New York, NY – April 4, 2024 – In support of Opening Act’s mission to invest in New York City youth through free theatre programming, WGA Award-Winner Marcus Gardley (The Color Purple, Maid, The Chi, black odyssey) is returning to the classroom to uplift the voices of these gifted young artists. A member of Opening Act’s Artistic Advisory Board and longtime supporter, Gardley will lead a writing workshop April 20, 2024 in advance of accepting the Opening Act Legacy Award at their annual gala on June 3, 2024.
Gardley began his relationship with Opening Act in 2012 as a Teaching Artist at Walton Educational Campus in The Bronx. In Gardley’s own words: “I had the honor of being a teaching artist over a decade ago, and not only did it encourage me as an artist, but it also fostered my love for teaching young people and giving back to my community.” His work in the classroom and subsequent success in theatre, film, and television, made him uniquely positioned to continue supporting the organization’s mission beyond his teaching artistry.
The Artistic Advisory Board launched in 2014, composed of a group of key supporters who lend their names, time, and expertise to serve as ambassadors for Opening Act, to garner excitement and interest in our work, and to expand Opening Act’s impact on our city’s talented and deserving youth. Gardley’s fellow Artistic Advisory Board members include Anthony Ramos (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts), Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away With Murder), Dominique Fishback (Emmy Nominee, Swarm), Kristen Bell (The Good Place), Marcus Gardley (screenwriter of the upcoming The Color Purple), Rachel Chavkin (director, Hadestown), Jean Smart (Hacks), and Brittany Adebumola (The Other Black Girl, Opening Act alumna).
As part of his ongoing commitment to Opening Act, Marcus Garley will bring his experience, expertise, and excitement for young talent to his upcoming Playwriting Masterclass on April 20. He will be joined by teen and young adult participants from the organization’s Student Leadership Company and Alumni Writer’s Group. Following the workshop, participants will be invited to submit short plays for consideration to be featured in the upcoming gala.
Their largest fundraising event of the year, Opening Act’s “Because Theatre” Gala on June 3 at Chelsea Factory is a celebration of the students, alumni, and Teaching Artists who move the organization’s mission forward. Central to the celebration will be the presentation of the Legacy Award to Gardley, an honor that was presented in 2023 to director Kenny Leon. Sponsorship packages to the event are on sale now and will underwrite tickets for current students and their families to attend the event along with Opening Act supporters and donors.
Says Gardley: “Opening Act is an arts organization that is vital to the New York area community because it provides young people with an outlet to express their dreams, frustrations, and passions, exploring complicated questions that only theater can raise. It also promotes community, camaraderie, and lasting friendships amongst peers and mentors at a time when not only are many arts organizations dying, but we’re seeing a plethora of art programming expunged from the educational system. Opening Act remains an inspiration to us all.”
Marcus Gardley is an acclaimed poet, playwright, and screenwriter who wrote the screenplay for the just released reimagining of THE COLOR PURPLE (2023). He won the 2022 WGA award for best adapted tv longform series for MAID (Netflix). He is the recipient of the 2019 Doris Duke Artist Award. He was a 2019 Obie Award winner for his play The House That Will Not Stand, the 2015 Glickman Award winner, and a finalist for the 2016 and 2015 Kennedy Prize. Other plays include X or the Nation v Betty Shabazz, black odyssey (2023 Drama Desk nomination), The Gospel of Loving Kindness, Every Tongue Confess, …and Jesus moonwalks the Mississippi, and The Road Weeps, The Well Runs Dry. In TV, he has written for several series including Boots Riley’s I’M A VIRGO (Amazon), THE CHI (Showtime), FOUNDATION (Apple), NOS4A2 (AMC), TALES OF THE CITY (Netflix), and MINDHUNTER (Netflix). Gardley was born and raised in Oakland, California. He is the current co-chair of the Playwriting Program at The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.
Committed to closing the arts education access gap in NYC, Opening Act centers the voices of students of color through free, high-quality theatre programming. Since inception in 2000, they have grown to reach over 7,000 young people at 53 under-resourced schools throughout New York City. This includes a partnership with District 79, the city’s alternative school district, and expansion into middle school. After graduation, Opening Act alumni join the Act 2 program, which sets them up for academic, professional, and artistic success. Please visit www.openingact.org to learn more.
Opening Act’s “Because Theatre” Gala will be held June 3, 2024 at Chelsea Factory.
For sponsorship opportunities visit openingact.org/annual-gala/
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