Special Guest
Presenter – Paisan
Soprano Luvada A. Harrison, a native of Baltimore, is an associate professor of musical theatre/voice in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Prior to joining academia, she spent almost 20 years as a working singer based in New York City. Over the years, Harrison has accumulated significant stage, screen and concert hall experience. Her research activities are interdisciplinary and collaborative. She has made documentaries about Booker T. Washington, and Black opera singers, and created a multimedia recital presentation honoring Marian Anderson.
Harrison now is working on “The Moods of Dotts Johnson in Song,” an original musical theater piece inspired by the life of the first African-American actor to play a leading role in a foreign film (“Paisan”). The project, based on original archival research, will include a digital exhibit accessible to the public and to other scholars.
View our featured guests or view guests from previous Festivals.