King Hedley II Sells Out Entire Run at Signature

Signature Theatre Company's upcoming production of King Hedley II is sold out.

According to press notes, Signature "put tickets on-sale for King Hedley II on Monday, January 22 and within 48 hours, the entire run sold out.  Hundreds of people lined up at the box office to take advantage of this season's $15 ticket initiative with an average wait time of over two hours.   Despite the bitterly cold temperatures, the long line continued throughout the day and Signature staff served complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and tea to customers.  In addition, 1,000 tickets sold out through the theatre's online ticketing system in less than 45 minutes, making King Hedley II the fastest selling show in Signature Theatre Company history."

"The demand for $15 tickets for the entire August Wilson Series has been incredibly exciting and rewarding for Signature," said James Houghton.  "I'm thrilled to see so many people take advantage of affordable and accessible theatre, and I'm especially gratified to see new audiences being introduced to August Wilson's legacy, many who have never attended a theatrical production before."

Directed by Derrick Sanders, the play will begin previews on Tuesday, February 20 and run through Sunday, April 15 with an official press opening on Sunday, March 11 at Signature Theatre Company's Peter Norton Space (555 W. 42nd St.).

The $15 ticket initiative, made possible by the lead sponsorship of Time Warner Inc., applies to the originally scheduled run of King Hedley II, running February 20-April 15.  Target is a proud sponsor of The August Wilson Series. 

The production will feature Cherise Boothe as Tonya (Blues for an Alabama Sky/Berkshire Theatre Festival), Lynda Gravatt as Ruby (Intimate Apparel/Roundabout Theatre Company), Stephen McKinley Henderson as Elmore (Seven Guitars/Signature Theatre Company), Russell Hornsby as King (Jitney/Second Stage Theatre), Curtis McClarin as Mister (Drowning Crow/Manhattan Theatre Club) and Lou Myers as Stool Pigeon (The Piano Lesson/Broadway).  Derrick Sanders will direct.

The show will feature scenic design by David Gallo; costumes by Reggie Ray; lights by Thom Weaver; and sound by Jill BC Duboff.

Set in a backyard in the decaying Hill District of Pittsburgh, King Hedley II follows the characters created by August Wilson in Seven Guitars. A woman is tormented by a secret she has kept for 36 years, while her only son returns home after serving time for murder to find a neighborhood riddled with crime, poverty and broken families. King's epic struggle to survive is at the center of this poetic portrayal of life in the inner city during the 1980's," as Signature notes describe the show.

Signature previously presented acclaimed productions of Wilson's Seven Guitars and Two Trains Running.

King Hedley II opened on May 1st, 2001 at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 72 performances.  Viola Davis won a Tony Award for her performance in the play, which also featured Tony-nominated work by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Leslie Uggams.

Wilson, who died of liver cancer on October 2nd, 2005, is considered to have been one of the major modern playwrights.  His groundbreaking 10-play chronicle of the African-American experience in the 20th century encompassed Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II and Radio Golf. 

Visit www.signaturetheatre.org for tickets and more information.