Article by Alanna Hutton | Owl Staff
Professor Claudia Brown (second from left) wrote a show about Burning Man while pursuing her theater performance degree at HCC. Journalism student Peter Dennis (left) is the show tech. The show includes 11 audience volunteers, and “cast photos” are taken at the conclusion of each performance.
There was a lot of anticipation as Tacy Brown, Eleni Fotis, and I traveled to Baltimore to see Professor Claudia Brown’s one-woman show, “From Breastfeeding to Burning Man: In Search of My Tribe” on April 26.
The show was held at the Peale Museum, which originally opened in 1814 and was the first grammar school and the first high-school for African American Students in Baltimore.
When we arrived, we walked into a small room. White folding chairs were set up facing a set featuring a bike, blankets, a large bin and a projection screen showing pictures from Burning Man.
The show stars Claudia Brown as “Hannah Cooper,” a single mother in her 40s pitching her story at a writers’ conference, taking the agents and audience through a journey of healing, hope, and searching for inner peace through the “Burner” community following the sudden end of her 15-year marriage.
“The show was beautifully written, and I was in awe of the bravery to retell such a hard personal story.”
Brown wrote the show in 2024 while taking an independent study with Professor Ben Fisler in her last year as a theater performance major at HCC. An instructor at HCC since 1998, Brown was inspired to study theater after traveling to Burning Man in 2018. It has been an eight-year dream for her to write, produce and star in this one-woman show.
One of my favorite parts of the performance was that the audience got to be a part of it. We were given parts to play, and we got to read lines of some of the different characters. It was like we were really a part of the show, interacting and guiding the main character through her journey.
I also really like the passion Brown put into her performance. To be so vulnerable, while telling a story so personal, is what truly stood out to me.
“The show was beautifully written and I was in awe of the bravery to retell such a hard personal story. The way she memorized each line and captured the story was amazing. I would encourage anyone to watch the show, especially anyone who has been through a difficult relationship and is struggling with what to do next in life as a woman,” states Tacy Brown.
Eleni Fotis states, “Claudia’s show was extraordinary! It was very creative, brave, and insightful. I had a great time taking in her performance while also participating in the show!”
“Claudia did an amazing job writing and performing her show. It was emotional, inspirational, and overall a captivating story. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing more from Claudia!” adds Kaila Coulter.
Left to right: HCC students Tacy Brown (left) and Alanna Hutton (right) congratulate Professor Claudia Brown after her performance at the Charm City Fringe Festival.
Overall, the show was very interesting and I would recommend seeing it. It was so inspiring to see someone I know put their heart and soul into something so personal. I like that she was able to show that she could break free.
In keeping with Burning Man’s emphasis on gifting, Professor Brown is gifting tickets to the Fringe Festival on May 1, 2 at 7 PM and May 3 at 1 PM.
Brown states, “The Charm City Fringe Festival is an amazing platform for artists and a fantastic event for the community. I am so grateful to be a part of it, and I encourage anyone interested in live theater to attend.”
If you would like to see Professor Brown’s show, as well other original festival performances, email clbrown@harford.edu by Friday at Noon. Tickets can also be purchased via this link: https://bit.ly/4efYqa4
It’s a show you won’t want to miss.