“Anastazia X. Neely has proven herself to be an incredibly adept and insightful voice, positioning herself as a necessary critic. Her writing is led by her heart and activism, refusing to be a passive voice in the works that are put forth on the American theater stage. It is this ferocity and wisdom that our beloved Edward Medina would be inspired by, and there is no doubt he would champion a voice such as Anastazia’s.”

-David John Chávez, Past ATCA Chair

“Through her work on her own website, Black Star Reviews, Anastazia is able to write about theatre and the arts in general with passion and intellectual rigor. She thoughtfully contextualizes theatrical productions within the greater socio-political context, assesses the work as pieces of art, can point out the flaws where she sees them, and put it all together with prose that is engaging and accessible. You do not need a theater degree to appreciate her prose, which is essential for inspiring a love of theater in new audiences. It is all the more impressive considering she is self-taught.“

-Diep Tran, art critic and editor-in-chief of Playbill

On Saturday, November 14th I will officially receive the Edward Medina Prize from the American Theatre Critics and Journalists Association, which is the perfect reason to celebrate. I invite you to join me for this festive occasion and major milestone. No RSVPs or tickets necessary. Come if you can and if you can’t, I’ll see you soon!

Date: Saturday, November 14th, 2026

Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm (which coincides with Happy Hour!)

Place: PB Brasserie, 60 W 125th Street, Harlem, NYC

Attire: whatever YOU like

Guests: any and everyone is welcome

Bring (Optional): I treasure hand-written and heartfelt cards and I *rarely* turn down gifts