Elizabeth Van Dyke

Elizabeth Van Dyke is an award-winning producer, actress, and director who has directed plays all over the country and received honors for her work.

Elizabeth originated the roles of Fannie Mae Dove in FLYIN’ WEST by Pearl Cleage and Mattie in NO…N, NO JEWS, & NO DOGS by the late John Henry Redwood and Annie Talbot in THE DANCE ON WIDOW’S ROW BY Samm-Art Williams. She received an AUDELCO Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Zora Neale Hurston.

Elizabeth is the Co-Founder & Producing Artistic Director of Going to the River, a program that develops & presents the work of women playwrights of color. Ms. Van Dyke has received the Roy Acuff Chair of Excellence in Theatre at Austin Peay State University, The Board of Directors Award from AUDELCO, The President’s Award from the Black Theatre Network, A Fox Foundation Grant, and a Rockefeller Grant to study the elements of Japanese Theatre.

Elizabeth was appointed Artistic Director of the New Federal Theatre in 2020.

NFT Credits

Credit Type Production Season
PlaywrightGreat Men of Gospel 2003-04 Season
Director Zora 1980-81 Season
Director Games 1983-84 Season
Director Great Men of Gospel 2003-04 Season
Director Sweet Mama Stringbean 2007-08 Season
Assistant Director Who Loves the Dancer 1981-82 Season
Actor Zora Neale Hurston: A Theatrical Biography 2016-17 Season
Actor Anna Lucasta 1978-79 Season
Actor The Trial of Dr. Beck 1980-81 Season
Actor Aid to Dependent Children 1974-75 Season
Actor The Dance on Widow’s Row 1999-00 Season