The Kennedy Center to Present All 10 Wilson Plays in '08

According to the Washington Post, the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC will stage all ten works from the late August Wilson's groundbreaking cycle chronicling the African-American experience in the twentieth century.

Slated for a month within the spring of 2008, the plays--which include Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II and Radio Golf--will be seen as staged readings in the Terrace Theatre.

The event will be staged under Kenny Leon's artistic direction.  Leon directed the hit revival of A Raisin in the Sun, as well as Gem of the Ocean, the last Wilson play to be produced on Broadway prior to the playwright's death of cancer on October 2nd, 2005.  He is also director of the Broadway-bound Radio Golf, Wilson's final play.

The plays--whose plots are centered in Pittsburgh--follow a varied collection of characters who, through the years, both struggle with and take pride in their identities as African-Americans.  Each of the ten plays takes place in a different 20th century decade.  The Kennedy Center will stage the plays in chronological order--beginning with Gem of the Ocean and ending with Radio Golf.

"This is the biggest homage to August Wilson that I could imagine. He's one of the most important playwrights of our country, and this is an astounding body of work," said Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser.  The Kennedy Center will be the first venue to consecutively offer all ten of Wilson's plays within one season (although the Signature Theatre Company in New York is currently honoring Wilson with a recent hit production of Seven Guitars, and the upcoming Two Trains Running and King Hedley II).

Three or four directors besides Leon will be enlisted to direct the plays, which will be presented in repertory.  Although the plays will be presented as staged readings, Leon plans to incorporate lighting, sets and costumes.  There will be a "core ensemble" of around 20 actors interpreting the 77 roles in the play, and Kaiser stated that "some star performers who originated roles in Wilson plays will be sought for the event."

"What he symbolized -- the simple fact that he was most articulate about -- was that America was for all of us.  The plays tell a story of America that is a gift to all Americans," stated Leon.

Visit www.kennedycenter.org for more on the Kennedy Center.