Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - 1984 - Broadway Articles Page 3

Forgive me if it has become too old a cliché, and perhaps even an unintentional racial stereotype, to point out the enrapturing musicality of language the late August Wilson displayed in his landmark decade-by-decade cycle of plays about African-American experiences in the 20th Century. That trait is especially evident in pieces set in the earlier decades (i.e. Gem of the Ocean, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) and seems to decrease as the years go on, demonstrating an assimilation into the established (Eurocentric) culture of the country.

American Stage Theatre Company recently announced that famous Hollywood actress and St. Petersburg native, Angela Bassett, has been named the theatre's honorary chair for their August Wilson Century Cycle Consortium.

This year, the prestigious National Black Theatre Festival? will honor Jubilee Theatre Artistic Director Ed Smith with the festival's first annual Lloyd Richards' Director's Award. Smith is receiving this award because of his significant contributions to black theatre and American theatre in general. The festival will be held from August 3 through 8, 2009 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The theme for this year's festival remains the same as the past ten festivals: An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit. Mr. Smith will be presented with the award at the Opening Night Gala Awards Banquet, which will be held on Monday, August 3.

Arena Stage presents Charles Ludlam's comic masterpiece The Mystery of Irma Vep. This clever, quick-change marathon ransacks literary, cinematic and pop culture as it satirizes everything from Hitchcock's Rebecca and classic horror film The Mummy's Curse to Wuthering Heights and Shakespeare. Arena Stage is excited to welcome back Brad Oscar (Broadway's Spamalot and The Producers, Arena's Cabaret and Damn Yankees) and J. Fred Shiffman (The Arthur Miller Festival, She Loves Me, Cabaret) as they portray all of the characters--men, women and monsters--in this gender-bending 'tour de force.' The Mystery of Irma Vep runs June 6 - July 13 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Joseph Ruskin and Jacqueline Schultz star in Israel Horovitz's humorous and poignant pas-de-deux, Park Your Car in Harvard Yard, at International City Theatre. Hope Alexander directs the four-week run at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, May 2 through May 25. Low-priced previews begin April 29.

Funeral services for the late playwright August Wilson will be held on October 8th in Pittsburgh, the city in which he grew up

Broadway's marquee lights will be dimmed tomorrow night at 8 p.m. (Tuesday, October 4) for one minute in the memory of August Wilson, one of America's greatest playwrights.

Playwright August Wilson lost his battle with liver cancer on Sunday reports the Pittsburg press.

The Virginia Theater, at 245 West 52nd Street will be renamed the August Wilson Theater on October 17th.

August Wilson, arguably the most influential and important living African-American playwright, has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer

The full cast of A Solider's Play has now been set, with a number of actor joining previously-announced stars Taye Diggs and Steven Pasquale