Director · Scholar · Nonprofit Executive
theatre + performance + text — directing, writing, devising, producing, teaching
Hi there. Hello. Heya. What follows is a keyhole view of one person as — artist, citizen, scholar, director, producer, professor, business owner, nonprofit executive.
↓ Scroll the dossier
01 — About
"All we have is each other."
For thirty-plus years, Heather has worked as a theatre-maker, dreamer, conjurer, and performance-art spelunker — collaborating, devising, writing, producing, directing, teaching, and performing. That artistic life has always run in parallel with a second career in nonprofit leadership, which has supplied the stability and structure to keep the art-making going.
She currently splits her time between the stage, the classroom, and the boardroom — and as founder of Grotto 101 Performance Lab, and as founding member of the experimental music project Key Hole.
02 — Selected Work
Three decades of directing, devising, producing, and performing. Hover a frame for a closer look — the full photo archive lives on its own page.
Five productions shown here — view the full Artist Portfolio archive ↗
03 — Academic Experience
One-on-one coaching for high school seniors, college students, and emerging performers preparing for monologues, auditions, self-tapes, college theatre programs, callbacks, showcases, and professional opportunities. Each session centers a single performer, tailored to their material, goals, and timeline.
New students begin with an Audition Readiness Session: a focused hour reviewing current material, goals, and a recommended coaching plan.
"Working with Heather on my first production out of high school was the first time I truly felt like a professional actor. I have since remained working with Heather over the last 25 years both as coach and colleague, and she is one of the few directors and coaches who consistently helps me find truthful, grounded work." — Dustyn Gulledge, Silicon Valley & The Righteous Gemstones
Sliding scale and payment plans available. For students under 18, a parent or guardian is included in all scheduling and coaching communication.
Inquire about coaching ↗04 — Executive Leadership & Service
25+ years of nonprofit leadership with an emphasis on small to medium-sized, community-driven organizations — work that has supported and stabilized the artistic pursuits alongside it.
05 — Press Sheet
Boing Boing previews the Plurality of Privacy Project's five-minute plays around Austin.
Doctorow, Cory. "To Do in Austin: Plurality of Privacy Project in Five-Minute Plays." Boing Boing, 4 Nov. 2017.
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Austin Monthly covers "Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale."
Hubby, Kristin. "Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale." Austin Monthly, May 2016, p. 184.
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Austin Chronicle reviews how ancient myth meets modern surveillance in the Vortex production, directed by Heather Barfield.
Weaver, Shannon. "Watchdog: Ancient Myth Meets Modern Surveillance." Austin Chronicle, 10 June 2016, p. 28.
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CTX Live Theatre reviews "Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale."
Robinson, David Glen. "Review: Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale." CTX Live Theatre, 2016.
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Boing Boing previews the stage-and-streaming run of "Privacy Settings."
Doctorow, Cory. "Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale on Stage (and Streaming!)." Boing Boing, 1 June 2016.
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Broadway World reviews "Privacy Settings: A Promethean Tale."
Bradley, Amy. "PRIVACY SETTINGS: A PROMETHEAN TALE Dares Audiences to Question." BroadwayWorld.com, 3 June 2016.
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American Theatre Magazine's onstage-this-week listing includes "Privacy Settings."
"Privacy Settings — Vortex Rep." American Theatre Magazine, 27 May 2016.
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Austin Chronicle covers Martha Lynn Coon's "Ring, Rip, Rent."
Faires, Robert. "Ring Rip Rent." Austin Chronicle, 3 Nov. 2006.
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Austin Chronicle notes Heather Barfield's "Metamorphosex" for Art in Public Places.
Faires, Robert. "Arts Bits." Austin Chronicle, 2 July 2004.
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Austin American-Statesman interviews Barfield on the Artaud-inspired "Wake for the Dark Poet."
Williams, Cindy. Interview, XLent. Austin American-Statesman, Oct. 2004.
Austin Chronicle lists Heather Barfield among the MoMFest artists.
Faires, Robert. "MoM's Kids: A Partial List of Who's Who at MoMFest." Austin Chronicle, 29 Sept. 2000.
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06 — Current Ventures
2605 Jones Road, Suite 101 · South Austin, TX 78745
A laboratory for contemporary performance practice, interdisciplinary creation, and contemplative arts — a 650 sq. ft. intimate workshop, rehearsal, and modular studio space for theater, music, photography, film, and more. Reservation, appointment, and RSVP-only, favoring performance artists and anyone exploring new experimental work.
Heather's artistic company, and the creative home for which Grotto 101 serves as a performance venue.
experimental · improvisational · avant-garde · ambient · homemade synth
An intuitive-strings, ludic-vocals, post-electronic project inspired by satellites, stars, horoscopes, archaeoastronomy, folklore, and cyber futures — survival strategies in ethereal realms. The album Syzygy Reverie, made with multi-instrumentalist Stevie Trudell, is up now, with rough cuts from newer sessions (including a warped cover of "Norwegian Wood") on the way.
Live sessions stream Friday nights, 8PM CST — link on the site, with a live chat room to talk back during the performance.
07 — From the Journal
Notes, announcements, and behind-the-scenes from the stage, the classroom, and Grotto 101 — sign up to get new posts by email.
08 — Contact Sheet