Beyond Heartache

I was one the luckiest people - I fell in love with theatre when I was a freshman in high school and was able to follow my dream teaching drama at Sentinel High School Missoula, MT for 37 years. During that time Margaret F. Johnson produced much more than great shows - she inspired many of her students to become theatre professionals. A few of her kids are now nationally-known Broadway actors, film stars, and backstage technician. Two were seen in Tony Award winning productions... Once and The Father. Kathleen McNenny, a Broadway actress also teaches at Julliard; Scott Michael Campbell, a writer, producer and director featured in the motion picture Brokeback Mountain, Push and Flight of the Phoenix and is currently in Showtime's Shameless; Tom Valach, an award winning freelance designer in the Palm Springs area; and John Shaffner, an Emmy Award-winning designer for many television productions including Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Mom as well as past president of the The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Margaret served as the Montana State Thespian Director from 1972-1992 and established the yearly state convention in partnership with the University of Montana, College of Visual and Performing Arts, which continues today. She directed over 190 productions, from children's theatre and modern classics to Shakespeare and full-blown musicals.During her retirement Margaret supervised student teachers, taught numerous classes including improv at the Osher Life Long Learning Institute at the University of Montana, and accepted acting roles at the Missoula Community Theatre, receiving two Missoula's Best Actor Awards where she had the privilege of working with former students.