Very NESSAsary Productions
Founder/Director/Performer
Shanessa Sweeney
BA, MFA
Actress, Director, Writer...
Educator, Thespian, and Activist
An independent and eclectic thinker, Shanessa Sweeney has spent her most formidable years creating, performing and designing works of art through her body, voice and presence. A native of Dayton, OH, Shanessa began as a writer and dancer, winning writing contests as early as seven years old and dancing for DCDC (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company) for three years before becoming intrigued with the saxophone (which did not last very long). Noticing her desire and ability to perform, a middle school teacher cast Shanessa in a short film he wrote about environmental awareness and was so impressed with her performance he urged her and her mother to take acting extremely serious and look into it as a career choice for Shanessa. Taking the advice of her teacher, Shanessa went on to become a member of the National Thespian Society and researched her future path; thus landing her to study Theatre Arts at Alabama State University where relationships and opportunities were developed resulting in Shanessa expanding as an artist, innovator and most of all, a woman.
Spoken Word Artist...
“I am a poet first and believe it or not, a singer.” Shanessa lives in this quote and smiles at the jokes friends have made about her singing talents. “I just have a different sounding voice that requires a little work.” Not to worry though, a lover of all things musical, Ms. Sweeney has a rhythmic way of writing and performing her poetry that it speaks to the depths of any listener’s soul. Long before Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway, Shanessa created a stage show specifically designed for poets while completing her tenure at Alabama State University. Created from the perspective of an artist desiring another outlet of expression, the aptly titled, Poetically Correct was born. Shanessa has shared her works in hot poetic spots in Chicago, Boston and New York to name a few places, even performing for legendary poet, Abiodune of The Last Poets who applauded her poetic s every time she spoke. Most recently, Ms. Sweeney performed as a guest artist with Pneuma Performing Arts Production Company in Montgomery, AL where she received rave reviews for her performances. Her ability to captivate the audience with her jarring vocal delivery combined with her spiritual and mental consciousness, Shanessa commands a certain respect when she takes the stage.
Starting from very humble beginnings, dodging a few of bullets (literally) and losing one of the most important persons in her life at sixteen, her father; Shanessa developed a strength and perseverance that spills over into her performing. As an actress, she has performed a plethora of different characters, ranging from a jazzy, confused witch in the Land of Oz to a Greek princess facing her inevitable death in a war of male egos. She has worked professionally for over a decade, starting on the stage as an ensemble member in the Slaves No More troupe starring acclaimed actress Tonea Stewart. She made her professional film debut as Cassandra Jones, a mentally challenged teenager who is ganged raped in the movie Rustin, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in The Pasadena Film Festival. The film starred rock singer Meatloaf and Zachary Ty Bryant of Home Improvement. While filming, Shanessa became very comfortable with the star treatment she was given on the set, not to mention the sizeable paycheck she received for only three scenes, one of which she didn’t even speak. Her love for film was born out of this experience and it became a staple in her mind.
Humanitarian...
Shanessa also doubles as a Teaching Artist. She has taught theatre, voice and movement for over a decade to children and young adults ranging from ages three to twenty-three. Her teaching experiences have taken her all over the United States, including Massachusetts and Alaska. Her ability to reach the youth, in particular, young girls is admirable and commendable. She has a genuine, nurturing love for young people and overstands the importance of assisting them to develop a positive, productive and healthy state of mind. So when taking breaks from the spotlight, she helps the children to shine.
Shanessa holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Alabama State University and a M.F.A. in Acting from Brandeis University. Immediately out of graduate school, Shanessa joined Actor’s Equity and began working in New York. Being in the midst of all of the creativity and chaos that New York can conjure, Shanessa became inspired by the hustle mentality of the natives. This would be the beginning of Very NESSAsary Productions. Just a thought in her mind, Shanessa began to create ideas for a one woman show and live performances all under the umbrella of
Very NESSAsaryProductions, but with limited entrepreneurial experience and trying to survive the rat race of The Big Apple, Very NESSAsary would have to wait until the time was right. That time has come.
Now, a mother of an energetic toddler, Shanessa has new ambition. The desire to break down the stereotypical walls of what and who Africans and African Americans are in this world are burning stronger than ever. “It is imperative that positive representations of me and millions of others are seen regularly.” With Very NESSAsary Productions, Shanessa will leave a crater sized dent in the world of performing arts.
Pause music player and View Video below
To Book Shanessa for your next event contact:
