EXCERPTED VIDEO
THE AWARD-WINNING & CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED PLAY
HARRIET’S RETURN Based Upon the Legendary Life of Harriet Tubman
In 2020, I performed an excerpt of HARRIET’S RETURN, at the National Heritage Area Congressional Heart & Soul Annual Awards Breakfast, in Washington, DC. I was shocked and honored when my name was called to receive the Story Protector Award, presented by the Northern New Mexico Rio Grande National Heritage Area. The medallion is engraved in English, Tewa, and Spanish.
NOMINATED, BEST OFF-BROADWAY SOLO PERFORMANCE, NEW FEDERAL THEATRE, AUDELCO AWARDS, NEW YORK 2018
“Meadows’ rare gift for storytelling includes the ability to project the power of the story onto her audience – imbuing us with the strength and energy of her heroine. Somehow, somewhere along the way, we have all become Harriet without realizing it… I just found myself wishing it would never end.” Erin Kahn, Stage Buddy, NY
“…Meadows uses her gifts as a dynamic storyteller to inspire her audiences into believing that they can achieve the same acts of compassion and bravery…” Gwendolyn Quinn, Inside Broadway
“Karen, you are magnificent. The performance…the story…the energy… the truth…all flawless. We were so honored to be there.” Pauline Copes-Johnson, Auburn, NY (Harriet Tubman’s Great-Grandniece)
“Your show is absolutely amazing! The writing is impeccable, strong in structure, poignant, humorous, inspiring. And your performance is stunning! Your range is profound, physically and vocally. That you were able to capture the power and nuance of Harriet through each joyful, agonizing, and victorious step of her journey with such deftness and flow is an astounding feat. May the grace and inspiration and hope you give to others return to you multiplied infinitely! ” Marilyn Carter, Charlotte, NC
“I have never seen a performance as confident and devastating — in any medium — as Karen Jones Meadows’ portrayal of Harriet Tubman — and the countless other characters in her “cast.” And I have never seen an audience so filled-to-bursting, so unanimously primed for a standing ovation, as was Jones Meadows’ at the end of her triumphant performance. Plus, the incredible script can’t miss.” Jim Terr, KUNM-FM, public radio, NM
“It was amazing…30 characters in the play, but only one woman on stage… In a stunning performance, playwright and actor Karen Jones Meadows takes her audience through every emotion from humor to heartache and ultimately…humility.” Cristina Kessler, Virgin Islands Daily News
“Harriet’s Return…reaches inside its heroine’s thoughts all the way to her soul…The playwright supplies Harriet with “voices” who embody, among other flesh-and-blood characters, the voices inside Harriet’s head that guide her to her choices…The play imitates its heroine’s pragmatism in a particularly moving way.” Laurie Winer, Los Angeles Times
RECOGNITION & EVENTS
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Event, “Revolutionary Healing…Full Spectrum Healing With Heart” Panel Presenter & Performance Excerpt, NY
XVI International Conference: African and Afro–American Culture, Workshop Presenter and Performance, Santiago, Cuba
UNESCO International Conference: New Approaches in Interpreting and Representing Slavery in Museums and Sites, Panelist and Performance Excerpt, VA
Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, Panelist, Placemaking in the Cosmos, Afro-Futurism, NM
Habitat for Humanity’s Beloved Community Concert, Audience Collective Community Envisioning Sharing, NM
Global Summit, Council on International Relations, Presenter, Building Altars That Alter for Global Peace, NM
International Women’s Economic Forum, The Spirit of Money & Altars That Alter for Prosperity, NM
Association of International Schools in Africa – Keynote Speaker, and Workshop Facilitator in Cote Ivoire, Tanzania, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Commission, British Virgin Islands Government, Created and directed a theatrical production documenting this multi-island country’s unique and colorful history, entitled, Well, Well, Well, as the opening event of their annual week-long Emancipation Celebration
W.K.Kellogg Foundation Expert In Residence, Workshops and Performance, MI
The United Minority Media Association, Inc., Special Recognition Award, CA
The Drama League of New York Playwright Award; NY
First Place International Short Film Award, Writer/Producer, Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, CA
Mightier Than the Sword, Hiroshima Commemoration, Cross-Cultural Empathy Poem, and Peace, Pods and Pearls Community Envisioning.
Project Director, NM Forum for Youth in Community’s, Lieutenant Governor’s Education Summit, College and High School Student Created Touring Play, Dropping In, NM
Amy Biehl Charter High School, Albuquerque, Special Projects Drama Teacher. Designed drama and performing arts program, and produced and directed theatrical student written and performed productions specifically addressing conflict resolution and adolescent issues. NM
Certificate For Outstanding Accomplishment, California State Assembly, CA
Award of Achievement, Coalition For A Non-Violent City, For Youth Investment, CA
Cornerstone Award, Penumbra Theatre, MN
Distinguished McGee Professor of Writing Award, Davidson College, NC
Inclusion in The National Black Drama Anthology: Eleven Plays from America’s Leading African-American Theaters, representing The Negro Ensemble Theatre with Henrietta (not to be confused with Harriet’s Return)
My New Play
CRYSTALS
Directed By
Jane Mandel
2022