https://linktr.ee/sleepingdragonwoke

When My Sleeping Dragon Woke, 122 Alexander Street, Princeton, NJ (2026)

02/03/2026

STREAMING ON EVENTIVE...https://bit.ly/stream-WMSDW

03/30/2025

Great screening and talkback at the Albany Film Festival! Thanks to and Assistant Director and moderator Mark Koplik for an engaging afternoon.

03/27/2025

Don't miss Danai Gurira and Sharon Washington’s electrifying performances in Richard III! Streaming on PBS Great Performances (Great Performances l PBS until March 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Experience The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park (The Public Theater) production from your home. Watch now!

Danai Gurira delivers an 'unflaggingly energetic' performance as one of Shakespeare's most indelible villains. Sharon Washington delivers a powerhouse performance as Queen Margaret in , commanding the stage with fiery precision. 🔥 TheaterMania says she ‘steals her two scenes as Queen Margaret, cursing everyone and then strolling out completely unruffled.’ Sharon Washington brings Queen Margaret's fury and foresight to life with fiery precision in .

Critics raved! 🤩 Danai Gurira's 'tactical sprightliness' as Richard III is a 'mastermind of chaos' (Variety). Sharon Washington's 'brutal efficiency' (NYT) in is a must-see.

Link in bio for more information!

03/26/2025

Unlock the secrets of the creative journey at Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts, 'When Pages Breathe: The Greatness of Gatsby'! 🌟

🎬 Join us for a powerful screening of 'When My Sleeping Dragon Woke,' a documentary that intimately explores the artistic evolution of the remarkable Sharon Washington. Witness her transformation from a young reader 📖 to a Tony-nominated playwright 🎭, and gain unique insights into the creative process.

💡 This is more than a film; it's an exploration of passion 🔥, perseverance 💪, and the transformative power of storytelling ✨. Plus, engage directly with Sharon Washington and director Chuck Schultz during a post-screening Q&A! 🗣️

Whether you're a student, alumnus, 🎓, a film buff 🍿, or simply someone who appreciates the magic of art 🎨, this event is for you. Learn more and secure your spot through linktr.ee/sleepingdragonwoke in bio! 🔗

Event Highlights:

The 4-day, 5-part event includes panel discussions, masterclasses, film screenings, and theatrical performances, featuring distinguished Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok

March 31, 6:30 p.m.: Panel discussion on the new musical Gatsby, An American Myth, with Martyna Majok and Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., moderated by Professor Stacy Wolf.

April 1, 7:00 p.m.: "The Actor’s Exploration of Classical Text" with Sharon Washington.

April 1, 8:30 p.m.: Masterclass on "Producing Shorts from Literature" with Chuck Schultz and Sharon Washington.

April 2, 7:00 p.m.: Screening of "When My Sleeping Dragon Woke," a documentary on Sharon Washington's life and career.

April 3, 5:00 p.m.: Performance of The Great Gatsby by Literature to Life.

Princeton Public Library

03/21/2025

Albany Film Festival, Saturday, March 29

Join Sharon Washington and Chuck Schultz at the New York State Writers Institute Albany Film Festival on Saturday, March 29, from 12-2 p.m. for a film screening and discussion moderated by Paul Collins-Hackett, executive director of local literacy organization/nonprofit organization The RED Bookshelf. The screening will take place at UAlbany Performing Arts Center University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY. (University at Albany, SUNY)

The Writers Institute’s mission is to be one of the nation’s preeminent literary presenting organizations. The festival includes in-depth panel discussions and how-to workshops with writers, screenwriters, filmmakers, film industry professionals, film critics, and authors who have adapted their books into films.

Linktr.ee/sleepingdragonwoke for more information on the Albany Film Festival website.

03/13/2025

to the groundbreaking Broadway production of “The Scottsboro Boys” (2010), featuring Sharon Washington in the historic role of “A Lady”—a figure embodying Rosa Parks and the quiet strength of those who sparked change. 🎭✨

The show originally premiered at the Vineyard Theatre, and Sharon’s journey with “The Scottsboro Boys” was deeply connected to Colman Domingo, whom she met through the production. Their collaboration added to the show’s rich theatrical depth, making its March 10 Broadway opening historic.

The music was composed by John Kander, one half of the legendary duo Kander & Ebb, known for Broadway classics like and . His music shaped the emotional core of “The Scottsboro Boys” using a minstrel show framework to tell this powerful true story. In 2023, Kander, Stroman, Thompson, and Sharon Washington reunited in “New York, New York” — a full-circle moment celebrating artistry and impact.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s honor Sharon’s portrayal of resilience and the real-life figures who paved the way for justice.

“The Scottsboro Boys” Cast: Interlocutor - John Cullum, Haywood Patterson - Brandon Victor Dixon, Mr. Bones - Colman Domingo, Mr. Tambo - Forrest McClendon, Ozie Powell - Sean Bradford, Olen Montgomery - Josh Breckenridge, Willie Roberson - Kendrick Jones, Roy Wright - Julius Thomas III, Charles Weems - Christian Dante White, Clarence Norris - Rodney Hicks, Eugene Williams - Cody Ryan Wise, Andy Wright - Derrick Cobey, A Lady - Sharon Washington.

03/06/2025

In 2023, "When My Sleeping Dragon Woke" received a standing ovation from a packed 250-seat theater at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival Rocky Mountain Women's Film, North America's longest-running women’s film festival. Held in Colorado Springs, this festival is one of the most well-organized and community-supported we’ve attended, bringing together powerful storytelling and meaningful conversations.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor stories like Sharon Washington’s—a journey of resilience, identity, and self-discovery. Growing up inside a New York City public library, her story asks us:
- How do we face the unknown?
- Who do we rely on in moments of doubt?
- What drives us to persevere?

We’re grateful to Rocky Mountain Women's Film and Executive Director Nicole Nicoletta for giving this story a home and continuing to elevate women’s voices in film.

Linktr.ee/sleepingdragonwoke bio for link to 2023 RMWFF film profile of

03/05/2025

Join Sharon Washington and Chuck Schultz at Princeton University from March 31 to April 3, 2025, as they take part in, "When Pages Breathe: The Greatness of Gatsby," a series celebrating the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, "The Great Gatsby."

The 4-day, 5-part event includes panel discussions, masterclasses, film screenings, and theatrical performances, featuring distinguished Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok. Complete information and registration options can be found on our linktr.ee/sleepingdragonwoke bio.

Event Highlights:

March 31, 6:30 p.m.: Panel discussion on the new musical Gatsby, An American Myth, with Martyna Majok and Kelvin Dinkins, Jr., moderated by Professor Stacy Wolf. Includes a performance by Sharon Washington.

April 1, 7:00 p.m.: "The Actor’s Exploration of Classical Text" with Sharon Washington.

April 1, 8:30 p.m.: Masterclass on "Producing Shorts from Literature" with Chuck Schultz and Sharon Washington.

April 2, 7:00 p.m.: Screening of When My Sleeping Dragon Woke, a documentary on Sharon Washington's life and career.

April 3, 5:00 p.m.: Performance of The Great Gatsby by Literature to Life.

02/27/2025

to February 23, 2016—opening night of "Dot" at Vineyard Theatre! 🎭✨

In Colman Domingo’s thoroughly entertaining comedy-drama, "Dot," Dotty’s failing mind becomes the center of a fraught family gathering. The play was a significant milestone for Colman, expanding on his work as a playwright following "A Boy and His Soul" and "Wild With Happy."

At the heart of the production was Sharon Washington, whose gripping performance as Shelly—a daughter struggling to care for her mother—earned high praise. The New York Times called her portrayal “ferocious gusto”, while Variety noted, “it’s really Shelly’s play.” 💫

“Writing is the most personal that any artist can do…” — Colman Domingo

Through "Dot" and so many other works, Black artists have used storytelling to navigate memory, family, and identity—sometimes without even realizing how deeply personal it is. Black theatre has always been a space where stories are honored, histories are remembered, and truths are confronted. Whether it’s through laughter or heartbreak, these narratives remind us that memory is everything.

What stories from your family stick with you the most? What memories have shaped who you are?

"Dot"
By Colman Domingo
Directed by Susan Stroman
with Colin Hanlon, Marjorie Johnson, Stephen Conrad Moore, Libya V. Pugh, Michael Rosen, Finnerty Steeves, Sharon Washington

02/20/2025

"I think if he was born in a different time, my dad would have been a different person. But he was born in South Carolina in Charleston back during Jim Crow segregation, and I think, I know that informed everything about him. You know, South Carolina is, is known to have a very rich history, but also a very specific history about what happened between Blacks and whites." — Sharon Washington

When Sharon got the call from Tracy Brigden at City Theatre (City Theatre), she may not have realized the journey she was about to take in preparing her play, “Feeding The Dragon.” There were many roads to traverse to complete her family story. One led her to Charleston, South Carolina, where she trekked with her father, George, as a young girl to visit his family. It was a trip Sharon’s mother, Connie, felt was necessary. As an adult, Sharon revisited South Carolina. In “When My Sleeping Dragon Woke,” she said, “It's kind of weird to be here. I'm glad to see it. I don't think my father would ever have come.”

Jim Crow wasn’t just a set of laws. It was a way of life that dictated how Black individuals moved, spoke, and dared to dream. Sharon’s father grew up in this world, shaping him in ways he couldn’t undo.

George "King" Washington’s journey reveals the deep connection between Black history, America’s struggles, and its strength. It’s impossible to ignore how our Black history, struggles, and resilience are woven into the very foundation of this country.

But we are more than our past because we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Their strength lives in us, breaking cycles, reclaiming our stories, and waking our sleeping dragons.

02/14/2025

“The library was a place of fantasy and wonder. Surrounded by these books. I mean, I saw, I read of these other worlds of possibilities. I remember, I was doing one of my first professional shows out of drama school, and we were all sitting on stage on a break telling stories about our families. I told my story, and everybody, of course, was like, well, you have to tell that story. That's an amazing story. For years people kept telling me that I had to write the story down because it was such a unique story.” - Sharon Washington

For Sharon Washington, outreach and community involvement have always been essential to her success. Her love of storytelling blossomed in the aisles of New York City’s St. Agnes Public Library, and today, she continues to make an impact as a board member for several arts-driven organizations. These include the Theatre Gap Initiative, where she works closely with founder Corey Mitchell, the first Tony Award winner for Excellence in Theatre Education; the Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth, where she has served on the board of advisors for more than five years, helping to shape arts programming; and Girl Be Heard, where she works alongside other board members and the GBH team to empower students to become changemakers through the arts.

Through her work, Sharon empowers young students to find their voices and share their stories—always seeking ambitious students who believe in their power to change lives.💖

Let her journey inspire you to embrace your own story and the power of representation.✨

Whose story inspires you? Share in the comments! 👇

02/09/2025

FANTASTIC!! 💫

Nice piece in today’s on the man and the artist (with a surprise pic of yours truly from back in the day 🥰)

When My Sleeping Dragon Woke