After an absence of five years, "August in August" returns with a celebration of August Wilson's complete 10-play cycle.
To be completely accurate, the title might now read "August in August at August by August" as its being produced at the August Wilson Center and marks the debut of the recently formed the August Wilson Center Theatre Ensemble.
The once-annual project began in 2003 as a collaborative effort between Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company founder Mark Southers and Janis Burley Wilson, the vice president of education and community engagement for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. It grew to become one of the region's largest community-theater presentations, employing 25 local actors, six directors and lots of theater artists.
"It was a lot of work involving a lot of folks and very taxing to make happen," Southers says. He recently became the artistic director for theatre initiatives at the August Wilson Center, a move that made the project's revival possible.
"Now that I'm at the center, I have the support in place so I can focus on the artistic side," Southers says.
This year's program will offer scenes and monologue for an inclusive view of Wilson's complete "Century Cycle" -- a decade-by-decade dramatization of the black experience and heritage in the 20th century.
"Some are big. Some are small. ... There's one complete scene from 'The Piano Lesson,' " Southers says. "The last time we did six or seven scenes. Now that the cycle is completed, we want to show portions of all 10 plays."
The excerpts will be performed in a seemingly random order, organized primarily to give the performers time between multiple appearances.
The bulk of the work will be done by the August Wilson Center Theatre Ensemble, a company comprised of area residents. Winners of the recent August Wilson Monologue Contest also will perform.
Joining them onstage are nationally known theater, film and television actors such as Anthony Chisholm, David Conrad, Antonio Fargas, Andrea Frye and Stephen M. Henderson.
In addition, Tony-nominated composer Kathryn Bostic, who created the sound design for the Broadway production of Wilson's "Gem of the Ocean," will contribute recorded compositions to support the scenes.
Additional Information:At a glance
'August in August'
Produced by: The August Wilson Center
When: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Admission: $50 on Thursday includes show, post-show reception and cast meet-and-greet; $20-$30 on Friday and Saturday
Where: August Wilson Center, Downtown
Details: 412-258-2700 or www.augustwilsoncenter.org
