M. D. Schaffer

M. D. Schaffer (They/He) is an award-winning, Non-Binary, Ashkenazi, African-American playwright, librettist, lyricist, and Theatre & Horror scholar. They evoke American history, embodying historical and scientific facts to ground narratives that explore, uplift, and empower marginalized experiences in contemporary times. Their previous productions include “A Rodeo Clown” with the Obsidian Theatre Festival & “Drapetomania: A Negro Carol” with the We Will Dream Festival. Their dramatic works have been developed in collaboration with Art House Productions, Lighthouse Ladies LLC, National Queer Theatre, The Classical Theatre of Harlem New Jersey Play Lab, The Civilians, The Bechdel Project, and the Obie Award-winning Harlem9 Inc. Their work as a lyricist has been performed at Rattlestick Theater, 54 Below, and Musical Theater Factory. They’ve been a visiting lecturer at the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, Jersey City Historical Museum, and University of Montana. Their chapter, “‘In Spite of Your Misfortunes’: Investigating Black Horror on Screen & Stage as Spectator & Creator,” will be published in the upcoming book Stage Fright: Race, Gender, and Camp in Contemporary Horror of Stage and Screen. They’re a 2023 recipient of the Pine Meadow Ranch for Arts & Agriculture Residency program with Roundhouse Foundation and a recipient of the 2025-2026 OPEN AIR Montana Residency.