As the Department’s unique forum for arts and ideas, Rites and Reason Theatre’s mission is to develop, produce, and present new creative works that analyze and articulate the phenomenal and universal odyssey of the African Diaspora. Rites and Reason Theatre provides a space for artists and scholars to explore, engage and train in Africana intellectual and cultural traditions. Proudly one of the oldest continuously-running Black theaters in the nation, Rites and Reason Theatre remains a steadfast cultural organization within the local and regional arts and culture ecosystem.
Africana Studies / Rites and Reason Theatre
Rites and Reason Theatre
Rites and Reason Theatre develops and produces new creative works that analyze and articulate the experiences and expressions of the African Diaspora.
Rites and Reason Theatre
Rites and Reason Theatre develops and produces new creative works that analyze and articulate the experiences and expressions of the African Diaspora.
This Year at Rites and Reason Theatre
Introducing Shariffa Ali, Guest Director in Residence
It is with great excitement and profound gratitude that I return to Rites and Reason Theatre this fall. When I first encounter this space and community, I experienced something extraordinary—a sense radical hospitality that welcomed me and my collaborators with open arms and an acceptance that felt immediate and genuine.
Art, I believe, carries the profound responsibility not only to mirror the world as it is but to envision what humanity could become. At Rites and Reason Theatre, this vision is clear: a proposal rooted in generosity, a celebration of expression, and a deep commitment to care. These are the values that we must hold up to the world, and I am deeply honored to be a visiting director this year.
As I bring my lived experiences and my community into this space, I am eager to embark on a journey of learning, building, and growing together. Together, we will continue to cultivate a space where art not only reflects but also transforms.
About Shariffa Ali
Shariffa Ali is an international creative leader committed to advancing radical change through the power of art & activism. She works across disciplines directing and producing plays, virtual reality experiences & film. Originally from Kenya and raised in South Africa, Shariffa has been a New York resident since 2013 where she has worked primarily as a director and administrator.
Her early years were profoundly influenced by visits to the lush landscapes of Nandi Hills, Kenya, where she was captivated by the stories shared by her grandmother and village elders in the poetic rhythm of Kalenjin. These early experiences ignited a passion for storytelling that would shape her career in theater and performance.
In May 2013, she embarked on what was intended as a brief trip from her home in South Africa to Pittsburgh, where she was commissioned as a guest director at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. This journey unexpectedly led her to New York City, a vibrant hub whose dynamic energy and creative fervor inspired her to establish it as her home base in 2015.
Since relocating to New York, she has made significant contributions to the arts community, notably at prestigious institutions such as The Public Theater and The New Group. In addition to her role at Brown University, she holds a faculty position at Princeton University's Lewis Center for the Arts, where she imparts her expertise in directing and storytelling to aspiring creatives.
Her artistic endeavors have extended beyond conventional boundaries, encompassing pioneering Afrofuturist virtual reality projects showcased at esteemed venues including the Sundance Institute Lab and the Royal National Theater. Her directorial achievements encompass acclaimed productions at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Off-Broadway premieres at Classic Stage Company. Grounded in a commitment to collaboration and inclusivity, she values the diverse partnerships she has cultivated with visual artists, refugees, dancers, and other communities, enriching her creative vision and practice.
As an interdisciplinary artist, producer, and arts administrator, she champions creative leadership and fosters environments conducive to artistic growth and exploration. Her work at the intersection of humanitarianism and performance reflects a steadfast belief in the transformative power of storytelling and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Selected Works:
Film/VR directing: Ash Land, Atomu (Official Selection at Sundance Festival 2020), Sink Sank Sunk, You Go Girl! (Official Selection at Sundance Festival 2022), O-Dogg (Oregon Shakespeare Festival)
Selected theatre directing:
Sweet Chariot (Public Theater UTR), Mies Julie (Classic Stage Company), School Girls; or The African Mean Girls Play (Pittsburgh Public Theatre), The Copper Children (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Mlima’s Tale (St. Louis Rep)
Honors:
New Frontier Fellow, Sundance Institute Lab; Royal National Theater (UK); POV/PBS Spark Grant; Hermitage Major Theatre Award; Swayzee Artist in Residence, Miami University, Oxford Ohio
Save the Dates! Upcoming Events & Performances at Rites and Reason Theatre
Kinesthetic Workshop with Shariffa Ali
September 19, 2024|5:30pm
Open to the public. Registration will open shortly.
In Residence: Shariffa Ali
October 10-20, 2024 | Select Performances Open to the public. Registration will open shortly.
South African Protest Theatre: A Master Class with Shariffa Ali
November 7-9, 2024
Open to the public. Registration will open shortly.
The Black Lavender Experience, 2025: Theatre and Conversations sparked by Queer Artists of Color
Directed by Shariffa Ali
April, 2025
Rites and Reason Theatre provides a critical, scholarly space to explore the essential creative practices of the Diaspora, while training students to utilize and interpret the performing arts rooted in the cultural traditions and expressions of African descended people around the globe.