The Black Drama School was founded in 2021 to encourage & facilitate the accessible engagement of Black theatre.
what we do:
education
TBDS is a living curricular database that encourages and facilitates the study of Black drama through accessible engagement.
engagement
accessible engagement is a cornerstone of our work. we host and produce events that center Black dramatic performance.
we are in and of our community, wherever we are.
access
we consider accessibility in everything we do. our praxis requires us to consider accessibility in cost, location and content both in our curriculums and in our productions.
we believe in Black drama for all.
who we are
photo by Ahmad Martin @phanypaxk
The Black Drama School was founded by Korinn Annette Jefferies:
Korinn Annette Jefferies (b. 1996) has been writing plays since she was in second grade. The self proclaimed ‘drama queen’ currently works as a critic, educator, and independent researcher in North Carolina. Korinn archives the Black experience by way of dramatic criticism and dramaturgy, interrogating leisure, ritual, access, context, and caricature in depictions of Black life. Her research builds upon her extensive background in Musical Theatre performance and culminates in the form of plays, essays, and syllabi. Korinn has facilitated academic and artistic workshops at the Black Theatre Network Conference, the National Women’s Theatre Festival, and the International Black Theatre Festival. In addition, she has hosted and appeared on panels with The New Group, PEN America, and Black Girls Love the Bard. Korinn’s research led her to found The Black Drama School, where she is currently constructing a living database that exists as a curricular supplement to Black dramatic works.
This website was created in 2022 with funding from the North Carolina Arts Council and ArtsGreensboro.
work with TBDS
The Black Drama School is always open to collaboration and community.