BIO
Hello Hello! My name is Bria Walker-Rhoze. I am a multi-disciplinary artist & educator. I was born in sunny northern California and later moved to the less sunny western Pennsylvania area.
I received my B.F.A. from Wright State University and my M.F.A. from the National Theatre Conservatory (in conjunction with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.)
I am a self-professed nomad who has hopped all over the continental United States. Currently, the winds of change shift me back and forth between Evanston, IL and Pittsburgh, PA!
My latest endeavors have me juggling being a multi-disciplinary artist, an artistic associate at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in Evanston, IL, and an Assistant Professor of Acting at Carnegie Mellon University.
So, look around. Check out my resume & CV to see what I've been up to and, if you'd like to reach out, feel free to find my contact information below!
headshot by Tony Moux
makeup by Olivia Shipman
Upcoming
Scenes from an Execution
April 5 – 27, 2024
Location: Abiding Missions
16th-century Venice is the setting for a fearless exploration of sexual politics and the tension between personal ambition and moral responsibility. The rebel painter Galactia is commissioned by the Doge to paint a vast canvas celebrating a triumphant battle. The results defy expectations, as does this play.
actress
CROSSROAD - City Theatre Spotlight Series
SAINTS TOUR - Bricolage Production Co.
Bria Walker in The Beat Goes On
Reel
SAINTS TOUR - Bricolage Production Co.
THE ROYALE - City Theatre Co.
written by: Marco Ramirez
directed by: Stuart Carden
THE ROYALE - St. Louis Rep
written by: Marco Ramirez
directed by: Stuart Carden
FIRES IN THE MIRROR
digital staged reading - a partnership between Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre & Pittsburgh Public Theatre
Director
MYTHS & HYMNS
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
standing l to r: JP Berry & Sean Hodges
photo by Louis Stein
l to r: Max Elliot Braunstein, Siggy Bijou, Marco Porras, Carlwell Redmon, Liz Leclerc
photo by Louis Stein
l to r: Max Elliot Braunstein
photo by Louis Stein
OBAMA-OLOGY
FLEETWOOD-JOURDAIN THEATRE
Full Company
l to r: Tuesdai B. Perry as Actor 2, Chris Jensen as Actor 3, David Guiden as Warren
EMILIA
University of pittsburgh
l to r: Advika Ravishankar as Emilia 1, Jamiya Forna as Emilia 3, Annika Bryan as Emilia 2
Annika Bryan as Emilia 2
l to r: Advika Ravishankar as Emilia 1, Julia Orff as Lady Katherine, Lauren Scheller-Wolf as Susan Bertie , Elise Dubois as Lady Cordelia, Ella Mizera as Lady Helena
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF
SUNY New Paltz
Ifeoma Ukatu as Lady in Orange, Jadae Rose as Lady in Blue, & Cory Sierra as Lady in Purple
full company
Ifeoma Ukatu as Lady in Orange
CROWNS
co-direction w/Tim Rhoze - Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Mardra Thomas as Mother Shaw
Ricky Harris as The Man
Avenue Q
SUNY New Paltz & University of Pittsburgh
SUNY New Paltz - Zach Gibson as Trekkie Monster
Univ. of Pittsburgh - full company
SUNY New Paltz - full company
PROFESSOR
Assistant Professor of Acting
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Inspire. Engage. Challenge.
Inspiring young performing artists to bring their unique selves to the work, engaging them in building solid techniques, and challenging them to expand their knowledge base and creative choices are the three foundational components of my artistic philosophy and performance pedagogy. These components help foster growth and individual success for young performing artists within my classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and mentoring hours. I count it an honor and responsibility to guide young performing artists toward those goals and to be a model of professionalism in their lives.
I encourage students to research, process, and experiment. Simply talking or thinking about what may or may not work for a successful performance or class does not suffice. Student success depends on engaging in trial and error. Performance is a discipline that must continue to evolve and innovate, and that evolution and innovation cannot come if there is no one to train and inspire those seeking to join and innovate the field.
Inspire. Engage. Challenge. These components have served me well throughout my professional and academic career in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion and in elevating students’ understanding of the work and their abilities inside of the work. Facilitating their journey of discovery is exciting because I am able to see them come alive in a powerful way. They become more confident, and through their work, they begin to inspire, engage, and challenge audiences in ways they never even imagined.
STAY CREATIVE web series!
The STAY CREATIVE web-series (with Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in conjunction with Piven Theatre Workshop) is a mini-lecture series that explores the history of Black Theatre. Check out all of the videos on my YouTube Channel!
WRITER
The Baldwin | Giovanni Experience
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
co-writer w/Tim Rhoze
pictured l to r: Rachel Blakes & Sean Blake
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Op-Ed Article:
You Think the Arts Don’t Matter? What About Quarantine?
by Bria Walker
The Monologue Project
THE MONOLOGUE PROJECT
The Monologue Project (TMP) is an online resource featuring 30 original monologues from nationally recognized writers for the theater is now available to the public. TMP aims to increase the number of audition-length monologues for Women of the African Diaspora and celebrate their impact on theater and the world. We join in solidarity with the woman-driven activism of movements like Black Lives Matter, acknowledging the essential role of black women in America. We also acknowledge those women who have already contributed to this canon and who have paved the way for other writers and actors.
Participating TMP Playwrights include (in alphabetical order): Mando Alvarado, Chrystal Bates, France-Luce Benson, N’Jameh Camara, Zina Camblin, Kia Corthron, Gethsemane Herron-Coward, LeKeithia Dalcoe, William Duell, Kim El, Alesia Etinoff, Amy Evans, Rob Florence, Imani Maryahm Harrington, Dave Harris, Yona Harvey, Yvette Heyliger, Chisa Hutchinson, Levi Jelks, Christine Toy Johnson, Jewell McPherson, Dominique Morisseau, Ife Olujobi, Maxie Rockymore, Bianca Sams, Mark Southers, Daniel Talbott, Cori Thomas, Pamela Turner, Mfoniso Udofia, Bria Walker, Keith Wallace, Amy Gijsbers van Wijk, Pia Wilson, and Charlayne Woodard.
Contact
Here is where you can contact me with any questions related to performance and teaching.