Pria Williams is an Instructional Assistant Professor of Theatre in the Departments of Theatre & Film and Gender Studies in the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Mississippi.
Biography
Dr. Williams is deeply invested in understanding how the stories people tell themselves–through drama, film, performance, and history–affect human behavior and thought. Their research focuses on cross-cultural avant-garde, cognitive science, popular culture, and gender within the US, Europe, and Japan during the 20th and 21st centuries. They have presented work on the shared corporeal topography of Butoh dance and live zombie performances and the cognitive effects of certain kinds of dramatic language and their publications include works on gender representation in theatre (Into the Woods) and film (Aliens), as well as performance and book reviews. They directed the department’s world premiere of the play Hazel by Anne Marie Cammarato and created sound design and music for the online production of Near/Far.
Forgotten Laughter: Comedy and the Living Theatre, Back(lash)
Into the Woods: Putting Women Back in their Place,
Behind the Bars: Performance Review of the Living Theatre’s The Brig, Redressing
Ripley: Disrobing the Female Hero
Courses Taught
- Thea 201 Appreciation of the Theatre
- Thea 321 Theatre History 1
- Thea 322 Theatre History 2
- Thea 329 Queer Playwriting and American Culture
- G ST 201 Introduction to Gender Studies
- G ST 301 Topics in Gender and Culture
- G St 329 Queer Playwriting and American Culture
Education
Ph.D. Theatre, University of Pittsburgh Main Campus (2016)