Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kenna Harrington. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kenna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
From a young age I realized that taking risks in life may be my only chance to get to where I desired to go. While in my last year of undergraduate school at Bowling Green State University I was nominated to perform at The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival/Competition. This was my second time performing at the festival. This time the competition held more weight. As I was approaching my final months at the university level, I had no idea where my career would take me, but I knew that something needed to be done. I was walking down a dark tunnel in life, fearful of where the path was leading. Yet, I kept walking. And walking and walking. When the time came to head to Michigan for the competition, my focus was on truth. I had a story to tell, and the goal was to leave the festival knowing I gave my all to every person in the room, while also giving myself the respect to leave my whole performance on the stage.
At the competition, I left empty and full all at once. I made it all the way to the final round, and left Michigan with the Irene Ryan VASTA Award and an invitation to be a part of the Emerging Professional Residency Program at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Finally I had light. I could see where I was being taken and I trusted the journey. After graduating I moved to Milwaukee to join the 2024/25 EPR Cohort. I met intelligent mentors, and was given a space to truly hone my creative endeavors. I was learning how to navigate the professional world of performance theatre. But there was still a ticking clock reminding me this opportunity wasn’t forever. Still I felt fearful of where this career was truly taking me. After finishing the run of A Christmas Carol, I began packing knowing that the road back to Ohio was near. I was lost again, slowly feeling that dark tunnel reappear in my heart. I was waiting for the light, and I knew one day it would come back but I didn’t know how long it would take.
In the dark is when I took the biggest risk of my life. With no light leading the way, I followed a voice in my heart. A voice I had been silencing out of fear. I made my way back to Ohio. I bought a storage unit. I loaded everything I own into a small space. I shut the door behind me and didn’t look back. I packed 10 days worth of clothes in my suitcase, including all of my camera gear, some plays and monologues and booked a one way ticket to California. I had plans to stay with one of my mentors who I was introduced to in Milwaukee. I had 10 days to find a place to live, a job, and transportation. Eventually, I found a direct sales job that was hiring and I began working Monday-Saturday, 8am till 7pm, selling internet up and down the streets of California.
In the midst of this huge shift in my life I was also stage managing for OnWord Theatre’s premiere show Hillary and Clinton. Twenty-four hours before the first preview of the show I was asked to step in for the role of “Mark”. This gave me a single day to memorize my scenes and prepare to perform in front of an audience. Risk taken. Challenge accepted. In twenty-four hours I was completely off book, quit my direct sales job, and began performing. The show closed, and I decided to stay solely in the artistic realm.
I am now writing, directing, and producing my own animated series that will be available next May. All in all, my whole journey has been a risk, and it seems the risks won’t end. Yet, isn’t that the point of life? To jump in the deep end, only to realize you could swim all along.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I began acting with the intention to make it my professional career in high school. There was an opportunity for students to take a career tech path, to deeply learn about industries we desired to work in. Throughout High School I did just that. But I never really had the confidence to audition for the plays. I knew that if this was something I was being pulled to do, I needed to put in the work. I decided to take my education to the next level at Bowling Green State University. There I was given the tools and the courage to become the artist I knew I could be. I studied Theater specializing in Acting and Directing ( also taking philosophy courses, and other courses that would help me better understand energy and our world). I wanted to take a route to acting that motivated me to study the world around me. I intended to use what I learned in philosophy to study habits, systems, and human programming. I as an artist transform my energetic elements by transitioning my thought process. As well as courageously working to understand the world around me, and empathetically connecting with the characters I become. All in the hopes of one day influencing the world in an emotional, spiritual, and mental manner.
I am currently in the process of co-founding a film studio with animator/sound designer Kemet Gobel, and director/writer Kayden Whaley. We are creating a space for artistic evolution, and vulnerability within art. I strive to create films that break down the psyche of humanity, that tell stories that promote thinking and discomfort in connection to growth, self connection, and societal connection.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I create with the intent to inspire, connect, and motivate others. I feel each of us here on earth have a purpose that drives our soul. Creativity is my soul’s purpose, and I have known that for a very long time. I use acting as a tool of becoming. I become different characters to show others that they can resonate with that character and find human commonality with each other. The other component of becoming is understanding. I become to understand the world around me. Acting has always helped me to see this clearly. It has shown me the deepest parts of empathy.
As I evolve more into the being I am destined to be, I have taken a greater leap in self creation. I am currently in a deep process of creating new worlds and universes for other minds to escape to. I view art as a beautiful resource to transport the mind elsewhere, whether that is in the future, the past, a place of love, or, of solitude. The long term mission is cultivating a space of truth, empowerment and support through art.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Being an actor was not a realistic dream for a girl from Canton, Ohio. I had to reframe and recreate my thoughts to align with my dreams so as to not fall into doubts and insecurities. When I made the choice to pursue acting for a living I got a ton of support, but I also had those who loved me who were scared. Financial stability is what I have learned, and it was scary for those who love me to see me working for something that is not easy to obtain. I knew they just wanted the best for me, and didn’t want to see me struggle, however, their thoughts and opinions planted seeds of doubt that I had to remove from my mind. I began speaking to myself, emphasizing sentences of possibility, instead of doubt. I am enough as I am. I repeat that sentence to myself as many times as I need. I am enough as I am. There have been so many times within my collegiate and professional career where I felt like I needed more to bring my creation to life. Whether that was more money, time, or talent, there was always a hole that needed to be filled. I had to learn that mindset will hinder me the longer I am stuck in it. I am enough. My art is enough. And as long as I am giving my best, and educating myself on my way to success, I am on the right track.
I know for my younger self I was always looking for the next opportunity or waiting for it to be my turn. Now I can say do not wait, create. It is as simple as that. I will not wait for someone to open a door for me. I will not wait for someone to give me the reassurance that I am good enough. I will open the door for myself and reassure myself everyday. In the end, I am my best friend and worst enemy, so I must reframe my brain to be a voice of support and not judgment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: SiloStreevie
- Soundcloud: SiloStreevie
- Other: email: [email protected]
