I am dedicated to creating performance spaces where underrepresented voices can express themselves authentically. My work at the intersection of hip-hop culture and traditional theatre has empowered generations of students to find their voices and speak truth to power. As an Artistic Associate with the Black Acting Methods Studio, I focus on advancing culturally responsive teaching methods that celebrate Black performance traditions. My next phase involves bridging generational gaps within hip-hop and exploring new, cross-disciplinary approaches to theatre that connect the past, present, and future of this ever-evolving art form.
Kashi Johnson
Professor of Acting
Chairperson
610.758.3636
kkj2@lehigh.edu
Zoellner Arts Center, Room 305, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Education:
MFA in Acting, University of Pittsburgh
BA in Theatre, Lehigh University
Explore this Profile×
Focus Areas
Additional Interests
- Hip-Hop Theatre Pedagogy
- African American Theatre
- Black Acting Methods
- Social Justice Theatre
- Culturally Responsive Theatre Education
Personal Statement
Biography
Kashi Johnson, MFA, is redefining what it means to fuse culture with performance. Raised in Southside Jamaica, Queens, during the rise of hip-hop, Johnson embodies the resilience and creativity of the genre. Today, she’s a full professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at Lehigh University, where her groundbreaking work in Hip-Hop Theatre pedagogy is changing the landscape of arts education.
Johnson’s path wasn’t typical. Initially set to pursue computer science, she shifted gears after discovering her passion for theatre at Lehigh. She went on to earn her MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh and returned to Lehigh as a professor in 1999. Since then, she has taught and directed for more than 25 years, with productions like Trouble in Mind, Clybourne Park, and The Colored Museum receiving critical acclaim.
At the core of her impact is Act Like You Know, a transformative course that blends hip-hop culture and traditional theatre, empowering students to tackle social justice issues through performance. Her contributions extend beyond the classroom through her role as Artistic Associate at the Black Acting Methods Studio, where she is a key advocate for culturally responsive pedagogy.
Johnson’s scholarly work includes co-authoring chapters in Black Acting Methods: Critical Approaches and The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Christian & Mary Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, celebrating her commitment to student engagement, and the Class of ’61 Professorship, awarded for her exemplary leadership and scholarship. Other accolades include the Deming Lewis Award, given by alumni to the professor who most impacted their educational experience, and the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching, underscoring her dedication to innovative, inclusive pedagogy.
Research & Creative Work
Trouble in Mind - Lehigh University, 2024
This is Not the Play – Lehigh University, 2023
Brown Face – Lehigh University, 2023
Open Up! – Lehigh University, 2021
Candy – Lehigh University, 2021
M’Dear – Lehigh University, 2021
Seen & Heard – Lehigh University, 2020
Smart People – Lehigh University, 2019
Act Like You Know: 10 Year Anniversary Show – Lehigh University, 2018
Clybourne Park – Lehigh University, 2017
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Black Box Acting Methods
Black Acting Methods Studio team members. I am an artistic associate of the studio where I teach Hip Hop techniques.
Black Box Acting Methods
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Act Like You Know
With my Hip Hop Theatre students doing outdoor graffiti workshop. 2017
Act Like You Know
Act Like You Know 10 Year Anniversary Show
Video of my students and myself promoting the devised Hip Hop theatre play: Act Like You Know 10 Year Anniversary Show. 2018
Act Like You Know 10 Year Anniversary Show
Words to live by: Kashi Johnson at TEDxLehighRiver
In her powerful and inspiring talk, Johnson teaches us words to live by: Find your voice. Speak your truth. Change your life.
Words to live by: Kashi Johnson at TEDxLehighRiver
Lehigh on the Flipside: Episode 2 The Brown and White Podcast
Lehigh on the Flipside: Episode 2 The Brown and White Podcast
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Zetta in Dog Act, 2018
Zetta in Dog Act, 2018
Act Like You Know 12.0 - Final Film
Rising to meet these challenging times with art, love and Hip Hop! Professor Kashi Johnson proudly presents: Act Like You Know 12.0 - Final Film. Featuring original Hip Hop inspired performances showcasing come of Lehigh University's best & brightest!
Act Like You Know 12.0 - Final Film
News & Awards
Awards
- Christian & Mary Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, Lehigh University
Honored for excellence in teaching and dedication to student engagement. (2018) - Deming Lewis Award, Lehigh University, Awarded by the 10-year reunion class for significant influence on their educational experience. (2018)
- 25 Women Who Are Changing Lehigh Award, Lehigh University Women's Center
Honored for impactful leadership and contributions to the university’s culture. (2016) - MLK Faculty Award, Lehigh University
Presented for leadership in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching and service. (2016) - MLK Service Award, Lehigh University Office of Multicultural Affairs
Awarded for commitment to service and advancing the values of diversity and inclusion. (2009) - Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Award for Excellence in Teaching, Lehigh University
Recognized for innovative teaching practices and significant contributions to student learning. (2007) - Class of ’61 Professorship, Lehigh University
Awarded for exemplary leadership in teaching and scholarship. (2007)
News Features
Articles
- Identity and Inclusion: Access, Digital Theatre+
Discussed the importance of inclusion and access in the performing arts, with a focus on creating equitable spaces that reflect diverse identities and removing barriers for marginalized communities. (2023) - Is There a Black Acting Method?, American Theatre
Discussed as a leading voice in Hip-Hop Theatre pedagogy and the conversation surrounding Black acting methodologies. (2019) - Conversations with Black Acting Methods Luminaries: Sharrell D. Luckett, Continuum Journal
- Acumen Magazine, Lehigh University
Recognized for directing Act Like You Know and promoting hip-hop as a tool for social justice. (2015) - Hip-Hop Course Builds Performance Muscle, Lehigh University
Highlighted for pioneering Hip-Hop Theatre pedagogy through the Act Like You Know course. (2006)
Videos
- Black Acting Methods, Segal Center, CUNY
Featured for advancing discussions on Black Acting Methods, showcasing a range of voices and approaches that center Black performance traditions in theatre. (2018) - Blackademics TV: Brown & Johnson, Austin PBS
Featured on Blackademics TV, where Kashi Johnson shares her insights on Hip-Hop Theatre pedagogy, focusing on empowering students through culturally relevant performance practices. (2015) - TEDx LehighRiver, Bethlehem, PA
Featured speaker discussing the intersection of hip-hop, theatre, and social justice. (2013)
Teaching
- THTR 11: Introduction to Acting
- THTR/AAS 132: Act Like You Know (Hip-Hop Theatre)
- THTR 148: Acting Contemporary Drama
- THTR 147: Acting Modern Realism
- THTR 140: African American Theatre
- THTR 35: Performance
- THTR 175: Special Projects