Ed Wilson News

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe presents the Poetic Heritage Festival, a retrospective series of poetry, theater and music events during the fall and winter of 2010.

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe presents the Poetic Heritage Festival, a retrospective series of poetry, theater and music events during the fall and winter of 2010.

It's 1927 and Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, strides into a rundown Chicago recording studio to join a battling quartet of musicians. The great playwright August Wilson places this formidable artist at the center of a captivating drama of flamboyant personalities, professional jealousy, and shattered dreams. Directed by Lou Bellamy, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM plays in Tucson at the Temple of Music and Art from October 16 through November 6. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from November 11 through November 28. The Tucson media sponsors for the 2010-2011 season are KGUN9, MIX-FM and Tucson Lifestyle. Arizona Theatre Company's season sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.

A new exhibition at the International Center of Photography will offer an innovative view of the Civil Rights Movement and the catalytic social role played by changing portrayals of African Americans in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Today, we have a SOUND OFF: Special Interview with the founding member of the Beach Boys himself, legendary performer, composer, arranger and producer Brian Wilson. In our candid conversation we discuss Disney approaching him to create an album of Gershwin music - some old, some new - using the inimitable sound created by Wilson for the verifiable rock n roll bible of the 60s, the album PET SOUNDS. We discuss the process of creating four new songs taking a cue from Gershwin's unfinished compositions - two of over a hundred left languishing! We also briefly talk about the Beach Boys songs that will be used on GLEE this season, what Broadway shows he has seen and liked, what the difference is between composing a score and writing a song, as well as much, much more. Start feeling these good vibrations in our chat and if you are so inclined be sure to pick up the album discussed that was released this week!

Steve Wilson's recent headlining stand at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City was documented by NPR and featured in a riveting ‘Live at the Village Vanguard' broadcast

Playwright Tracey Scott Wilson rips through the pages of history in The Good Negro, a 'powerfully moving' (The New York Times) and 'thunderous new play' (Variety) about the drive for racial equality-and the clash between private ethics and public good. Goodman Resident Director Chuck Smith, who helmed Wilson's 2005 play The Story at the Goodman, directs this Chicago premiere, featuring a cast of Broadway stars and local favorites. A design team led by Tony Award-nominated Set Designer Riccardo Hernandez brings the production to life using inspiration from the iconic imagery of photojournalist Charles Moore. The Good Negro runs May 1 - June 6, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets start at $25. In conjunction with this Chicago premiere, WBEZ's Richard Steele interviews Wilson and Smith for an Artists Talk discussion about The Good Negro on Wednesday, May 5, 6 - 7pm at Goodman Theatre. The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor for The Good Negro; Allstate Insurance Company is the Major Corporate Sponsor; and Bank of America and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. The Joyce Foundation provides principal support of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

A new exhibition at the International Center of Photography will offer an innovative view of the Civil Rights Movement and the catalytic social role played by changing portrayals of African Americans in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Steve Wilson's recent headlining stand at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City was documented by NPR and featured in a riveting ‘Live at the Village Vanguard' broadcast

The 17th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, posthumously honoring and celebrating the work of lighting and set designer Michael Philippi (Desire Under the Elms, Death of a Salesman), 'an esteemed longtime collaborator and friend', will take place on Monday, May 3, at the Goodman Theatre.

Playwright Tracey Scott Wilson rips through the pages of history in The Good Negro, a 'powerfully moving' (The New York Times) and 'thunderous new play' (Variety) about the drive for racial equality-and the clash between private ethics and public good. Goodman Resident Director Chuck Smith, who helmed Wilson's 2005 play The Story at the Goodman, directs this Chicago premiere, featuring a cast of Broadway stars and local favorites. A design team led by Tony Award-nominated Set Designer Riccardo Hernandez brings the production to life using inspiration from the iconic imagery of photojournalist Charles Moore. The Good Negro runs May 1 - June 6, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets start at $25. In conjunction with this Chicago premiere, WBEZ's Richard Steele interviews Wilson and Smith for an Artists Talk discussion about The Good Negro on Wednesday, May 5, 6 - 7pm at Goodman Theatre. The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor for The Good Negro; Allstate Insurance Company is the Major Corporate Sponsor; and Bank of America and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. The Joyce Foundation provides principal support of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters will present the fourth annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National finals Monday, May 3 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre (245 W. 52nd Street). The finals will feature performances of monologues from August Wilson's Century Cycle by twelve regional finalists from Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago and New York.

When August Wilson died in 2005, America lost one of its most influential playwrights. Wilson's legacy - a cycle of ten plays encompassing the 20th Century, continues to captivate audiences around the world for its poeticism and beauty. Geva Theatre Center, as part of its five-year commitment to presenting all ten plays in 'August Wilson's American Century,' will produce the seventh play of the cycle, Two Trains Running, opening March 30 and running through April 25.

The 17th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, posthumously honoring and celebrating the work of lighting and set designer Michael Philippi (Desire Under the Elms, Death of a Salesman), 'an esteemed longtime collaborator and friend', will take place on Monday, May 3, at the Goodman Theatre.

Playwright Tracey Scott Wilson rips through the pages of history in The Good Negro, a 'powerfully moving' (The New York Times) and 'thunderous new play' (Variety) about the drive for racial equality-and the clash between private ethics and public good. Goodman Resident Director Chuck Smith, who helmed Wilson's 2005 play The Story at the Goodman, directs this Chicago premiere, featuring a cast of Broadway stars and local favorites. A design team led by Tony Award-nominated Set Designer Riccardo Hernandez brings the production to life using inspiration from the iconic imagery of photojournalist Charles Moore. The Good Negro runs May 1 - June 6, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets start at $25. In conjunction with this Chicago premiere, WBEZ's Richard Steele interviews Wilson and Smith for an Artists Talk discussion about The Good Negro on Wednesday, May 5, 6 - 7pm at Goodman Theatre. The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor for The Good Negro; Allstate Insurance Company is the Major Corporate Sponsor; and Bank of America and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. The Joyce Foundation provides principal support of Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

It seems only appropriate that Rochester's Geva Theatre Center would transition from Arthur Miller's The Price to August Wilson's Two Trains Running; comparatively speaking, however, Wilson has given Miller a run for his money. Ron OJ Parson's exhilarating production of Two Trains Running, the fourth fully mounted play of Geva's celebration of Wilson and the seventh in his famed Pittsburgh Cycle, gives its audience what The Price never could: an entertaining, well-paced, and (dare I say) priceless night of theater.

When August Wilson died in 2005, America lost one of its most influential playwrights. Wilson's legacy - a cycle of ten plays encompassing the 20th Century, continues to captivate audiences around the world for its poeticism and beauty. Geva Theatre Center, as part of its five-year commitment to presenting all ten plays in 'August Wilson's American Century,' will produce the seventh play of the cycle, Two Trains Running, opening March 30 and running through April 25.

TimeLine Theatre Company will close its production of Athol Fugard's ‘Master Harold' ... and the Boys, directed by Jonathan Wilson, on March 21st at the TimeLine Theatre. The production was a part of TimeLine's 13th season.

A new exhibition at the International Center of Photography will offer an innovative view of the Civil Rights Movement and the catalytic social role played by changing portrayals of African Americans in the 1950s and ‘60s.

When August Wilson died in 2005, America lost one of its most influential playwrights. Wilson's legacy - a cycle of ten plays encompassing the 20th Century, continues to captivate audiences around the world for its poeticism and beauty. Geva Theatre Center, as part of its five-year commitment to presenting all ten plays in 'August Wilson's American Century,' will produce the seventh play of the cycle, Two Trains Running, opening March 30 and running through April 25.