Performance
As a theatermaker I believe in the power of storytelling on stage and in an art form that fosters community building. I am interested in local, guerilla, experimental and non-linear forms of theater. In 2011 I participated in the EmergeNYC cohort created by george emilio sánchez with co-leader Marléne Ramírez Cancio at the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics at NYC. As an actor I am most interested in work that highlights the cultural and performance lineages of Africa and the African Diaspora. My own performance work includes a range of plays and happenings that focus on narrating silenced histories about Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the US.
Select Acting Credits
MI CORAZON NEGRO with Susana Baca and the Luna Negra Dance Theater at the Harris Theater, Chicago 2008
MOTHER, runboyrun, terraNOVA Collective, ART/NY New York, NY (2014)
HER PORTMANTEAU directed by Victor Malana Maog at NBT in The Ufot Cycle by Mfoniso Udofia (2015)
BASKET-WEAVING WOMAN in ADIA AND CLORA SNATCH JOY by Mfoniso Udofia directed by Awoye Timpo at the Manhattan Theatre Club (2018)
CLARA, Party People by Universes in the "American Revolutions: The United States History Cycle" at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), directed by Lisel Tommy (2012)
EMERGENYC, La Mama Experimental Theater Club (2011)
Myself, Iré Iroso: Four Mirror Women, Midnight Workshop series, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Lead Vocalist, Ensemble, Good Bread Alley by April Yvette Thompson, Composed by Enildo Rasua, Directed by Jessica Blank at New York Theater Workshop (NYTW) 2014
Dramaturgy
I also love working on new plays and enjoy creating with teams that take risks and develop unique creative approaches to storytelling that centers Black women’s lives and experiences.
(pray) directed and choreographed by nicHi douglas and composed by S T A R R Busby and JJJJJerome Ellis produced by Ars Nova and NBT (2023)
Good Bread Alley by April Yvette Thompson, Composed by Enildo Rasúa, Directed by Jessica Blank (2013)
SKiNFoLK workshop by Jillian Walker directed by Mei Ann Teo (2019) at the Musical Theater Factory
Select Performances
I have been a performing artist since 2000. I have collaborated with many artists in the US and around the globe to produce my body of work. Here are some of my performances from 2008 until the present.
Yoruba Soy with Pedrito Martínez, Carnegie Hall 2021
Living Away is a new initiative created in NYC to support international artists. Our intention is to create events that provide a place for experimentation in live arts practices and the development of a community that involves the creators and the audience. This platform is an open space for collaboration, the nurturing of networks and provides assistance in the development of art projects. More about Living Away and its creators Gabriela Burdsall and William Ruiz Morales here: https://www.livingaway.org/
Prophetika: an oratorio at Snug Harbor
concept/direction by Charlotte Brathwaite
composed by Courtney Bryan
costume/installation by Abigail DeVille
featuring Jadele McPherson, Justin Hicks
Courtney Bryan, Brandee Younger
live sound design Justin Hicks
harp Brandee Younger
piano Courtney Bryan
lighting design Kent Barrett
video art Cauleen Smith
production assistant Hao Bai
No More Water/The Fire Next Time: The Gospel of James Baldwin created by Meshell Ndegeocello and Charlotte Brathwaite in collaboration with Justin Hicks, Toshi Reagon, Staceyann Chin, Paul Thompson Harlem Stage
photo credit: Marc Millman
No More Water/The Fire Next Time
Saturday, February 17 at 6:00pm
Part of: Looking Back: 1968 | 2018: Looking Forward
www.armoryonpark.org for tickets
Conceived by Meshell Ndegeocello
Co-created + Directed by Charlotte Brathwaite
With: Meshell Ndegeocello, Staceyann Chin, LaToya Ruby Fraizer, Justin Hicks, Jadele McPherson, Paul J. Thompson
Rhodes: Jebin Bruni
Percussion: Gilmar Gomez
Lighting/Video: Kent Barrett
Sound Engineer: Andrya Ambro
Prophetika: an oratorio, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club (2015), photo credit: Hao Bai
Prophetika: an oratorio, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club
Dancing Graves at the University of Chicago produced by Jadele McPherson (2008)
Dancer Rita Macias, photo credit: Lin Benitez
Yosvany Terry Quintet, Yedegbe at Aaron Davis Hall, Harlem NY
Dancer Francisco Barroso photo credit: Federico Farias
Word, Rock and Sword: A Festival Exploration of Women’s Life (2018)
Performing Bara at the Word Rock Sword Concert 2018 created by Toshi Reagon
Opening Shake Loose: A Celebration of Sonia Sanchez 2019 photo: Chester Higgins
Tribute to Sonia Sanchez at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (April 2019) curated by Novella Ford and Khalilah Bates photo Chester Higgins
Creating Healing Spaces, Bethany Baptist Church, Newark NJ curated by Dr. Courtney Bryan, photo credit: Sameer A. Khan (2015)
Nathalie Guillaume and Maxine Montilus in La Sirene: Rutas de Azúcar at JACK 2016, produced and written by Jadele M., photo credit: Sokari Ekine
“In the Black prophetic tradition, music has been (and is) a vital component in the articulation of our freedom quests. Prophetika captures this truth completely. And what collaborators Justin Hicks, Courtney Bryan, Brandee Younger, and the dazzling Jadele McPherson have done with sound and music in this production is quite profound.”