Dwayne Hartford writes plays that ask hard questions and trust young people to handle the answers. His work has been produced across the country, from Seattle to Boston, tackling everything from grief and belonging to fear and courage. Two of his plays have won the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.

For 36 years, Dwayne built a home at Childsplay in Phoenix, directing more than 25 productions and serving as Artistic Director for a decade. Retired from Childsplay, he's now focused on writing new work and directing for theatres nationwide.