Tarell Alvin McCraney
Tarell Alvin McCraney is best known for his acclaimed trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays which includes The Brothers Size, In the Red and Brown Water and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet. Other plays include Head of Passes, Choir Boy and Wig Out!
Latest News on Tarell Alvin McCraney:
BIO
Tarell Alvin McCraney is best known for his acclaimed trilogy, The Brother/Sister Plays which includes The Brothers Size, In the Red and Brown Water and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet. Other plays include Head of Passes, Choir Boy and Wig Out! Tarell's script, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, is the basis for the Oscar-winning film Moonlight directed by Barry Jenkins, for which McCraney and Jenkins also won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. Tarell is currently working on an original scripted TV series for Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network, produced by Michael B. Jordan and Page Fright Productions.
Photos
A Kind of Marriage (World premiere)
Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Choreography by Jamar Roberts (Arnhold Creative Associate at Large and
Distinguished Visiting Faculty)
Music by William Byrd, Mass for Four Voices (excerpt)
Music by Marvin Gaye, Sandra Elaine Greene, and Gwen Gordy Fuqua,
“Distant Lover” (excerpt)
Juilliard Drama
Date:
02/06/2026
From: Photos: Highlights from Juilliard School's CELEBRATION: A BENEFIT FOR SCHOLARSHIP
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Author
Playwright
Writer
Playwright
Playwright
Playwright
Awards and Nominations
Drama Desk Awards - 2026 - Outstanding Direction of a Play
Tarell Alvin McCraney and Bijan Sheibani, The Brothers Size
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2026 - Outstanding Direction of a Play
Tarell Alvin McCraney, The Brothers Size
Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Play
Tarell Alvin McCraney, Choir Boy
Videos
LEROY AND LUCY World Premiere, NOISES OFF & More Announced For Steppenwolf's 2024/2025 Season
by Joshua Wright - 2024-03-13 13:29:34
Video: Playwright a.k. payne Talks FURLOUGH'S PARADISE at Alliance Theatre
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-02-25 15:31:40
Video: Get A First Look At Alliance Theatre's FURLOUGH'S PARADISE
by Joshua Wright - 2024-02-08 11:19:20
VIDEO: Get a First Look at DREAMGIRLS at McCarter Theatre Center
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2024-01-09 17:25:05
VIDEO: Tarell Alvin McCraney On His Vision for the Geffen Playhouse
by Joshua Wright - 2024-01-04 15:50:17
VIDEO: First Look at CHOIR BOY at Steppenwolf Theatre Company
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-06-30 14:08:54
VIDEO: Get A First Look At CHOIR BOY At The Denver Center for the Performing Arts
by Alan Henry - 2022-05-17 11:37:22
VIDEO: Watch a Teaser for Barry Jenkins' THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
by Sarah Leiber - 2020-10-19 15:30:30
VIDEO: Forest VanDyke, Darius-Anthony Robinson, and Kris Coleman Perform 'Quiet' as Tribute to Black Lives Matter
by Stephi Wild - 2020-08-12 07:02:30
VIDEO: OWN Releases Trailer for DAVID MAKES MAN, Premiering August 14
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-06-19 13:24:39
VIDEO: Get A First Look At Tina Landau's MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT at Steppenwolf
by Alan Henry - 2019-06-06 11:30:37
VIDEO: OWN Releases Trailer for Drama Series, DAVID MAKES MAN
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-01-28 09:57:08
VIDEO: Andre Holland and Zazie Beetz Star in the Trailer for HIGH FLYING BIRD
by Kaitlin Milligan - 2019-01-17 11:51:18
News
MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT to Extend Run Off-Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 15, 2026
MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and Tina Landau and starring Tony Award nominee Ato Blankson-Wood, will extend its limited engagement at Vineyard Theatre in New York.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 15, 2026
MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, written by Tarell Alvin McCraney and Tina Landau and starring Tony Award nominee Ato Blankson-Wood, will extend its limited engagement at Vineyard Theatre in New York.
Onyekachi Iwu Wins 2026-2027 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2026
Vineyard Theatre named Nigerian American playwright Onyekachi Iwu as the recipient of the 2026-2027 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, which includes a cash prize and yearlong residency.
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 14, 2026
Vineyard Theatre named Nigerian American playwright Onyekachi Iwu as the recipient of the 2026-2027 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, which includes a cash prize and yearlong residency.
The Public Theater Expands 2026-27 Season to 18 Productions, Largest in Organization History
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
The Public Theater revealed its 2026-27 season lineup, expanding to 18 productions. The season includes world premieres from playwright Caryl Churchill and theater company Elevator Repair Service, plus new works by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
The Public Theater revealed its 2026-27 season lineup, expanding to 18 productions. The season includes world premieres from playwright Caryl Churchill and theater company Elevator Repair Service, plus new works by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen.
Ato Blankson-Wood to Replace Wayne Brady in MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 29, 2026
Tony Award nominee Ato Blankson-Wood is set to join the production in the role of Terence Alan Smith/Joan Jett Blakk in MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, replacing Wayne Brady.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 29, 2026
Tony Award nominee Ato Blankson-Wood is set to join the production in the role of Terence Alan Smith/Joan Jett Blakk in MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, replacing Wayne Brady.
Phylicia Rashad To Direct FENCES At The Mark Taper Forum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2026
Phylicia Rashad will direct August Wilson's Fences at the Mark Taper Forum. Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, Fences depicts the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2026
Phylicia Rashad will direct August Wilson's Fences at the Mark Taper Forum. Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, Fences depicts the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker.
All the Off-Broadway Shows to See in Fall 2026 - A Complete Guide
by Sidney Paterra - Sep 16, 2026
BroadwayWorld has your official fall 2026 Off-Broadway preview, a complete guide to everything opening Off-Broadway! See West End transfers, stars in play revivals, multiple world premieres and more.
by Sidney Paterra - Sep 16, 2026
BroadwayWorld has your official fall 2026 Off-Broadway preview, a complete guide to everything opening Off-Broadway! See West End transfers, stars in play revivals, multiple world premieres and more.
Photos: Inside Rehearsals for MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT Off-Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 14, 2026
You can now get a first look inside rehearsals for Vineyard Theatre’s upcoming production of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, with a cast led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 14, 2026
You can now get a first look inside rehearsals for Vineyard Theatre’s upcoming production of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, with a cast led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady.
AHA to Bring Oprah Winfrey to Sphere for Immersive Live Experience
by Rachel Stone - Sep 14, 2026
Oprah Winfrey will appear live on stage at Sphere in Las Vegas for a one-weekend immersive experience featuring contributions from Jacob Collier, Ocean Vuong, Max Richter, Ethan Tobman and Tarell Alvin McCraney, among others.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 14, 2026
Oprah Winfrey will appear live on stage at Sphere in Las Vegas for a one-weekend immersive experience featuring contributions from Jacob Collier, Ocean Vuong, Max Richter, Ethan Tobman and Tarell Alvin McCraney, among others.
Photos: Wayne Brady and the Cast of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT Meet the Press
by Bruce Glikas - Sep 11, 2026
See photos of Wayne Brady and the cast of Ms. Blakk for President meeting the press ahead of the new production at Vineyard Theatre, beginning performances October 15, 2026.
by Bruce Glikas - Sep 11, 2026
See photos of Wayne Brady and the cast of Ms. Blakk for President meeting the press ahead of the new production at Vineyard Theatre, beginning performances October 15, 2026.
THE BROTHERS SIZE to Open at African-American Shakespeare Company
by Stephi Wild - Sep 11, 2026
The African-American Shakespeare Company will present Tarell Alvin McCraney's play about two brothers navigating life after incarceration. Directed by James Mercer II, this marks the production's first San Francisco staging since 2010.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 11, 2026
The African-American Shakespeare Company will present Tarell Alvin McCraney's play about two brothers navigating life after incarceration. Directed by James Mercer II, this marks the production's first San Francisco staging since 2010.
SHOW NO FEAR Will Premiere at The Green Room 42
by Stephi Wild - Sep 1, 2026
This Halloween, The Green Room 42 will present the premiere of SHOW NO FEAR, a new real-world horror play from writer-director Aaron Mark. Learn more here!
by Stephi Wild - Sep 1, 2026
This Halloween, The Green Room 42 will present the premiere of SHOW NO FEAR, a new real-world horror play from writer-director Aaron Mark. Learn more here!
Geffen Playhouse to Honor Bebe Neuwirth, Chris Paul, Harold A. Brown
by Rachel Stone - Aug 26, 2026
Geffen Playhouse will present its annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, honoring Bebe Neuwirth, Chris Paul and Harold A. Brown with awards recognizing artistic and community impact.
by Rachel Stone - Aug 26, 2026
Geffen Playhouse will present its annual Backstage at the Geffen fundraiser, honoring Bebe Neuwirth, Chris Paul and Harold A. Brown with awards recognizing artistic and community impact.
Stage Directors And Choreographers Foundation Unveils Recipients Of The 2026 Lynnette Barkley Fund
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 20, 2026
Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Diego Alejandro González, and Jaquita Ta'le will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation to support their artistic careers.
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 20, 2026
Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Diego Alejandro González, and Jaquita Ta'le will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation to support their artistic careers.
Helder Guimarães’s THE HOPE THEORY to be Presented Off-Broadway This Fall
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 20, 2026
Illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimarães’s The Hope Theory will make its New York Premiere Off-Broadway this fall. The Hope Theory had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 20, 2026
Illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimarães’s The Hope Theory will make its New York Premiere Off-Broadway this fall. The Hope Theory had its world premiere at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Gideon Glick, Kelvin Moon Loh and More Complete MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT Cast
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 18, 2026
The full cast has been revealed for Vineyard Theatre's upcoming production of Ms. Blakk for President, led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady as Terence Alan Smith/Joan Jett Blakk.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 18, 2026
The full cast has been revealed for Vineyard Theatre's upcoming production of Ms. Blakk for President, led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady as Terence Alan Smith/Joan Jett Blakk.
Review: CHOIR BOY at Actor's Express
by Joseph Harrison - Aug 11, 2026
Finding the courage to be yourself is rarely easy. Finding that courage in a place where tradition, expectation, and conformity are woven into the fabric of daily life can feel nearly impossible. That tension sits at the heart of CHOIR BOY, now on stage at Actor's Express. Tarell Alvin McCraney's powerful coming-of-age drama explores what it means to live authentically when doing so comes at a cost. Along the way, it examines friendship, faith, family, masculinity, and identity through characters who feel remarkably real. The result is a production that is both deeply specific in its portrayal of the Black male experience and universally relatable for anyone who has ever felt like they did not quite fit the traditional mold.
by Joseph Harrison - Aug 11, 2026
Finding the courage to be yourself is rarely easy. Finding that courage in a place where tradition, expectation, and conformity are woven into the fabric of daily life can feel nearly impossible. That tension sits at the heart of CHOIR BOY, now on stage at Actor's Express. Tarell Alvin McCraney's powerful coming-of-age drama explores what it means to live authentically when doing so comes at a cost. Along the way, it examines friendship, faith, family, masculinity, and identity through characters who feel remarkably real. The result is a production that is both deeply specific in its portrayal of the Black male experience and universally relatable for anyone who has ever felt like they did not quite fit the traditional mold.
Creative Team Set for MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT Off-Broadway
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 11, 2026
The creative team has been revealed for Vineyard Theatre’s upcoming production of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, with a cast led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 11, 2026
The creative team has been revealed for Vineyard Theatre’s upcoming production of MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, with a cast led by Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady.
Photos: CHOIR BOY is Now Playing at Actor's Express
by Stephi Wild - Aug 7, 2026
Actor's Express is continuing its 38th season with the Tony Award-winning play Choir Boy by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by AE's Associate Artistic Director Amanda Washington. Check out all new photos from the show here!
by Stephi Wild - Aug 7, 2026
Actor's Express is continuing its 38th season with the Tony Award-winning play Choir Boy by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney and directed by AE's Associate Artistic Director Amanda Washington. Check out all new photos from the show here!
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, and More Nominated For Equity Jeff Awards; Full List
by Stephi Wild - Jul 23, 2026
In celebration of its 58th anniversary awarding recognition for Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for the 2025 –2026 season, including the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and more.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 23, 2026
In celebration of its 58th anniversary awarding recognition for Equity theater, the Joseph Jefferson Awards announces its nominations for the 2025 –2026 season, including the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and more.
The Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis to Step Down
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 22, 2026
After 23 years as Artistic Director of The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis will step down when his current contract concludes in 2028, at the end of The Public Theater's 60th anniversary season.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 22, 2026
After 23 years as Artistic Director of The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis will step down when his current contract concludes in 2028, at the end of The Public Theater's 60th anniversary season.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many Broadway shows has Tarell Alvin McCraney been in?
Tarell Alvin McCraney has not appeared on Broadway.
How many West End shows has Tarell Alvin McCraney been in?
Tarell Alvin McCraney has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
What was Tarell Alvin McCraney's first West End show?
Tarell Alvin McCraney's first West End show was Wig Out! which opened in 2017
What awards has Tarell Alvin McCraney been nominated for?
Outstanding Direction of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Brothers Size, Outstanding Direction of a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Brothers Size and Best Play (Tony Awards) for Choir Boy.
How many shows has Tarell Alvin McCraney written?
Tarell Alvin McCraney has written 8 shows including The Brothers Size (Playwright), Wig Out! (Author), The Brother/Sister Plays Part 1: In The Red and Brown Water (Playwright), The Brother/Sister Plays Part 2: The Brothers Size and Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet (Playwright), The Brother/Sister Plays (Playwright), Choir Boy (Playwright), Head of Passes (Playwright), Ms. Blakk for President (Writer).
.jpg?format=auto&width=300)
Tickets From $59
Tickets From $70
Tickets From $59
Tickets From $101
