Michael Bradford (academic) facts for kids

Michael Bradford, born on January 23, 1965, is an American playwright. A playwright is someone who writes plays for the theater. He is also a professor at the University of Connecticut. He used to be the artistic director for the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. In 2021, a group called the NAACP in Connecticut said he was one of the "100 Most Influential Blacks" in the state.

Michael Bradford's Early Life

Michael Bradford grew up in Arkansas City, Kansas. He went to high school in Colorado. After graduating, he moved to San Jose, California.

He worked many different jobs. These jobs included selling encyclopedias door-to-door. He also worked at a gas station and in fast food. During this time, he enjoyed reading poetry by African American women. He also started writing his own poems.

Bradford then joined the US Navy. He served for 10 years as a systems operator. While in the Navy, he got involved in community theater. He performed in plays on naval bases. Later, he left the Navy early while stationed in Groton, Connecticut.

Education and Career Path

After leaving the Navy, Bradford worked for a company called Electric Boat. He also started going to the University of Connecticut. He studied at their Avery Point campus in Groton.

He earned a Bachelor's degree from UConn in 1998. Then, he got a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from Brooklyn College in 2000. While studying, he continued to work various jobs. He also taught writing at UConn's Avery Point campus.

In 2001, Bradford became a professor at UConn. From 2016 to 2020, he led the UConn Department of Dramatic Arts. He was also the artistic director of the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. After that, he took on a new role. He became UConn's vice provost for faculty, staff, and student development.

Today, Michael Bradford lives in New London, Connecticut. He is married and has a family.

Michael Bradford's Plays

Michael Bradford writes plays that often focus on African American stories. His plays have been performed in many places. They have been shown across the United States and in other countries.

One of his well-known plays is Living in the Wind (2000). This play received ten nominations for the AUDELCO awards. Another important play is Olives and Blood (2012). This play tells the story of the murder of a famous writer, Federico García Lorca.

His plays have been produced at many theaters. Some of these include The American Place Theatre and Ensemble Studio Theatre. His works have also been shown in Havana, Cuba, and London, England. He has also worked with groups like the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

Bradford has received many awards and fellowships. These include the Manhattan Theatre Club Fellowship. He also got a fellowship from the Connecticut Office of the Arts. To write Olives and Blood, he received a special Fulbright fellowship. This allowed him to do research in Granada, Spain, in 2010–11.