Date(s): SUNDAY, FEB 15th, 2026
Type of Show: Music
Showtime(s): 3:00 pm (SEATED SHOW)
Tickets: $15.00
Come celebrate the release of Susan’s new album: “Forget Me Not”!
Durham, NC’s Susan Johnson has been a big part of the thriving local Americana scene for over ten years, both as a member of the Americana group “Fair to Middlin’” and the folk trio “Old 86.” Susan’s debut album, “Forget Me Not,” contains 14 original songs, reflecting disparate influences from old-time and bluegrass to showtunes and classic 70s singer-songwriters. These songs are as moving and engaging as her voice, evoking home and heartache, love, and the possibility of transformation. For fans of Nanci Griffith, Joan Baez, and Linda Ronstadt. The album was recorded at FJ Ventre’s Good Luck Studio, and was produced by Jon Shain. She will be joined by Jon and FJ as well as many other musicians from the album including Catherine Alderman, Danny Gotham, Barry Gray, Alfred Reid, Dana Thalheimer, and Isabel Valls.
Susan grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, went to the University of Michigan and spent time in Mississippi before landing in North Carolina. She loved musical theater and has played such roles as Anna and Tuptim in the King and I — not at the same time! She loved playing the narrator in Zorba, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie and the Baroness in Sound of Music. Setting music aside for a long time, Susan trained in medicine, practiced endocrinology, and ended her career in drug development. It wasn’t until she turned 50 that she really turned her attention back to music, writing songs for the first time. She fell back in love with singing, guitar playing and, finally, songwriting.
Susan says, “A funny thing happened between recording this album and releasing it. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. But a touch of breast cancer didn’t stop me from enjoying the process of releasing my music into the world.”
The ArtsCenter Theater shows are (almost always) seated. This is a seated show, though we’ll leave some room for those who may wish to get up a shake a leg. We have a nice bar with wine, beer, cider, soft drinks, snacks and always free water. If you need special assistance, please do contact us at boxoffice@artscenterlive.org or 919.929.2787 and we’ll be sure to accommodate you as best as we can.