The ambitious intentions of a playwright resulted in the impressive, and enjoyable, “August Wilson Century Cycle”. It consists of a play for every decade of the 20th century and chronicles a part of the black experience in America.
One of his Pulitzer Prize winning plays, “The Piano Lesson”, returns to Broadway this Fall (it debuted in 1990). There have been several revivals since its first production at the Yale Rep in 1987.
This is the 4th play of the Century Cycle, taking place in 1936, and will star Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks and John David Washington. It will be directed by a women for the first time, Latanya Richardson Jackson.
Using his great ear for dialogue, Wilson (1945 – 2005) was able to give us some insight into the daily life – both struggles and triumphs – of an assortment of universal characters to whom his audience could easily relate.
An ambitious undertaking, but, his huge vision was realized and resulted in 2 Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony award. He accomplished a lot doing what he loved to do and perhaps more importantly, August Wilson left a powerful body of work that will be read and performed for years to come. Dreaming big has rewards of all kinds.
BTW, all 10 of August Wilson’s plays are collected in hard cover with a nice presentation box. Each has an introduction by an actor, director or writer familiar with his work.
In 2005, August Wilson completed the ten-play cycle:
- 1900s – Gem of the Ocean (2003)
- 1910s – Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1984)
- 1920s – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1982)
- 1930s – The Piano Lesson (1986) – Pulitzer Prize
- 1940s – Seven Guitars (1995)
- 1950s – Fences (1985) – Pulitzer Prize
- 1960s – Two Trains Running (1990)
- 1970s – Jitney (1982)
- 1980s – King Hedley II (2001)
- 1990s -Radio Golf (2005)
*The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson*
~ Ethel Barrymore Theatre ~
Limited engagement
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