Spades: the Play is not just a play. It's a movement to reclaim black storytelling, celebrate culture, and to create an unforgettable experience that will leave audiences craving more.

Spades: the Play - THE TOUR Coming Fall 2026

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Spades: the Play - THE TOUR Coming Fall 2026 ♠

about the play

Set in the heart of Harlem, in 2013, Spades: the Play follows the story of three close friends – Gill, Cori, and Andre – who meet every Friday night at Gill’s crib for their regular, high-stakes spades game. But this Friday, everything feels different. Three days ago, Cori and Andre crossed a line in their friendship, and now the tension between them threatens to unravel everything.

As unspoken feelings bubble beneath the surface, Gill – ever the instigator – invites a new work friend to join the game. This newcomer’s shaky skills and questionable agenda throw the night into chaos, shifting alliances, revealing secrets, and forcing the group to confront truths they've long avoided. A gripping, raw, and emotional journey about friendship, loyalty, and the delicate balance of relationships.

meet the writer & director

Caribbean-raised and Brooklyn native, Marcus Callender is an actor, playwright and director. Beyond his striking on-screen presence, Marcus is sharp, grounded, and deeply committed to the work—one of those rare talents who brings both intensity and ease to any creative space.

Notably, he starred as Oliver “Power” Grant, one of the co-founders and executive producer of the world famous hip-hop group Wu-tang Clan, in the critically acclaimed series Wu-Tang: An American Saga on Hulu. He’s also known for his role as the crooked cop Raymond “Ray Ray” Jones on STARZ’s hit series Power. Marcus brings discipline, credibility, and cultural fluency to every project he touches.

director’s note

When I was in high school my English teacher Ms. Bauman recommended I join a program called TDF Open Doors. It gave the opportunity to kids from select public high schools across the 5 boroughs, interested in theatre, to experience it for free. Each group was assigned a mentor who was a working professional in the arts. Whether they were an actor/actress, director, designer etc. We saw one or two shows each month. Sometimes was Broadway and sometimes it was Off-Broadway. Kathleen Chalfant, a well known actress in the theatre world, was assigned to my group. Before every show, she’d meet us at the theatre and share a bit of insight about the show. Kathleen usually had a friend in the cast, which gave us the opportunity to go backstage after the show and meet everyone. It meant the world to be able to talk to the actors after they performed. I was always the one to ask a lot of questions. After each show it was tradition for us as a group, including Kathleen, to eat pizza and discuss how we felt about the story and performances. I remember those days vividly. It inspired me. Attending the theatre meant something. And the shows I was most excited to see were the ones where the cast was all black. Not only because it was rare but also because those were the stories I felt the most moved by. They were stories I could relate to. Characters that reminded me of people I know in my everyday life including my own family. I was excited to see new actors. I was excited to hear new voices. I was excited for the experience! The experience is what we’re paying for. An experience stays with you for a lifetime.

The future of how we tell our stories is in danger. And when I say “we” I’m referring to Black People. It’s an issue to me when I go see a play written by a black person, directed by a black person, with an all black cast, and the audience consistently is predominately white. That doesn’t make sense to me. It leaves one to question, who are we actually making theatre for? Why do we need to have “Black Theatre Night” for plays that portray a black experience? Once again, who are we actually making theatre for? I want to encourage you to really think about that..

Here at Spades: the Play, every night is “Black Theatre Night”.

PLAY TO WIN! ♠