4th Annual Black Trans Women At The Center

Dubbed the Ancient Jazz Priestess of Mother Africa, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi is a Black Nigerian, Cuban, Indigenous, American Performance Artist, Author, Educator, Advocate, producer, a Helen Hayes Award-winning Playwright , a 2021 Helen Merrill Award Winner, Film Maker, Advocate, Dramaturg, a 2-time Helen Hayes Award nominated choreographer (2016, 2018), and a Princess Grace Honoria Award winner. She is the co-editor/co-founder/co-director of the Black Trans Prayer Book.

She is the curator and associate producer of Long Wharf Theatre’s Black Trans Women At The Center: An Evening of Short Plays, as well as an artistic ensemble member of the theater.

She was featured in King Ester as Patra and acted as a story consultant for the series. She wrote episode 1 of Untitled Mockumentary Project and acted on the series as well, and wrote episode 9 (Refuge) of Round House Theater’s web series Homebound. She also wrote a monologue featured in the film The 51st State. She was recently featured as Dr. Grace Grace in the web series I need Space.

She also narrated The Netflix Docu-series Visions of Us.

She was recently nominated for another Helen Hayes for her choreographic work in Signature Theater’s production of The Color Purple.

Joey Reyes (they/them) is a Chicago-based Southern California-bred creative producer, arts consultant, and cultural strategist. They are a 2023 graduate of Northwestern University’s Master of Science in Leadership for Creative Enterprises. In September 2023, they released the Mx It Up podcast – a show dedicated to celebrating the brilliance of LGBTQ+ creatives of the global majority who work across arts, culture, and entertainment. 

Since 2015, they have worked in various capacities at the American Conservatory Theater, Chautauqua Theater Company, Cleveland Playhouse, Cornerstone Theater Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Faultline Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, MCC Theater, SoHo Playhouse, The Sol Project, and The Public Theater. In September 2020, they were featured as one of “19 Theater Workers You Should Know” in a special issue of American Theatre Magazine dedicated to highlighting TGNC theatre artists.  

Reyes’s commitment to anti-racism in the arts has manifested through their relationships with organizations such as the Arts Administrators of Color Network, artEquity, First Nations Theater Guild, and Radio Caña Negra. B.A. in Theatre Arts and Business Administration minor from Azusa Pacific University and Oxford University. @mxjoeyreyes.

As a master storyteller, Mx. Dorian Blue is a connoisseur of the senses: therefore, their work inevitably brings to consciousness the influences of the (Black) (queer) body. In addition to their role as a multi-disciplinary storyteller, community historian, and queer archivist, Mx. Dorian Blue (they/them/theirs) is the Founder of Blueboy Publishing House and the author of Black and Blue (2022) & Mythos (Fall 2023). As the Stage Manager for Black Trans Women at the Center, Dorian Blue lends a rich historical background in African-American performance and the history of (Black) (queer) American theater. Within their role as a published author, Dorian Blue blends storytelling with rich historical perspectives on power, poetry, and myth. To learn more about Dorian Blue’s work, visit www.blueboypublishinghouse.org. 

Adele Overbey is a Videographer and Editor, currently based on occupied Lenni Lenape land, also known as Brooklyn, New York. In 2019 she joined the Musical Theater Factory as a media intern and began to shift her work from narrative filmmaking to live events and documentation. Adele’s goal is to help underrepresented folks bring their art to the main stage through collaboration, conversations, and cinematography. As a documentarian, her frequent collaborators include New York Theatre Workshop, Arena Stage, 59E59 Theater, The Brick Theater, Ars Nova, The Tank, & The Theater Offensive. 

Imara, whose work has won Emmy and Peabody Awards, is the creator of TransLash Media, a cross-platform, non-profit journalism and narrative organization, which produces content to shift the current culture of hostility towards transgender people in the US. She was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People on the planet in 2023. As part of her work at TransLash, Imara hosts the TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones, which received the 2023 Outstanding Podcast Award from GLAAD; as well as the investigative, limited series, The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality which received the Excellence in Podcasting Award from the National LGBTQ+ Journalists Association. Imara is also the first trans person to ever receive an award from the National Black Journalists Association, having garnered the Journalist of Distinction Award in 2022. Also in 2022, Politico named her as one of the 40 power players at the intersection of race, politics, and policy in the United States. In 2020 Imara was featured on the cover of Time Magazine as part of its New American Revolution special edition. In 2019 she chaired the first-ever UN High Level Meeting on Gender Diversity with over 600 participants. Imara has been featured regularly in The Guardian, The Nation, MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, Fast Company and GQ. Imara is a 2021 Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellow and a 2019 Soros Equality Fellow. She serves on the New York City Commission on Gender Equity. She also serves as Chair of the Board for the Transgender Law Center, the nation’s largest transgender non-profit organization, and as Co-Chair of the New Pride Agenda. Imara is also on the boards of the GLSEN, and the LGBTQ+ Museum. Imara is also part of the Move to End Violence. 

Eva Reign is a Peabody and GLAAD Award winning Brooklyn-based actress, writer and artist from St. Louis, Missouri. She is the star of Billy Porter’s directorial debut Anything’s Possible from Amazon Studios and MGM’s Orion Pictures. Eva is also known for her work as a correspondent on the Vice show Transnational, an award-winning series documenting trans issues worldwide. She previously worked at the Condé Nast LGBTQ platform Them. as Assistant Editor before going on to launch her own column at the platform, “In Bloom: The Life Column with Eva Reign.” This column focused on the beauty and strength of the Black trans community. Her other writing has appeared in Vogue, The Cut, Byrdie, PAPER, Them. and Highsnobiety. 

Model/creative director/producer and writer Adisa Steele has already planted her mark on the entertainment industry: as an award winning stage performer, renowned dancer/choreographer and currently making way as a promising model/writer, already proving that she has a unique artistic voice to share with the world. Learning from all the experiences of life both professional and personal, Adisa’s over emphasized yet chillingly realistic perspective of the world only enhances the already ingenious eye she brings to any project before her. Starting as just a dancer from the streets of Miami she quickly found her way on to stages around the globe, touching people with her intense passion, discipline and skill. Quickly managing to make herself an undeniable force to be reckoned with. Gracing such stages as the Joyce Soho Theatre, El Portal Theatre, The Hollywood Bowl as well as publications such as Vogue Italia and National Geographic 

Mila Jam is a pop recording artivist and a force to be reckoned with. With over 3 million streams and 1.1 million listeners worldwide and appearances on Saturday Night Live, Cadillac’s “Audacity of Blackness,” FX’s POSE, BBC’s The Lilly Allen Show & MTV, Mila continues to make her mark on this industry and establish herself as a leader and icon in the community. 

Syd Robbie is thrilled to be working with Long Wharf Theater for his third year as an actor for Black Trans Women at the Center. He has been described as a nationally recognized thought leader and transgender health equity advocate. They are a talented change maker who stands at the intersection of multiple communities. After attending UW-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts, Syd earned multiple leading roles including Trevor, in the celebrated transmasculine web series, Brothers. He was featured in the award winning documentary, Dance, Dance Evolution, and Showtime network productions, Work In Progress and The Chi. Along with his previously mentioned work, Syd is a community leader, an author, dancer, vocalist, professional speaker and event host. 

Elisawon Etidorhpa is the star to watch, this magnetic power house from the south has come to make their mark on the industry. After coming from a competitive theater background in Texas and obtaining their BFA from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Elisawon is starting her career with a big bang. Which has landed her a supporting role in KeyTv’s Production of Keep Me in Mind produced by Keke Palmer, modeling for Nike, the Hollywood Fringe Festival and more. Now they’re ready to showcase their writing skills for the first time with Black Trans Women at the Center. Elisawon is eager to prove that preparation plus opportunity equals success. 

Dubbed the Ancient Jazz Priestess of Mother Africa, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi is a Black Nigerian, Cuban, Indigenous, American Performance Artist, Author, Educator, Advocate, producer, a Helen Hayes Award-winning Playwright , a 2021 Helen Merrill Award Winner, Film Maker, Advocate, Dramaturg, a 2-time Helen Hayes Award nominated choreographer (2016, 2018), and a Princess Grace Honoria Award winner. She is the co-editor/co-founder/co-director of the Black Trans Prayer Book.

She is the curator and associate producer of Long Wharf Theatre’s Black Trans Women At The Center: An Evening of Short Plays, as well as an artistic ensemble member of the theater.

She was featured in King Ester as Patra and acted as a story consultant for the series. She wrote episode 1 of Untitled Mockumentary Project and acted on the series as well, and wrote episode 9 (Refuge) of Round House Theater’s web series Homebound. She also wrote a monologue featured in the film The 51st State. She was recently featured as Dr. Grace Grace in the web series I need Space.

She also narrated The Netflix Docu-series Visions of Us.

She was recently nominated for another Helen Hayes for her choreographic work in Signature Theater’s production of The Color Purple.

N’yomi Allure Stewart (also known as “Omi”) was the first trans woman to graduate from North Carolina School of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Acting; and the first trans woman to play the role of “Beneatha” in the NYC Off-Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun at the Public Theater. She is also a recent participant of the New York Theater Workshop (NYTW) Artists Residency, GALLIM artist in residence, and an active member of NYC’s ballroom scene. 

Simone’s name Immanuel, means “God is with us”. Through her work she hopes to show that God is with us all. She is from New Orleans, Louisiana and attended the New Orleans Center for creative Arts. Simone graduated with her BFA in acting from Ball State University and recently finished the Broadway Advocacy Coalition’s Artivism Fellowship. She made her Off Broadway debut last year in the play 7 Minutes by Stefano Massini. Simone’s play I’m Gonna Let it Shine was a Kennedy Center John Cauble award finalist. She recently was an Artist at Work Resident with Ashé Cultural arts center. Simone’s goal is to use her unique experiences to show why representation is one of the most important goals of art in this generation. 

Dubbed the Ancient Jazz Priestess of Mother Africa, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi is a Black Nigerian, Cuban, Indigenous, American Performance Artist, Author, Educator, Advocate, producer, a Helen Hayes Award-winning Playwright , a 2021 Helen Merrill Award Winner, Film Maker, Advocate, Dramaturg, a 2-time Helen Hayes Award nominated choreographer (2016, 2018), and a Princess Grace Honoria Award winner. She is the co-editor/co-founder/co-director of the Black Trans Prayer Book.

She is the curator and associate producer of Long Wharf Theatre’s Black Trans Women At The Center: An Evening of Short Plays, as well as an artistic ensemble member of the theater.

She was featured in King Ester as Patra and acted as a story consultant for the series. She wrote episode 1 of Untitled Mockumentary Project and acted on the series as well, and wrote episode 9 (Refuge) of Round House Theater’s web series Homebound. She also wrote a monologue featured in the film The 51st State. She was recently featured as Dr. Grace Grace in the web series I need Space.

She also narrated The Netflix Docu-series Visions of Us.

She was recently nominated for another Helen Hayes for her choreographic work in Signature Theater’s production of The Color Purple.

L Morgan Lee is a Tony Award® nominated actress and storyteller known for her history-making turn in A Strange Loop on Broadway – a performance which also garnered her an Antonyo Award and a Drama League Distinguished Performance nomination. In London, she was seen playing famed artist Lili Elbe in a musical adaptation of The Danish Girl (currently in development). Other work includes well over a decade of Off-Broadway, Regional, International/National concerts and tours with artists from Paul McCartney to Our Lady J. In the studio, L Morgan was the voice of Ornate Williams in the Sugar Maple Series w. Fred Savage (Osiris Media) and can be found on Joe Iconis‘ album (Ghostlight Records), The Rainbow Lullaby Album (Broadway Records), and more. For more: @lmorganlee | lmorganlee.com 

MISS Asteria LaFaye Summers a proud Afro-Indigenous Trans woman that also happens to be Deaf/Disabled as well. She’s an artist, educator, dancer, and performer of the Arts. She LOVES magical shows like Charmed (Reboot). She also loves mochi and matcha tea. 

Dubbed the Ancient Jazz Priestess of Mother Africa, Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi is a Black Nigerian, Cuban, Indigenous, American Performance Artist, Author, Educator, Advocate, producer, a Helen Hayes Award-winning Playwright , a 2021 Helen Merrill Award Winner, Film Maker, Advocate, Dramaturg, a 2-time Helen Hayes Award nominated choreographer (2016, 2018), and a Princess Grace Honoria Award winner. She is the co-editor/co-founder/co-director of the Black Trans Prayer Book.

She is the curator and associate producer of Long Wharf Theatre’s Black Trans Women At The Center: An Evening of Short Plays, as well as an artistic ensemble member of the theater.

She was featured in King Ester as Patra and acted as a story consultant for the series. She wrote episode 1 of Untitled Mockumentary Project and acted on the series as well, and wrote episode 9 (Refuge) of Round House Theater’s web series Homebound. She also wrote a monologue featured in the film The 51st State. She was recently featured as Dr. Grace Grace in the web series I need Space.

She also narrated The Netflix Docu-series Visions of Us.

She was recently nominated for another Helen Hayes for her choreographic work in Signature Theater’s production of The Color Purple.

Brandon Kazen-Maddox is a Grandchild of Deaf Adults (GODA) and third-generation native signer of American Sign Language (ASL) who identifies as a Nonbinary, Black Indigenous Person of Color and a member of the LGBTQAI+ community. Brandon is an artist, choreographer, director, actor, acrobat, activist, and ASL Artist. Brandon creates work with and for the Deaf and Disability communities, and highlights and empowers BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ artists, building bridges of collaboration and community among people of all backgrounds and abilities. In May 2019, Brandon graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Dance and New Technology. In the summer of 2020, Brandon co-founded Up Until Now Collective, an arts and media company that focuses on developing and producing radically inclusive inter-disciplinary work. Up Until Now projects include SOUL(SIGNS): An ASL Playlist (a series of 10 ASL music videos for Broadstream Media, featuring iconic songs by Black women; featured in The New York Times, on ABC World News, and as the “Midnight Moment” in Times Square, appearing on 80+ screens every night at midnight in July, 2021); SOUL(SIGNS): OPERA, a series of Opera ASL videos commissioned by Boston Lyric Opera, and Pride video campaigns for Amazon Music and Global Citizen. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Brandon served as the lead consultant for providing ASL Services at The Shed, Little Island, Lincoln Center and the Park Avenue Armory, where they are bringing Deaf Directors of ASL into the inner workings of arts organizations and integrating both the Deaf perspective and Deaf performers onstage, on camera and behind the scenes. Brandon’s work as an interpreter and activist has been profiled on CNN and they have appeared as a co-star on The Good Fight (Paramount +) and High Maintenance (HBO). Brandon was also a featured story-teller on the 100th episode of “Stories From The Stage” (PBS) and they were chosen as one of Gucci and Time For Change’s “22 for ‘22: Visions For a Feminist Future.” Brandon is the recipient of the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) National Dance Production Grant and an awardee of the 2022 cycle of the Creative Capital Award for the ASL Dance Theatre Reimagining of The Wild Party.

 Indie Johnson is a resourceful, creative world-builder who utilizes her talents, skills, and abilities to assist others in mapping and developing their ideas to completion. Her constituents feel prepared and empowered that their vision is understood and achievable. She has over ten years of experience in various roles, such as assistant directing, producing, writing, production coordinating, and idea development, including live shows. Indie is a visionary who cannot only imagine the bigger picture but also devise a plan with proper resources to reach established goals. She has a can-do attitude and a tenacious drive that enables her to accomplish any task. When not visioning, she dances, sings, bakes, and patronizes the arts with friends. 

Mickaela Bradford “Micky B” is a bisexual, trans-feminine seasoned community organizer and visual/performing artist. After graduating from Georgia State University’s inaugural neuroscience fellowship, she worked in HIV prevention and reproductive justice by day, performing in drag shows, and organizing queer art festivals by night. Mickaela is currently the 1st “Director in Residence” at Comfrey Films. Her short, currently in production, focuses on trans survivor and untold shero of the 1866 Memphis Massacre, Miss Frances Thompson. She was the 1st Black trans femme at Transgender Law Center, where she now leads a department of fierce organizers as “Co-Director of Policy & Programs” and co-authored “The Trans Agenda For Liberation,” a community-led guide to decriminalization. You can find them in South Atlanta with their chihuahua, Minnie B! 

Garnet Williams is an New York City based actor, writer, and singer. Last seen in Skyward (Powerhouse), and on AHS: New York. 

Mariyea is a Brooklyn based actress, performer, teacher and drag artist. Her previous credits include On Sugarland at New York Theatre Workshop along with works presented at The Shed, Hudson Yards, Park Avenue Armory, Soho Rep, The Apollo, and Joe’s Pub, among others. Additionally, she can be seen in a feature film soon to be announced on Paramount+. Mariyea has the privilege of hosting and performing in drag shows in various spaces throughout New York City. @mariyeaaaa #blacktranslivesmatter 

Ianne Fields Stewart is a black, queer, lesbian, and nonbinary transfeminine New York-based storyteller and activist. Ianne was personally requested by Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) to play their love interest in the 3-Time Emmy-Nominated web series The Feels. Film/TV Credits include: Dash & Lily (Roberta), The Bold Type (Chloe Blair), and Pose (Pretty Bartender). In the summer of 2017, Ianne was selected out of over 500 applicants to be one of the 15 US Fellows for Humanity in Action’s 2017 John Lewis Fellowship. She is the founder of The Okra Project and co-organized  the historic Brooklyn Liberation: A Rally for Black Trans Lives which gathered 15,000 people to march for Black Trans lives.