Allison Witham
Last updated
November 4, 2019Allison’s current news
Allison has begun development for the new Transatlantic Love Affair show, which will premiere at the Illusion Theater in February 2020.
Interested folks are welcome to sign up for Allison's Physical Comedy and Clowing class at the Guthrie Theatre. https://securesite.guthrietheater.org/30849/30872?z=0
Currently, Allison is researching in preparation for her spring Creative Collaboration she is teaching and directing at the University of MN with BA theatre students, which will focus on fear.
Biography
Allison Witham is a local Twin Cities’ performer, director, author, teacher, lecturer, and deviser. When not in the rehearsal room, Allison teaches English at South High School in Minneapolis. She received BA’s in English Lit and Theatre Arts and MEd. in education from the U of M. Allison is a core and founding member of Transatlantic Love Affair, a company member with Umbrella Collective, teaching artist at the Guthrie, and former board member of Theatre Novi Most. Additionally, Allison has been honored to have perfomed and/or taught with The Guthrie Theatre, Black Label Movement, the Playwright's Center, Walking Shadow, Frank Theatre, Theatre Forever, Artistry, Strike Theatre, Mainly Me Productions, Live Action Set, Jon Ferguson Theater, Stages Theatre Company, and Freshwater Theatre.
Résumé
Theatre: Acting Most Recent (Download Resume for full list)
Year, Role, Play, Director/Company, Theater
2020, Ensemble, Borealis, Isabel Nelson/Transatlantic Love Affair, Illusion Theater
2019, The Magician, OPEN, Amy Rummenie/Walking Shadow, Artbox
2019, Ensemble, Rinky Dink Strikes Back!, Duck Washington/Rinky Dink, Bryant Lake BOwl
2019 Sarah Connor, Mad as Nel: or How to Lose a Bly in 10 Days, Josh Carson, MN Fringe Festival
2019 Trixie, The Cradle Will Rock, Wendy Knox, Frank Theater, Gremlin Theater
2019 Ensemble, The Devout, Isabel Nelson, Transatlantic Love Affair, The Illusion
2019 On Book Actor, Off Book, Maggie Sotos and Sean Dillon, HUGE Theater
2018 Ensemble, Two Rum Parties, Laura Leffler, Umbrella Collective, Bryant Lake Bowl
2018 Ensemble, The Visit, Wendy Knox, Frank Theatre
2018 Maggie Murphy, A Justice League of Their Own, Josh Carson, Mainly Me Productions, MN Fringe
2018 Self, Couple Fight: The Musical, Weggel-Reed Productions, MN Fringe
2018 Agent Smith/Ensemble, 5/5s of the Matrix, Transatlantic Love Affair, MN Fringe
2018 Monologue Performer Park Sauare Annual Gala, Park Square
2018 Ensemble The (Almost) Complete and (Mostly) Accurate History of Alcohol, Mainly Me, Brave New Workshop ETC Theatre
2018 Ensemble- 21 Extremely Bad Breakups- Amy Rummenie/Walking Shadow, Red Eye
2017 Ensemble- North Pole, 1979- Fotis/Kraft, Strike Theatre
2017 Blackbeard, Ensemble- Privateers- Derric Lee Miller (TLA)- The Illusion Theatre
2017 Kenny- When I Nod My Head You Hit it with a Hammer- J. Ferguson, S. Richardson- The Southern
2017 Isabel, Anton- Swine- Julliete Carrillo- Playwright's Center
2017 Reader- Pride Installment, Matthew Foster- American Civic Forum
2017 Josie- Modern Prophet- D. Runnals, M. DiSciorio- Swandive Theatre's Veggie Stock
2017- Ensemble- W;t- Ben McGovern, Artisitry (Ivey Award for emotional impact)
2017- Mr. Thompson, Ensemble- Promise Land- Isabel Nelson and Diogo Lopes, Guthrie (Dowling Studio)
2016- Jimmy, Henry, Ensemble- 105 Proof- Diogo Lopes, The Illusion Theatre
2016- Il Dottore Balanzone- The Venetian Twins- Jon Ferguson, The Southern Theatre
2016- Scripted Actor- Off Book- Script by Heather Meyer, Huge Improv Theatre
2016- Melantho- Penelope- Laura Leffler McCabe, MN Fringe Festival (Matthews Park)
2016- Ensemble- Ballad of the Pale Fisherman- Isabel Nelson, The Southern Theatre
2016- Actor 1- Comedian, Lydee: Or Now… , Harrison Rivers, SU SPACE
2016- Busching, Fatzer/Savanah, Theatre Novi Most, Brecht Festival
2016- B, June, Savage Umbrella, The Southern
2015- Nurse/Ensemble, Emily/Eurydice, Transatlantic Love Affair, Illusion Theater
2015- Alice, Sweet Dreams Alfie, Savage Umbrella, SU SPACE
2015- Jimmy/Ensemble,105 Proof, Transatlantic Love Affair, MN Fringe Festival
2015- Ensemble, The Nature Crown, Theatre Forever, Guthrie (Dowling)
2015- Millie/Ensemble, These Old Shoes, Transatlantic Love Affair, Illusion Theater
COMPANY AFFILIATIONS
- Core and founding member of Transatlantic Love Affair
- Company member of Savage Umbrella
- Core and founding member of Rinky Dink Operations
- Teaching Artist at Guthrie Theatre
DIRECTING
- Instructor/director- Creative Collaboration 4380- Fear: An Exploration through Performance, University of Minnesota 2020
- Edith Gets High- by Keith Hovis, MN Fringe Festival 2019
- 2018 "A Morbid History of Sons and Daughters" Southern Theatre, The Hovis/Vincent Experience, Twin Cities Horror Festival
- 2018 "Camp: A Midsummer Night's Dream" Lake Harriet Middle Theatre, Lake Harriet Drama
- 2018 "The 15 Minute Hamlet," Stages Theatre Teen Conservatory
- 2017 Selected slapstick scenes, Stages Theatre Teen Conservatory
- 2017 "The Press: an original play" Stages Theatre Teen Conservatory
- 2010 "College....What a Joke!" co directed with Billy Mullaney U of M Xperimental Theatre
TEACHING
- Instructor/director- Creative Collaboration 4380- Fear: An Exploration through Performance, University of Minnesota 2020
- Core Teacher- Summer Intensive for middle and high schoolers- Guthrie Theater 2019
- Mime coach: White Bear Lake High School
- Physical Comedy Workshop- Guthrie Theatre 2019
- Physical Approaches I- Guthrie Theatre 2019
- Space work and mime- HUGE Theatre 2018
- Slapstick Theatre Track II teacher- Stages Theatre Company Acting Conservatory 2017-2018
- Co-Taught Clowning and Physical Comedy with Teen Summer Intensive with Jon Ferguson- Guthrie Theatre 2018
- Devised Theatre Track II teacher- Stages Theatre Company Acting Conservatory 2016-2017
- Co-taught Commedia Dell'arte performance techniques workshop with Jon Ferguson- U of M 2016
- Co-taughtPenumbra Social Justice Theatre/English Course at South High School with Tinne Rosenmeier and H. Adam Harris 2016
- Clowning workshops- co-taught with Jon Ferguson 2015 to present
- Physical theatre/collaboration/devising/clowning substitute with Stages Theatre Company 2015
- Mime and devising workshops co-taught with Transatlantic Love Affair 2011 to present
- English teacher at South High School 2012-present
- Co-taught Hands On Art Class collaborating with In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, Open Book MN, and the Illusion Theatre- South High School 2011
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- 2011 Master’s of Education/Initial License for English Education
- 2010: BAs in theatre arts and English literature- magna cum laude
Awards
2018 MN Theater Awards: Exceptional New Work Honoree (with Derek Lee Miller and the ensemble of The Privateer)
2017 Ivey Award for emotional impact (production award) W;t
2012 Ivey Award for emotional impact (company award) Ballad of the Pale Fisherman
2010 Charles Washburn Nichols Service in Theatre Award
2010 U of M Theatre Arts and Dance Excellence Award
2009-2010 Elected U of M Theatre Arts and Dance Peer Advisor
2009 Invited speaker at Tony Kushner’s Honorary Doctorate Ceremony
2007 The Xperimental Theatre Scholarship for Excellence in a Season
SPECIAL SKILLS
Irish, German, English, and Italian dialects, mime, clowning, tumbling, circus training, mime, teaching, stage combat, devising, collaborative theatre, and improvisation.
