Hi there! My name is Jessica, and I am a Seattle-based dramaturg, researcher, writer, and theater educator. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from The College of William and Mary and Master of Arts in Theatre Studies from the University of Houston. As someone who holds both black and queer identities, I seek to uplift stories created by and for black queer communities.
As a dramaturg, I primarily work within the realms of production dramaturgy and new play development to support the artistic work of theatrical productions and to support the development of emerging playwrights. I believe that when dramaturgy is done well, it functions as the glue that binds all aspects of a production together and makes all aspects stronger.
As an independent researcher and writer, I have two main focuses:
Theater theory...I love thinking about the thought of thinking of theater
Defining and naming what I call a "black queer theatrical culture," highlighting the intersection of blackness and queerness in American theater. Much of this work intersects with my background in Anthropology, so I will also be an annoying linguist and share more on why I choose not to capitalize the "b" in "black" or the "q" in "queer."
In keeping both words as lowercase and not marking them as proper nouns, it is my hope to avoid giving the terms fixed definitions. This usage is meant to denote collective understandings of blackness and queerness, not understandings that are fixed to any one person’s interpretation. These two terms resist fixedness and should instead be understood as two aspects of identity that are in a constant state of being constructed and reconstructed.
As a theater educator I navigate a few different worlds. In the academic world, I teach classes and lead presentations on theater theory, African American theater, and global theater history. In the nonprofit world, I design education materials and create workshops for youth and adults that encourage youth leadership and professional development.
