Playwrights

“In writing the play, we wanted to give Billy Lee a voice, a sound, a body, and to make sure that the soul of the man, joined with George’s, is still fighting for freedom, for love, and for life.”

Ken Jones and Daryl L. Harris

KEN JONES

DARYL L. HARRIS

BIOS

Ken Jones has had original plays and musicals produced throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. His play, DARKSIDE, was chosen as TIME Magazine’s Critic Choice and was also recognized as one of the best plays of the 1980’s. Other works include A RED EAGLE FALLING, THE MIDDLE OF YESTERDAY, LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE, BURGERTOWN, the musical, CHURCH GIRLS the musical, VICTIMS OF THE ICE AGE and SLEEPING BEAUTY: RISE AND SHINE.

Ken Jones earned his B.FA. degree in Acting/Directing from the University of Florida, a M.F.A. degree in Playwriting from the University of Virginia and continued on to graduate in Playwriting from the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard University.

In addition to his career of writing for the stage, Jones has also created content for film and television. He was a member of the prestigious Warner Bros. Television Writer’s Workshop and went on to serve as the Head of Development for Light Point Entertainment at Disney/MGM Studios for the development and creation of content for television and film.

Ken Jones is an active member of the Dramatist Guild of America, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.   

Daryl Harris has appeared on PBS in AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – RECONSTRUCTION: THE SECOND CIVIL WAR; GRAVEYARD TALES- Smith-Norberg Productions; TAKING OFF- Friday Street Productions (Canada); PETER PAN- CTV Television Network; and MEMPHIS (film) for TNT.

Daryl served as the director on the projects MARTIN’S DREAM and MOURNING THE CREATION OF RACIAL CATEGORIES for KET (Kentucky Educational Television) and PBS.

Daryl Harris earned B.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

Harris is an actor, director and costume-designer for film and theatrical productions both nationally and internationally. He has worked throughout North America, Europe, West Africa, Asia, and Australia.

He is a 2010 recipient of President Obama’s President’s Call to Service Award --the highest level of awards recognizing and honoring volunteerism.

He is a Fulbright Scholar, where he wrote, costumed, and directed the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy’s world premiere production of the SANDA KINDURU.