about
Justin Clarel is a Black queer writer, performer, and educator creating and uplifting vibrant stories for a better world. Justin has directed and produced original theatre projects focused on Black stories, including Rage to Heal in the 2017 Cohen New Works Festival, Saved You a Plate in the Painted Bride’s 2019 Solstice Series, Queer Cheer: A Winter Holigay Special, and non-linear: works-in-progress by black lgbtq artists.
Justin has performed as part of Ars Nova’s ANT Fest, OUTsider Festival, Philly Fringe, NYC Sketchfest, Dixon Place HOT! Festival, and more. They are one-fourth of the sketch comedy team The Rhubarbs and have created sketch shows with Mural Outrage and Philly Improv Theater. Justin is the host of A Very Virgo Virtual Show and the founder of The Starfruit Project, a platform highlighting creativity for healing and growth.
Justin’s poetry and prose are published in Black Youth Project, TAYO Literary Magazine, cavity, MELANINzine, and several print anthologies. They are a 2022 Strides Collective Emerging Playwright, a 2022 Hurston/Wright Summer Screenwriting Fellow, and a 2022 VONA Comedy Participant. Justin was also a 2020-2021 Core Playwright with InterAct Theatre Company, a 2020 Leeway Foundation Art and Change Grantee, and a 2016 recipient of the Acts of Greatness LGBTQ Youth Community Award.
Originally from South Jersey, Justin holds an AB in Sociology from Princeton University. They are passionate about musical theatre, mangoes, and memoirs. Keep up with their adventures at theeclarel.com and @theeclarel.