The Black Theater Education Initiative
Bringing contemporary Black theater into classrooms across America
ABOUT THE BLACK THEATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE
An educational outreach program created by Anthony James to expand access to contemporary Black theater.
A Queens' Brawl is the inaugural work featured through The Black Theater Education Initiative, an educational outreach program committed to bringing contemporary Black dramatic literature into classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and stages across the country.
Faculty at accredited colleges, universities, and secondary schools may request a complimentary instructor review copy of A Queens' Brawl. If adopted for classroom use, students may purchase individual copies or departments may inquire about bulk educational discounts.
Educators can also request author visits, and apply for royalty-free educational performances.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
A Queens’ Brawl the play is protected by copyright. The purchase, download, or possession of this script does not grant permission to perform, reproduce, distribute, record, livestream, broadcast, translate, adapt, or otherwise use this work in whole or in part.
A valid performance license must be obtained from the author before any public performance, staged reading, competition, festival presentation, classroom production (unless specifically authorized), livestream, or recorded presentation.
Permission is required whether admission is charged or not, and whether the performance is presented for profit, charity, educational purposes, or private organization.
No changes, additions, deletions, or adaptations may be made to this play without the author's prior written consent.
To request performance rights or licensing information, contact:
[A.D. James]
Email: anthonyjameswrites@gmail.com or aqueensbrawl@gmail.com
Website: aqueensbrawl.com
Unauthorized use of this play may constitute copyright infringement and may result in legal action.
Copyright © 2026 A.D. James. All Rights Reserved.
THE BLACK THEATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE
A FOCUS ON BLACK WRITERS
THE BLACK THEATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE A FOCUS ON BLACK WRITERS
The Black Theater Education Initiative
Our Commitment
We believe contemporary Black theater should be accessible in the classroom.
For Educators we offer
Complimentary review copy (PDF or Kindle edition)
Teaching Guide
Discussion questions
Author Q&A opportunities
Royalty-free educational performances (with permission)
Through the Black Theater Education Initiative, educators can evaluate A Queens' Brawl for use in literature, drama, African American Studies, and theater courses. Complimentary instructor review copies and teaching resources are available.
For Students
Students purchase their own copies through:
via aqueensbrawl.com/shop (paperback or hardcover)
Amazon (Kindle, paperback or hardcover)
Please contact blacktheatereducation@gmail.com for bulk discounts.
About the Founder
Anthony D. James is the third of seven children born to Cathy James. Born and raised in Brooklyn New York, writing quickly became his passion. While in middle and high school, he dreamed of becoming a successful rapper, often visiting recording studios and writing over 250 songs by the end of his senior year of high school. After graduating from Transit Tech High School in East New York Brooklyn, he attended CUNY’s College of Staten Island for two days, before dropping out to pursue his rap career. For two years, while working security part-time, Anthony worked full time on his music. As his rap career stalled, Anthony began taking classes at Medgar Evers College, while also working as a guest services representative at a non-profit sports and fitness organization. It is at Medgar Evers College that Anthony would take his first and only playwriting class. In 2010, he began writing A Queens’ Brawl.
At the beginning of the 2011 spring semester, Anthony would lose his older brother to gun violence. He would later transfer to Hunter College, where he would go on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Criticism in May of 2014.
With his rap career far behind him, he worked full time as a medical secretary at Weill Cornell for one year before being accepted to Teachers College, Columbia University. Anthony would graduate from Teachers College in the spring of 2016, with a master’s degree in English Education. In September of 2016, Anthony began teaching English at a high school in the Bronx. Sadly, in 2018, Anthony would lose his mother, the inspiration for his play A Queens’ Brawl, to breast cancer. After her passing, he obtained custody of his teenaged brothers, raising them all to adulthood. In early 2020, before the world shut down because of covid-19, Anthony would apply and get accepted to Lehman College’s master’s program in education administration. He would graduate with a Master of Science degree in 2022. Anthony is currently an assistant principal at the same school he has taught in since 2016. The best part of Anthony’s job is encouraging New York City students to do what makes them happy.
