Drama Therapy &
Therapeutic Theater
PATHS OF THE PRISM
Produced by Recovery Through Performance
A PERFORMANCE IN COLLABORATION WITH MERCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
APHASIA PARK
A Therapeutic Theater Play created by Recovery Through Performance
.jpg)
SPANX YOU VERY MUCH
Told by 47 artists, witness a funny, thoughtful and empowered dance theater celebration all about badass bodies and the fierce humans who inhabit them.
Created by: Dani Bryant
Directed by: Erica Barnes,
Choreographed by: Sheena Laird
2016
Collaboraction's Sketchbook 15
Featuring: Alexis Randolph, Ali McLaugh, Ali Shields, Avi Roque, Ana Martinez, Ashley Agbay,Ania Greiner, Bailey Murphy, Briana Majus, Carolyn Minor, Chacora Abrams, Claudia Iao, Danielle Holtz, Danielle Rennalls,Deanalis Resto, Eileen Tull, Elizabeth Hope Williams, Erin Fox, Gaby Labotka,Genevieve Lally-Knuth, Hannah Phelps Proctor, Jasmyn Leapheart, Jenna Jo Pawlicki, Jennifer Cox, Jessica Ervin, Jessica Kubiak, Katie Call, Katya Schexnaydre, Kimberly Logan, Kristen Metcalfe, Laurie Viets, Lexi Saunders, Libby Conkle, Lindsey Charles, Maggie Wagner, Mia Vivens, Morgan Manasa, Nelia Miller, Richla Davis, Sarah Beckette, Tara Bouldrey
(KENSINGTON) STREETPLAY
A Community Devised Site Specific Play created by Renegade Theater Company
.jpg)
GENDER BREAKDOWN
A new play, devised in response to the lack of gender equity on and offstage.
Created by: Dani Bryant
Directed by: Erica Barnes
Collaboraction, Chicago
Written by: Brianna Buckley, Jazmin Corona, Kamille Dawkins,Rula Gardenier, Xander Krohn, Priya Mohanty, Siobhan Marguerite Reddy-Best, Carolyn Sinon, Aimy Tien and Mia Vivens.
WORTHY: A FEMINIST PRINCESS PLAY
In a society where technology and media tell youth who they must be, Worthy whisks four young heroes on an adventurous quest, fighting dragons, breaking curses and choosing for themselves which paths to follow. Balancing of-the-moment references and resonant, recognizable themes found in classic fairy tale literature, Worthy challenges these four young people to reclaim their identities against tremendous odds.
Created by Dani Bryant
Directed by Sarah Rose Graber
2015
Adventure Stage Chicago
Devised by: Sarah Rose Graber, Erica Barnes, Jessica London Shields, Juanita Anderson, Kamille Dawkins, Michael Allen Harris, Brittany Ellis and Dani Bryant
Additional Theater Projects
2009-2017
Shut Your Vermouth
2014
The Art Instutue of Chicago & THAW with Links Hall
Created by Erica Barnes and Dani Bryant
Devised by Knife & Fork
Worthy
2014
PIVOT ARTS FESTIVAL
Devised by Danielle Davis, Lindsey Charles, Patrice Foster, Sindy Castro & Dani Bryant
Directed by Dani Bryant
Kitchen: Redux
2013
Victory Gardens Thetaer
Devised with Mary Hollis Inboden, Drew Johnson, Sarah Rose Graber,
Isabel Liss and Linsey Page Morton
Kitchen
2011-2012
Within at Rooms
Walkabout Theater
Created and Directed by Dani Bryant
Devised with Joe Zarrow
Diets Are Girl's Best Friend
2013
Part of Walkabout Theater's ALL RISE
Created and Directed by Dani Bryant
Devised with Tamara White, Sheena Laird, Gwen Tulin, Gwynn Fulcher, Erica Barnes,
Ebony Joy, Mary Jo Bolduc, Alexis Randolph,Caitlin Rose, Carolyn Minor, Kristin Morris,
Allison Tolman, Ellenkate Finley, Skyler Schrempp and Melanie Camras.
Better Now
2013
An evening of shorts at ABBIE FEST
Created by Knife & Fork
Bitte(r)
2013
Part of BECHDEL FEST
Created by Knife & Fork
Co-Directed by Erica Barnes and Dani Bryant
Devised with Alexis Randolph, Elise Spoerlein, Ellenkate Finley,Emily Demko,
Emily Gann, Kim Morris, Lyndee McPeek and Patrice Foster.
Where's My Cookie Bitch?
2013
Wayward Theater's URBAN LEGAND FEST
Created & Durected by Dani Bryant
Devised by Mary Hollis Inboden, Carolyn Minor, Aileen McGrody & Jason Economus
Molè
2012
Created and Directed by Dani Bryant
Devised with Sindy Castro, Isabel Quintero and Sara Sawicki
The Last Meal Man
2012
Part of Collaboraction's SKETCHBOOK
Created by Dani Bryant
Co-directed by Erica Barnes and Dani Bryant
Devised with Jason Economus, Sarah Rose Graber
Tony Garcia, Brandon Boler and Tori Adkins.
Feminists Who Lunch
2012
Walkabout Theater
Created and Directed by Dani Bryant
Devised with Tiffany Topol, Tracey Kaplan, Jamie Olah,
Gwynn Fulcher & Amanda Roundtree.
Binge
University of Chicago Incubation Lab
2009-2012
solo show
Created and performed by Dani Bryant
ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVALS
Me and My Girdle
2013
New Georges One Minute Play Festival
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Portia Krieger
How We Feel About Our Bodies in 140 Characters or Less
2013
THE 3RD ANNUAL CHICAGO ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Jess McLeod
Grin & Bare It;
When In Doubt, Step Touch It Out
2014
THE 4th ANNUAL CHICAGO ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Erica Barnes & Heinrich Haley
Rude;
Fuck You Oprah
2015
THE 5th ANNUAL CHICAGO ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Erica Barnes & Taylor Bailey
International Women's Day
2016
THE 6th ANNUAL CHICAGO ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Sarah Gitenstein
International Women's Day: The Sequel
2017
THE 7th ANNUAL CHICAGO ONE MINUTE PLAY FESTIVAL
Written by Dani Bryant
Directed by Lexi Saunders
Reviews
Dani Bryant
The Urbaness
Womanscape
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, Gender Breakdown at Collaboraction
"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
Articles:
"Gender on stage or, what do 'Breakdown' and 'Men are from Mars' have in common?": Chicago Tribune
"Yes, women are still getting screwed in Chicago theaters"; Chicago Reader
American Theater Magazine Medill Reports Chicago
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
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 story is touching from the get-go..." -Chicago Reader (Highly Reccomended)
This play is a great example of not having to care so much about what other people think. Sometimes it is hard to be a tween and know your way around the internet and not have your feelings hurt, and I think this play understood that."
-Ada Grey 10 year old Chicago Theater reviewer
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 (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)
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 Thomson (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)