This is an excerpt from the monologue, with Desiree Dabney as Diedre.
Desiree Dabney is an experienced professional actor, singer, director, producer, and theatre educator/ activist. In May 2014, Desirée received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting (B.F.A.) from Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. She received her Master of Teaching from the University of Richmond and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education Curriculum. As a gifted professional, Desirée has been acclaimed and received awards in recognition of her accomplishments. In 2022, she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Shenandoah University. In 2023, Desirée was honored to be selected in Richmond’s Style Weekly’s Top 40 under 40. And in February 2023, she was featured in the Distinguished Black History Tribute on NBC12 that recognized her achievements in theatre education, which included the development of theatre courses for Richmond Public Schools and her selection as the first Black woman to develop theatre curriculum for the Virginia Department of Education.
Desirée is also an award winning director for the Richmond Critics Awards production of How Black Mothers Say I Love You. In addition, her 2023 inaugural production of the iconic musical, Rent, as Head of Musical Theatre was an overwhelming success with nightly sold-out performances! As “Professor Dabney,” Desirée is currently the Head of Musical Theatre, School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. She serves as a Board Member of Yes And Theatrical Company in Richmond, Virginia and the Board for Fine Arts Education (Theatre), Virginia Department of Education. Desirée is also a Georgia Shuler Awards Adjudicator, providing evaluative feedback for high school musical productions. An entrepreneur, she is the Owner and Executive Director of Theatre Diva Productions and Creator of "Growing Into Me" Journal. Desirée is committed to providing professional development opportunities for performers in the Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) community so that all performers will be seen and heard!
