the writer whose play inspired ‘moonlight’ was named head of yale’s playwriting dpt.

Congratulations to “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney whose work inspired Barry Jenkins’s acclaimed film “Moonlight,” for being named the new chairman of the playwriting department at the Yale School of Drama. McCraney, who earned a graduate degree from the Yale School of Drama in 2007, also wrote the critically acclaimed shows “The Brother/Sister Plays” and “Head of Passes”, and won a MacArthur fellowship in 2013.
Before the three-year appointment begins on July 1st, McCraney will work part-time as part of the admissions process for new students. “We’ve seen the rise of more voices in theater and especially more voices that didn’t have access before,” he said, according to the New York Times. “But those voices aren’t centered. Those voices are still somehow marginalized. Are we really reflecting the community? Are their voices represented? Those are questions for my work. I can help advocate for the voices around me.”

*Erin White is an Atlanta-based writer and AFROPUNK’s editorial and social media assistant. You can follow her on Tumblr or friend her on Facebook. Have a pitch or an inquiry? Shoot her an email at erin@afropunk.com.