August Wilson News

Pittsburgh Public Theater's 40th anniversary Season of Legends continues with the Pittsburgh premiere of How I Learned What I Learned, the final play by August Wilson. How I Learned was co-conceived and will be directed by Todd Kreidler, a Duquesne University graduate, former Pittsburgh Public Theater staff member, and author of the recent Broadway musical, Holler If Ya Hear Me. How I Learned What I Learned runs March 5 - April 5, 2015 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.

The William Inge Theater Festival, the Official Theater Festival of the State of Kansas, will take place April 17-19, at Independence Community College, Independence, KS. Tickets for all Festival events can be purchased at www.ingecenter.org/tickets, or by calling the office, (620) 332-5491, Monday through Friday, between

Spring 2015 is a time of creative preparation for Pegasus Theatre Chicago. In anticipation of the World Premiere of 'Ghost Gardens', Pegasus is presenting a sneak peek event on Sunday, March 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ancien Cycles, 688 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m. for the Fox Cities return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center May 5-10.

Tony- and Pulitzer-winning playwright August Wilson developed six plays the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Seven Guitars, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, and Two Trains Running. In celebration of the PBS American Masters documentary 'August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand', RISK AGAIN! shares excerpts from The O'Neill: Transformation of Modern American Theater.

Today in 1995, Smokey Joe's Cafe opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) where it ran for 2036 performances. Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Original Broadway cast recording, Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller won a Grammy award in 1996. In revue format with no unifying theme the 39 songs are presented by various members of the cast in various combinations, with no dialogue. There are novelty songs ('Charlie Brown'), romantic ballads ('Spanish Harlem') and infectious melodies ('There Goes My Baby').

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize previously announced 12 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights. The winner of the 2014-2015 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize will be named at the Awards Presentation today, March 2 in New York City.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 2/27/2015.

Yesterday, February 25, author and six-time Tony Award-winning producer Stewart Lane (La Cage aux Folles, A Gentleman's Guide…, War Horse), was joined by Tony Award winning actress Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah Baby!, On Golden Pond, Thoroughly Modern Millie, King Hedly II), and acclaimed director Sheldon Epps (Baby It's You!, Blues in the Night), for a conversation with Tom Santopietro (The Godfather Effect…, Considering Doris Day, Sinatra in Hollywood) at Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th Street, to discuss the inspiring account of the tumultuous path that black actors have traveled to reach recognition on the Great White Way. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Variety reports that Phylicia Rashad has signed on to be a series regular in the CBS' drama series FOR JUSTICE.

Twenty Chicago high school students will perform in the August Wilson Monologue Competition Finals on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition in New York City. Esteemed judges for the Chicago finals will include Ron OJ Parson and August Wilson's daughter Sakina Ansari Wilson, as well as two judges yet to be announced.

Today, February 25 at 7PM, Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th Street hosts author and six-time Tony Award-winning producer Stewart Lane (La Cage aux Folles, A Gentleman's Guide..., War Horse), Tony Award winning actress Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah Baby!, On Golden Pond, Thoroughly Modern Millie, King Hedly II), acclaimed Broadway director Sheldon Epps (Baby It's You!, Play On!, Blues in the Night), and author Tom Santopietro (The Godfather Effect..., Considering Doris Day, Sinatra in Hollywood) in a discussion about the inspiring account of the tumultuous path that black actors have traveled to reach recognition on the Great White Way.

On Wednesday, February 25 at 7PM, Barnes & Noble, 150 East 86th Street hosts author and six-time Tony Award-winning producer Stewart Lane (La Cage aux Folles, A Gentleman's Guide…, War Horse), Tony Award winning actress Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah Baby!, On Golden Pond, Thoroughly Modern Millie, King Hedly II), acclaimed Broadway director Sheldon Epps (Baby It's You!, Play On!, Blues in the Night), and author Tom Santopietro (The Godfather Effect…, Considering Doris Day, Sinatra in Hollywood) in a discussion about the inspiring account of the tumultuous path that black actors have traveled to reach recognition on the Great White Way. This special Black History Month event celebrates the release of Lane's new book Black Broadway: African Americans on The Great White Way.

The DVD is available today, February 24, from PBS Distribution. The documentary is now available to view online.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the cast and creative team for its production of Your Blues Ain't Sweet Like Mine, written and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The production will run April 11-May 3, 2015, with the opening night on April 17, 2015. Single tickets starting at $20 are now available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. Your Blues Ain't Sweet Like Mine is sponsored by lead sponsor WBGO Jazz 88.3FM and WBGO.org.

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 2/22/2015.

FISH IN THE DARK, the new comedy written by and starring Larry David, has broken yet another box office record during its third week of previews at the Cort Theatre.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 2/20/2015.

THIRTEEN's American Masters series and Pittsburgh PBS affiliate WQED join forces to explore the life and legacy of playwright August Wilson (April 27, 1945 - October 2, 2005) -- the man some call America's Shakespeare

Get ready for the Sarasota premiere of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on: March 11 at 8pm, March 12 at 2pm & 8pm, March 13 at 8pm, March 14 at 2pm & 8pm, and March 15 at 1.30pm & 7pm. Limited tickets are still available.