▁October ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 2 0 0 3 ) ▁was ▁an ▁African - American ▁play w right , ▁the ater ▁director , ▁actor ▁and ▁educ ator . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁Evans ▁was ▁born ▁April ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 3 8 , ▁in ▁Philadelphia , ▁Pennsylvania , ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁Mary ▁Evans . ▁After ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Marine ▁Corps , ▁he ▁graduated ▁from ▁Che y ney ▁State ▁College ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 2 ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁Temple ▁University , ▁ear ning ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁and ▁a ▁Master ▁of ▁Fine ▁Arts ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 . ▁ ▁Edu c ational ▁career ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁Evans ▁became ▁an ▁associate ▁professor ▁at ▁Tr ent on ▁State ▁College ▁( l ater ▁named ▁The ▁College ▁of ▁New ▁Jersey ), ▁where ▁he ▁cha ired ▁the ▁Af ro - American ▁Studies ▁Department . ▁He ▁also ▁was ▁an ▁adj unct ▁professor ▁at ▁Pr inc eton ▁University ▁and ▁a ▁visit ing ▁professor ▁of ▁the ater ▁arts ▁at ▁R ut gers ▁University . ▁ ▁He ▁worked ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁with ▁his ▁friend ▁and ▁fellow ▁play w right ▁August ▁Wilson ▁in ▁forming ▁the ▁Black ▁Theatre ▁Sum mit ▁at ▁D art mouth ▁College , ▁from ▁which ▁was ▁formed ▁the ▁African ▁Gro ve ▁Institute ▁for ▁the ▁Arts . ▁ ▁Theatre ▁Evans ▁studied ▁acting , ▁direct ing , ▁and ▁play writing ▁at ▁the ▁H