Dallas native and SMU Meadows School of the Arts graduate student Tiana Johnson stuns audiences with her performance in Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop,” a fictional portrayal of Reverend Martin Luther King on the eve of his assassination. Sponsored by the Dallas Theatre Company, “The Mountaintop” showcases the intimate struggles the civil rights leader presumably faced in room 309 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn. just hours before his imminent death.

The play’s unique structure, consisting of one main set and only two performers, eliminates the elaborate and decorative aspect commonly associated with theatre production and highlights the dialogue and symbolism conveyed by the characters. The plot begins with Martin Luther King, depicted by Hassin-El Amin, retiring to his room at the Lorraine Hotel following his provocative speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” The hotel maid, played by Johnson, is a young girl with a witty spunk who forces the renowned leader to acknowledge his destiny and understand the legacy he has imprinted on millions of people.

After falling in love with acting at a young age, Johnson continued her training at Prairie View A&M University, where she received her B.A in theatre. Johnson returned to her hometown of Dallas to further her studies at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts. It was through SMU’s connection with the Dallas Theater Center that Johnson auditioned and was chosen to play the role in Director Akin Babatunde’s depiction of the Broadway hit.

Although the themes of black history and the era of the Civil Rights Movement were familiar to Johnson, it was her initial love of the character Camae that led her to accept the role. Interestingly, Johnson comments that when preparing for the role, the most challenging part was “not falling into the stereotype of a sassy black woman, but rather trying to investigate her as an intelligent young woman who has the guts to hold her space in front of Dr. King.”

In her performance, Johnson does just that; her ability to create a character full of complexities and mystery while maintaining a lighthearted and entertaining demeanor capitalizes on the ingenuity of the script and enhances the dullness of the set.

“She is a chameleon,” Johnson said. “And I love being able to go through those different personas and bring Camae’s various facets to life.”

“The Mountaintop” is playing at the Dallas Theater Center through Nov. 15.