Tarell Alvin McCraney is all over the news. The 29-year-old gay playwright sometimes described as the "heir" to August Wilson's legacy has just become a member of the prestigious Chicago-based Steppenwolf Theatre Company. McCraney is also featured in several news profiles this week.
McCraney's critically-acclaimed trilogy The Brother/Sister Plays are currently in performance at the theater. Steppenwolf has also commissioned McCraney to write a new play based on the biblical book of Job, reports TheaterMania. The Brother/Sister trilogy transplants an ancient Yoruba mythology to the modern-day Louisiana and Hurricane Katrina. It premiered at New York's Public Theater—"Too good to be perfect," raved the New York Times"—and London's Young Vic in 2007.
Today: The new issue of New York City's NEXT profiles McCraney as one of theater's new generation of stars:
"McCraney’s experiences as a gay black man are the core
of his award-winning shows, most notably last year’s
Paris-Is-Burning-as-a-Greek-tragedy, Wig Out!, and this year’s Brother/Sister trilogy. The latter, rumored as a contender for this
year’s Pulitzer, has made the Yale School of Drama grad a rising
star in the theater. McCraney has also given gay theater some
much-welcomed diversity."
On Wednesday: The Detroit News profiled the growing number of black playwrights who, like McCraney, are seeing their work produced by "mainstream, traditionally white theater companies." The newspaper favorably compared the "young, emergent star" to the late August Wilson:
"Like Wilson, the Miami-born McCraney writes about ordinary black people, their hopes and struggles and, above all, their sense of community and the spiritualist legacy that winds back to Africa. But McCraney also parts from Wilson in mirroring his own experiences as a young black, gay man."
Said McCraney when he was named one of The Advocate's "40 Under 40": "I try to hold true to what I know the theater can do and the power of it."
Watch scenes from the Brother/Sister plays and McCraney discuss his work WHEN YOU JUMP ...
Hope he becomes more succesful than Miss Perry.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 23 April 2010 at 21:20
its very great...hope more succesful
Posted by: adapter | 23 April 2010 at 22:12
BRAVO! A black gay playwright at the Public Theater and Steppenwolf? Now that's impressive. I'll be in Chicago in two weeks and would love to take in the production. Mr McCraney is definitely going places.
And as I type this, I'm searching Youtube...
Posted by: Ruiz | 23 April 2010 at 23:53
I saw WIG OUT at the Vineyard Theatre in NYC. Amazing, over-the-top fabulous.
Posted by: harlemboy | 24 April 2010 at 00:13
Very talented young man.
Posted by: Greg G | 24 April 2010 at 01:22
Rod, I read the blog all the time but very rarely leave comments. I just wanted to say that I'm a theatre student and huge fan of McCranney's work. He's quite theater wunderkind and a role model.
Your blog is superb . Please continue.
Posted by: Eaton W1B | 24 April 2010 at 02:26
Wow...this guy is really wonderful! I never heard of him before, thanks for bringing him to my attention!
Posted by: MW09 | 24 April 2010 at 10:24
What a "breath of fresh air", and much needed relevancy. I wish the brother much, much success!!
Posted by: Zaidi | 24 April 2010 at 10:54
He's even sexier naked, and packing major di*k. lol
Posted by: Ummm | 24 April 2010 at 13:47
SMDH @ "Ummm"
A lil TMI, hon.
Posted by: Jaysin | 24 April 2010 at 14:29
I was thinking the same thing Jaysin. Here we are taking a moment to acknowledge this brother for his accomplishments in the art world, and someone comes in and makes a comment about something Mr McCraney had nothing to do with. Despite what you read in other places; kissing and telling is still low class.
Posted by: FREELEO | 24 April 2010 at 15:38
@Jaysin and Freeleo:
My thoughts too. Dayumn brothas, its rare to see "our" people in prominent places like that. The Public Theater? The Steppenwolf? That's major!
McCraney is good looking but leave it at that and keep it moving. It seems with black gay men, we each rush to sexualize each other or minimize each other ... Funny cuz thats same thing the "others" do to us.
We can do better people!
Posted by: Greg G | 24 April 2010 at 17:27
great post and the best of luck to young Mr McCraney. i've never heard of this young but am at all the links now. thannks!
Posted by: Randall | 25 April 2010 at 00:01
@ ummmm
he is super skinny and his dick is only 9
Posted by: joseph | 25 April 2010 at 11:23
Im gonna be in Chicago during the July 4th holiday, i wish it was still playing during that time! :-/
Posted by: Justin S | 25 April 2010 at 18:56
I didn't read anything. I know it for a fact. Yeah he's accomplished, but let's keep it real, when there's pictures posted about sports players we don't commend their accomplishments we talk about track stars packages and blah blah blah. Don't be hypocritical. Get over it. Yes he's skinny, he's got a piece bigger than 9" so I don't know who u were with, and that ass is a tops dream. Get over it.
Posted by: Ummm | 25 April 2010 at 19:02
I want to thank you again Rod for exposing me to this brother. I've been watching his interviews on youtube. He is a genius. He touches my heart.
Posted by: FREELEO | 25 April 2010 at 22:40
Great news. I am a regular theater goer & I look forward 2 traveling 2 some city 2 see one of his productions.
Much success for a long career.
Posted by: H L Austin | 25 April 2010 at 23:28
This thread is like the collision of two worlds.
Posted by: Jim | 26 April 2010 at 23:25
Yes the world of class and the world of crass..lol
Posted by: FREELEO | 27 April 2010 at 21:45