2024 Hall of Fame Inductee
Darren is a performer, playwright, and professor. Starting early at Helen Hocker Theatre’s Bath House Players, Darren performed in all THS productions during his high school years. He earned state and national recognition in forensics. His eleven plays have been produced internationally—with his Hardtland premiering with Topeka’s Ad Astra Theater group. His writings center on complex African American families dealing with life altering conflicts in the Midwest during the tumultuous changes of the second half of the 20th Century. His storytelling is legendary as he believes writing about personal experiences makes for a compelling story. Darren earned a BA in creative writing from Carnegie Mellon University, his MFA from New York University, and an Artists’ Diploma from The Juilliard School. Darren is extending his love of education through his position as an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Kansas teaching playwriting and Honors Seminar. His desire to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society is ever present in his teaching and writing.