Dramaturg | Reesident Artist

DEZI TIBBS

DEZI TIBBS (they/she) is a New York-based theatre artist specializing in deepening our relationship with dramatic text. They are dedicated to using their skills to bolster innovative artists' voices. Primarily working as a Dramaturg, Dezi received their MFA in Dramaturgy from Columbia University, where they developed a theatrical framework inspired by Erving Goffman's The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. This analytical lens has transformed how dramaturgy interacts with directors, actors, writers, and designers.

Throughout their career as a freelance dramaturg, Dezi has had the opportunity to workshop dozens of original and established plays and musicals. They've facilitated the development of new and established work with esteemed collaborators such as Tony Nominees Sam Pinkleton (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812), Lileana Blain Cruz (Skin of Our Teeth), Max Vernon (K-Pop), Erin Courtney, Truth Future Bachman (2023 Jonathan Larson Award Finalist), and many others. Dezi's work has been featured on stages and festivals nationwide, including the New York Theatre Workshop, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Powerhouse Theatre, Joe's Pub, Lincoln Center, Wilma Theater, Breaking the Binary, the Baryshnikov Arts Center, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Dezi also delights in using their skills to inspire the next generation. They've worked as a mentor and tutor at Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Columbia University, and the University of the Arts. One of their notable achievements is the development of Cockroaches by Emma Schillage (2023 O'Neill Finalist). After developing the piece at Columbia University, the play had workshops at Breaking and Entering Theater Co. and the Cell Theater's Residency Series. Dezi is a member of the 2024 BIPOC Critics Lab at the Public Theater and the 2024 SDC Professional Development Cohort, with whom they assisted in developing Cole Escola's smash hit Oh, Mary!

Dezi believes in the theatre's ability to inspire. As a reflection of life, the theatre allows an arena for audiences to better understand the world around them. To emphasize this power, Dezi created their blog, Dezi's Thought Bubble, to engage with the theatre scene critically and encourage audiences to view the theatre as a place that challenges their mind and opens their hearts.

Upcoming Performances:

  • August 3rd: Gross by Emma Schillage, The Tank Limefest

  • September 13th - October 6th: The Vile Isle by Justin Halle, The Tank Theater

  • October 26th - October 28th: The Dream, an adaptation of Midsummer Night's Dream, by Dezi Tibbs, Bard College

In Development/Current Commissions:

  • His Majesty, Herself by Alle Mims, Clubbed Thumb Emerging Writers Group