Photo courtesy of PBS
The Pulitzer-winning playwright died 10 years ago, but WQED's August Wilson Education Project, the Hill House Association and the Kaufmann Center are marking his birthday with performances, artwork and a screening of the recent PBS American Masters documentary about him, all in the neighborhood where Wilson grew up and came of artistic age.
Wilson wrote Fences, The Piano Lesson and eight other plays in his so-called "Pittsburgh Cycle," chronicling African-American life throughout the 20th century. (Nine of the 10 were set in the Hill.)
Saturday's free community celebration includes students performing monologues from Wilson's plays; a community collage; and the August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand, which incorporates archival interviews with Wilson, scenes from his plays and commentary from theater experts. There'll also be a scene from the winning entry in WQED's 11th Play Competition, written by CAPA senior Alexis Payne.
The afternoon even includes birthday cake.
Those who can't make it to the Kaufmann Center can still participate by sharing student poems, essays and art inspired by August Wilson, or your own community, for the virtual exhibit "Who Are the People In Your Neighborhood?" You can also email a birthday tribute to Wilson, to be read alongside those spoken in person. (Email to [email protected].)
The event runs from noon-3 p.m. on Sat., April 25.
The Kaufmann Center is located at 1825 Centre Ave., in the Hill District. RSVP here.
