Oswego State students had the opportunity to listen to playwright Marcus Gardley on Monday.

Gardley’s work includes “…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi,” “The House That Will Not Stand” and his most recent, “X,” a play that combines the life of Malcom X with Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar.” He also works on the show “The Exorcist.”

Growing up in a violent part of Oakland, California, Gardley said that he always had books. He said that since he and his siblings could not go out and play, they stayed inside and read. This fostered a love of literature and the three siblings are each writers in their own regard.

As a child, Gardley used to put on two-hour plays for his family.

“I’ve always had a passion for storytelling,” Gardley said. “My first memory is writing something poetic.”

While studying at San Fransisco State University, Gardley was told that his poems read like plays. He said his professor pointed out that they had stage directions and suggested that Gardley try theater.

He took that advice to heart and went to the Yale School of Drama, where he graduated from in 2004. Gardley started writing historical plays. One of his first was about the Black Seminoles, a mixed group of African-Americans and Seminole Native Americans that were forced out of Florida and into Oklahoma.

Gardley continues to write about historical figures or events. He even wants to write a play about the woman who invented hot irons for hair.

Gardley gave students advice about how he became successful.

“It is hard to pick just one most important, most valuable piece of advice that he gave,” said Oswego State student Sam Gilroy. “I’ve left a few of [these lectures] feeling like they were a little lacking, or I wish they had covered more things, but this is one of the few I feel like was complete. Very complete.”

Professors thought Gardley gave valuable advice as well.

“I think the whole notion that you have to love it and keep at it … was right,” said Brad Korbesmeyer, interim dean of graduate studies. “There was a lot of things he said that I talk about in my classes and that I agree with.”

Gardley talked quite a bit about the writing process as well. He spoke on how writing is a process, saying that the first draft “should be the worst thing you ever read.” Gardley compared the first draft to poop – it makes a great fertilizer to help something great to grow, even though it may stink.

Students seemed pleased with his answers to their questions, and Gardley was able to thoroughly engage the audience.

“Everything is achievable,” Gardley said. “The only thing that isn’t achievable is you not following you dreams.”

“X” will be performed in New York City starting March 17, 2017. It will be shown at the New Victory theatre.