Anthony Chisholm News

THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST is the third in a cycle of plays that began with Hudes' Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue, a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his time in Iraq and his father's and grandfather's service in Vietnam and Korea. The second play in the trilogy, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Water by the Spoonful, received its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre in 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Second Stage Theatre's production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, begins performances tonight, February 11.

LAUREN VELEZ, best known for her role as Captain Maria LaGuerta on the hit Showtime series, "Dexter," will play the role of Yaz in the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Ms. Velez replaces the previously announced Elizabeth Rodriguez.

Grammy Award-nominated musician Nelson Gonzalez has joined the creative team of the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Mr. Gonzalez, who is widely considered the master of the Cuban Tres guitar, will oversee the production's musical elements and will lead a live band during performances.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director), currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary season, has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winnerQuiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The company will feature ANTHONY CHISHOLM (Radio Golf, Jitney), DARIUSH KASHANI (Homebody/Kabul), TONY PLANA (Ugly Betty), ARMANDO RIESCO (2ST's Water by the Spoonful), ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ (Motherf***er with the Hat, Orange is the New Black), and ANNAPURNA SRIRAM (Pericles at Berkeley Rep).

Actor/director and noted August Wilson interpreter Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs a revival staging of Wilson's JITNEY tonight as part of a live webcast series presenting the ten 20th century cycle plays by the two-time Pulitzer-winner, following successful presentations of Ma Rainey'S BLACK BOTTOM and FENCES last month as well as JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE and THE PIANO LESSON so far this month.

While 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' is generating Oscar buzz for its chronicle of several decades of African- American political life, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson masterfully documented a full century of the African-American experience in the 10 plays the make up the American Century Cycle. These works, nine of which have been staged on Broadway with stars including Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, among many others, showed the suffering, joys, and triumphs of African-Americans through searing, poetic and personal stories of everyday people in Pittsburgh, PA.

August WilsonFor the very first time, the Estate of August Wilson has granted an organization the rights to record all 10 of these works. Kicking off on Monday, August 26 with 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' The Greene Space - the performance venue of public radio stations WNYC and WQXR -- will stage these readings before live audiences, and will make them present them as live video webcasts for viewers everywhere at www.thegreenespace.org. Ruben Santiago-Hudson, one of the leading interpreters of Wilson's work, is Artistic Director. The series has assembled a formidable group of 'Wilson Warriors' including Phylicia Rashad, S. Epatha Merkerson, Kenny Leon, Leslie Uggams, Anthony Chisholm and many others, along with Wilson first-timers including Taraji P. Hensonand Jesse L. Martin. Click below to watch interviews with the directors!

While 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' is generating Oscar buzz for its chronicle of several decades of African- American political life, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson masterfully documented a full century of the African-American experience in the 10 plays the make up the American Century Cycle. These works, nine of which have been staged on Broadway with stars including Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, among many others, showed the suffering, joys, and triumphs of African-Americans through searing, poetic and personal stories of everyday people in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR, the state-of-the-art venue of the nation's most listened-to news/talk and classical public radio stations, will make history this fall when it creates, for the first time, exclusive recordings of all 10 of August Wilson's American Century Cycle Plays.

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR, the state-of-the-art venue of the nation's most listened-to news/talk and classical public radio stations, will make history this fall when it creates, for the first time, exclusive recordings of all 10 of August Wilson's American Century Cycle Plays.

A decade of ambition: Pittsburgh Playwrights completes the Cycle. Many arts organizations struggle in their first few years; and they survive those first lean years through sheer determination. So for a steelworker with no formal theater training to have the audacity to start a theater troupe that has reached a ten-year milestone is reason for pause.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, previously announced updated information about its 2013 season. August Wilson's Two Trains Running and Noel Coward's Present Laughter will switch positions in the previously announced lineup; there are no other changes to the run dates, including opening nights.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2012-2013 Season with August Wilson's Two Trains Running, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. A one-week extension has been added to the run prior to the start of performances, which will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, February 2 and continue through Sunday, March 3. The new press opening is Friday, February 15 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or www.trtc.org. This production is sponsored by a grant from the Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation. The lead production sponsor is Wells Fargo and the co-sponsors are Brookdale Community College and NJ Transit.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces updated information about its 2013 season. August Wilson's Two Trains Running and Noel Coward's Present Laughter will switch positions in the previously announced lineup; there are no other changes to the run dates, including opening nights.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company are proud to announce a celebrity cast play reading of August Wilson's To Trains Running directed by Tony Nominated Director, Kenny Leon.