Brittney S. Harris
Professor, Director, Performance-Based Activist
In one word or phrase, what does “inheritance” mean to you?
‘Inheritance’ makes me think of the freedom an individual has to be true to themselves by any means, without limits or doubt.
BIO
"Theatre is the art of looking at ourselves."- Augusto Boal
Brittney S. Harris, M.F.A. is an Assistant Professor of Applied Theatre and Co-Director of
Research at the Center for Communicating Science at Virginia Tech. Her work explores race and
performance, performance as activism, and community-centered theatre practices. With over a
decade of experience, she merges scholarship and artistry to address critical social issues
including racial injustice, mental health, gender equity, and domestic violence.
Grounded in Performance as Research (PaR), Harris’s interdisciplinary practice engages
storytelling, the effects of vicarious trauma, and the transformative power of performance as
tools for resilience and collective healing. Her work has been featured at national conferences
and festivals such as ATHE, KCACTF, MATC, and the Black Theatre Network. As a playwright
and solo performer, Harris’s work has been developed and presented across the U.S., including at
The Workshop Theater (NYC), Fade to Black Theatre Festival, and Different Strokes!
Performing Arts Collective. She is currently touring and developing two solo works: The
Intersection: The Sandra Bland Project and Being B.A.D.
Harris has led over 30 creative and research-based initiatives, including six long-term
community projects and ten interdisciplinary action research programs. She also serves as the
Devised Theatre Initiative Coordinator for the Kennedy Center American College Theater
Festival (KCACTF) Region IV. Her collaborative work spans nationally—from New York to
Washington State—and internationally, with featured projects in London, Rwanda, and Ghana.
With a background in Applied Theatre—specializing in devising, ensemble-based work, new
play development, and narrative/counter-narrative storytelling—Harris is committed to
cultivating spaces where artists are empowered to embrace their individuality, take bold risks,
and explore lived experiences through creative expression.
Stay connected: www.brittneysharris.com & IG: @iambrittneysharris