BWW Previews: August Wilson Documentary on PBS, 2/20

It is the70th anniversary of Playwright August Wilson's birth, the 10th anniversary of his death and it's Black History Month. What a confluence of dates to present the gripping documentary "August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand" which premieres Friday night, Feb. 20, 2015.

Directed by Emmy and Peabody-winner Sam Pollard, the documentary explores the life and legacy of the Tony and Pulitzer-winning playwright from his roots as a Pittsburgh activist to his move to Minneapolis to his indelible mark on Broadway and in regional theaters throughout the United States.

Thanks to WNET, I was able to preview this documentary and it is not to be missed. There are rarely seen interviews and new dramatic readings of each of the 10 plays where each play represents a different decade of the 20th-century African-American experience. You will see interviews with such luminaries as Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, Laurence Fishburne, James Earl Jones, Suzan-Lori Parks, Phylicia Rashad and his widow and Tony-nominated costume designer Constanza Romero.

"Having the opportunity to explore Wilson's creative process and his tenacity in looking at the African-American experience in the 20th century was one of the most exciting endeavors I have ever had in my film career," said filmmaker Pollard.

You will see where Wilson grew up, the Hill District in Pittsburgh where the bi-racial child dropped out of high school and used the public library for his self-education. He had a mentor named Charlie Burley, a fighter, who lived across the street. and always wore a sport jacket. Wilson carried on with that tradition. The film follows his transition from the founding of the Black Horizon Theater in Pittsburgh to his early work at the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul , MN to his big break at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's National Playwright's Conference in Waterford, CT. It was there he met his mentor-director Lloyd Richards which led to nine original Broadway productions and the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning FENCES and another Pulitzer for THE PIANO LESSON.

Thanks mainly to Baltimore's Center Stage and its former Artistic Director Irene Lewis, I have seen all ten of Wilson's plays. Many of the actors from those productions are included in the documentary.

I had the honor of meeting Wilson on the terrace of the Kennedy Center overlooking the Potomac River during the pre-Broadway run of KING HEDLEY II. He was by himself, smoking a cigarette. I introduced myself to him and told him I was from Baltimore and subscribed to Center Stage. His eyes lighted up and he spoke so highly of his relationship with Irene Lewis and Center Stage. It was an honor to meet him.

One of the most memorable moments is the description of his funeral in Pittsburgh where mourners followed a procession through the Hill District of Pittsburgh.

Do not miss this incredible program. It airs on MPT Friday night, Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. and on WETA at 9:30 p.m. A DVD will be available on February 24 from PBS Distribution.

To watch the trailer, go to http://www.ebony.com/video/black-history/pbs-to-air-august-wilson-doc-starring-phylicia-rashad-and-viola-davis-532#AXZZ3qBo0risW.

Wilson's KING HEDLEY II is now playing at the Arena Stage and stars E. Faye Butler and Andre De Shields. It runs until March 8.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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