Leticia L. Ridley

Leticia L. Ridley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Drama at the University of Toronto (Mississauga campus). Her work bridges African American theatre, Black performance theory, and Black digital humanities. She actively contributes to academic discourse through publications, podcasting (Daughters of Lorraine and On Tap), and dramaturgy practice.

• PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Maryland, College Park
• Graduate Certificates in Critical Theory, Digital Studies, and Women and Gender Studies

Ridley’s research interrogates Black feminist methodologies in performance culture, particularly focusing on contemporary Black women artists. Her work extends to dramaturgical practice, digital humanities, and analyzing intersections of race, gender, and popular culture. She has received prestigious funding from the Ford Foundation and Mellon Foundation’s African American Digital Humanities program.

Her recent publications explore themes like feminist representation in Hamilton, colonial resistance in Jay-Z’s work, and aural disruption in Serena Williams’ performances. These works highlight her interdisciplinary approach combining theatre studies, Black feminism, and digital studies.

• Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
• Mellon Foundation African American History, Culture, and Digital Humanities Fellowship

Ridley contributes to public scholarship through co-producing the Black feminist theatre podcast Daughters of Lorraine (supported by HowlRound Theatre Commons) and recurring appearances on On Tap: A Theatre & Performance Studies Podcast.