate of the USC SCHOOL OF THEATRE. Los Angeles.