Peace in the Mourning Star

Veronique LaShell MacRae is a NYC born & based, NC raised writer, director, educator and performer. As the founder of The VMJ Arts Collective, Veronique aims to curate a holistic, creative arts marketplace that speaks to the well-being, training, and development of the artist. The collective provides creative think tank spaces in conjunction with education, training, consulting and self-care services for performing, creative, literary, and media artists.

As a member of The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the Association of Writers & Writing Program (AWP), Veronique’s written and artistic works are rooted in the areas of mental health, social justice, identity and health awareness. She aims to lift narratives and stories that give voice to the voiceless, light to the darkness and inspiration to all. As an educator, she utilizes her artistic gifts to empower and educate students by teaching them to utilize their voices for community and global impact.

A graduate of North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina (BA Theatre), Ms. MacRae has performed in, written, produced and directed several theatrical productions, independent films, television shows and art presentations in North Carolina, Washington, DC, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York (off-Broadway & regional).

Veronique’s most recent credits include writer and director of “Peace in the Mourning Star”, the role of Diane Blaine in the upcoming series, "Miss Education" filming in NYC, Director of Masha Dowell's "Blackwomanology" for its virtual premiere at the 2021 Edingburgh Fringe Festival, Playwright & Performer for the production of Rainbow Children, Angel Babies and Fruitless Fig Trees directed by Cynthia L. Dorsey for the 2021 Rogue Theater Festival in NYC and Co-Writer for the one-woman piece, I am NOT a Monolith co-written and performed by Dahjn Maria Gomez. Previous works include the role of Hester La Negrita in Soul Fly Theatre's production of Suzan Lori Parks "In the Blood", an appearance on Food Network’s #1 Culinary Competition Cutthroat Kitchen as a competing chef, Assistant Director of the short independent film “Just”, which received the Best Inspirational Short Award at the 2016 Urban Film Festival in Miami, FL; Playwright and Director of the world premiere of “The Suicide Journals” at the 2015 Capital Fringe Festival which earned 4 ½ stars, favorite show, favorite ensemble and Top 5 shows of the Week awards; Playwright and Director of the revival of the off-Broadway production of “Chocolate Vanilla” at the 2015 DC Black Theatre Festival in Washington, DC, the role of Lady in Red in the Soul Fly Theatre Society production of “For Colored Girls” in Washington, DC and Co-Producer of DCTV’s Student Exposure Dance Fever featuring the Dance Institute of Washington.

Veronique completed her Master of Arts in Christian Studies at Duke University in Durham, NC in May 2012 in which her one woman show, “Self-Portrait of a Sinner” emerged as her final project and later premiered at the 2014 Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, DC. She formerly served as a theatre critic for DC Metro Theatre Arts. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Ashland University. Her first book “The Artist Escape: Refreshing, Renewal & Rejuvenation for the Creative Soul" released in August 2020 and her second book, "In a Field Full of Lavender Trees: Poetry & Prose of a Soul Seeking Freedom" released in Summer 2022.

Upcoming projects include the inaugural Rise of the Phoenix Fringe Festival scheduled for 2023,
the theatrical piece, “From the Womb of Yemaya” and the documentaries “The Myth of the Black Super Woman” and “Lunching Out”, a double feature focused on Mental health in the African American Community, which serves as a catalyst for her latest theatrical work in development, “When Birds with Broken Wings Fly” curated through her Local Theatre Residency in Social Impact at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.