Listen to Samples Below :
Ray Marie Johnson is a mindful and kind artist who brings grounded and compassionate energy to all of their work and relationships. Ray received classical acting training from Pace University in New York City, where he moved in 2015 from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Since arriving, he’s acted Off-Broadway (A.R.T. NY) & on many NY/BK indie stages, while also performing original folk songs all over the city.
Their clear, expressive, and multi-dimensional voice lends itself to middle-grade, children’s, and young-adult fantasy and sci-fi adventures with many characters. His voice is also warm, present, and trustworthy; with years of experience as a meditation guide, Ray is especially capable of carrying non-fiction works about meditation, healing, and hope in the midst of darkness.
Within Ray’s favorite genres, he is drawn to themes of authentic friendships, embracing your true self, wholesome queerness, and connection to nature. Ray is non-binary and a transgender guy (he/they), physically disabled, and living with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). These lived experiences - and daily meditation practice - have nurtured empathy, kindness, and acceptance.
Home Studio Complete
Please See Additional Training and Narration-Relevant Experience in Special Resume :
TRAINING BEYOND PACE UNIVERSITY
- Elise Arsenault & Justin Marra’s Audiobook Adventure (performance & tech)
- Carla Delaney’s workshop (distinguishing voice characters with mouth placement instead of reliance on accents)
- Chris Tramantana & Carter Gill’s Commedia d’ell Arte classes (very specific stock character voice distinctions)
- Rebbeca Stuard & Mallory Kinney’s “Improvolution” Level 1 (Improvisation especially focused on character and emotion)
(+ 4 years in Pace University’s Improv Troupe, with shows every 2 weeks)
STORYTELLING AWARDS
He won the Virginia State Championship in Forensics (theatrical competition with incredibly specific & strict rules), winning the Children’s Storytelling category by playing 4 distinct characters and seamlessly snapping back and forth between them.
NARRATION-INFORMING PERFORMANCES
- Dr Coney (Off Broadway production of “Bloodshot”) - creepy and ethereal voice, dipping from horror into humor.
- 4y.o. boy, 13 y.o. boy, woman in 20’s, woman in 40’s (Signal Award Winner, “Erased : The Murder of Elma Sands” True Crime Radio Play)
- Patsy (“Spamalot”) - bold cockney accent playing with humor
- Mme Thenardier (“Les Mis”) - complex singing
- Hannah Pitt/Ethel Rosenberg/Dr Henry/Rabbi/Bolshevik (“Angels in America”) - very distinct characters and development of relevant accents
- Nimbus (“User Agreement”) - AI that reaches consciousness, playing with extreme technical shifts every beat change; switching between warmer original thoughts vs colder regurgitation of programming
- Old Shady (“Men on Boats” @ Access Theater) - speaking *and singing* as an older man
- Peppe Nappa (“Commedia’s Got Talent") - speaking *and singing* in a child-like, cartoonish-Italian voice
For Audiobook Narration
Contact Ray Directly Below