Prof. Johann Montozzi-Wood
Assistant Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies
Johann is a director-devisor, artist-scholar, and a facilitator of embodied story-weaving through queer performance, worldbuilding, and folk songs. As a proud Actor’s Equity Union member, Johann has performed over a decade in regional theaters, dance companies, amusement parks, and cruise lines around the world. Johann is an award-winning actor who holds advanced degrees in Theater Studies (UCF) & Devised Performance (Columbia College Chicago).
Johann’s performance-based research centers experimental performance and laboratory theater practices. Currently, Johann is devising an original piece called Grandfathered In inspired by the migration of two great grandfathers from different sides of his estranged, bi-racial family. This piece emphasizes a kind of “queer re(mix)ology” of the American family that transposes uncanny lineages of migration and posits “mixedness as a queer epistemology” always in tension with a Black imaginary, a colonial past, and our rich, interconnected ancestorial roots. Being brought up in Mississippi, Johann desires is to cultivate and support diverse communities as a creative midwife for emergent artist-scholars and as a mentor to students within a rich, interdisciplinary, liberal arts education.
When not taking a walk through the city or among the trees, you will often find Johann writing and connecting with community members at local coffee shops where you might also meet his darling husband, Bryan, behind the counter serving up a delicious espresso. We look forward to meeting you and perhaps introducing you to our two cheeky felines, Albus and Dobby. I, especially, am overjoyed to be able to connect with you and support your time here at Duke University as Brown’s Faculty in Residence.