August Wilson News

The famed series 'American Masters' premieres 'August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand'

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for August Wilson's classic drama King Hedley II. Set in the 1980s Hill District of Pittsburgh, the ninth installment of Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson's acclaimed play cycle examining Black America follows a scarred ex-convict who struggles to turn his life around and lock away his past. The drama is directed by Timothy Douglas, who worked with the late playwright on the world premiere of Radio Golf and has directed eight plays out of Wilson's 10-play cycle. King Hedley II runs February 6-March 8, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the opening night photos below!

Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre presents August Wilson's Jitney for a three week run Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 22.

Artistic Director Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2015/16 Season last night to an enthusiastic group of Rep Subscribers and Donors.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: PLACEBO begins off-Broadway, HOME STREET HOME starts in LA, Claybourne Elder stars in ANGELS IN AMERICA in KC, IOWA meets the press and three Broadway shows end this weekend!

Artistic Director Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2015/16 Season this evening to an enthusiastic group of Rep Subscribers and Donors.

'King Hedley II,' in Timothy Douglas' riveting and thrilling production now at Arena Stage, portrays life in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the early 1980's. The six-character play is a symphony of rage, despair, hope, regret, love and determination. Douglas has staged Wilson's play in the round with a spare, concrete-inflected set. The production has a deliberate, ritualistic tone, with the actors assembling in silence and remaining visible throughout the performance.

Arizona Theatre Company's 2015-16 season brings the return of master entertainer Hershey Felder, a mind-bending new comedy from the producer of HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher, the provocative 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play, an August Wilson masterpiece, John Steinbeck's classic American tale Of Mice and Men and a new musical from Stephen Schwartz of Wicked and Godspell fame.

During the month of February, Syracuse Stage will have four productions appearing coast-to-coast. Here locally, In the Next Room, or the vibrator play will complete its run on February 15. Sizwe Banzi is Dead recently completed a run in Princeton, NJ and will start up in Syracuse on February 25. Other Desert Cities will start performing in Portland, OR on February 21 where it will run several weeks before moving to Syracuse Stage in April. Stage's fall production of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson had a second run in Seattle, WA that ended February 8.

Energetic and talented cast shines in new version of Stephen Schwartz hit musical.

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.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 2/13/2015.

Second Stage Theatre's production of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, opens tonight, February 11, 2015. Let's see what the critics had to say...

An epic story is told on an intimate scale in Suzan-Lori Park's splendid mash-up of Civil War slavery and present-day racial strife.

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 -- from his roots as an activist and poet to his indelible mark on Broadway. 'AMERICAN MASTERS -- August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand' premieres Friday, February 20, 2015, at 9 p.m. on PBS. Click below to watch three excerpts, featuring Phylicia Rashad, Rosalyn Coleman and others performing exclusive, original dramatic readings from August Wilson's 10-play 'Century Cycle'!

Woodie King's National Black Touring Circuit's 2015 Black History Month Play Series will feature "Adam," the story of legendary Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, and a reading of Ossie Davis' seminal play "The People of Clarendon County" from February 8 - 22 in Harlem, Queens and the Bronx. It's produced in conjunction with Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group. Tickets are $20. For more information call 212-353-1176.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 2/6/2015.

On March 11, 1959, a play opened on Broadway that changed American theatre forever. 'A Raisin in the Sun' examined issues that had never been presented on Broadway. It was the first play written by a black woman to be presented on Broadway with Broadway's first black director. This heartwarming, hilarious, groundbreaking story of a family's heroic efforts to make a better life for their children will run at Open Stage of Harrisburg today, February 6-22, 2015.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 12 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

For over 25 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts at its annual All-Star Bowling Classic. Last night, stars gathered at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge to bowl and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the event below!