Kristen Adele Calhoun is a multifaceted creative force, exceling as a writer, actor, producer, and curator. She has recently been appointed as an I am Soul Playwriting Resident at the esteemed Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre, and serves as the co-curator of BLKSPACE, a unique two-week residency program for Black artists that prioritizes rest and rejuvenation.
Throughout her career, Kristen has received numerous writing commissions from prominent institutions, including the NAACP, the Lucille Lortel, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, 651 ARTS, Penumbra Theatre, the Black American West Museum, and Firehouse Theatre. Her impressive body of work includes plays such as Black Cypress Bayou, Blood Work, Out the Mud, Canfield Drive, and Wildcat, which have garnered accolades like the Edgerton Foundation New Play Award and the Relentless Award.
In addition to her theatrical endeavors, Kristen has also made a name for herself in the world of film and television. Her writing credits include HBO's adaptation of Toni Morrison's novel SULA, directed by Shannon M. Houston and produced by Homegrown Pictures, as well as the upcoming series BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, directed by Kahlil Joseph and produced by A24, set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025. She has also developed projects with notable names such as Nikole Hannah-Jones, the New York Times, Lionsgate, and Harpo Films.
As an actor, Kristen has appeared in a range of television shows, including House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Elementary, Blue Bloods, and The Good Wife.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Kristen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She currently splits her time between Mexico and Massachusetts, where she serves as the 2024-2025 Sterling A. Brown Distinguished Visiting Professor of Africana Studies at Williams College.
