About Harkins House Productions
This production company was birthed from a need to continue the storytelling tradition of the African people scattered throughout the world, with a particular emphasis on African Americans. Through original works and adaptations of works from dynamic authors and artists, Harkins House is focused on capturing the essence of the Black experience as well as demonstrate its profound impact in history and the world. It is the mission of Harkins House to offer accurate portrayals of peoples from the African past and present. In short, Harkins House will bring audiences 'black life at its best and realest'. The company intends to deconstruct the misconceptions, stereotypes, generalizations, and myths that Black culture has endured and reconstruct proper self-image within the Black community as well as enlighten others through its projects and productions. Also, Harkins House is committed to decoding the misconceptions about Black womanhood and showcasing the unusual beauty, elegance, and power of this unique group of women through projects that position them as central characters.
With two productions to its' credit, HHP will continue to develop quality projects with engaging content & contribute to the cultural legacy of the African American community. The company bears the hallmarks of the trailblazing spirit of Black theatre from the '60s & '70s, while clearly advancing Black theatre into the 21st century by developing thought-provoking subject matter, realistic characters, and relevant social commentary. In addition, HHP will present the work through the use of multimedia resources and technical advancements.
In addition to stage plays, HHP also has a special events division called Kulture Groove. Through this division, the company develops innovative social concepts for a specific niche market of the African American community with discriminating tastes in art and entertainment. Last, but not least, HHP is also a company that is rooted in community service, providing artistic, yet effective solutions to meet many of the underserved needs of the community. For instance, HHP offers writing and theatre workshops for adults and teens called Kulture Teach and developing a special seminar which incorporates theatre with self-help called Therapy Theatre.
With two productions to its' credit, HHP will continue to develop quality projects with engaging content & contribute to the cultural legacy of the African American community. The company bears the hallmarks of the trailblazing spirit of Black theatre from the '60s & '70s, while clearly advancing Black theatre into the 21st century by developing thought-provoking subject matter, realistic characters, and relevant social commentary. In addition, HHP will present the work through the use of multimedia resources and technical advancements.
In addition to stage plays, HHP also has a special events division called Kulture Groove. Through this division, the company develops innovative social concepts for a specific niche market of the African American community with discriminating tastes in art and entertainment. Last, but not least, HHP is also a company that is rooted in community service, providing artistic, yet effective solutions to meet many of the underserved needs of the community. For instance, HHP offers writing and theatre workshops for adults and teens called Kulture Teach and developing a special seminar which incorporates theatre with self-help called Therapy Theatre.
About Chandra Kamaria
Chandra Kamaria is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Harkins House Productions. As a playwright, essayist, poet, and author, Chandra's vision is to expand the body of work involving African Americans and preserve the richness of the Black Experience. Understanding that this is a monumental task, it is her sincerest hope that through her efforts, it will spark a chain reaction, encouraging other artists to explore the various options to showcase their work and make definitive statements that will span across generations. As an artistic professional, Chandra also has the training and skills that are necessary to manage various business ventures, holding a BBA in Marketing Management with several years of corporate experience and an MS in Leadership/Policy Studies.
This Mississippi native has been deeply engrossed in Black literature for well over 25 years; boasting of an extensive collection of works by several Black authors. This unquenchable interest in Black literature eventually led Chandra to Black theatre. In 1994, while a student at the University of Memphis, the Black Student Association sponsored a production of Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf'. This production ignited a passion for theatre and from that point, Chandra became an avid theatre patron and later a volunteer & extra at Hattiloo Black Repertory Theatre before striking out on her own.
Through a continual process of self-study and honing the craft of playwriting, Chandra launched Harkins House Productions in March 2010 and, in November of that same year, debuted its first original stage play, FOUR WOMEN, at the Evergreen Theatre in Memphis. The show ran for one weekend with nearly three sold out audiences. Chandra wrote and directed this play as well as the second HHP production, The Man Store, which debuted with rave reviews in May 2013 and an encore weekend in November of the same year.
This Mississippi native has been deeply engrossed in Black literature for well over 25 years; boasting of an extensive collection of works by several Black authors. This unquenchable interest in Black literature eventually led Chandra to Black theatre. In 1994, while a student at the University of Memphis, the Black Student Association sponsored a production of Ntozake Shange's 'For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf'. This production ignited a passion for theatre and from that point, Chandra became an avid theatre patron and later a volunteer & extra at Hattiloo Black Repertory Theatre before striking out on her own.
Through a continual process of self-study and honing the craft of playwriting, Chandra launched Harkins House Productions in March 2010 and, in November of that same year, debuted its first original stage play, FOUR WOMEN, at the Evergreen Theatre in Memphis. The show ran for one weekend with nearly three sold out audiences. Chandra wrote and directed this play as well as the second HHP production, The Man Store, which debuted with rave reviews in May 2013 and an encore weekend in November of the same year.