True Stages
Meet the Founder
Shamirrah Hardin holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from Howard University and an M.A. in Educational Theatre from New York University. Shamirrah is a certified K-12 theatre teacher who has studied theatre and dance through various training programs in California, Arizona, DC, New York, Puerto Rico and Ghana. In addition to being a theatre and dance teacher, Shamirrah is a seasoned stage play director and an accomplished performer. She has performed in countless concerts, stage plays, showcases and special events around the country as a dancer, actress, mime and poet. She has been involved in various performing arts ministries since she was a child, both in church and out of church. Shamirrah believes strongly in the power of theatre to inspire individuals, transform communities, and change lives. She is thankful to God for giving her the gift of ministry through the performing arts and is honored to be able to use this gift to change the world.
True Stages Theatre Company was founded in New York City by Shamirrah Hardin in June 2011. True Stages is a company that uses the performing arts to illustrate biblical principles in creative and relatable ways. Our highly trained directors and acting coaches ensure that our shows contain acting that is believable, organic and professional. By upholding a standard of excellence, we remain true to the craft of acting. Also, by producing honest work that addresses real life issues, we remain true to what we believe in- sincerity, hope, freedom, love, truth, healing, and compassion for humanity.
Not only do we put truth and authentic expression on stage; we invite you to bring your authentic expression to the stage as well! Through post-show discussions, audience members are invited to dialogue with the cast and company members, sharing their true thoughts and feelings about the subject matters of our plays. In this way, we build relationships, make meaningful connections and dissect real issues with real people.
Additionally, the True Stages educational program enables individuals to develop their own artistic voices through various forms of creative expression. Students of the program learn to tell their stories and the stories of others through acting, dance, pantomime and/or spoken word.
At True Stages, we create, teach and explore- allowing each individual to meet his/her own true stage.
SHAMIRRAH HARDIN
Executive/Artistic Director
In 2005, God revealed to Shamirrah that she was to pursue performing arts ministry, not just as a hobby, but as a career. She knew that in order to be excellent, she would need to combine her passion and vision with excellent training. Excited about this new career path, she immediately changed her major at Howard University from Psychology to Theatre Arts. After completing her BFA in 2008, which included a course in Theatre Company Management and a great deal of training on how to direct and produce stage plays, Shamirrah began making plans to start her Christian theatre company. From 2010 to the end of 2011, she gathered further training on how to teach theatre through an Educational Theatre program at NYU. At NYU, she also took an indepentdent study course on how to start and run a successful theatre company and what it means to be a Christian artist. By June of 2011, after 6 years of training, researching, planning and preparing, Shamirrah had officially registered and founded True Stages Theatre Company. In January 2012, Shamirrah brought on three other people to help out with the official launch of the company and to take the plans she had developed and put them into action. Shamirrah gives special thanks to Andy Jean-Gilles, Fariso Jordan, and Natasha McLeod for the hard work and support that they contributed to True Stages while helping to build the company up during it's first two years of official operation. She is also thankful to all of the people who have supported the work of True Stages as ensemble members, cast members, employees, interns, volunteers, financial contributors, and production attendees. Their support of her dream has been invaluable. Shamirrah looks forward to seeing more and more of the manifestation of God's promises and the awesome works that God will do through True Stages.
Company History
About Us
