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Thursday, January 27, 2022
Southwest Shakespeare Names Debra Ann Byrd Its New Artistic Director
AMERICAN THEATRE: Southwest Shakespeare Company has named Debra Ann Byrd to be the company’s new artistic director. A native of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Byrd is the founder of Harlem Shakespeare Festival and an award-winning, classically trained actress and producer.
1 comment:
Elly Lieu Wolhardt
said...
Southwest Shakespeare has named Debra Ann Byrd, a classically trained actor and producer, their new artistic director. I have not heard of this theatre, I don’t even know where Arizona is, however I feel it is important to celebrate positive change when it comes to changing leadership roles and positions. Byrd is from the Spanish Harlem in New York City and thethe founder of Harlem Shakespeare Festival. She shares–“My mother is an African American from New York; my father from Puerto Rico.” Further, she points to her dual culture as the main influencer in terms of how she views the world and how she makes theatre. “I am an Afro-Latina who is fluent in Black theatre, gospel theatre, and classical theatre, with a special emphasis on Shakespeare, all of which has helped shape who I am as a producer, actor, and director”. To have someone of this background, of this cultural fluency, push the direction of a Shakespeare company is truly something special, and I cannot wait for her to come into her role as artistic director and make amazing art.
1 comment:
Southwest Shakespeare has named Debra Ann Byrd, a classically trained actor and producer, their new artistic director. I have not heard of this theatre, I don’t even know where Arizona is, however I feel it is important to celebrate positive change when it comes to changing leadership roles and positions. Byrd is from the Spanish Harlem in New York City and thethe founder of Harlem Shakespeare Festival. She shares–“My mother is an African American from New York; my father from Puerto Rico.” Further, she points to her dual culture as the main influencer in terms of how she views the world and how she makes theatre. “I am an Afro-Latina who is fluent in Black theatre, gospel theatre, and classical theatre, with a special emphasis on Shakespeare, all of which has helped shape who I am as a producer, actor, and director”. To have someone of this background, of this cultural fluency, push the direction of a Shakespeare company is truly something special, and I cannot wait for her to come into her role as artistic director and make amazing art.
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