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I am so deeply moved by Marjuan Canady, Nina Angela Mercer, Ph.D. and Seshat Yon'shea Walker’s event to honor DC Black Women Visionaries in DC Black Theatre held at Howard University on February 26, 2026.
I had the privilege of sharing a tribute to director, poet and playwright Jennifer Nelson.
Honestly the night was like a DC Black Theatre family reunion. So many people I taught, worked with and academic colleagues were in attendance.
I left feeling thankful for in person community because it absolutely feeds the soul!
Thank you to the Ford's Theatre team for trusting me to repeatedly lead and facilitate in support of their mission!
Thank you to the Ford's Theatre team for trusting me to repeatedly lead and facilitate in support of their mission!
February 14, 2026 I closed out my 3 third year leading and facilitating for Ford’s Theatre’s A First Look: From Quill to Curtain playwriting series. In 2023 we started with Writing the Solo Work followed by Adapting the Novel for the Stage in 2024, Adapting Source Material for Musical Theatre in 2025 and this year, Crafting Plays Inspired by History.
February 14, 2026 I closed out my 3 third year leading and facilitating for Ford’s Theatre’s A First Look: From Quill to Curtain playwriting series. In 2023 we started with Writing the Solo Work followed by Adapting the Novel for the Stage in 2024, Adapting Source Material for Musical Theatre in 2025 and this year, Crafting Plays Inspired by History.
My favorite thing about this series was the diversity of participants and play ideas! Today the students had live readings of excerpts from their plays. They loved the structure and said they learned so much. Several students attended all of the masterclasses over the 3 years. I really love working from my sweet spot!
My favorite thing about this series was the diversity of participants and play ideas! Today the students had live readings of excerpts from their plays. They loved the structure and said they learned so much. Several students attended all of the masterclasses over the 3 years. I really love working from my sweet spot!
Featured Speaker Engagements
A sampling of Denise's speaking engagements:
(2026) Museum of African American History | Boston
(2026) Ford's Theatre
(2025) State of DC Black Theatre
(2025) Black Theatre Network
(2025) Ford's Theatre
(2024) Multi-Media Training Group
(2024) Ford's Theatre
(2024) Diva Inc.
(2023) Prince George's Film Festival
(2023) Amazon Studios/Def Creative Lab
(2023) Duke Ellington School of the Arts
(2022) Arena Stage
(2022) Prince George's Film Festival
(2021) Weston Playhouse
(2020) HBO: Between The World and Me
(2020) Netflix: The Forty-Year-Old Version
(2020) Penn State African American Read In
(2019) University of Texas Blackademics TV (2014-2019)
(2019) Howard University Department of Theatre Arts
(2019) Mosaic Theatre Company
(2018) Arena Stage
(2018) Black Theatre Network
(2016) August Wilson Society
(2015) University of Maryland Graduate Student Association
(2012) African Continuum Theatre
'Guest Expert Scholar for the play "ZORA"
'Guest Expert Scholar for the play "ZORA"
Keynote Speaker: DIVA Writers Scholarship Tea
Keynote Speaker: DIVA Writers Scholarship Tea
In collaboration with Amazon Studios I taught a day long TV Scriptwriting intensive in Stone Mountain Georgia for students in the Def Creative Lab program!
Moderator for keynote speaker Michele Shay during the 2021 biennial AWS Colloquium March 2021
Dramaturgy Talk Back Moderator: Black Nativity
Dramaturgy Talk Back Moderator: Black Nativity
Dramaturge panelist for Taking Center Stage: Under-told Stories in the American Theatre at Ford's Theatre
Dramaturge panelist for Taking Center Stage: Under-told Stories in the American Theatre at Ford's Theatre
Molly's Salon Guest Speaker: guest speaker on Molly's Salon with Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith.
Molly's Salon Guest Speaker: guest speaker on Molly's Salon with Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith.
Ford's Theatre Dramaturge for "Written Then, Spoken Now: African American Letters to Lincoln"
Ford's Theatre Dramaturge for "Written Then, Spoken Now: African American Letters to Lincoln"
Penn State 30th Anniversary African American Read-In
Penn State 30th Anniversary African American Read-In
Featured author/playwright for the 30th anniversary of the African American Read-In. Learn more - Click Here
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