Resume
BESS BLACKBURN
Email: bess@thebessblackburn.com
Hair Color: Brown, Eye Color: Brown, Height: 5’ 7”, Voice Type: Mezzo-Soprano
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TITLE / ROLE / COMPANY, DIRECTOR
OUTSIDER / Lead / Outsider Productions, Dir. Kyle Briot — LINK
Nominated Best Actress & Best Low Budget Short Film / The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards (Winter 2023)
Kindred Spirits / Lead / Tulane University, Dir. Amelia Rich — email for link
Winner Best Writing / UCLA Short Film Festival 2024
Smoking / Lead / University of Southern California, Dir. Yongqing Zhong
Flushed Out / Lead / Columbia University, Dir. Rishika Gupta — LINK
Dressing Up / Lead / Rosie Zhou Productions, Dir. Rosie Zhou — LINK
Aria / Supporting / The Dance of Cinema Productions, Dir. Bruce Tetsuya — LINK
Premiered at the Denver Film Festival 2022, selected for the Seattle Asian American Film Festival 2023 & Redline Insight Grant 2023
MOLD / Supporting / MoldGreen Productions, Dir. Nathan Rakoulta
La Petit Mort / Principal / Chapman University, Dir. Amanda Huang
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PRODUCTION / ROLE / COMPANY, DIRECTOR
Fefu and Her Friends / Lead (Emma) / Barnard College Theatre Dept., Prof. Alice Reagan
Romeo and Juliet / Lead (Romeo) / Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Dir. Gary Lagden
S.O.G. Story / Lead (Son of God/God/Holy Spirit) / New York Theater Festival (Off-Off-Broadway), Dir. Molly Greenwold
Trojan Women / Ensemble (Chorus) / Barnard College Theatre Dept. / Dir. Téa Alagic
Richard III / Lead (Queen Elizabeth) / Columbia University King’s Crown Shakespeare Troupe, Dir. Charlie Coleman
365 Days/365 Plays / Supporting (Honoria) / Barnard College Theatre Dept., Dir. Sahmaya Busby
Ubu Roi / Supporting (King Wenceslas) / Tulane University, Dir. Antony Sandoval
Legally Blonde / Lead (Elle Woods), Dance Captain / Berkeley Playhouse Conservatory, Dir. Christina Blake
Begets: Fall of a High School Ronin / Lead (Andrea) / American Conservatory Theatre, Dir. M. Graham Smith
A Christmas Carol / Ensemble / American Conservatory Theatre, Dir. Domenique Lozano
Wizard of Oz / Lead (Scarecrow) / Theatre Aspen Teen Conservatory, Dir. Graham Northrup
COVID Hamlet / Lead (Hamlet) / Head-Royce School Drama, Dir. Kathleen Ray
A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Lead (Helena) / Head-Royce School Drama, Dir. Andy Spear
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TITLE / ROLE / COMPANY, DIRECTOR
Alice in Murderland / Lead (Alice) / Columbia University, Dir. Nathan Rakoulta
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*List available upon request
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TEACHER, STUDIO - AREA OF STUDY
PERFORMANCE:
Cecilia Fontanesi, Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies - Laban Movement Analysis
Matthew Wainwright & Gary Lagden, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts Shakespeare Summer - Shakespeare, Alexander Voice Technique, Stage Combat (Sword)
Prof. Gisela Cardenas & Prof. Kyle deCamp, Barnard College of Columbia University - Viewpoints, Scene Study, Devised & Solo Performance
Prof. Antony Sandoval & Prof. Amy Chaffee, Tulane University - Suzuki Method of Acting, Fitzmaurice Voicework®
Camilla Monet & Tessa Auberjonois, The Berg Studios - Scene Study
Ken Savage & Danielle O’Dea, American Conservatory Theatre San Francisco - Stage Combat (Hand), Monologue Workshop
VOICE:
Dr. Belinda Andrews Smith, Tulane University - Voice
Kimiko Joy & Danielle Wertz, California Jazz Conservatory - Vocal Jazz
Robert Wells & Dr. Philip Harris, Head-Royce School - Choral Music (Alto)
Sophia Santulli - Voice
DANCE:
3rd Street Dance - Salsa, Bachata (Beginning)
Lydia Clinton, Berkeley Playhouse Conservatory - Jazz Dance
Zoë Swenson-Graham, Youth Musical Theatre Company - Contemporary Musical Theatre Dance
Joe Ayers, Berkeley Playhouse Conservatory - Musical Theatre Dance, Improv Dance
The Beat - Tap Dancing (Beginning)
Shawl-Anderson Dance Center - Ballet (Beginning)
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Languages: Mandarin (Low Intermediate), Italian (Low Intermediate)
Accents: U.S. West Coast, Southern, R. P. English
Dance: Tap Dancing (Intermediate), Bachata (Beginning), Ballet (Beginning)
Sports: Figure Skating (Intermediate), Horseback Riding (Beginning)
Other Special Skills: Stage Combat (Hand & Sword)
Valid Passport & U.S. Driver’s License
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AWARD / ORGANIZATION / DATE
Best Actress (Nomination), for OUTSIDER / The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards / Winter 2023
UPCOMING WORKS
THEATRE
22-24 October, 2026 - Enemy of the People - Mayor Stockmann (Lead) - Barnard College of Columbia University, NYC
Dir. Shannon Sindclair - TICKET LINK
FILM
2026 - Autonomy - Lead - Indie Lenscape
Dir. Krytsa Sullivan