
Karissa Harris
Actress. Singer. Mover-Shaker. Dreamer.

Production Photos
![]() Desi "Passing Strange""Only love is revolutionary." | ![]() Sheila "A Chorus Line""Do you have anything softer?" |
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![]() Ursula "Villains Tonight""Poor Unfortunate Souls" | ![]() Rafiiki "Disney's Believe""Circle of Life" |
![]() Gospel Singer "Disney's Believe""Dig A Little Deeper" | ![]() Mimi Marquez "RENT""Out Tonight" |
![]() Mimi Marquez "RENT""Without You" | ![]() Mrs. Walker "The Who's Tommy""Smash The Mirror" |
![]() "HAIR""Let The Sunshine In" | ![]() "Passing Strange""What's inside is just a lie." |
![]() "Passing Strange""Welcome to the 'Prayer Circle'." | ![]() "Little Shop of Horrors""You Never Know" |
![]() Crystal "Little Shop of Horrors""You'll never stop the terror." | ![]() "Godspell""All Good Gifts" |
![]() Mary Magdalene"Jesus Christ Superstar" | ![]() Michelle "Dreamgirls""All you gotta do is dream and baby, we'll be there!" |
![]() The Hunchback of Notre Dame"You're right Quasimodo, We're only made of stone." | ![]() The Hunchback of Notre Dame"On the morning of January 6th, 1482, the good citizens of Paris gathered at the Cathedral..." |
![]() Hunchback of ND Rehearsal"Topsy Turvy" | ![]() Peter Pan Rehearsal"I am youth. I am joy. I am freedom!" |
![]() Lorraine "Hairspray""Run and Tell Dat" | ![]() "Hairspray" at Mill Mountain Theatre"Welcome to the 60s!" |
![]() Beehive at Theatre By The Sea"River Deep, Mountain High!" |
Lifestyle Portraits









VIDEOS
Will You Love Me Tomorrow-Carole King
2016
I Do, I Do In the Sky-Drowsy Chaperone
2016
Smash the Mirror-The Who's Tommy
Armory Cabaret 2011
Poor Unfortunate Souls -Dig a lil' Deeper- Circle of Life
Disney Dream-Disney Cruise Line 2012
I Don't Know How to Love Him- JC Superstar
Rockin' Broadway Concert at Civic Theatre 2012
TV/Film Reel 2019

Press
“
“
-RENT at Civic Theatre, PA-
"Karissa Harris is a full-voiced, exotic and sexy Mimi."
---Myra Yellin Outwater, The Morning Call
"Karissa Harris "wows the audience."
---The Press
-Les Miserables
at Civic Theatre, PA-
"Karissa Harris is a sympathetic Fantine"
---Myra Yellin Outwater, The Morning Call
-Passing Strange
at Playhouse on Park, CT-
"As the muses (and love interests), Skyler Volpe (Marianna) and Karissa Harris (Desi), both fill a void for Youth, albeit temporarily, and do it in a powerful, yet sensitive manner."
---Joesph Harrison, Broadwayworld.com
"Karissa Harris is a Harsh Germanic love interest, taking no prisoners."
---Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant
-Dreamgirls at
Maine State Music Theatre, ME-
" Not to be left out, Karissa Harris' Michelle Morris is fantastic, as she steps into her role as replacement in the Dreams.
Her voice, like the other three, will have you wishing the show will never end."
---Scott Moreau, Broadwayworld.com
-Beehive: The 60's Musical
at Theatre By The Sea, RI-
"Karissa Harris was joined by a trio of rocking back-up singers for a Tina Turner set that contained some searing vocals from Harris in “Proud Mary,” and “River Deep, Mountain High.” And Harris had the moves, the way Turner used to quiver about the stage."
---Channing Gray, Providence Journal
-Beehive: The 60's Musical
at Riverside Theatre, FL-
"Karissa Harris sets the stage aflame as Tina Turner. There are many strong musical moments, but Karissa as Tina is truly a stand out" ---Planetvero.com
"Karissa Harris steals the show with her great, big, full-bodied tribute to Tina Turner. She’s got the voice, the powerful attitude and the physicality of the great singer. You’ll go crazy for her sexy “River Deep” and “Proud Mary.”
---Pam Harbaugh Floridatheatreonstage.com
"Karissa Harris stirred up the audience with her renditions of Tina Turner songs “River Deep Mountain High” and the iconic “Proud Mary,” complete with full length legs and electric hips."
---Milt Thomas, Indian River Guardian




About Karissa

From a very early age, Harris knew she was going to be a performer. Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, she grew up watching her father sing everything from love songs to blues and jazz on stage, fronting for an eclectic mix of bands every weekend. She also loved hearing her Grammy and aunties singing in the local church choir each Sunday. Awed by their talent, it was only natural that she began singing in middle school chorus before moving on to high school choir.
But it was during her freshman year of high school that Karissa saw her first musical production: Godspell. She was stunned that her peers were not only singing, but also dancing AND acting. She knew that his was her heart’s desire: to be on stage. The very next year she saw her first Broadway show, The Lion King, and her mind was made up. She would make acting her career. Months later, she landed her first principal role as Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar at Allentown’s highly regarded Civic Theatre.
Karissa spent three semesters as a Theatre Performance major at Wagner College on Staten Island, New York, before transferring to Muhlenberg College, where she spent a semester abroad studying physical theatre and commedia at the Accademia dell’Arte in Arezzo, Italy, before earning her BA in Theatre.
Harris is now a NYC-based actress residing in Brooklyn, NY, with her little French bulldog, Felony. She enjoys biking, traveling, reading, playing the ukulele,and hiking! A creatrix, artivist,and spritual astrologer; Karissa has also created a new methodology called Rev5ive:5 steps to heal during the revolution. She currently teaches movement Medicine classes through the Cosmic fit Club and has been deemed "Spiritual Fitness Leader at the CosmixRX. (For more info on her cosmic community and classes, check @thecosmicrx on IG and thecosmicrx.com)

What's Next?
Sept
2021
After an absence from the stage due to the pandemic, Karissa is ecstatic to finally return to the stage making her Walnut Street Theatre debut reviving her role of Tine Turner in "Beehive: The 60s Musical."
May
2017
Karissa is currently in Rhode Island portraying the iconic Tina Turner and DooWoping on the Theatre By The Sea stage in "Beehive: The 60s Musical"
Karissa is reprising her role of Tina Turner in Florida at Riverside Theatre's production of "Beehive: The 60s Musical.
Oct.
2019
Aug.
Karissa is elated to announce she will return to Sacramento Music Circus in CA, performing in the theatre's upcoming production of "SISTER ACT"!!!
2017
July
2017
Karissa will be spending three weeks at Sacramento Music Circus in CA, performing in the theatre's upcoming production of "9 to 5"
April
2016
Karissa will be spending the next 6 months in south west UTAH at the Tuacahn Ampitheatre doing 3 productions in Rep:
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame",
"Disney's Tarzan",
and "Peter Pan".
Nov.
2015
Karissa is elated to return to Playhouse on Park Theatre in CT and to be playing a dream role 'DESI' in a dream show "PASSING STRANGE"!!!!!!
May
2015
Karissa will be spending her summer at the Playhouse on Park Theatre in CT in their upcoming Production of HAIR!
