Dewayne Perkins

Dewayne Perkins is an American comedian, writer, and actor. Born and raised in Chicago, he received improv training at The Second City and also worked for iO Theater. He is a staff writer for The Amber Ruffin Show and previously wrote for The Break with Michelle Wolf and the seventh season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Perkins' stand-up comedy was recommended by Variety magazine and at Just for Laughs comedy festival.[1][2]

Not to be confused with Dwayne Perkins.
Dewayne Perkins
BornChicago, Illinois, USA
MediumStand-up, theatre, television
NationalityAmerican
Alma materCurie High School
DePaul University
Notable works and rolesThe Blackening

Early life and education

Perkins was born in Chicago, Illinois[2] and was raised on the south side near Marquette Park.[3] He attended Hearst Elementary School and graduated from Curie High School.[2] He was the first African American male student to receive an International Baccalaureate Diploma from his high school.[2]

Perkins developed his interest in performing through musical theater and improv classes in high school.[2] He attended DePaul University after gaining admittance to the Acting Conservatory, but was cut after his first year.[2] He changed his major to film and animation and was introduced to The Second City by his best friend and writing partner Aasia Lashay Bullock.[2] They were hired there after a producer saw his and Bullock's original show Uncle Tom & Jerry Curl: A Black History Month Experience.[2] Perkins received his bachelor's degree from DePaul.

Career

After college Perkins continued to work at Second City and as a performer at iO theater, and was a member of the improv trio 3Peat. In 2016, he wrote and performed Black Side of the Moon at Woolly Mammoth Theater in D.C.[4]

He left Second City in 2017 to pursue stand-up.[2][3] When he transitioned to stand-up, he stated that using Twitter improved his joke writing.[4] His work frequently covers issues of identity such as his race and sexuality.[5]

In April 2018, 3Peat's sketch The Blackening was released online on Comedy Central, and follows "an all-Black group of friends (who ain't got no business camping) as they get chased by a serial killer."[6] The sketch originated from a variety show sketch Perkins produced at Second City.[6] In January 2020, it was announced that The Blackening is being adapted into a full-length film, to be co-written with Tracy Oliver and developed by MRC Film and The Story Company.[1]

He was hired to write for the sole season of The Break with Michelle Wolf in 2018.[2] He later relocated to Los Angeles and joined the writing staff for season seven of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.[3] In both writer's rooms he was the only Black writer.[3] Perkins is a writer for The Amber Ruffin Show and the Saved By the Bell reboot, both released on Peacock in 2020.[7][8]

Viral Twitter thread about racism at The Second City

In June 2020, Perkins posted a viral Twitter thread alleging institutional racism during his time at The Second City.[9] He "criticized Second City prior’s reluctance to fundraise for the Black Lives Matter movement without also financially supporting police-related causes."[9] He alleged that he and other Black performers were required to see a dialect coach to make their speaking voices more "palatable."[10] He further stated in an interview with The New York Times that he had heard directors use anti-Black slurs, and was traumatized by his overall experience.[10] Several other Black performers replied to the thread.[10] The next day, Second City co-owner Andrew Alexander resigned.[9]

Personal life

Perkins is gay.[2][11]

Accolades

References
  1. Boucher, Geoff (2020-01-16). "'The Blackening': MRC & The Story Co. Adapting Comedy Central Short To Feature Film". Deadline.
  2. "Art & Life with Dewayne Perkins". Voyage Chicago. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  3. Metz, Nina. "Chicago's Dewayne Perkins on writing for 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' and his new solo stand-up show 'How Being Black and Gay Made Me Better Than You'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  4. Nelson, Jenny (2017-01-13). "@DewaynePerkins on Gayness, Blackness, Strangers, and Strangers". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  5. Hassenfratz, Mark (2015-03-03). "Dewayne Perkins, Professional Funnyman". South Side Weekly. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  6. Henderson, Taylor (2020-03-25). "Horror Films Are Getting Queerer & Blacker Thanks to Dewayne Perkins". www.pride.com. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  7. Wright, Megh. "Here's the Writing Staff for The Amber Ruffin Show". Vulture. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  8. "What Not To Wear If You're a Corporate Mascot". NPR.org. 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  9. Jones, Chris. "Second City owner Andrew Alexander to exit after accusations of institutionalized racism". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  10. Ryzik, Melena; Malooley, Jake (2020-08-12). "Second City Is Trying Not to Be Racist. Will It Work This Time?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  11. Chee, Karen (2018-07-20). "Dewayne Perkins on Being Relevant Always and Forever". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  12. Ramos, Dino-Ray (2017-10-29). "New York TV Fest Names 'Giving Up' Best Indie Pilot – Complete List Of Winners". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  13. Wright, Megh (2019-07-22). "Just for Laughs Announces Its 2019 New Faces". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  14. Riley, Jenelle (2020-08-12). "Variety Announces 10 Comics to Watch for 2020". Variety. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
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