Zahria Moore, junior, Theatre and English Depts.

Zahria Moore is a student at the University of Missouri studying English and Theatre. She is from Decatur, GA. Her interests include Writing for Performance (Playwriting), Poetry, and African Diaspora Studies. This year, Zahria was honored as a National Finalist for the John Cauble Short Play Award at the 2018 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington DC. Her short play, Passion Play, which deals with topics of Black Lives Matter, specifically police brutality, gun violence, suicide and grief, in the Black community, was one of three plays selected as a National Finalist.

As a result, Zaharia had her play read professionally at the Kennedy Center. Being a Finalist, the Kennedy Center provided an all-inclusive, paid trip to D.C. for a playwriting development opportunity, workshops, and a full year membership to the Dramatist Guild. Zahria is thankful for the support from the Mizzou Theatre Department, as well as very grateful for the opportunity to workshop and network with amazing writers from around the country. She will continue developing Passion Play with the intent of a full production.