Desirèe Dabney

Desirée Dabney is an award winning actor, singer, director, producer, theatre educator, and activist whose work bridges artistry, education, and advocacy. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2014 and her Master of Teaching from the University of Richmond and continues expanding her scholarship by adding more advanced degrees in education and curriculum. Her artistry and leadership have earned her numerous honors including Shenandoah University’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2022), recognition in Richmond’s Style Weekly Top 40 Under 40 (2023), and a feature in NBC12’s Distinguished Black History Tribute (2023). She also made history as the first Black woman to develop theatre curriculum for the Virginia Department of Education while also creating transformative theatre courses for Richmond Public Schools.
A dynamic director, Desirée has directed more than 100 productions with recent credits including Once on This Island, SpongeBob the Musical, She Persisted, the award winning How Black Mothers Say I Love You, and the sold out 2023 inaugural staging of Rent as Head of Musical Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a mentor, she has guided countless theatre teachers and continues to transform theatre education with innovation, inclusivity, and vision. In addition to her directing and academic leadership, Desirée teaches powerful workshops around the world creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices are not only seen but truly heard.
Beyond the stage, she has served as Head of Musical Theatre at VCU’s School of the Arts and is honored to become the Head of Musical Theatre at Greensboro College. She has also served as a Board Member for the Virginia Department of Education in Fine Arts Theatre and as an Elected Board Director of the Educational Theatre Association. She is a theatre and musical theatre adjudicator in many states, a proud Theatre Gap Initiative teaching artist, and the Owner and Executive Director of Theatre Diva Productions. Passionate about equity and representation in the arts, Desirée is dedicated to ensuring that BIPOC performers and all artists have the opportunity to thrive on stage and beyond.