Emily K. Harrison

The founder and producing artistic director of Boulder-based, award-winning square product theatre, Emily K. Harrison’s work focuses primarily on the creation and development of new and innovative works of American theatre and an exploration of American mythology, violence, and disaster in performance. In addition to her work with square product, Harrison has collaborated on projects with Buntport Theater, Hoarded Stuff Performance, Screw Tooth, Joanna & the Agitators, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Texas Shakespeare Festival, and the Boulder International Fringe Festival.

Emily holds an M.F.A. in Performance from the Savannah College of Art & Design and a Ph.D. in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. Previous appointments include visiting, lecturer, and guest artist engagements at Sewanee: The University of the South, Whitman College, Brunel University London (UK), the University of Colorado Boulder, Naropa University, and the University of Northern Colorado.

Distinctions

Colorado Creative Industries Colorado Arts Relief Grant, square product theatre, 2022
Boulder Arts Commission Community Project Grant: Dance Nation, 2022
Boulder County Arts Alliance COVID-19 Relief Grant, square product theatre, 2022
Boulder County Arts Alliance Project Support Grant: Dance Nation, 2021
Boulder County Arts Alliance Fellow in Theatre, 2019
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VII Award: Meritorious Achievement in Directing, 2019
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VII Award: Meritorious Achievement in Projection Design, 2019
Boulder Arts Commission Risk Capital Award for The War on Women: a Cross-Company Exploration, square product theatre and Local Theater Company, 2017
True West Award, shared, 2016
Boulder Arts Commission Innovation Award, square product theatre, 2016
True West Award, shared, 2015
Theatre Colorado Awards, Honorable Mention: Best Actress in a Comedy, 2015
Boulder County Arts Alliance Fellow in Theatre, 2013
Teaching Excellence Award, University of Colorado Boulder, 2011
Denver Post Pathmaker Award, 2011
Ovation Award Nomination, Best Costume Design, 2010
Camera Eye Award Nomination, Best Costume Design, 2010
Student Choice Award, Best Loft Production, University of Colorado Boulder, 2010
Camera Eye Award Nomination, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Comedy, 2009
Denver Post Reader's Choice Award Nomination, Best Actress in a Comedy, 2008

Productions (professional)

• Dance Nation by Clare Barron
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2022 (actor, producer, designer, dramaturg)
• Everything was    Stolen.   (devised work)
  World Premiere, square product theatre, Denver, Colorado: 2019 (director, devisor, designer, producer, dramaturg)
  Workshop: Artaud Theatre at Brunel University London, London, UK: 2018
• Celebration, Florida by Greg Wohead
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Denver and Boulder, Colorado: 2019 (director, producer)
• House of Gold by Gregory S. Moss
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2017 (actor, producer, dramaturg)
• She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange by Amelia Roper
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2017 (actor, producer)
• The Box Marked Black by Damaris Webb
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2017 (producer)
• 44 Plays for 44 Presidents by The Neo-Futurists
  square product theatre/University of Colorado Boulder Department of Theatre & Dance, Boulder, Colorado: 2016 (director, designer, co-producer)
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre/44 Plays for 44 Presidents National Festival, Boulder, Colorado: 2012 (director, designer, producer)
• This Aunt is Not a Cockroach (devised work)
  World Premiere, square product theatre/Hoarded Stuff Performance, Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2016 (performer, devisor, designer, producer)
• How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel
  square product theatre, Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2015 (actor, producer, designer)
• Ranch Dressing and Other Coping Mechanisms by Kelsie Huff
  World Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2015 (producer, designer)
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre/United Solo Fest, New York, New York: 2019 (producer, designer)
• Ham McBeth (devised)
  World Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2015 (actor, devisor, designer, producer)
• SLAB by Gleason Bauer and Emily K. Harrison, adapted from the novel by Selah Saterstrom
  World Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado: 2014 (actor, writer, producer, dramaturg)
• Peggy Jo & the Desolate Nothing (devised)
  World Premiere, Buntport Theater Company/square product theatre, Denver, Colorado: 2014 (actor, writer, designer, producer, dramaturg)
• 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre in collaboration with The New Colony (Chicago), Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2012 and 2014 (actor, producer, designer)
• Some Kind of Fun (devised)
  World Premiere, Screw Tooth, Denver, Colorado: 2013 (devisor, performer)
• The Ding Dongs by Brenda Withers
  Regional Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2013 (actor, designer, producer)
• HOWL by Teresa Harrison, adapted from the poem by Allen Ginsberg
  World Premiere, square product theatre, Boulder, Colorado and Austin, Texas: 2011 (director, producer, designer)
• Songs of Meat and Cake (devised)
  World Premiere, square product theatre/Zen Cabaret, Boulder and Denver, Colorado: 2010 (devisor, performer, designer, producer)

Professional Affiliations

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Associate Member
Dramatists Guild of America (DG), Member
Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET), Ensemble Member, square product theatre
Boulder County Arts Alliance (BCAA), Member
Colorado Theatre Guild (CTG), Member

Appointed to the Faculty

Educational Background

Ph.D., University of Colorado Boulder
M.F.A., Savannah College of Art & Design
B.A., Emerson College