Ryan Conarro

Ryan Conarro is an interdisciplinary artist. He creates and facilitates multi-platform story-sharing experiences, from live theatrical events, to audio installations and podcasts, to community story websites, in collaboration with community members and artist teams. His practice includes documentary performance; creative placemaking and civic engagement; devising original work; and queer performance. Ryan is Creative Producer at the University of Denver Prison Arts Initiative, and is Visiting Assistant Professor at the university's Theatre Department. He's a founding member of Juneau's Generator Theater, and he served as Creative Producer and Community Projects Associate at Ping Chong + Company in New York for six years, where his projects included the interdisciplinary performance work “ALAXSXA | ALASKA,” (co-created with Gary Upay’aq Beaver (Yup’ik) and co-directed with Ping Chong), along with the accompanying story website encountersalaska.org; and the City and Borough of Juneau commission "Juneau Voices," with collaborator Lillian Petershoare (Tlingit). Ryan’s recent original performance works include “Bad Husband//\\Bad Homo” (2020) and “Saints of Failure” (2019), both of which premiered at the Dixon Place HOT! Festival of Queer Culture. Ryan’s work has also been seen at the Kennedy Center; University Settlement Performance Project; National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian; Oregon Contemporary Theatre; Perseverance Theatre; and Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Recognitions of his work include an NBC OUT Queer Performer Spotlight (2019); Brooklyn Arts Council grant (2018); Alaska Humanities Forum Humanities Scholar (2018-2020); TCG Leadership U One-on-One Fellowship (2014); Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award (2011); Juneau School District’s Champions of Change Award (2008); and three Alaska Broadcaster’s Association Goldie Awards (2002). Ryan has taught at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and Steinhardt School of Education; The New School for the Performing Arts; University of Alaska; University of North Georgia; and as a lead teaching artist for the Alaska State Council on the Arts and Maine’s Stonington Opera House. Ryan is originally from north Georgia, and he grew up an Army brat in communities across the U.S. He earned an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College, and a BFA in Drama and English at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. www.ryanconarro.com.