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CSPAN - "Written Then, Spoken Now" produced by Ford's Theatre Dramaturge/Director Denise J. Hart
2026/2027 Projects
2026/2027 Projects
Musical Development Dramaturge for new musical Tap IN written by Marjuan Canady and Christin Eve Cato. With Original Music by Muhsinah. With Lyrics by Muhsinah and Christin Eve Cato. Produced by Howard University Department of Theatre Arts SP2027.
Dramaturge Archival Researcher & Musical Development - Saturday Nighters Play Development Workshop with Jordan Ealey (Georgetown University), Storm Thomas and Anita Gonzalez (Georgetown University) . Produced by Caitlin Marshall School of Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies University of Maryland College Park.
2025 Projects
2025 Projects
"Dramaturge Archival Researcher - "Saturday Nighters Play Development Workshop with Jordan Ealey (Georgetown University), Storm Thomas and Anita Gonzalez (Georgetown University) . Produced by Caitlin Marshall School of Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies University of Maryland College Park.
2024 Projects
2024 Projects
Written Then, Spoken Now: African American Letters to Lincoln
Written Then, Spoken Now: African American Letters to Lincoln
CSpan - African American Letters to Lincoln
CSpan - African American Letters to Lincoln
2024
Dramaturge/Director
Dramaturge/Director
In celebration of his books To Address You As My Friend: African American Letters to Abraham Lincoln and A House Built By Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White House, Ford’s Theatre is proud to present an unprecedented book talk with acclaimed Lincoln scholar Dr. Jonathan W. White, historian Dr. Edna Greene Medford and dramaturg Denise J. Hart on February 2, 2024. Blended with their conversation, we will feature letters and excerpts of the books read aloud by actors, followed by a book signing. Experience the convergence of history and theatre, as we bring to life previously unheard African American voices of those who wrote letters to Lincoln and who visited him at the White House.
“The edited collection of letters to President Lincoln, many of them never published until now, illuminates the fears and desires of Civil War-era African Americans as they dealt with the problems of the day and the uncertain future that awaited them.” ~ Dr. Edna Greene Medford
2023 Projects
2023 Projects
Rhyme Deferred written by Kamilah Forbes
Rhyme Deferred written by Kamilah Forbes
On Friday September 29, 2023 at Howard University, Al Freeman Environmental Theatre Space, dramaturge, Denise J. Hart moderated the "Never Thought it Would Last" dramaturgy talkback for the production of Ryhme Deferred written by Kamilah Forbes. Guest panelists were Coordinator of Art istory, Dr. Melanie Harvey, Coordinator of Fashion Design at Howard University, Elka Stevens, Hip Hop archivist Tim Jones, Hip Hope Cultural Curator Priest and actor Greg A. Reid. Priest and Reid were original members of the team who supported the creation of the play.
Below, are my dramaturgy notes for the Howard University production of Rhyme Deferred.
Dramaturgy Talk Back
Dramaturgy Talk Back
Talk back Facilitator with guests
Talk back Facilitator with guests
Nina A. Mercer and Dr. Greg Carr
Nina A. Mercer and Dr. Greg Carr
TV Scriptwriting Consultant/Dramaturge
TV Scriptwriting Consultant/Dramaturge
Over the course of one year, I served as dramaturge and writing coach for playwright/TV Writer Nichole Thompson Adams. Thompson-Adams adapted her original play, Black Girl You've Been Gentrified, for her Television pilot Dramadey Series of the same name. The work was methodical, emotional and gratifying.
In February of 2023 the piece hit another milestone when it was produced by Epoch Films as a podcast TV pilot airing on New York Public Radio.
The reading was directed by theatre director, Zhailon Levingston and the discussion was moderated by Michaela Angela Davis. Click the link to check it out and get your laugh on!
Additional Projects...
Dramaturgy Panelist
The Ford’s Theatre Legacy Commissions will serve as an artistic incubator for stories about social justice and racial history and explore the varied experiences of underrepresented characters and lesser-known historical figures and their contributions to American life.
Taking Center Stage: Under-told Stories in the American Theatre
Production Dramaturge
Howard University
Howard University
Dramaturge Consultant
Shakespeare Theatre
Shakespeare Theatre
Staged reading of Paule Marshall’s 1960 Television Drama adaptation of her novel, Brown Girl Brownstone at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Working with Dr. Drew Lichtenberg (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Resident Dramaturg) and Dr. Soyica Colbert (Associate Director at STC, Lorraine Hansberry Radical Vision author, Georgetown University Professor of African American Studies and Performing Arts). Reading will be held at staged reading at The Klein Theatre
Dramaturge/TV Pilot Writing Consultant
2/8...Nichole Thompson-Adams and Epoch Films present a live-reading of the pilot episode of their podcast. BLACK GIRL YOU’VE BEEN GENTRIFIED details the harrowing yet hilarious ironies of the precarious life Thompson has built: selling brownstones to rich white folks in her native Brooklyn as she struggles to keep her kids in elite “progressive” schools in Manhattan. Moderated by Kimberly Drew and Michaela Angela Davis.
Past Projects
Past Projects
Click one of the images below to learn more about my previous production dramaturgy & play development dramaturgy projects.
Click one of the images below to learn more about my previous production dramaturgy & play development dramaturgy projects.
Play Development Dramaturge (translation from French to English) - Melancholy of Barbarians
My Style
My Style
In the role of production dramaturge, my style can be summed up in three words: supportive, curious and flexible. I believe in a collaborative process where the director leads the overall experience while simultaneously remaining open to input from a trusted colleague.
During the pre-production research or "hunt and gather" phase, I like to spend an adequate amount of time in dialogue with the director (and playwright if available) to learn about their concept and the drivers they see in the play - images, events, patterns, words, memories, ritual, etc. By engaging in conversation I'm able to share my insights and gather key information that I'll need to do the kind of research that compliments the directors vision.
During the rehearsal phase I support the entire team by doing a short over view presentation of materials approved by the director, regarding how to best use the production resource book for that specific production.
I mention curious because unpacking a play requires that you ask questions, investigate and consider everything you find in both a familiar and new way. Curiosity feeds my creative impulses and a significant part of the rehearsal process includes making discoveries about what's working and what else is necessary to serve the play.
Lastly, flexibility is simply a darn good trait to have in any situation. I never leave home without it!
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