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Marcus Gardley

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BIO

Marcus Gardley is a proud Bay Area-born playwright-poet whom The New Yorker calls “the heir to Garcia Lorca, Pirandello and Tennessee Williams.” He received a 2019 Obie Award for his play The House That Will Not Stand and is the recipient of the 2019 Doris Duke Artist Award. His play X or The Nation V. Betty Shabazz was a New York Times Critic’s Pick and was remounted Off-Broadway in the spring of 2018. He is a 2019 Library Laureate of San Francisco, the recipient of the 2018 Guiding Light Award presented by California Shakespeare Theater, and won the 2017 Special Citation Theater Award for his play black odyssey, which swept the Theatre Bay Area Awards, garnering six other prizes including Best Production. He is the 2013 USA James Baldwin Fellow and the 2011 PEN Laura Pels Award winner for Mid-Career Playwright. He wrote the screenplay for The Color Purple musical feature film and What's Going On, a biopic about Marvin Gaye produced by Dr. Dre. Currently, Gardley is developing several tv projects for Amazon studios and writing a musical about Jean-Michel Basquiat with music composed by Jon Batiste



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Productions

 
[Broadway, 2022] [Replacement]
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[Off-Broadway, 2018] [Replacement]
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Writing

Playwright
Bookwriter
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Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Adaptation

Marcus Gardley, black odyssey


winner
Obie Awards - 2019 - Playwriting Award

Marcus Gardley, The House That Will Not Stand

Helen Hayes Awards - 2011 - The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical

Marcus Gardleyevery tongue confess

Videos

News


The Fire This Time Festival Unveils 2025 Festival Lineup

The Fire This Time Festival will return to wild project in NYC, featuring six world premiere ten-minute plays by acclaimed playwrights like Brittany Fisher and FELISPEAKS. Learn how to purchase tickets.
The Billie Holiday Theatre Launches Inaugural BLACK NARRATIVE A Theater Series

As a part of its 2024-25 Season, The Billie Holiday Theatre - one of the nation's preeminent arts and culture organizations - will launch the inaugural “Black Narrative” theater series.
New York Stage And Film Names Ian Belknap As Next Artistic Director

Ian Belknap has been named as the new Artistic Director of New York Stage and Film, bringing his extensive experience to the organization known for developing innovative theater projects. Learn more about Belknap.
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation Announces Liz Diamond as New SDCF Board President

Liz Diamond, Jonathan Parker, and Barbara Whitman have been announced as new members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Board of Trustees, bringing their extensive experience to the organization.
The Billie Holiday Theatre Reveals 2024/25 Season Lineup

The Billie Holiday Theatre has announced details for its 2024-25 season. Learn more about the season lineup here!
Red Bull Theater Unveils 2024-25 Season Featuring Productions, Readings & More

Red Bull Theater has revealed its 2024-25 season with a lineup of productions, readings, and special events available both in-person and online.
Review: THE INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL'S STAR-STUDDED GALA

THE INTERNATIONAL BLACK THEATRE FESTIVAL'S STAR-STUDDED GALA is one of my favorite events because it showcases the best of the best in theatre excellence. This event is equivalent to our Oscars.
Berkeley Rep Announces Participants For 2024 Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab

Berkeley Rep reveals the participants for the 2024 Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab, featuring a diverse group of artists and projects aimed at fostering new works in theater.
Casts Set for Red Bull Theater's Short New Play Festival 2024

Red Bull Theater revealed the cast for its 2024 Short New Play Festival, featuring world premiere works by Madeleine George and Robert O’Hara. Learn how to purchase tickets.
THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND Begins This Week at the Shaw Festival

 Marcus Gardley’s acclaimed drama The House That Will Not Stand begins previews tomorrow at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.
Red Bull Theater Reveals Selections for Short New Play Festival 2024

Red Bull Theater has revealed the winning selections for Red Bull’s ANNUAL SHORT NEW PLAY FESTIVAL. Learn more!
Lineup Unveiled for 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Explore the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival with Playwrights Foundation's on-demand readings and events. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.
Playwrights Foundation Releases On Demand Readings & Events For 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Discover the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival's on-demand readings and events, released by Playwrights Foundation.
THE COLOR PURPLE Director Blitz Bazawule to Direct Upcoming BLACK SAMURAI

Fresh off the heals of his 2023 musical hit The Color Purple, director Blitz Bazawule has found his next project. According to Variety, the director will be working with Warner Bros. on a new take on the story of Yasuke, the 16th century African warrior. In addition to Warner Bros, three other studios were also interested in the project, resulting in a bidding war.
Video: Playwright a.k. payne Talks FURLOUGH'S PARADISE at Alliance Theatre

Watch playwright a.k. payne share their experience bringing FURLOUGH'S PARADISE  to life at the Alliance Theatre and what the Alliance/Kendeda Program means for upcoming playwrights in the video here!
John Douglas Thompson & Nicole Ari Parker to Lead Red Bull Theater's ANTONY & CLEOPATRA

RED BULL THEATER has revealed updated casting for the next offering of a new season of OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings: Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. See who is starring!
Interview: Kristen Adele Calhoun Excitedly World Premieres Her BLACK CYPRESS BAYOU

The world premiere of Kristen Adele Calhoun’s Black Cypress Bayou has already begun at the Geffen Playhouse. Tiffany Nichole Greene directs the cast of: Amber Chardae Robinson, Brandee Evans, Angela Lewis and Kimberly Scott. After a successful opening weekend, Kristen managed to find some time to answer a few of my queries.
Sound Theatre Joins Theatre Puget Sound's Space4Arts Resident Theatre Cohort

Sound Theatre has joined Theatre Puget Sound's Space4Arts Resident Theatre Cohort, finding a permanent home at Seattle Center Armory. Learn more about the partnership here!
THE COLOR PURPLE Movie Musical Sets Max Streaming Premiere Date

Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE COLOR PURPLE movie musical will make its streaming debut on Max next week. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders, and Quincy Jones, the film is a bold new take on the classic story of love and resilience, adapted from the beloved novel and the Broadway musical.
Video: Get A First Look At Alliance Theatre's FURLOUGH'S PARADISE

Get a first look at Alliance Theatre's FURLOUGH’S PARADISE, which follows Cousins Sade and Mina, raised like sisters but now leading very different lives, as they return to their childhood town for a funeral.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Marcus Gardley written?

Marcus Gardley has written 5 shows including On the Levee (Bookwriter), Desire (Writer), X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. the Nation (Playwright), The House That Will Not Stand (Playwright), black odyssey (Playwright).

What awards has Marcus Gardley been nominated for?

Outstanding Adaptation (Drama Desk Awards) for black odyssey, Playwriting Award (Obie Awards) for The House That Will Not Stand and The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical (Helen Hayes Awards) for every tongue confess.

What awards has Marcus Gardley won?

Marcus Gardley has won the Playwriting Award at the Obie Awards for his work in The House That Will Not Stand.

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