Brenda Bakker Harger is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center, where she teaches improvisational acting and leads interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of technology and creativity. A theatre director with an MFA from Carnegie Mellon University, Brenda has a rich background in improvisation, performing with groups like Pittsburgh Theatresports and SAK Theatre. She has also conducted improv workshops worldwide, applying her expertise to diverse fields, including executive leadership training and video game development.
Brenda’s work extends beyond the classroom, where she directs an award-winning theatre company at Carnegie Mellon that uses live, interactive performances to address workplace and classroom issues. Her innovative approach to merging improvisation with technology includes projects like a game prototype based on “Night of the Living Dead” (in collaboration with George Romero), an interactive exhibit for The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum and character-driven robots capable of conveying emotion and intention.
Her theatre work includes developing technologically immersive productions such as “Virtual Meditation #1,” which premiered at the Humana New Play Festival, and “Full Spectrum,” which debuted at the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York. Brenda’s ongoing research focuses on creating more believable virtual characters using improvisational techniques, bridging the gap between technology and human performance to inspire her students and collaborators.
Education
BA: Calvin University, double major English Literature and Speech/communications
MFA: Carnegie Mellon University, School of Drama in Directing
