Deidra LaWan Starnes
Deidra LaWan Starnes, Associate Artistic Director at 1st Stage, is an actor, director, writer, and learning facilitator. She was last seen in The Piano Lesson. Other acting credits include Shutter Sisters, Mlima’s Tale, Wanda’s Way, The Mamalogues, The Member of the Wedding, The Hula Hoopin’ Queen, Passing Strange, Two Trains Running, Radio Golf, Seven Guitars, The Amen Corner, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Amadeus, Milk Like Sugar, Julius Caesar, Invisible Man, In the Red and Brown Water and Intimate Apparel.
Directing credits: Sofonisba, hang, Sunset Baby (2024 Helen Hayes Nom for Outstanding Director and Production), Quilters, The Rainmaker (2023 Helen Hayes Nom for Most Outstanding Production), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (6 Helen Hayes noms), ‘Night, Mother, A Civil War Christmas, For Colored Girls, and The Soul Collector. Deidra has a BA in Theatre from the UMD, an MA in Producing Film, TV, and Video from AU, and an MFA in Drama from UCONN.