About 1 — High Desert Playback

Who is High Desert Playback?

High Desert Playback makes theater for social change in New Mexico. Our multi-racial, queer-centered ensemble “plays back” the real-life stories of our audience members, igniting community dialogue, cultural healing, and collective liberation.

Mission

High Desert Playback was founded in 2023 by Lynn Johnson and Allison Kenny. Since 2002, Lynn and Allison have built their lives together as a married couple, co-parents, and business partners dedicated to the arts and social change. In 2019, Allison and Lynn (along with Sangita Kumar) co-founded Oakland Freedom Theater—a playback company with a similar mission—in Oakland, CA. There, they brought playback shows to businesses and non-profit organizations to complement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Just as momentum was building, the Covid19 pandemic hit and changed everything. Allison and Lynn moved from Oakland to Albuquerque in November 2020 and decided to continue the work here in this new place they called home.

History

High Desert Playback Founders (left to right): Lynn Johnson and Allison Kenny

Our commitment to racial and social justice is rooted in our promise to center and highlight the stories of those folks who have historically been erased, devalued, and marginalized. The “revolution” happens when these folks can recognize the importance of their own stories, find the courage to share them, and galvanize others to take action.

We wield our power and talent as theater artists to create processes and experiences focused on equity and inclusion. We invite participants to flex their empathy muscles, listen to each other with compassion, and connect on a human level. This inevitably leads to outcomes centered in true belonging, where everyone—even the most marginalized folks—feel seen, heard, and valued.

Theory of Change

Founders Bios

Allison Kenny (she/her)
Artistic Director

A playbacker since 2007, Allison has performed with Living Arts Playback Theatre, San Francisco Playback, and Oakland Freedom Theater—where she was also a co-founder. She is currently on the leadership team of LA Playback Theatre Company.

Allison has studied playback theatre in Los Angeles, India, Mexico, and with the Centre for Playback Theatre in New York. She is a certified playback theater instructor and on the path to become an accredited trainer.

In addition to playback theatre, Allison is a certified coach, writer, entrepreneur, and therapeutic parent by adoption. Allison identifies as white, cis-gendered, fat, queer and neurodivergent. Her obsessions include: collecting house plants; spending quality couch time with her chihuahua; and going out to queer brunch.

Lynn Johnson (she/her)
Executive Director

Lynn believes that the solutions to our most pressing problems lie with those who have been historically silenced, ignored, and left out. For over 20 years, Lynn has worked as an expert facilitator, consultant, and visionary leader in the fields of social impact, entrepreneurship, organizational development, and the arts.

She is an award-winning speaker on social entrepreneurship who has appeared on the stages of SOCAP, the B Corp Champions Retreat, SVI Women, BlogHer, and Wisdom 2.0.

Lynn identifies as a Black, queer, cis-gendered woman with neurotypical and educational privilege. Her obsessions include: making collage art on Canva; singing showtunes at the top of her lungs; and mixing cocktails…usually with bourbon.

Company Members