Devised & Therapeutic Theater
Gender Breakdown
"Created by Dani Bryant and directed by Erica Vannon, [Gender Breakdown] is a funny, poignant and enraging exploration of size-ism, racism and sexism in the theater, and how these “isms” are deployed against women who have the nerve to try to break the boxes of stereotyping. In all, the cast succeeds mightily on two fronts: The call for change is loud, clear, unapologetic and needed. It is also a marvelous piece of theater."
-Catey Sullivan
Chicago Sun-Times
"In the wake of recent political changes, I’ve seen plenty of shows advertised as the ones we need “now more than ever,” but after spending an evening with the cast and crew, GENDER BREAKDOWN would be my first pick."
-Brynn Frauenhoffer
PerformInk
Diets Are A Girl's Best Friend
"...cagey writing, savvy performances, and outrageous staging...this promenade-style experiment turns out to be an ineffable marvel. The production is rich with humor and sacrilege..."
-Justin Hayford
Chicago Reader
"In the ensemble-devised Diets Are a Girl’s Best Friend, 16 women share their “highlights and lowlights” at the weekly meeting of a diet support group; their occasionally surreal anecdotes are amusing and moving."
-Kris Vire
Time Out
Worthy
"Dani Bryant’s play speaks to every audience member, young and old, singing the praises of resisting peer pressure and the dictates of social media and following one’s own ambitions, goals and dreams."
Chicago Theater Review
"...it really sunk in just how much everyone can learn from a show like this, not just kids. Graber, Bryant, and cast show an innate ability to match deep seeded societal issues like sexism and forced gender roles with a world that children can understand and relate to."
Chicago Stage Standard
The Last Meal Man
"... Bryant writes with compassion and demonstrates a keen eye for the telling detail. She capitalizes on the ritualistic aspect of mealtime and the power certain foods have to transport us back to childhood, recognizing, for instance, the heart-piercing poignancy in a desire to leave this world with a bellyful of Dr. Pepper and German chocolate cake."
-Zac Thompson
Chicago Reader
"Last Meal Man" is a "most compelling" (Chicago Tribune) "powerful" (TimeOut Chicago), "frightful and fascinating" (NewCity) "festival highlight"(The Reader)
Kitchen
"In Kitchen, Bryant herself plays a single woman whose daily food routine starts with a precisely apportioned breakfast, ends with midnight bingeing, and movingly conveys all her good intentions, longing, and desperation...Bryant cuts to the quick"
Chicago Reader
Spanx You Very Much
"While the tone set by many plays was rather humorous, they all held powerful underlying critics of society. Whether it be from the riotously and righteously feminist Spanx You Very Much, each sketch forced you to think about social issues in its own unique way."
Chicago Stage Standard
"I cry EVERY TIME I watch this!"
"Holy shit."
"yup, sobbing and laughing what the hell"
(Audience)
Therapeutic
Theater
drama therapist
& devised playwright
Untitled Fat Liberation Project (2023)
-
creative lead & devised playwright
Paths of the Prism (2019)
Aphasia Park (2018)
Recovery Through Performance
-
co-facilitator & DT1 with Dr. Laura Wood & Dave Mowers
-
Co-Active Therapeutic Theater (CoATT) Model
Kensington Street Play (2019) Renegade Theater Company
-
co-facilitator & devised playwright
Knife & Fork Theater Company
founder
& devised playwright
Shut Your Vermouth
written & dir. by Dani Bryant & Erica Wray
-
The Art Institute of Chicago
-
Links Hall
Kitchen
written & directed by Dani Bryant
-
Victory Gardens Theater
-
Walkabout Theater Company
-
Rooms Gallery
Bitte(r)
creative lead: Dani Bryant
directed by Erica Wray
-
Bechdel Fest
Feminists Who Lunch
creative lead: Dani Bryant
-
Walkabout Theater Company
The Last Meal Man
creative lead: Dani Bryant
directed by Erica Wray
-
Collaboraction Theater
-
Food & Performance
Binge
solo show
written by Dani Bryant
directed by Erica Wray
-
Walkabout Theater Company
-
Chicago Fringe
-
Around the Coyote Festival
-
Studio BE
-
University of Chicago Incubation Lab
SHORT PLAYS
written by Dani Bryant
-
How We Feel About Our Bodies in 140 Characters or Less
-
Me and My Girdle
-
Grin & Bare It
-
When In Doubt, Step Touch It Out
-
Rude
-
F!$k You Oprah
-
International Women’s Day
-
Better Now
-
Where's My Cookie, Bitch
Commissions
creative lead
& devised playwright
Gender Breakdown
creative lead: Dani Bryant
dir. by Erica Wray
-
Collaboraction Theater
Spanx You Very Much
creative lead: Dani Bryant
dir. by Erica Wray
-
Awarded Sketchbook Festival’s Best Play (2016)
Worthy
creative lead: Dani Bryant
dir. Sarah Rose Graber
-
Adventure Stage Chicago
-
One Theater World Conference
-
Pivot Arts Festival
Diets Are Girl's Best Friend
creative lead & dir. Dani Bryant
-
Walkabout Theater Company