Biography

Ryan Hope Travis is an actor, director, writer, theatre-maker, and filmmaker; and Assistant Professor in Performance at the School of Theatre + Dance.

RHT has directed over 46 professional and academic productions, including 15 devised plays. His work as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker (i.e. writer/director/cinematographer) have received the Bronze Award for Best Micro Movie and a Grand Jury Prize among other awards and recognition, with world premieres at film festivals in Los Angeles, NYC, Miami, Austin, the United Kingdom, the Academy Award-qualifying, Atlanta Film Festival, and more. His debut feature film, Cocoa in the Dark, was recently accepted into the 2024 Detroit Black Film Festival and is a finalist for the 2024 Peachtree Village International Film Festival.

RHT guest starred in HBO’s 11-time Emmy Award-winning series Watchmen, AppleTV+ series Manhunt, and a host of other theatre, film, and commercial projects. He brings these experiences to the classroom having taught theatre and film courses at Colgate University, Syracuse University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and Florida State University; and professional training institutions, including: the Theatre of Arts College for the Contemporary Actor, the Tasha Smith Actors Workshop, and the International Dance Academy in Los Angeles. 

In addition to artistic production, he has served as Executive Artistic Director of the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company in Syracuse, NY and Youth Project Director at Peace Over Violence in Los Angeles, CA. He is Founder and Lead Maker of Arcable, a film and theatre production company dedicated to producing works of art rooted in social commentary.

Research Areas

1. Theatre as a site for social activism and community organizing
2. African and African American Diasporic Theatre and Performance
3. Performance as Research

Select Creative Works

1. Cocoa in the Dark – Arcable Film+Theatre. Director, Writer, and Cinematographer. 
2. Watchmen – HBO. Role of Jerry (11-time Emmy Award-Winning Series)
3. Manhunt – AppleTV+. Role of Civil War Hero
4. New Berry – Hippodrome Theatre/Arcable Film+Theatre. Director, Deviser, and Co-Writer.
5. Fast Blood – World Premiere Drama by Emmy Award-winner Judy Tate. Role of Lazarus. (Best Actor in a Play Nomination by Broadway World CNY)
6. Lady He Free – Playwright. (Finalist for Miami University's 2020-2021 season)
7. Scarlet Winter – Role of Richie. (Selected as the prestigious opening film and numerous festival awards)
8. if the world could hear my voice – Co-Director, Cinematographer, and Editor. (Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture)
9. Normies + wIErdOs – Director, Cinematographer, and Editor. (Won Bronze and outstanding achievement in acting awards)
10. Pupae – Arcable Film+Theatre. Director, Writer, Cinematographer, and Editor. (Official selection for three competitive film festivals, including the Academy Award-qualifying Atlanta Film Festival)
11. A Shout in Salty Water – Commissioned One-Man Play. Roles of Self and Fathers.
12. Taught Poetry/Performance Masterclass – Stargate Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club

Awards and Affiliations

1. Bronze Award, Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival
2. Grand Jury Prize, United Kingdom Motion Picture Festival
3. Commission, New York State Council on the Arts
4. Community Service Award, African American Studies Department, Syracuse University
5. National Association for Speech and Dramatic Arts Award
6. The Gifford Foundation Grant
7. Advancing Racial Justice Grant, Offices of the President and Chief Diversity Officer, University of Florida
8. Beyond Colgate Grant, Office of the Dean of Faculty, Colgate University
9. Three-time College of Fine Arts Faculty Travel Grant, Florida State University
10. College of the Arts Work-In-Process Award, University of Florida
11. Two-time College of the Arts Research Award, University of Florida
12. Member, SAG-AFTRA
13. Member, AEA

Education

• Ph.D. Theatre and Performance Research, Florida State University (currently enrolled)
• M.F.A. Theatre, University of Florida
• M.A. Pan African Studies, Syracuse University
• B.A. African World Studies, Fort Valley State University