Anedra J. Small

Anedra J. Small is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Florida A&M University (FAMU) within the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities (CSSAH). With over 25 years of acting experience and 15 years of teaching expertise, she specializes in Theatre Performance, Acting for the Camera, and Arts Integration in Education. Small holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from Florida A&M University and an M.F.A. in Acting from the University of Florida.

Her research interests span Script Analysis, Classical Acting, Voice Training for the Actor, and the intersection of African American Studies with Theatre. She emphasizes creating inclusive, collaborative spaces for students to explore performance and has directed numerous plays at FAMU Essential Theatre, including adaptations like Romeo & Juliet: A Miami Love Story Reimagined. Her work also touches on cultural expression through Natural Hair advocacy and Baking & Cake Design, showcased in her appearance on Food Network’s Holiday Wars (Season 4).

Small’s creative contributions include conceiving original productions such as A New Era and Keepers of Legacy, alongside directing critically acclaimed plays like Blood at the Root and School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play. She has served as director and advisor for The FAMU Connection, fostering student engagement in theatre and professional development.