Meet Antonio Duke, 2024-25 McKnight Fellow in Playwriting

Antonio Duke recently wrote to us about his history performing solo work, how it feeds his writing now, and what the theater industry could use more of.

Up next, Antonio will be workshopping his play The Cinders at Playwrights’ Center. His other plays include Missing Mississippi Moons, Tears of Moons, and Ashes of Moons.

Read on for the full interview!

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What came first for you, writing or performing? How does your work as an actor feed your writing, and vice versa? 

Writing and performing were born at the same time for me. Playwriting and performance for me comes in three dimensions. I see players in a space conjuring and I try to transcribe what’s happening. 

Can you talk about your history of performing your own work? What do you like about creating solo work? Does your process differ when writing something that you will perform vs. writing something for other actors?

I love solo work because it encourages you to wrestle with yourself in real time in front of a live audience. You can see what you’re made of. I feel most like I’m the driver of my artistic engine in the midst of solo performance. It’s electrifying. I am currently in anticipation waiting to see how my work sounds in the mouths of actors that aren’t familiar with my work solely as a playwright, so when I’m in rehearsal for my McKnight reading The Cinders, I’ll be learning if I’m going to need to change how I write for other folks rather than for myself.  

Can you tell us more about your work at The Ifẹ̀ Lab?

As a theater director my goal is to create an ancient Afro-Futuristic space where Black folks can artistically express their humanity. I’m the founding artistic program director of The Ifè Lab. I founded this program in 2024. The Ifẹ̀ (Ee-fay) Lab is a 12-week fellowship highlighting three black solo performing artists in Minnesota. Each fellow is commissioned to create two new pieces. Both pieces are filmed. One piece is performed live at our showcase and the other is filmed in a space of their choosing along with their creation rituals. Excerpts of their solo performances are shared on social media.

Is there anything you can share with us about your upcoming workshop of The Cinders?

There’s two versions of The Cinders: a solo version and non-solo. I’m currently working on the solo version for myself which I will perform as a digital theater piece soon. My upcoming workshop of The Cinders will be a fever dream. 

What topics, themes, or genres are you most drawn to in your writing?

I’m most excited about manic fever dreams. When artists play enthusiastically with full abandonment.

Is there a unique part of your writing process you wish people knew about, or that you could invite us into?

I have no idea what I’m doing. And that’s the point. That’s the state of play. Once I run around for a bit then I’ll add structure. 

What would you like to see more of in the theater industry?

I would like to see theater embody the energy of a hip hop dance cypher. I’ve witnessed such an epic electricity in the hip-hop dance scene here in downtown Minneapolis on a Saturday night. If we can bring that raw unencumbered expression into the theater. IT. WOULD. BE. LIT. AS. F*CK. 

What do you value most in collaborators?

Flexibility. Courage. Enthusiasm.

What is it about art, or theater specifically, that helps us through challenging times?

Epic text has a healing balm which calms my nervous system and reminds me that I’m not alone.