Professor, Director, Performance-Based Activist
Brittney S. Harris
Professor, Director, Performance-Based Activist
FEATURED ARTICLE: Professor Shows Theater’s Power to Transform
Featured by the ODU College of Arts and Letters, this article addresses my artistic process and experiences from working with ASYV in Rwanda, Africa to NEH devised theatre summer institute with Pig Iron and now with directing 'Blood at the Root' for ODURep Theatre.
Highlight from the feature:
“Harris asked the young people to express concepts like joy or pain using only their bodies. They would show what oppression meant to them, then the opposite, liberation. "The work itself should lend to some kind of artistic enlightening or opening," Harris said. "I don't want this work to be triggering. But let's create not just a safe space but a sacred space to explore that."
Directing Blood at the Root, ODURep Theatre
For the Fall 2023 mainstage season for ODURep Theatre, I directed Blood at the Root by Dominique Morisseau. Navigated as a stylized ensemble movement-based play, this play scrutinizes the intrinsic links between justice, bias, and identity.
Creative Scholarship/Works Highlights: Summer 2023
Creative Scholarship Overview for Summer 2023:
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Aug. 31-Sept. 2 , MASTERCLASSES: IMAGE THEATRE EXPLORATION & ENSEMBLE-BASED DEVISED THEATRE
Heading to Atlanta Black Theatre Festival (ABTF) this summer to host two masterclasses on 'community-centered image theatre work ' and 'ensemble-based devised theatre.' ABTF provides opportunities for theatre and performing artists to develop, present, and preserve, in an authentic voice, multi-disciplinary art for and about the pan-African experience. Since 2012, the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival has hosted over 3,000 theatre producers, writers, artists, and art lovers to celebrate creative works for and about the Black experience.
July 22, PRESENTER
My activist performance piece, 'Personifying Resilience Through Theatre: Performing Pedigree,' was accepted into the 2023 American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference (AATE). With this year's theme, ILLUMINATION: Shining a Light on Social Justice, AATE demonstrates the powerful intersection of how art enhances education and vice versa by representing artists, educators, and individuals at the forefront of education.
Panel focus: Applied Theatre and Social Justice (served as panel chair)
View presentation here
N.E.H. Higher Education Faculty Fellow
Selected as a National Endowment for the Humanities Higher Education Faculty Fellow for Summer 2023.
Hosted by Pig Iron Theatre Company in Philadelphia, PA, this summer’s institute focus is ‘Preserving and Transmitting American Ensemble-Based Devised Theatre.’ Out of over 100 applicants, 25 fellows were selected. NEH Summer Institutes allow higher education faculty to enrich and revitalize their teaching by studying humanities topics that bear upon undergraduate education.
Devised theatre is perpetually progressing, and I’m thrilled to be at the forefront of this conservation with fellow artists and practitioners who want to delve deep into a critical examination of ensemble-based devised theatre, past and present, and foster new collaborations beyond our niches and communities.
More about this institute: https://pigiron.org/pig-iron-neh-institute
INTERNATIONAL DEVISED THEATRE PROJECT: ASYV & In[HEIR]itance Project
In May 2023, I will have the honor to co-direct and devise abroad in Rwanda Africa at the ‘Agahozo Shalom Youth Village’ in partnership with the In[HEIR]itance Project as part of an artistic delegation from the United States.
Our final project was titled 'AHAZAZA: Looking to the Future'.
As an international-based devised theatre initiative/project, we will be working with students and staff at ASYV to create a brand-new piece of theater that will focus on exploring the ways collective creativity has the power to build relationships and community. The focus of this project will be utilizing art for equity, confidence, and healing mirroring the values of ASYV and inviting the students to determine what those words mean to them.
This process will also support skill building for participants in public speaking, storytelling, and confidence communicating in English. Read our weekly blog!
L.A. Premiere: 'Pedigree', The Micheaux Film Festival
Pedigree is an official selection in the Micheaux Film Festival in July 2023.
Inspired by Oscar Micheaux, a visionary filmmaker whose trailblazing work challenged the boundaries of Hollywood during the early 20th century, the Micheaux Film Festival is a vibrant tapestry of cultural expression, welcoming filmmakers from every background and showcasing a kaleidoscope of narratives that reflect the rich tapestry of human experiences
This is a major accomplishment for our Pedigree team!
Featured Masterclass: Devised Theatre
Hosted by the Zeiders American Dream Theater (aka The Z), this masterclass led by Asst. Professor of Theatre Brittney Harris provides insight about Devised Theater and all the ways it can help us talk about the important issues of our time.
A little about the Z:
Zeiders American Dream Theater is a professional, non-profit theater that introduces new works and emerging artists, presents unique artistic experiences, and inspires creative growth in the Hampton Roads Community. The Z’s founding principles are that creativity drives the growth of individuals and communities; and that the imagination, passion, and discipline of creation are universal requirements for all successful endeavors, artistic and otherwise.
Creative Scholarship/Works Highlights: April 2023
Creative Scholarship Overview for April 2023:
Highlighted
Apr. 7 & 15, FEATURED PLAY
My short play ‘How To Tie A Tie’ has been officially selected into the 3-6-9 Monologue and Short Play Festival hosted by Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective in Asheville, NC. This festival features nine evenings filled with fifteen heart-warming, dramatic, funny, heart-breaking and provocative theatrical pieces (represented in 3 weekends, 6 short plays, and 9 monologues)
April 12, PRESENTER
My activist performance piece 'Personifying Resilience Through Theatre: Performing Pedigree' has been accepted into 2nd Hampton Roads Social Justice Conference. The purpose of the Hampton Roads Social Justice conference is to facilitate deeper interdisciplinary and cross-sector dialogue amongst researchers, policy makers, nonprofit organizations, community activists, business leaders, and the faith community on the pressing social justice issues present in our world today.
www.cnu.edu/ccejrp/conference/
April 19, MASTERCLASS: DEVISED THEATER
Hosted by the Zeiders American Dream Theater (aka The Z), this masterclass led by Asst. Professor of Theatre Brittney Harris provides insight about Devised Theater and all the ways it can help us talk about the important issues of our time. Zeiders American Dream Theater is a professional, non-profit theater that introduces new works and emerging artists, presents unique artistic experiences, and inspires creative growth in the Hampton Roads Community.
Spring 2023 Solo News: BEING B.A.D.
Fully back to live theater, my one-woman show 'Being B.A.D.' hits the East Coast in a two-state tour!
Embodying creative resistance against oppressive gender stereotypes and domestic violence, 'Being B.A.D.' is a piece about personal acceptance and redemption from the cycle of abuse.
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(April 7-8), Virginia Beach, VA
(April 22-24), Charlotte, NC
NEW DEVISED PIECE: Silhouettes: Cut to Black
Project Title- Silhouettes: Cut to Black, The Kara Walker Project
Commissioned as a part of ROUGE productions ‘arts in the community’ series, this ensemble-based devised theatre work culminates in a moving performance demonstrating some of the ways visual artist Kara Walker's black resistance work resonates today in our region of Coastal Virginia.
I devised the concept and directed this project.
Premieres April 1st. Read full production details here
Creative Scholarship/Works Highlights: March 2023
Creative Scholarship Overview for March 2023:
Highlighted
Mar. 16 & 17, CO-FOUNDER/FEATURED PANELIST
‘StoryTell(HER) Summit 2023: Her Voice, Her Narrative & Her Vision’, hosted by ODU and NSU, is an inaugural collaborative event which will provide a two-day perspective of excitement in celebration of “Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity in honor of all things “HER”.
Mar. 23-26, PRESENTER
My narrative-based performance piece ‘Embodying Redemption Through Theatre: Performing Being B.A.D.’ has been accepted into 54th NeMLA Northeast Modern Language Association conference in Niagara Falls, NY.
Panel focus: When Resilience Isn’t Enough: Justice for Domestic and Sexual Violence Survivors.
Mar. 28-29, PRESENTER
Research and Creative Activity 2023 International Hybrid Symposium hosted by Alabama State University presenting two papers: BLAND & PEDIGREE.
Featured Workshop Presenter @ 2023 KCACTF Region IV
Invited to 2023 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region IV annual conference presenting workshop sessions on ‘ensemble-based devised theatre’ and image theatre work.
Also starting in Fall 2023, I will serve as the KCACTF Region IV 'Devised Theatre Initiative Coordinator.'
The main goal of KCACTF Region IV is to serve and support student artists:
- Welcoming the voices of all artists
- Engaging in the creative practice of storytelling through theatre
- Exploring through our art what it means to be human
More info about the KCACTF Region IV 'devised theatre initiative'
Featured Scholar: Arts & Letters Junior Faculty Forum
ODU Institute for the Humanities presents the 2023 College of Arts & Letters Junior Faculty Forum. This annual workshop brings together junior scholars to present their research in an informal, collegial atmosphere.
Presentation title:
Embodying the #Hashtag: Performance as Activism
BHM 2023: Collaboration with Barry Arts Museum
In collaboration with the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts at ODU, the Barry Art Museum will host “Coffee & Contemporary Art” on Feb. 16 in the museum’s lobby for Black History Month 2023.
I'll be performing a staged reading of my one-woman play, “The Intersection: The Sandra Bland Project" explores issues related to individualism, freedom, and resistance through the Boalian technique of "Cop in Head" and the performance of resilience.
Throughout February, Old Dominion University will mark Black History Month with events celebrating and reflecting on African American culture and heritage.
Full schedule of ODU BHM 2023 events/activities here
Official Selection into TWO Film Festivals for Winter 2023
Kicking off 2023 with two film festivals for 'Pedigree': DMV International Film Festival (DMVIFF) and Seven Cities Showcase of Hampton Roads.
Seven Cities Showcase: Jan. 7, 2023 in Va Beach, Virginia
DMVIFF: Feb. 25-26, 2023 in Washington D.C.
Again, so proud of our Pedigree team and grateful to the @sevencitiesshowcase & @dmviff for the platform for this work!
4 NEW WORKSHOPS OFFERED!
I offer workshops on the development, consulting, and building of narrative-based solo performance and devised theatre for individuals, students (6th thru college-aged), community orgs, and ensemble building:
River Stories: Reflective Narrative Exploration
Flying Solo: Solo Performance Exploration
Dare to Devise: Ensemble-based Devised Theatre Exploration
Resilient Stillness: Image Theatre Exploration
For booking, pricing, or any other workshop inquiries, contact here.
Winner for Best Woman Director for 'Pedigree', Changefest 2022
With over 130 films selected for the festival and out of 7 esteemed nominees, Pedigree won for ‘Best Woman Director’ and I was invited as a guest panelist for the 11th Int’l Social Change Film Festival (Changefest) 2022 ATL premiere.
So proud of our Pedigree team and grateful to the @changefestfilmfestival & @atlsocialchange for the artistic process discussion and platform for this work!
NEW WORKS: Tag! You're It!
For Fall 2022, I’ve been commissioned to direct/create/devise ‘Tag! You’re It!’ is an interactive, ensemble-based devised theatre piece utilizing the Boalian technique of Image Theatre. In a 4-week rehearsal process, our ensemble cast will create and devise original text/literature (poetry/rap, choreography, etc.) that explores issues of individualism, unmasking/unveiling of freedom, creative self-expression through performance, exploration, resistance, and protest.
The collective ensemble will culminate in creating a living “mural” that will live on in the minds of audience members long afterward.
Read full production details here