August Wilson Trifecta (Two Trains, Ma Rainey and Fences on the same day)
Fences was performed in the backyard of August Wilson’s boyhood home.
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company
Support the arts in your community!
This 1960s teenager knew the neighborhood that inspired August Wilson’s plays
“Aw, man, you know the brother um takin’ ‘bout. He always be up at Eddie’s, light skin, heavy-set, like a fly-on-the-wall, be greasin’ secondhand tweeds, that ol’ newsboy cap, slanted to one side, pencil stub behind his ear. “Wylie to Elmore…. wit’ them empty side pockets, his corduroys be singin’ the blues, cues Bessie on the…
Had a great time with AmLit students at the August Wilson block party
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Notes on Teaching August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle
I first taught Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle during an intensive 3-week online course during the 2020-21 winter break, during the Time of Covid. The nature of that course was such that I could only reasonably require students to read 6 of Wilson’s 10 plays; I think I required everyone to read 4, and then split the…
Hey there, chaotic world in academia and beyond, could you settle down just a bit so I can mark these papers on August Wilson? Thanks!
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How I Learned What I Learned (featuring Wali Jamal)
Carving out some time to enjoy this show as I prep to teach the Pittsburgh Cycle @SetonHill Similar:Two Trains Running ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 7 of 10)August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoi…BooksBecause Internet: the new linguistics of informal EnglishI’m planning to begin my online Shakespe…CultureWashington Post Cartoonist Who Quit Over Bezos Cartoon Wins Pulitzer PrizeFormer Washington…
Support the arts in your community! #augustwilson #radiogolf
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‘One of the great American stories’: the incredible life of playwright August Wilson
The host was Bill Moyers, former White House press secretary under Lyndon Johnson. The guest was August Wilson, one of the great playwrights of the 20th century and unofficial laureate of African American history and culture. It did not go well. “Don’t you grow weary of thinking Black, writing Black, being asked questions about Blacks?”…
Live theater. August Wilson's Jitney, in the back yard of the August Wilson House.
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August Wilson House officially opens in Pittsburgh’s Hill District
The August Wilson House officially opened over the weekend in a tearful and emotional ceremony, bringing over 500 residents, celebrities, officials, and local Black leaders to Pittsburgh’s Hill District. The Bedford Avenue childhood home of Hill District native August Wilson, one of the greatest playwrights in history, was unveiled as a new community arts center,…
Educated, uplifted, boosted, and fed. Block party celebrating August Wilson continues through this afternoon in the Pittsburgh Hill District.
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Behold this stack of August Wilson library books
Yay, libraries. I’m delighted that my college library has a full set of August Wilson’s plays. I’ve had them all checked out for a couple months, but I’m finished with them for now. During the Christmas break I taught a special topics course on Wilson’s Century Cycle. I thought it was too much to expect…
King Hedley II ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 9 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1999; Broadway 2001 Setting: 1985; backyard of row houses; Pittsburgh Hill District Prologue (starry night) Stool Pigeon, clicking ham bones, monologues to an offstage cat (which belongs to Aunt Ester). “The story’s been written. All that’s left now is the playing out.” I.i King (30s), ex-con…
Playwright #AugustWilson Takes Center Stage on U.S. Postal Service Commemorative Forever Stamp #AugustWilsonForever #BlackHeritageStamps
Playwright August Wilson Takes Center Stage on U.S. Postal Service Commemorative Forever Stamp 📬📃🖊 #AugustWilsonForever #BlackHeritageStamps https://t.co/Ezj04lKcPa — U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) January 28, 2021 Similar:Hidden Spaces, New Possibilities I’ve often had dreams about returning …CultureToasting Shakespeare at the Bard's Birthday BashOrganized by Pittsburgh Shakespeare in t…CultureWhy Fears of Fake News Are OverhypedFacebook seems to…
Jitney ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 8 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1982; Broadway 2017 Setting: 1977; Becker’s cab station, Pittsburgh Act I.i (morning?) Youngblood accuses “old man” Turbo of cheating in checkers; Turbo accuses Fielding of drinking his gas money; Youngblood turns down a grocery run, which Turbo takes; Youngblood gets defensive at Doub’s silent look; Shealy…
Two Trains Running ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 7 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1990 (Broadway 1992) Setting: 1969; Memphis’s small restaurant, Pittsburgh Act I.i Memphis (hard-working and honest) complains that Wolf (notorious numbers runner) is tying up his phone; Risa (waitress with self-scarred legs) doles out sugar at Wolf’s request; Memphis complains his “old lady” left him and wouldn’t…
Fences ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 6 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1985 Setting: 1957; 1965; Troy Maxon’s lived-in backyard, Pittsburgh A prose prologue contrasts the experience of European immigrants who were embraced by cities, with the opposition faced by the descendants of African slaves. I.i. (Friday evening) Troy (large man) and Bono (his “follower”) “engage in a…
Seven Guitars ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 5 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1995 Setting: 1948, backyard of a house, Pittsburgh I.i. (Sunday; right after Floyd’s funeral) Louise sings a “bawdy song” as Red Carter and Canewell squabble over pie; Canewell admire’s the preacher’s sermon, and Vera reports seeing six angels that came out of the sky; Canewell and…
The Piano Lesson ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 4 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1987; Broadway & Pulitzer Prize 1990 Setting: 1930s, Doaker’s house, Pittsburgh Scene description mentions an old upright piano with legs carved in African style. I.i. (5am) Offstage Boy Willie calls, waking Doaker (severe, settled railroad cook). BW introduces Lymon, from “back home.” He asks for Bernice.…
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom ( #AugustWilson #CenturyCycle, 3 of 10)
August Wilson’s Century Cycle > Spoiler-free scene breakdown Premiered: 1984. Setting: a recording studio in Chicago, 1927. 10 characters An opening note describes the context of the city and the significance of blues music. Act I Money-man Sturdyvant orders manager Irvin to keep “her” in line. To Sturdyvant, this is all just business. When band…