Arminda Thomas is a dramaturg, archivist, writer, and musician, with a passion for old tunes and new plays—particularly plays which give voice to diasporic experiences. In her 20-year career as a dramaturg, it has been her fortune to work on such diverse world premieres as Adrienne Kennedy’s Obie winning June and Jean in Concert (Signature Theatre), Ossie Davis’ A Last Dance For Sybil (New Federal Theatre), Jason Michael Webb & Lelund Thompson’s The First Noel (Classical Theatre of Harlem), and Nambi E. Kelley’s adaptation of Toni Morrison’s Jazz (Baltimore Center Stage). She is also the writer/adapter of Shakespeare’s Women, a” remix” of several Shakespearean works. Ms. Thomas holds an MFA in dramaturgy and script development from Columbia University, and is currently associate artistic director and resident dramaturg for the Going to the River Festival and Writers’ Unit.

From 2001-15, Ms. Thomas was literary associate and archivist for Dee-Davis Enterprises. During her tenure there, she was an executive producer for the Grammy-awarded audiobook, With Ossie and Ruby: In This Life Together, archival consultant for the film Life’s Essentials with Ruby Dee, and in-house editor for Life Lit By Some Large Vision, a collections of Ossie Davis’ speeches and writings, published by Atria Books.

As a musician (banjo) and vocalist, Ms. Thomas has performed in various NYC and east-coast venues, both as a soloist and with her acoustic blues/roots band, The Queens of Everything. She also hosts the weekly internet radio show, Music From the Well.

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