Willie E. Jones III

Willie E. Jones III received his BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training Program. He has also received training from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He has performed on stages such as The Globe and Morsani Hall. As a playwright, his plays have received workshops and readings at the likes of The Lorraine Hansberry Theater and Millsap College, as well as prison and regional competitions. He is the former interim Co-Director of Theatre at CFCArts, the former Artistic Director of Stage Door Theatre. He was also the Executive Producer of the “Blackness Is…” Theatre Arts Festival in collaboration with The Guthrie, and a co-founder of the MN Black Theatre Circle. Additionally, he was the co-founder of the Quarantine Bakeoff Playwriting Competition. He is currently a Board Member At-Large of the Florida State Thespian Festival and is pursuing his MFA in Directing at Umass Amherst.