Tarell Alvin McCraney

Tarell Alvin McCraney is celebrated for his work on The Brother/Sister trilogy, which includes "The Brothers Size," "In the Red and Brown Water," and "Marcus: Or the Secret of Sweet." In addition to these, he has also written other notable plays such as "Head of Passes," "Choir Boy," and "Wig Out!". McCraney's contributions extend to screenwriting, with the film "Moonlight" and the TV series "David Makes Man" among his credits. He also co-wrote "Ms. Blakk for President" with director Tina Landau and wrote the screenplay for "High Flying Bird."

McCraney's work in film is notably recognized with the film "Moonlight," which he co-wrote and earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Drama, Gotham Award for Best Feature, NAACP Image Award for Best Independent Film, six Independent Spirit Awards, and the Human Rights Campaign’s Visionary Arts Award. He has also collaborated on TV and film projects with Playtone, HBO, and Disney.

McCraney has received several awards for his work, including the MacArthur Fellowship, the Whiting Award, the Steinberg Playwright Award, the Evening Standard Award, the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, the Windham Campbell Award, and a Doris Duke Artist Award. His play "Choir Boy" was nominated for four Tony Awards and won the Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play. He was also honored as the International Writer-in-Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2008-2010 and is currently an ensemble member at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. McCraney's influence extends to academia, where he serves as the chair of playwriting at the Yale School of Drama and a former resident playwright at New Dramatists.

McCraney is a graduate of the New World School of the Arts, the Theatre School at DePaul University, and the Yale School of Drama. He also holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Warwick. Beyond his work in theater and film, McCraney is committed to civic engagement. He initiated a three-year civic engagement program in partnership with the University of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center. McCraney is openly gay and is recognized as an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ community.