August Wilson's Radio Golf to Play Seattle Rep, Jan. 19-Feb. 18

Radio Golf, the final play that the late legendary playwright August Wilson penned for his century-spanning 10-play chronicle of the African-American experience, will begin a run at the Seattle Repertory Theatre's Bagley Wright Theatre on January 19th. It will open on January 25th for a run through February 18th.

"Set in the Hill District of Pittsburgh of the 1990s, Radio Golf focuses on a pair of real estate entrepreneurs who must decide whether to raze history or build upon it, while a mysterious, seemingly ancient man prods them to define who they are and what they stand for...Harmond Wilks is a mayoral candidate and successful property developer, and with partner Roosevelt Hicks has a fail proof plan to jumpstart the revitalization of his decrepit childhood neighborhood. But when Old Joe enters their office, claiming to own the house on Wylie Street that is to be demolished, the men face choices that will challenge their own understandings of their heritage, their culture, and their future..," according to production notes for the show, which replaced the premiere of Neil Simon's Rewrites in the Seattle Rep's 2005-2006 line-up; the Simon play has been moved to next season.

The play was previously presented at L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum by the Center Theatre Group. With the same cast, it had premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in April of 2005. It will be directed at the Seattle Rep by Kenny Leon, who staged the hit revival of A Raisin in the Sun as well as Gem of the Ocean, the last Wilson play to see Broadway. With the exception of Gem of The Ocean and Radio Golf, every play in the series has been produced at Seattle Rep, where Wilson performed his solo show How I Learned What I Learned in 2003.

Wilson lost his battle with liver cancer on Sunday, October 2nd; he was 60 years old. The playwright, who won Pulitzer Prizes for The Piano Lesson and Fences, also included Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Jitney and King Hedley II in his ambitious and expansive twentieth century cycle.

The Seattle Rep will also present Noel Coward's Private Lives (from March 2nd through April 1st), Heather Raffo's Nine Parts of Desire (March 18th through April 15th) and Tuesdays with Morrie (April 8th through May 7th).

The Seattle Rep is located at 155 Mercer Street. Tickets can be ordered by calling (206) 443-2222, 1-877-900-9285 (toll free) or by visiting www.seattlerep.org.