Marcus Gardley

is a poet-playwright who has won the Helen Merrill Award (2008), a Kesselring honor, the Gerbode Emerging Playwright Award, a Eugene O'Neill Memorial Scholarship, and the ASCAP Cole Porter Prize. His recent play, And Jesus moonwalks the Mississippi, was produced at the Cutting Ball. He has had six plays produced including: This World in a Woman's Hands (2009), Love is a Dream House in Lorin (2007) and dance of the holy ghost (2005). His new play, Every Tongue Confess, will premiere at Arena Stage in November directed by Kenny Leon. MFA: playwriting, Yale Drama School. Member: New Dramatists. Currently professor of Playwriting and African-American studies at Umass Amherst.