Dennis A. Allen II was born and raised in Hempstead, New York. His play THE MUD IS THICKER IN MISSISSIPPI was a winner at the 35th annual Off Off Broadway Samuel French festival in 2010 directed by Dennis’ frequent collaborator Christopher Burris. He is a recipient of Atlantic Theater Company's inaugural 2014-15 Launch Commission, National Black Theatre's 2016-17 "I Am Soul Playwright Residency" and Clubbed Thumb's 2016-17 "Early Writers Group". He’s received the Himan Brown Creative Writing Award two years running, and has developed and produced plays with The New Black Fest, The Lark Play Development Center, the Classical Theatre of Harlem, The Fire This Time Festival, Working Theater, New York Madness, The Bowery Poetry Club (Sticky), JACK, The Naked Expedition Project, 48 Hours in Harlem and the National Black Theatre.

He has also kept up his cutting exploration of racial interaction and black identity in collaborative writing projects with The American Slavery Project’s Unheard Voices, Schomburg Junior Scholars, TBTB's The Other Plays and The New Black Fest's Hands up: Seven Playwrights, Seven Testaments. He serves as an Associate Producer for The New Black Fest and has Directed plays at The Public Theater, Theatre Row, The Kraine Theater, Playwright's Horizons and The Wild Project. Dennis received his MFA from Mac Wellman's Brooklyn College Playwriting program.

Film/TV Show that has inspired your work:

Fresh (1994)

Dream Actor/Actress to work with:

Celestine Rae/ Regina King

The book everyone should read:

Anything by bell hooks, Audre Lorde, or Toni Morrison

When you’re not creating you are:

Trying to be a better; husband, educator, friend and citizen

Social cause you’re most passionate about:

Listen to Black Women. (Black women have been and continue to be the moral compass for America whatever social ill most impacts the Black woman is where we should focus our energy)

What does the Mission mean to you?

In her book, “All About Love”, author bell hooks offers her “ingredients” that are required for Love to exist. Affection. Care. Respect. Recognition. Commitment. Trust. Open & Honest Communication. The Mission means Love for the art and the artist and embodies all the ingredients.