Faculty Profile

Besides conducting academic courses about the literature and theory of theater, Dr. Eddie Bradley Jr., associate professor of theater and the chair of the Department of Drama and Dance at Spelman College, keeps his craft alive by honing his skills outside of the classroom as an active theater professional. Artistically, he has numerous acting and directorial roles on his list of achievements, most recently appearing in the world premiere of "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: The Troy Davis Story," by Atlanta playwright Lee Nowell at Synchronicity Theatre.

Dr. Bradley has worked extensively as an actor/guest artist at the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, the Maryland Shakespeare Festival, New Jomandi Theatre, The North Carolina Theatre for Young People, Chicago Dramatists, Horizon Theatre Company, 7 Stages, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company and Synchronicity Theatre.

His directing credits include "Fences," "Two Trains Running," "Checkmates," "In The Blood," "Tartuffe," "Blues for an Alabama Sky," "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress." He has written several plays, including "Ray & Sons," a finalist in the Theodore Ward Prize for Playwriting and "An Evening with Ira Aldridge," which was presented in London.  His adaptation of Langston Hughes’ "Black Nativity" is widely regarded as one of the best to date.

In addition, he has written and directed special projects for Walt Disney Entertainment, including tributes to Eartha Kitt, Diahann Carroll, Chita Rivera and Louis Gossett Jr.  Most recently, he was a segment director/writer for the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery’s 88^th & 90^th Birthday Celebration, featuring Aretha Franklin, Savion Glover and other notables.

Dr. Bradley was a segment writer/director for MLK: A Monumental Life, produced at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. during the week of events leading to the unveiling of the King Memorial on the Washington Mall. He graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University, where he received a bachelor of fine art in acting/directing. He received his doctorate in playwriting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.