Karissa Barber grew up transitioning states every few years and always found a home on the stage. High school graduation was followed by a move to Europe, performing at a German dinner theatre. After living and acting abroad for three years, she returned to the states to get her degree in international studies and theatre from Southeastern University. Central Florida is now home to Karissa, her husband and their four children.
Karissa began performing professionally after college, the highlight being performing in "La Boheme" with Opera Tampa at the Straz Center in the Carol Marsoni Hall to over 2,000 in attendance each performance. Other notable roles are Maria in "Sound of Music," Fantine in "Les Miserables," Kate Keller in "The Miracle Worker," and Winifred Banks in the Florida premiere of "Mary Poppins."
Using her performance skills, Karissa has emceed WOW Summit in Chicago, Los Angeles and Orlando. Award winning actress in Orlando for her role in Garden Theatre's production of "Miracle on 34th Street" and in Tampa for her role in The Tampa Repertory Theatre's production of "Silent Sky," Karissa tried her hand at writing and producing. Her first show, "Masterwork" had a successful Central Florida run in three cities. She also helped to start Lakeland's first professional theatre company, Rogue Stage.
Karissa was featured in the independent film, The Lost Digit, which premiered at the 2017 Gaspirilla Film Festival. She enjoys an ongoing relationship with several Lakeland, Florida production companies and made a guest appearance in the Lakeland produced film, At the End of the Day which premiered June 2018 at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. She was also represented by BMG for her film, TV and commercial work from 2014-2017.
Passing on her experience and love of the theatre, Karissa is now a directing associate at Polk State and has a private acting studio in Lakeland. (Find information about her coaching here.) She also teaches acting online to kids in the film industry and adults with disabilities.
Currently she is a graduate student at Univerity of Idaho pursuing her theatre MFA.
Karissa's non-theatre work includes running her own photography business, bookkeeping for a CPA and nonprofit, teaching speech/debate in a Montessori school and almost 5 years as a communications director for a cross-cultural nonprofit focused on diversity, equity and inclusion by creating video content, social media campaigns and managing all marketing.
Karissa began performing professionally after college, the highlight being performing in "La Boheme" with Opera Tampa at the Straz Center in the Carol Marsoni Hall to over 2,000 in attendance each performance. Other notable roles are Maria in "Sound of Music," Fantine in "Les Miserables," Kate Keller in "The Miracle Worker," and Winifred Banks in the Florida premiere of "Mary Poppins."
Using her performance skills, Karissa has emceed WOW Summit in Chicago, Los Angeles and Orlando. Award winning actress in Orlando for her role in Garden Theatre's production of "Miracle on 34th Street" and in Tampa for her role in The Tampa Repertory Theatre's production of "Silent Sky," Karissa tried her hand at writing and producing. Her first show, "Masterwork" had a successful Central Florida run in three cities. She also helped to start Lakeland's first professional theatre company, Rogue Stage.
Karissa was featured in the independent film, The Lost Digit, which premiered at the 2017 Gaspirilla Film Festival. She enjoys an ongoing relationship with several Lakeland, Florida production companies and made a guest appearance in the Lakeland produced film, At the End of the Day which premiered June 2018 at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. She was also represented by BMG for her film, TV and commercial work from 2014-2017.
Passing on her experience and love of the theatre, Karissa is now a directing associate at Polk State and has a private acting studio in Lakeland. (Find information about her coaching here.) She also teaches acting online to kids in the film industry and adults with disabilities.
Currently she is a graduate student at Univerity of Idaho pursuing her theatre MFA.
Karissa's non-theatre work includes running her own photography business, bookkeeping for a CPA and nonprofit, teaching speech/debate in a Montessori school and almost 5 years as a communications director for a cross-cultural nonprofit focused on diversity, equity and inclusion by creating video content, social media campaigns and managing all marketing.
