Theatre Philadelphia announces new leadership with Sabriaya Shipley

With the 22-23 stage season approaching, Theatre Philadelphia has made some changes in terms of leadership. Recently, it was announced that Philadelphia-based playwright, poet, educator, storyteller, artist and community ethnographer Sabriaya Shipley (she/they), will be taking on the role of the organization’s new Executive Director. 

“As an LGBTQ Black artist, my journey in theatre in Philadelphia has met me with several opportunities to collaborate at the intersections of various communities,” said Shipley in a release. 

They continued: “I look forward to the opportunity my leadership at Theatre Philadelphia gives me to create archives honoring a thorough and inclusive history of theatre in Philadelphia, rooms for radical collaborative action and fostering the next generation of theatre makers.”

Shipley has worked in the City of Brotherly Love for years with different community organizations and especially theater companies, with a resume expanding to Theatre Exile, Power Street Theatre, Painted Bride Art Center, Colored Girls Museum, Mural Arts Philadelphia and Philadelphia Young Playwrights—just to name a few accolades. 

“With this new role, I aim to cultivate programming, community discussions and ethnography that explores the intersections of the Theatre Philadelphia community in working with our youth, talking with our elders and fostering conversation centered around acknowledging problems with actions to meet solutions,” they continued. 

Shipley also noted that in five years, they see Theatre Philadelphia operating even more as a hub where theatre and art makers can meet “on neutral ground that is also radical in meeting the community where it is through resources, space, and time spent.”

Shipley was named a 2019 A+ Educator by Philadelphia Family Magazine and a 2021 Black Lives Matter Philly Educator /Fellow. So, you could say that blending theater with community is a passion for the new executive director, especially for and around the expressive freedom of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.

Originally from Charm City, Shipley moved from Baltimore years ago and set Philly roots by receiving a BA in Theatre from Temple University before moving on to receive an MA in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College. To name some additional accolades, the creative was also a recipient of the 2021-2022 Philadelphia Foundation and Forman Art’s Initiative Art Works grant and the Rosine 2.0 Past Visions/ Future Archives Micro-Grant. 

Shipley said, “I am determined to continue to be open to studying, receiving, and cultivating decolonized art spaces. Spaces centered around preserving underrepresented stories.”

The artist also notes that their practice asks communities to participate alongside in exploring their own intersections through various art mediums—such as “poetry, digital media, archiving, playwriting, photography, and more.”

As a release states, Shipley has also been affiliated with Girls Rock Philly, and Tree House Books where they served as a Literacy Program Director decolonizing access to literacy for Black and Brown North Philly Youth. The new Executive Director is also a co-founder of Griot Girls, a youth writing collective for young Black girls. Her first publication “Somewhere Between God & Mammy” was released in January 2022.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to let you know how thrilled we are to have Sabriaya helming Theatre Philadelphia,” said Theatre Philadelphia Board of Directors President Jason Linder in a statement. 

Linder continued: “Her skills and experience offer an embarrassment of riches in organizing, production, education, and development. In particular, Sabriaya brings a community investment centered on outreach that is truly inspiring. We’re so excited to support their vision for the future of this organization.”

For more about Shipley, visit sabriayashipley.com and follow @ubuntusab and @somewherebetweengodmammy. For more about Theatre Philadelphia, visit theatrephiladelphia.org and follow @theatrephiladelphia