Ekundayo Bandele is a renowned playwright and theater director whose work has significantly impacted the American theater landscape. His play “Judas Hands” premiered at Cleveland’s Karamu House in 1997, and his subsequent works, such as “If Scrooge Was a Brother” and “Take the Soul Train to Christmas,” have been produced at theaters across the country, including Houston’s Ensemble Theatre and Chicago’s ETA Creative Arts Foundation. In 2006, Bandele founded Hattiloo Theatre in Memphis, TN. As its CEO, he curates annual seasons of plays and programs that celebrate Black culture. He successfully raised 10 million dollars to build and expand Hattiloo Theatre, including a state-of-the-art facility and an endowment. He has also led international initiatives, such as a theater management course in Sudan.