ROBERT JEAN-GILLES is a Manhattan based playwright raised in Huntington, New York. Mr. Jean-Gilles pursued his undergraduate studies at New York University (NYU) and while attending the school, double majored in Drama and Africana Studies. A current MFA student in the Playwriting concentration within the School of the Arts at Columbia University, Mr. Jean-Gilles writes verse drama. Always blending his two “loves” of history and art, the plays of Mr. Jean-Gilles all explore global African history. His philosophy being to provide black classical actors with roles of substance, roles with “meat on the bone”. Thus far Mr. Jean-Gilles has two completed plays: The Tragedie of Alexis, King of Hayti and The Will of Ergamenes.