Kwame Patterson From David Makes Man On OWN

<p>"David Makes Man" is a one-hour lyrical drama from Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney ("Moonlight"), his first TV project. McCraney serves as executive producer of the series alongside Dee Harris-Lawrence ("Shots Fired," "Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.") who serves as showrunner. Mike Kelley and Melissa Loy ("Revenge") under their Page Fright production banner, Michael B. Jordan via his Outlier Society Productions and Oprah Winfrey are also executive producers. "David Makes Man" centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. Set in South Florida, the series is inspired by events in McCraney's own life and explores childhood trauma and the power of imagination to survive.<br> <br> The drama stars Akili McDowell ("The Astronaut Wives Club") as David, a ferociously observant, instinct-driven, passionate teenager, who toggles between two distinct personas that reflect his surroundings and metabolizes his world like a chameleon, but not without exacting an emotional price; Alana Arenas ("Hall of Passes") plays David's hard-working single mother Gloria, a former drug user with a smile that melts and while rarely home, she wants better for her kids than what they've got; Isaiah Johnson ("Hamilton") plays Sky, an enigmatic and wise dope dealer who is also David's close friend and occasional mentor in the projects; Travis Coles ("Liza on Demand") portrays Mx. Elijah, gender queer and assigned male at birth and doesn't consider herself 'trans,' but always thought of herself as both, Mx. Elijah doesn't disclose pronouns as long as it's with respect-a long-time Homestead Village resident who knows a great deal, but discusses few; Phylicia Rashad ("Creed II") plays Dr. Woods-Trap, the lithe, alive, quick-witted and intimidating teacher that is motherly yet firm towa