2027 | 8:00 pm | LA
Presented in an exclusive Los Angeles premiere, Never Had a Friend is a gripping coming-of-age true story about child homelessness and how art, community, and compassion transformed a homeless shelter into paradise.
Never Had a Friend: Exclusive Premiere
Join us for the exclusive Los Angeles premiere of Never Had a Friend — an immersive, electrifying solo play that transforms theater into medicine and justice into action. Based on a remarkable true story, this one-person experience invites you to witness the hilarious, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring journey of a child navigating life without a stable home — and without a friend. Blending sharp humor with emotional punch, this unforgettable night of storytelling is for anyone seeking to reconnect with the world, rediscover joy, and awaken their inner child.
- ✦ Laugh out loud. Cry without shame.
- ✦ Experience a whirlwind of memories — wild, funny, and raw.
- ✦ Reignite your imagination. Form new bonds.
- ✦ Join us on an uplifting and unforgettable journey.
RSVP
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Never Had a Friend at UCLA
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Never had a friend – UCLA Micah Johnson
Behind the Scenes
How DOES Never Had a Friend HELP YOUTH
Never Had a Friend is a groundbreaking monodrama and performance intervention that tackles themes of isolation, violence, mental health, and community survival. Written and performed by UCLA’s Dr. Micah Johnson, the show fuses academic research, personal storytelling, and theatrical artistry into a transformative experience. Blending humor, heartbreak, and raw honesty, the performance empowers audiences to confront trauma, challenge stigma, and envision healing. The Los Angeles premiere will take place in 2027.
What is Dr. Micah Johnson’s Approach to Never Had a Friend?
This is not a traditional play, comedy show, or lecture—it’s all of them combined. Dr. Johnson uses what he calls the “gummy vitamin” model: delivering serious truths in a format that is digestible, entertaining, and impactful. Through storytelling rooted in Black culture, youth resilience, and emotional truth, Never Had a Friend invites audiences to reflect, laugh, cry, and grow together.
Why a Solo Play for Youth Empowerment and Healing?
Dr. Johnson created Never Had a Friend to speak directly to youth and communities impacted by trauma and marginalization. The solo format strips away distraction and brings the audience face-to-face with lived experience. Drawing from field research, his own journey, and the realities of young people he’s mentored, Dr. Johnson turns the stage into a space for honesty, education, and restoration. The show resonates with those who have been silenced, overlooked, or misunderstood—and offers a path forward rooted in connection and truth.
Never Had a Friend – UCLA – Dr. Micah Johnson
Never Had a Friend – UCLA
Never Had a Friend – Los Angeles Premiere
Dr. Micah Johnson –
Q&A
Q: What is Never Had a Friend about?
A: It is a solo performance by Dr. Micah Johnson discussing trauma, homelessness, friendship, and compassion.
Q: Who is the event for?
A: This event is designed for youth ages 14+, especially those facing housing instability, trauma, or justice involvement. Parents, mentors, educators, and community members are also encouraged to attend and bring youth with them.
Q: Is the event free?
A: Yes, the event is completely free, but RSVP is required to guarantee entry and receive access to giveaways and materials.
Q: Will there be food or prizes?
A: Maybe. We have not decided yet. Follow Dr. Micah Johnson on Instagram for updates and surprises: @doctormicahjohnson.
Q: Will I be on camera?
A: Possibly. This event will be filmed for potential future distribution. By attending, you agree to be recorded and to the use of your image for media and educational purposes. If you prefer not to appear on camera, you may request to be seated in the back of the venue.
Q: What is the best way to support this event?
A: Show up and bring someone. Share the RSVP link and spread the word on social media. Donations to support the project and outreach can be made at: doctormicahjohnson.com/donate.
Q: What is Never Had a Friend about?
A: Never Had a Friend – Plot Summary: Farmer Mike is an 11-year-old boy displaced by gun violence between his father and uncle. With his father, they shuffled from shelter to shelter, he longs for family, belonging, and stability. His journey leads him to Brooklyn’s Fort Greene during the late 1990s, in the heart of the Brooklyn Boheme — a vibrant explosion of Black art, music, theater, and poetry that spread across the city. Immersed in this creative renaissance, Mike unknowingly enters a world where art becomes both survival and therapy. Mr. Miranda, his new math teacher, serves as a conduit for this cultural movement, introducing his students to its power and possibility.
On his first day at a new school, everything changes. He meets Mr. Miranda, a math teacher secretly devoted to theater and performance, who introduces Mike and two classmates—Deshawn, the charismatic “Prince of the Projects,” and Pencil Pete, a volatile gangster with an unlikely tenderness—to manhood through Shakespeare, Hip Hop, Aretha Franklin, and The Temptations. Together, they form a fragile brotherhood, becoming the family Mike never had.
Yet beneath the joy, Mike carries two devastating secrets: he lives in a homeless shelter—a truth that, if exposed, could lead to humiliation and abandonment by his friends—and the haunting reality that at any moment, another move could shatter the world they have built. As childhood innocence collides with the harshness of survival, Mike must fight to hold onto his chosen family before everything slips away.