Thomas Riccio

Thomas Riccio is a Professor of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Texas at Dallas, affiliated with the Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology. He holds visiting professorships at Jishou University (China), Pondicherry University (India), and others. Riccio specializes in Performance Studies, Ethnography, Indigenous Performance, and Ritual practices, with fieldwork across Africa, Asia, and Siberia. He founded Dead White Zombies, a post-disciplinary performance collective, and served as Creative Director for Hanson Robotics. His research emphasizes cultural preservation, intercultural collaboration, and the intersection of technology with performance.

Education: M.F.A. in Theatre from Boston University (1982) and B.A. in English from Cleveland State University (1978). Key projects include long-term ethnographic work with the Miao ethnic group in China, devising performances with global Indigenous communities, and creating AI-driven characters for robots like Sophia. Riccio has received grants from the Alexander Onassis Foundation and conducted residencies internationally. His work spans theatre direction, installations, documentary film, and social robotics.

Research interests focus on ritual practices (e.g., Miao water buffalo rituals), experimental performance forms, and the role of technology in contemporary theatre. Over 100 professional theatre productions include collaborations with Zulu, Kalahari Bushmen, and Sakha (Siberian) communities. Recent works explore AI ethics and post-human performance through projects like About Face and Jakala.

Scientific awards include the International Distinction Prize in Playwriting (Alexander Onassis Foundation). Grants supported fieldwork in Zambia, Ethiopia, and Siberia. Riccio’s creative direction at Hanson Robotics (2018–2019) involved designing narrative systems for social robots. He also directs the Center for Asian Studies at UTD and advises on cultural preservation initiatives globally.

Labs/Teams: Dead White Zombies (performance collective), Litooma Project (international collaborations), and Tuma Theatre (Alaska Native performance group). Upcoming projects include a documentary on Miao rituals and AI-driven performance installations.