Download a copy of Derek’s creative practice resume here.

A resident playwright alumnus at both Chicago Dramatists and the National Black Theatre, Derek’s creative practice engages communities across the United States. He has written five musicals for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. His newest work -- water riot: a cyber punk rock opera -- is in development with support from New York Live Arts, Creative Capital and The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.  Other notable works include Serious Adverse Effects, a futuristic medical ethics drama, and Bring the Beat Back, a queer, black, sci-fi, music theatre extravaganza. 

Derek’s media/film projects include HIVE, a forward-looking anthology series co-created with Stephanie Jeter and Tim Maupin. Following a successful festival run, the pilot episode is available on OTV | Open Television, a digital streaming platform dedicated to intersectional storytelling. 

Derek is a founding playwright with The Fire This Time Festival, and an inaugural playwright in the 48 Hours in Harlem Festival – two Obie Award-winning theater platforms. Other organizations that have incubated his work include Hi-Arts (formerly the Hip Hop Theater Festival), New England Foundation for the Arts, and the Drama League. Select plays are published with Methuen Drama and the Obsidian Literary Journal. His writing has received awards and grants from the Jerome Foundation, Pop Culture Collaborative, and the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom, among others.

Originally from Pickerington Ohio, Derek lives in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, and splits his time between Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.