TV show’s like ‘Friends,’ with a spin
That’s the view of Becky Johnson, a McClellandtown native who serves as character-development director on “His Place.’ Through her job, Johnson is involved in many aspects of the show, including staff meetings where story lines are developed and tested. Johnson helps prepare the sets for the shows, including dispensing drinks and doughnuts. During rehearsals, she leads the actors through their lines, pumping them for emotion and authenticity.
Sometimes, Johnson steps in front of the camera as one of the diner characters. Usually, however, she’s busy behind the scenes, as she helps to keep everything running smoothly.
It’s a job she loves.
“God works in mysterious ways,’ she said of her present position. “I know this was something he orchestrated.’
Johnson is the daughter of Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Brown, who works for Albert Gallatin Home Care, and the late James Brown, who was a teacher in the Uniontown Area School District. While Johnson lives in North Versailles, her family continues to live in McClellandtown, including Johnson’s twin sister, Barb, and her husband, Paul Cramer; older sister, Debbie, and husband, Jerry Simon; and older brother, Alan.
Johnson, who still belongs to Asbury United Methodist Church in Uniontown, worked at Albert Gallatin Home Health for 10 years before following her husband, Steve, to Cornerstone Television nine years ago. She started in a job booking guests for “Getting Together,’ and then began working in February, 2001, on “His Place.’
For this job, she draws upon her theater experience at Asbury and Actors and Artists of Fayette County, where she worked with William Dreucci, Ron Bronson and Michael Slavin. In fact, Johnson still sings professionally with the Cramers, who have their own voice studio in Uniontown.
Community theater also prepared Johnson for work at Cornerstone Television where budgets are small and everyone pitches in.
“When you’re younger, you just want to be the next Amy Grant,’ she says.
“Now, I’m thinking, ‘How can I help you experience the presence of God before I leave here tonight?”