Norma J. Thomas, Arts Educator, Performing Artist, & Arts Entrepreneur, has, for over forty years, worked within the public education system as a classroom teacher and independently as a coach and consultant, as well as writer, director, producer, and performing artist. Norma has developed artistic programming for youth, emerging artists, and professionals, and has produced and performed for stage, television, and film. Scape Productions, later to become French Creole Productions, is the banner under which she has written, directed, and produced theatrical, film, and video productions, making them affordable and accessible to the community. Norma is Co-Founder and CEO of the non-profit, Six White Horses, Inc. An award-winning playwright and screenwriter, as well as a published and self-published author, some of her works include the musical theatre series, Church Ladies, the annual holiday production, An Urban Christmas Tale, and the award-winning stage play, Personifications, adapted from her book, The Smell of Garlic on Sunday. She has written three children’s books under the Bibi’s Girls Early Years Collection and was contributing writer to the acclaimed Go Tell Michelle, a collection of letters to First Lady Michelle Obama, published by Suny Press. In 2021, Norma established NT Studios & Conservatory in the Acres Homes community of Houston, Tx where she mounted musical productions, taught classes, hosted video shoots, and more. March 2024, Norma launched Shop Talk, The Barbershop Podcast, recorded on location at the historic Joe’s Barbershop, reviving those old-school Black barbershop conversations which influenced and inspired the Black community. The year, 2024, will also see the WORLD PREMIERE of a new holiday production, Carol of the Bells, and pre-production of the award award-winning stage play, H Place, in preparation for the first Houston Black Arts Festival, June 2025. Shop Talk, The Barbershop Podcast, Season 2, launches 2025, and will see the spin-off Shop Talk, The Movie in June.

 

Norma J. Thomas is a member of the M.C. Williams Alumni Group, The Partnership for School Improvement, The Black Theatre Educators’ Caucus, which she co-founded with former teacher and colleague, C. Lee Turner, The Texas Educational Theatre Association, and the Texas Theater Adjudicators & Officials Organization, where she serves as Chair of the Core Values Committee. Norma coordinates the Performance Stage & Special Attractions of the Acres Homes Tree Lighting Ceremony. She is the mother of one daughter, Kam E. Thomas, MPA, a Houston teacher, two granddaughters Kamiliyah, a freshman at Clark Atlanta University, and Leelah, a High School junior. She resides in Acres Homes with her partner of 33years, Angela F. CeZar. They enjoy affiliation with the Shrines of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Christian Church.