Curriculum Vita
Annalisa Derr, PhD.
EDUCATION
Doctorate
Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA
Dr. Christine Downing, Dissertation Chair
Dissertation Title: Resacralizing Female Blood: Overcoming “the Myth of Menstrual Danger”
Master of Arts, Mythological Studies with Emphasis in Depth Psychology
Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA (2016)
Comprehensive Exam Papers:
“The Mythological Study of Buddhism: In Context with Rita Gross and in Practice with Thich Nhat Hanh”
“From Maiden to Woman: The Bloody Chamber as a Ritual Rite of Passage”
“Becoming Apollo: The Loss of the Dionysian Ritual in Third Wave Coffee”
Bachelor of Arts, Major Theater: Emphasis Acting; Minor: Sociology
Willamette University, Salem, OR (2006)
Thesis: “Jose Rivera: Magic Realism, Social Consciousness, and Marisol”
INTERNATIONAL ACTOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
Theater Mitu South Indian Artist Intensive
Bangalore, India (2012)
Commedia dell’Arte Actor Training, Accademia dell’Arte
Arezzo, Italy (2005)
Tennessee Williams Advanced Scene Study, Karen Kohlhass, The Atlantic Theater
New York, NY (2013)
Theater Mitu New York City Intensive
New York, NY (2011)
LAByrinth Theater Master Class Intensive
New York, NY (2008)
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR EXPERIENCE
Teacher/Director, Much Ado About Shakespeare, Southern CA, (2015-2018)
Homeschool acting program. Designed additional classroom curriculum and evaluation rubric for educational program directed to facilitate student learning. Worked with group and individuals, ages 7–18, with varying degrees of behavioral and learning disabilities on conflict and resolution. Inspired self-confidence using methods of character development and memorization skills. Taught basic team-building skills such as listening, patience, collaboration, and creative thinking.
Coffee Educator and Quality Specialist, Caffè Umbria, Seattle, WA (2016–2017)
Contributed to internal training protocol and educational material. Instructed and evaluated Caffè Umbria employee performance against learning objectives and outcomes.
Coffee Educator and Retail Specialist, La Colombe, New York, NY (2009–2015)
Developed international training protocol for collaboration with West Elm Market. Designed and facilitated coffee education courses for local, national, and international wholesale clientele. Assisted in operation of pop-up cafes at the Sundance Film Festival (2012-2014).
RELATED PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE
Contributing Writer and Researcher, She Is Love, Santa Barbara, CA (2017-2020)
Developed educational articles and resources. Utilized exceptional writing, editing and proofreading skills to produce engaging content. Utilized an interdisciplinary approach to creating content for online learning programs. Notable projects include: An online Mary Magdalene Global Forum that included interviews with scholars and artists. Responsible for all aspects of production, including content creation, front-end technical development, and social media marketing.
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
Co-producer/facilitator, She is Love Temple: Sacred Feminine Day Immersion, Santa Barbara, CA (2018)
Co-produced a women’s wellness day event. Responsible for event development, marketing, on-site production, and teaching.
Co-facilitator, Rebirth of the Sacred Feminine: A Spring Ritual for Women, Santa Barbara, CA (2018)
Co-facilitated an educational somatic women’s workshop.
Co-founder, Ladies Salon New York, NY (2009–2016)
Co-founded monthly networking event for women in the healing and creative arts. Responsible for all operational aspects of producing events for 10 – 30 people.
Founder, Mary Magdalene Group, Santa Barbara, CA (2015–2016)
Founded monthly women’s workshop that used interdisciplinary approaches to explore scholarly and esoteric Mary Magdalene and Goddess traditions.
RESEARCH FOCUS AND EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant, Dr. Rae Johnson, “Body Stories,” Pacifica Graduate Institute, Carpinteria, CA (2017)
Performance ethnographic methodology researching the experience of oppression in the lived body. Research assistant roles include: script development and writing team, performer, and subject of documentary.
Theatre Studies and Performance
Physical Theatre: emphasis on masked theater techniques.
Full Immersion Theatre: emphasis on site-specific venues and ritual practices.
Devised Theatre: emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to theater creation.
Classical Theatre: emphasis on feminist re-visioning of classical narratives.
Women’s Studies within Religion and Mythology
Feminist re-visionings of religious and mythological narratives, goddesses, and female figures.
Re-claiming goddess traditions, the sacred female body, and amplifying women-centric narratives and experiences.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Menstrual Cyclical Research, (2018-Present)
Association for the Study of Women and Mythology, (2015-Present)
Jungian Society for Scholarly Studies (2019-2020)
SERVICE
Academic Research Secretary (US), Mary Magdalene Studies Association (2020-Present).
Board Member, Woodinville Repertory Theater, (2000-2001)
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & PERFORMANCES
“Ecological Empathy: Grief in the Age of the Anthropocene,” Fates and
Graces Mythologium: Myth and Ecological Consciousness (2022)
“Finding Mary Magdalene: Pilgrimage, a Homecoming for the Soul,” Mary Magdalene Studies Association (2022)
“Healing ‘the Myth of Menstrual Danger’: Mary Magdalene Remythologized” Fates and
Graces Mythologium (2021)
“Finding Mary Magdalene: The Active and Contemplative Soul in Dante’s Divine
Comedy” Mary Magdalene Studies Association (2021)
“Mary Magdalene Remythologized: Affirming Female Bodily Power and Embodied
Menstrual Ritual as Healing Praxis” Mary Magdalene Studies Association, (2020)
“Menstrual Chaos: Regenerating the Primordial Feminine as Embodied Activism”
The Jungian Society for Scholarly Studies Conference, Asheville, NC (2019)
“Goddesses and the Modern Woman: Embodiment as Sacred Activism and Female
Empowerment” The Seeing Red Conference: Radical Hope, Stonington, CT
(2017)
“Female Bodily Wisdom Exemplified Through the Descent of Inanna with Reflections
on a Post-Patriarchal Culture,” The Association for the Study of Women and
Mythology, Philadelphia, PA (2017)
The Secret Ruths of Island House, Actress, The Vine Conference, CA (2006)
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
Joseph Campbell Scholarship, Pacifica Graduate Institute, (2014-2018)
Best of Fringe, The Secret Ruths of Island House, Boulder and San Francisco, (2006)
Irene Ryan Nominee, American College Theatre Festival, (2005)
Irene Ryan Competition, Scene Partner, American College Festival (2004)
Irene Ryan Competition, Scene Partner, American College Festival (2002)
Theater Scholarship, Willamette University, (2001-2005)
PERFORMANCES & PRODUCTIONS
ORIGINAL WORK:
Actress She Bleeds the World into Existence, Santa Barbara, CA; Rome, Italy; and Delphi, Greece (2018-Present)
A ritual performance series inspired by Annalisa’s academic inquiries into Mary Magdalene, menstruation, and goddess traditions. The purpose of this series is to center menstrual fluids as a primary symbol of goddess figures to affirm Sacred Female Power. These performances are site-specific “fragments” and are born of a certain moment and place in time and will never be duplicated. Instead, they are the inspiration—the groundswell—for a grander vision aimed at recognizing and celebrating the divine feminine in all women.
Actress/Model Mary Magdalene photo shoot, Simi Valley, CA (2017)
A photographic collaboration with Goddess on Earth photographer, Lisa Levart. Annalisa portrayed Mary Magdalene.
Actress Being Mary Magdalene, Stonington, CT (2017)
A solo piece utilizing voice, movement, text, and goddess iconography to explore Mary Magdalene symbolism and archetypes.
Actress/Director Journey to the Goddess, Seattle, WA (2014)
A full immersion, site-specific, collaborative theater piece that used ritual, myth, movement, and voice to explore how the divine feminine manifests in the female psyche. Co-produced with Jakku House.
SELECTED ACTING THEATER & FILM: (Full Acting Resume Available Upon Request)
Actress, Empire: The Series, NY, NY (2010 – 2014)
Directed by Emmy award winner, Fritz Brekeller. Series regular for four seasons on this award-wining online drama.
Actress/Co-Writer, The Serious Theater Collective, NY, NY (2009–2015)
Ensemble member and actress with a collective of writers, actors, and musicians using improve and devised theater techniques to create theater at the intersection of comedy, burlesque and cabaret.
Actress, The Big White Door, Columbia MFA, NY, NY (2014)
Actress, Alcestis, Roy Arias Theater, NY, NY, (2011)
Actress, The Secret Ruths of Island House, Nebunele Theater, (2006-2008)
Original touring production of an ensemble-based, devised theater piece. We primarily used physical and masked theater methods to explore the actual lived experiences and inner worlds of three women name Ruth who were nearing end-of-life.
Actress, Henry V, Ghost Light Theatricals, Seattle, WA (2006)
DIRECTING & PRODUCTION
Director, 24 Hour Plays, Willamette University (2006)
Director, The Winged Man, Accademia dell’Arte, Italy (2005)
Freelance Production Assistant, New York, NY (2011)
ADDITIONAL SOMATIC EDUCATION
Performance Studies Voice And Movement:
Flamenco: Maya de Silva Chaffe, Wendy Castellanos-Wolf, and Jackie MacLin
(2015-present)
Bharatanatyam: Daniela Riva (2017)
South Indian Classical Dance: Kathakali & Mohiniyattam (2012)
South Indian Carnatic Singing (2012)
Traditional Italian Masked Theater: Commedia dell’Arte (2005)
Classical Singing: Alessandra Baroni (2005)
Tanztheatre: Mark Wilson (2005)
Butoh: Mitsuru Sasaki (2005)
Roy Hart Technique: Linda Wise (2016) and Kevin Crawford (2005)
Linklater: Susan Coromel (2001-2002)
Body/Mind Development:
BodySoul Rhythms: Mary Hamilton and Ann Skinner (2015)
Vinyasa Yoga
LANGAUGE SKILLS & TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES
Basic French and Italian (reading and speaking)
Familiar with D2L and Excel
Proficient with iMovie Editor
Theater Production: Basic knowledge of light board operation, assistant stage
management, and stage design.