Dee Selmore is a Theatre and Performance Research Ph.D. candidate at Florida State University School of Theatre. Her research focuses on the decolonization of acting methods and pedagogies, exploring the intersection of spirituality and creativity, and the revalorization of Black women in Theatre and Performance. Dee is a proud alumna of Florida A&M University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Performance. She also holds a master’s degree in Theatre from Florida State University and in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Full Sail University. Dee is a member of several esteemed organizations, including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Black Theatre Network, and the Actors’ Equity Association. She is a co-founder of Essential Theatrical Associates (ETA) and ETArts (a nonprofit), and the owner of Olușe Performing Arts.
Dee is honored to return to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, where she previously appeared in The Color Purple (Sofia) and Dearly Departed (Raynelle). Her stage credits include, The Winter’s Tale (Shephard/Emilia, Southern Shakespeare Co.), Letters to Kamala (Charlotta Bass, American Stage), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth, Digital Shakespeare Co.), Skeleton Crew (Faye, Barter Theatre)(Faye, American Stage), A Raisin in the Sun (Mrs. Johnson, American Stage), Sister Act (Deloris Van Cartier, Round Barn Theatre), To Kill a Mockingbird (Calpurnia, Mill Mountain Theatre), Doubt (Mrs. Muller, Crane River Theatre), Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre), Footloose (Vi Moore, Jenny Wiley Theatre), The Drolls (Roxolana, Florida Studio Theatre), and many more. Her most recent films include Noseeums, QueerBNB, My Music, and The Adventures of Brooklyn Barnes.
Dee has also performed several readings at the International Black Theatre Festival and was honored with the 2019-2020 Theatre Tampa Bay Award for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play, recognizing her performance as Faye in Dominique Morisseau’s Skeleton Crew.
Dee thanks Nate Jacobs for believing in her. She also sends a special thank you to John Bronston, Donald Faison, Michael Jacobs, and the entire cast, production team, and crew for this incredible experience. Finally, she sends love to her mother, Papa John, Kevin, and her amazing son!