Renowned playwright and Doris Duke Artist Marcus Gardley reveals how he turns lesser known pieces of Black history into deeply relevant, contemporary works of socially conscious theater. Gardley's plays “X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation,” which illuminates seldom-shared details of Malcom X’s assassination, and “Black Odyssey,” which recasts Homer’s epic as a contemporary story of a Black soldier returning from Afghanistan, are just two examples that demonstrate his prowess as an activist-artist. Lauded for his poetic dialogue, Gardley gives voice to brilliantly imagined characters and inspires audience connections to them. Nowhere is this truer than in “The House That Will Not Stand,” Gardley’s 2019 Obie Award-winning play currently being adapted into a film.
