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Christopher Harris

Professor Emeritus
Specialty: Scene Designer, Scene Design and Theatre Production

Headshot of Christopher Harris

Contact Information

Biography

Chris Harris is currently Professor of Theatre, Resident Scene Designer, and Head of Design and Production at Willamette University, where he has been teaching since 1984. Prior to that he taught at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and was former President of the Oak Park Festival Theatre in Chicago.

Chris has designed over 250 productions. His work has been seen in London, Toronto, New York, St. Louis, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon. These include the American professional premieres of The Rover, Barnaby Sweet, The Sickness of Youth in Chicago; Father Dreams in St. Louis, and Picasso In The Back Seat in Portland. Chris’ film credits include Assistant Art Director for Without Evidence, and Set Decorator for A Life In Twelve Words.

He has also designed several art installations, including “Protection... Entrapment” at the Arena Theatre at Willamette University; and “The Dybbuk Project” at Gallery 114, for the 1997 Portland International Performance Festival.

With collaborator Michael Griggs, Chris conceived and co-wrote Mysteries of the Heart, a theatre piece for actors and figures, produced by Portland’s Hand2Mouth Theatre in 2005. 

He has been a member of the Board of Directors for Partnerships in Community Living, providing assisted living services for people with developmental disabilities for the past twenty-five years.

Recently Chris took the position of Art Director for Cerberus Books, and contributed to an enhanced re-printing of The Swish of the Kris, Jungle Patrol, and Arrows Against Steel by Vic Hurley; and Red Epaulets, a collection of short works by Vic Hurley and others about the Philippine Constabulary. He is currently bringing to publication Blades in The Sun, an unpublished biography of Leonard Furlong written by Vic Hurley, and is commencing a biography of Vic Hurley.

 

Education

  • Bachelors of Education, Theatre, Leeds University (1973) M.F.A. Un. Madison-Wisconsin (1976)
  • M.F.A. in Scene & Costume Design, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Performances and Productions

Willamette University Theatre, Scenic Design

  • Moving Forward • Screendance, Artistic Direction by Faith Morrison. 2021.
  • A Bright New Boise, by Samuel D. Hunter. 2021.
  • The Memo, by Václav Havel. 2020.
  • Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., by Alice Birch. 2020.
  • Fall Dance Concert, Artistic Direction by Faith Morrison. 2019.
  • Men on Boats, by Jaclyn Backhaus. 2019. 
  • Dead City, by Shiela Callaghan. 2018.
  • Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. 2017.
  • Lear’s Daughters, by Women’s Theatre Group & Elaine Feinstein, 2016.
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, by Tom Stoppard. 2016
  • Vincent in Brixton, by Nicholas Wright. 2016.
  • The Feathered Mantle / The Weaver and The Dress, by Unknown / Judy Halebsky. 2016.
  • Bobrauschenbergamerica, by Charles Mee. 2015.

Regional & local theatre

  • Writer & Narrator, “The Road Home.” Willamette Choir. 2017.
  • Scenic Design, Maresfield Gardens, by Susan Coromel. Theatre 33. Salem, OR. 2016.
  • Graphic Design, My Case is Altered: Tales of a Roaring Girl, devised by Twenty-First Century Chorus. Pelton Theatre, Willamette University. 2015.
Willamette University

Theatre

Address
M. Lee Pelton Theatre
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem Oregon 97301 U.S.A.
Phone
503-370-6222