Florida State University’s School of Theatre has appointed Marcus Denard Johnson as the new director of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.
Johnson, an alumnus of the program, brings extensive experience as an actor, director and theatre educator.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Marcus returning to serve as director of the Conservatory,” said Brad Brock, director of the School of Theatre. “He’s a very accomplished alumnus, and he did an incredible job stepping in as interim director with very short notice. It has been a pleasure collaborating with him over the past year, and I know that in this role, he will continue to move the program forward and support our students, faculty and staff.”
The FSU/Asolo Conservatory, located in Sarasota, offers a rigorous three-year training program in partnership with the Asolo Repertory Theatre. The program combines classroom instruction with professional production experience, providing students with comprehensive training in the art of acting.
Johnson, who graduated from the Conservatory in 2008, first returned to Sarasota in 2023 to direct a production of Lydia Diamond’s “Stick Fly” before joining the faculty as interim director last year. His extensive experience includes serving as a Resident Artist for Titan Theatre Company in New York City and as the Artistic Director of Hope Repertory Theatre in Michigan.
“I want people to really understand the identity of this program,” Johnson said. “We’re creating world-class theater — FSU is doing that. Our students are directed, coached and trained by our own professors. Even though we’re hundreds of miles away from Tallahassee, we’re still upholding the standard of excellence that FSU is known for, right here in Sarasota.”
Johnson emphasized the importance of embracing new mediums and technologies in theater training.
“The value of classical theater training remains vital, but we must embrace other mediums — voiceover, emerging technologies, even AI — so our students can forge their own paths,” he said. “We need to give them not only the freedom to follow the winds of opportunity, but also a roadmap and access to as many artistic avenues as possible.”
For more information about the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and to get tickets for the upcoming season, visit AsoloRep.org/Conservatory.