William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on "Sesame Street" between 1992 and 2002. La MaMa ETC Regional Tony Award - 2018. He also wrote for Nickelodeon's "Allegra’s Window" and Lancit Media’s "Backyard Safari." W. Electric Black, who under his aka Ian Ellis James, co-wrote several songs as a writer for Sesame Street with over a million views on YouTube. These include: The Gospel Alphabet for Patti LaBelle Sesame Street: Patti Labelle Sings The Alphabet and The Letter “O” for Queen Latifah Sesame Street: Queen Latifah: The Letter O In 2022-2023, his children’s television show “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds. In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, Mr. Black has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention. He has also raised awareness re: saving kids from gun violence. _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Mr. Black’s stage credits include: (2025) Can You Hear The Pigeons Writer/Director Theater For The New City _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ (2024) Fly To Tomorrow – Additional Book Writer – Jooda Culture – South Korea USA Production (2024) Betty & The Belrays – Writer/Director – La MaMa ETC, NY, NY (2024) The Frankenstein Project – Writer/Director – Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2023) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical -Writer/Director, Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2022) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical –Writer/Director La MaMa ETC

Ian Ellis James a.k.a. W Electric Black

William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on "Sesame Street" between 1992 and 2002. La MaMa ETC Regional Tony Award - 2018. He also wrote for Nickelodeon's "Allegra’s Window" and Lancit Media’s "Backyard Safari." W. Electric Black, who under his aka Ian Ellis James, co-wrote several songs as a writer for Sesame Street with over a million views on YouTube. These include: The Gospel Alphabet for Patti LaBelle Sesame Street: Patti Labelle Sings The Alphabet and The Letter “O” for Queen Latifah Sesame Street: Queen Latifah: The Letter O In 2022-2023, his children’s television show “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds. In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, Mr. Black has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention. He has also raised awareness re: saving kids from gun violence. _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ Mr. Black’s stage credits include: (2025) Can You Hear The Pigeons Writer/Director Theater For The New City _Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup_ (2024) Fly To Tomorrow – Additional Book Writer – Jooda Culture – South Korea USA Production (2024) Betty & The Belrays – Writer/Director – La MaMa ETC, NY, NY (2024) The Frankenstein Project – Writer/Director – Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2023) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical -Writer/Director, Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2022) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical –Writer/Director La MaMa ETC

Available to hire

William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on “Sesame Street” between 1992 and 2002. La MaMa ETC Regional Tony Award - 2018. He also wrote for Nickelodeon’s “Allegra’s Window” and Lancit Media’s “Backyard Safari.”
W. Electric Black, who under his aka Ian Ellis James, co-wrote several songs as a writer for Sesame Street with over a million views on YouTube. These include: The Gospel Alphabet for Patti LaBelle Sesame Street: Patti Labelle Sings The Alphabet and The Letter “O” for Queen Latifah Sesame Street: Queen Latifah: The Letter O
In 2022-2023, his children’s television show “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds.
In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, Mr. Black has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention. He has also raised awareness re: saving kids from gun violence. Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup
Mr. Black’s stage credits include: (2025) Can You Hear The Pigeons Writer/Director Theater For The New City Website not available. Sign in: https://www.twine.net/signup
(2024) Fly To Tomorrow – Additional Book Writer – Jooda Culture – South Korea USA Production (2024) Betty & The Belrays – Writer/Director – La MaMa ETC, NY, NY (2024) The Frankenstein Project – Writer/Director – Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2023) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical -Writer/Director, Theater For The New City, NY, NY
(2022) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical –Writer/Director La MaMa ETC

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Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Writer/Director at Theater For The New City
January 1, 2025 - Present
Directed and wrote multiple productions including 'Can You Hear The Pigeons' and 'The Frankenstein Project'. Managed theatrical productions and contributed to the New York arts scene.
Writer/Director at La MaMa ETC
January 1, 2024 - Present
Directed and wrote 'Betty & The Belrays' and the 'Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical'. Contributed original content and theatrical direction.
Additional Book Writer at Jooda Culture, South Korea
January 1, 2024 - Present
Contributed as an additional book writer for the theatrical production 'Fly To Tomorrow'.
Writer at Sesame Street
December 31, 2002 - August 3, 2025
Seven-time Emmy Award-winning writer for the show Sesame Street from 1992 to 2002, creating educational content for children.
Writer at Sesame Street
December 31, 2002 - August 3, 2025
Seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for Sesame Street, contributing from 1992 to 2002.
Writer/Director at Various Theater Productions (Theater For The New City, La MaMa ETC, etc.)
December 31, 2025 - August 3, 2025
Wrote and directed several stage productions from 2023 to 2025, including "Can You Hear The Pigeons," "Betty & The Belrays," "Fly To Tomorrow," "The Frankenstein Project," and "Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical."
Director at Theater for the New City
December 31, 2009 - August 3, 2025
Directed "Lonely Soldier Monologues: Women at War in Iraq" in 2009, a serious play about female soldiers which received widespread attention.
Writer/Director at EBE Productions, NY
January 1, 2024 - Present
Court Warrior – In Development
Executive Producer / Head Writer at FarView Entertainment, CA
January 1, 2021 - Present
Dragon Clouds
Option Purchase / Creator at FarView Entertainment, CA
January 1, 2021 - Present
Rap-U-Cation (children’s educational project) optioned; developed pitch deck for Pinna FM
Writer at Sesame Workshop / Sesame Street
January 1, 1992 - January 1, 2002
TV writer for Sesame Street
Writer/Director at Theater For The New City
January 1, 2026 - Present
Johnny Dracula
Writer/Director at La MaMa
January 1, 2024 - Present
Betty & The Belrays
Additional Book Writer at Jooda Culture – S. Korean Theater Prod. Co
January 1, 2024 - Present
Fly To Tomorrow
Writer/Director at Theater For The New City
January 1, 2024 - Present
The Frankenstein Project
Writer/Director at La MaMa ETC. NY
January 1, 2023 - Present
Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical
Executive Producer / Head Writer at FarView Entertainment, CA
January 1, 1992 - January 1, 2002
Executive Producer / Head Writer for Dragon Clouds.
Writer at Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street)
January 1, 1992 - January 1, 2002
Writer for Sesame Street; Emmy-winning work.
Writer/Director at The Frankenstein Project – Theater For The New City, NY
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
The Frankenstein Project, Writer/Director.
Writer/Director at La MaMa ETC., NY
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2023
Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical, Writer/Director.
Court Warrior at EBE Productions, NY
January 1, 2025 - Present
Court Warrior - In Development.
Writer/Producer at FarView Entertainment, CA
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2021
Rap-U-Cation - Option Purchase.
Executive Producer / Head Writer at Dragon Clouds – FarView Entertainment, CA
January 1, 1992 - January 1, 2002
Writer/Director at Johnny Dracula
January 1, 2026 - Present
Writer/Director at Can You Hear The Pigeons
January 1, 2025 - Present
Writer/Director at Betty & The Belrays
January 1, 2024 - Present
Additional Book Writer at Fly To Tomorrow (Jooda Culture – S. Korean Theater Prod. Co.)
January 1, 2024 - Present
Writer/Director at The Frankenstein Project
January 1, 2023 - Present
Writer/Director at Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical
January 1, 2023 - Present
Lecturer / Faculty at NYU Tisch School (Dept. of Dramatic Writing)
January 1, 2000 - Present
Taught at NYU for over 20 years in Dramatic Writing and NYU's Summer High School Program

Education

Add your educational history here.

Qualifications

Emmy Award
January 1, 1992 - December 20, 2025
Tony Award (La MaMa Regional Theater)
January 1, 2018 - December 20, 2025
NY State Assembly Citation
January 1, 2018 - December 20, 2025
Bronze Apple (National Educational Video Award)
January 11, 2030 - December 20, 2025
Tony Award
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018
Emmy Award
January 1, 1992 - January 1, 2002
Bronze Apple (National Educational Video Award)
January 11, 2030 - December 31, 2025
NY State Assembly Citation
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2018
Emmy Award (7-time)
January 1, 1992 - December 31, 2002
Tony Award
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
NYS Assembly Citation - Charles D. Lavine
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018
Bronze Apple (National Educational Video Award)
January 11, 2030 - February 6, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other
    uniE608 ROMEO & JULIET: TRIBAL ROCK MUSICAL
    MUSICAL NUMBER FROM MY SHOW - ROMEO & JULIET: TRIBAL ROCK MUSICAL WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY IAN ELLIS JAMES AKA WILLIAM ELECTRIC BLACK