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Berkeley resident, Henrietta Harris will celebrate her 100^th birthday with family and friends on Wednesday, June 15^th. Henrietta was born in San Jose and later lived in North Beach in San Francisco. Her grandparents traveled by covered wagon from Kentucky and settled in San Jose.

Henrietta attended San Jose State University and later received a Master’s degree from Stanford. A formally trained classical singer and performer, she toured Europe and the United States, performing a repertoire of German lieder, art songs, and spirituals, as well as in theater productions. She taught courses in UC Berkeley's Drama department from 1954-1969.

In 1964, she founded the Aldridge Players West, a pioneering black theatre ensemble that performed in San Francisco to give black actors the opportunity to do a broad spectrum of theater and to become familiar with all aspects of the theater. UC Berkeley sponsored the Aldridge Players West to tour the South and perform at historically black colleges.  

A sought-after teacher for the speaking voice, she is devoted to and much loved by her students. Henrietta still very much enjoys singing, dancing, and meeting new people, as well as attending parties and special events. She is an active member of her community at Chaparral House. 

If you would like to send a birthday wish or message to Henrietta, please email the Chaparral House activities director, Erika at esnelson@chaparralhouse.org and she will be sure to get the message to Henrietta.