Columbia College Chicago Theatre alum Callie Rachelle Johnson ’12, a graduate of the Columbia College Theatre Program‘s BFA Program in Musical Theatre Performance, is featured in the world premiere of Billie Jean, a new play about sports icon and equality champion Billie Jean King. The production runs July 18 through August 10 at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, located on Chicago’s Navy Pier at 800 E. Grand. For tickets, click here.

Johnson plays South African tennis star Ilana Kloss, Billie Jean King’s life partner of some 40 years (the couple were married in 2018), opposite Broadway actress Chilina Kennedy, who stars as King.

As previously reported in this blog, Johnson won a Joseph Jefferson (“Jeff”) Award, Chicago theatre’s top prize, in 2013 for her performance in Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of Pal Joey and was also nominated for a Jeff Award for her performance in the title role of the Chicago premiere of Carrie: The Musical in 2015.

Following King’s path to becoming a sports icon, from her record-breaking victories to her relentless fight for equal pay and equal rights, Billie Jean explores the cost of public battles and private struggles—bringing audiences closer than ever to a woman whose battle for identity and equality inspired and continues to inspire generations.

“[This] play isn’t about tennis as much as it is about life,” King said in a recent interview with the Chicago Tribune. “It’s [what happens] off the court that matters here. It’s about my trying to figure out my sexuality. I think it’s a great platform for the community. Tennis is a part of it, of course. But for me, it’s really about the audience so that when they leave they are inspired by something. I hope they can derive something from it that makes their lives better. I think it expresses my journey through the thick and the thin.”