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.
Current 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.
JOIN THE BLACK THEATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE
JOIN THE BLACK THEATER EDUCATION INITIATIVE
Partner with The Black Theater Education Initiative
We are seeking playwrights who are passionate about bringing Black stories into classrooms and inspiring the next generation through theater.
By partnering with The Black Theater Education Initiative, your work becomes part of our growing Educators' Library, a resource designed to help teachers, professors, and teaching artists discover culturally relevant plays for their students.
As a participating playwright, you agree to:
Provide educators with a complimentary reading copy of your play for classroom evaluation and instructional planning.
Collaborate with The Black Theater Education Initiative to develop classroom resources, including lesson plans, discussion guides, and educational activities.
Offer educational or discounted licensing options for schools, colleges, and universities interested in producing your work.
Be available, when possible, to connect with educators seeking authentic Black stories and culturally responsive theatrical works.
What We Offer Playwrights
As a partner, you'll receive opportunities to expand your reach and connect with educators nationwide through:
A featured playwright profile on our website.
Interviews highlighting your artistic journey and creative process.
Social media spotlights introducing your work to educators, theater professionals, and new audiences.
Inclusion in our Educators' Library, making your play discoverable by teachers and institutions looking for meaningful classroom resources.
Opportunities to participate in workshops, virtual discussions, classroom visits, and future initiative events as they become available.
Together, we are building a community that amplifies Black voices, supports playwrights, and makes exceptional Black theater more accessible in classrooms across the country.
Please include the following details in your form.
First Name
Last Name
Email
Subject - Join the Initiative
Message - Title, publishing date and synopsis of your play.
Please contact blacktheatereducation@gmail.com for inquiries.
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.
Make a Donation Today
Help bring A Queens' Brawl to the stage.
Every contribution makes a difference. Your donation will help fund a future full-length production of A Queens' Brawl while supporting the mission and day-to-day operations of The Black Theater Education Initiative.
Together, we can create opportunities for artists, inspire audiences, and expand access to transformative theater experiences.
