A Jamaican artist, living in Savannah.

NEWS! I completed my second year teaching Dramatic Writing at SCAD University. I LOVE it!!!

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I recently completed my new play Amma's Wit, a Sloan/EST commission about midwifery; a homage to the "granny" midwives. And, super-stoked about three TV projects in different stages of development. Here is what Black List had to say about one of the pilots: This is a stupendously well-researched, well wrought peak into a milieu that hasn’t been depicted enough in the TV space...There’s so much to appreciate here, it’s almost overwhelming…the writer evinces a gentle wisdom that flows between the words like jazz. The clear and specific grasp of milieu,…three dimensional characterization, and the overall premise all coalesce here to create a dynamite read. With further honing on the plot front, this script will achieve its potential. 

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BTW, I am a pretty busy dramaturg/script consultant and collaborator on projects that speak to diversity of any kind. I'm the gal you want in the room!. Check me out at 1to1Dramaturgy.

 

So here are the accolades and some of my work...I am an OBIE Award winner and a recipient of the Josephine Abady Award, commending me for my contribution, as a producer, of Diversity to the American theater landscape. Two of my plays made it to the Kilroys List. My new Ibsen inspired play Hedda and George had a reading with The Road Theatre. JaRock MashUp, my identity play that still leaves me feeling like "other", was given a 29-hour workshop and reading at Hunter College, directed by Victor Malana Maog. The Fire This Time presented a reading of my full-length play Hedda: A Portrait of a (Young) Woman and a production of my short play Anonymous, which was also produced by the EstroGenius Festival. My play Straddling the Edge is a Barbour Award finalist and was workshopped at the cell theatre, directed by Kira Simring. Les Frerés is a Bay Area Playwrights Festival finalist, a Eugene O’Neill semi-finalist, and was workshopped at the University of Toronto and directed by Abigail Whitney . My short play Man in the Moon was developed and presented by The Exquisite Corpse Company; Shirley and Iris was presented at the Going to the River Festival at EST, and Jake was produced at New Perspectives Theater, and at Silver Spring Stage. I received a SPACE on Ryder Farm Creative Residency, where I began The Island Bull’s Wife, under the mentorship of Adam Bock and it is a Princess Grace Award semi-finalist. I was named a NYFA Fellowship Finalist for Playwriting.

 

My short film Take Flight was featured at the Everybody Digital Film Festival and Dreams Deferred, which I wrote/directed/produced, was featured in the African American Women in Cinema Film Festival. 

 

Collaborative projects are:

The Trial of Amos 'n' Andy (full-length) : written with Stephen Anderson. Blacklist had this to say about the play: This triumph of a play showcases the skills of two formidable writers. The premise is ingenious as it explores the African American experience with stereotypical media, making it a story that spans generations. The plot deftly navigates Vann's journey to fight stereotypical depictions of African American culture with racially charged consequences. This structure is airtight, answering every audience question about these characters and historical context with a clear dramatic arc. This is the work of writers with a great understanding of building complex narratives...This play would likely engage a wide audience and is both entertaining and thought-provoking...There is potential for a broad, diverse adult audience for this piece...The relevant social commentary this writing team infuses about privilege, race, and gender make this a play that should soon see a stage...The writing is sharp and engaging, the premise is extremely topical, and the true story at the core of this piece is one that almost demands to be told. It's hard to imagine any theatrical company not getting excited about the opportunity to produce this play. 

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Out of the Narrow Place (full-length): written with Allison Zajac-Batell, placed in the top 10 for the Jewish Theater's Abramson Prize. Judges cited ...The work - which is often so funny - manages to blend family dynamics, Jewish cultural politics and intergenerational American politics in a manner that still has incredible generosity and richness to each character. The play has such a perfect understanding of the role of history and memory in Judaism today, as well. 

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