Phylicia Rashad & More Set for Live Video Webcasts of August Wilson Plays, Beg. Today

While "Lee Daniels' The Butler" is generating Oscar buzz for its chronicle of several decades of African-American political life, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson masterfully documented a full century of the African-American experience in the 10 plays the make up the American Century Cycle. These works, nine of which have been staged on Broadway with stars including Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, among many others, showed the suffering, joys, and triumphs of African-Americans through searing, poetic and personal stories of everyday people in Pittsburgh, PA.

For the very first time, the Estate of August Wilson has granted an organization the rights to record all 10 of these works. Kicking off today, Monday, August 26 with "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," The Greene Space - the performance venue of public radio stations WNYC and WQXR -- stages these readings before live audiences, and will make them present them as live video webcasts for viewers everywhere at www.thegreenespace.org. The readings will continue to be available online for at least three months.

Ruben Santiago-Hudson, one of the leading interpreters of Wilson's work, is Artistic Director. The series has assembled a formidable group of "Wilson Warriors" includingPhylicia Rashad, S. Epatha Merkerson, Kenny Leon, Leslie Uggams, Anthony Chisholm and many others, along with Wilson first-timers including Taraji P. Hensonand Jesse L. Martin.

All readings start at 7pm ET. Viewers across the city and around the world will be able to watch via live video webcasts at www.thegreenespace.org.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom- Monday, August 26

Directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson

David Margulies.................................Sturdyvant

Tuck Milligan...........................................Irvin

Charles Weldon.......................................Cutler

Clarke Peters.........................................Toledo

Harvy Blanks.....................................Slow Drag

Ebony Jo-Ann...................................Ma Rainey

Joniece Abbott-Pratt...........................Dussie Mae

Jonathan Majors................................... Sylvester

Fences-Wednesday, August 28

Directed by Kenny Leon

Eugene Lee....................................... Jim Bono

Jesse L. Martin........................................Lyons

Ray Anthony Thomas...............................Gabriel

Jonathan Majors........................................Cory

ReGina Taylor...........................................Rose

Joe Turner's Come and Gone- Wednesday, September 4

Directed by Phylicia Rashad

Keith David......................................Seth Holly

Taraji P. Henson...................... Molly Cunningham

S. Epatha Merkerson......................... Bertha Holly

Roger Robinson..................................... Bynum

Raynor Scheine............................Rutherford Selig

Jason Dirden.................................Jeremy Furlow

John Douglas Thompson..................Harold Loomis

January LaVoy............................Mattie Campbell

Nile Bullock...............................Reuben Mercer

Alexis Holt....................................Zonia Loomis

The Piano Lesson- Monday, September 9

Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Brandon J. Dirden...............................Boy Willie

Roslyn Ruff........................................Berniece

Jason Dirden........................................Lymon

Alexis Holt..........................................Maretha

Eric Lenox Abrams..................................Avery

Chuck Cooper.................................Wining Boy

Mandi Masden........................................Grace

Two Trains Running- Wednesday, September 11

Directed by Michele Shay

Ron Cephas Jones.....................................Wolf

James A. Williams...............................Holloway

Owiso Odera........................................Sterling

Leon Addison Brown............................Hambone

Harvy Blanks...........................................West

Seven Guitars- Friday, September 13

Directed by Stephen McKinley Henderson

Ruben Santiago-Hudson........................ Canewell

Wendell Pierce..................................Red Carter

Brenda Pressley.......................................Louise

Lou Ferguson........................................Hedley

Harry Lennix.................................Floyd Barton

Cassandra Freeman....................................Ruby

Jitney- Monday, September 16

Directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson

Anthony Chisholm..................................Fielding

Amari Cheatom...............................Youngblood

Stephen M. Henderson..............................Turnbo

Barry Shabaka Henley................................Doub

Harvy Blanks.........................................Shealy

Joaquina Kalukango...................................Rena

King Hedley II- Saturday, September 21

Directed by Michele Shay

Russell Hornsby...........................King Hedley II

Leslie Uggams.........................................Ruby

Kevin Carroll..........................................Mister

Stephen M. Henderson.............................Elmore

Marsha Stephanie Blake.............................Tonya

Arthur French.................................Stool Pigeon

Gem of the Ocean- Tuesday, September 24

Directed by Kenny Leon

Eugene Lee................................................Eli

Stephen Tyrone Williams.................Citizen Barlow

Phylicia Rashad.................................Aunt Ester

Danai Gurira....................................Black Mary

Raynor Scheine...........................Rutherford Selig

Anthony Chisholm......................Solly Two Kings

Keith Randolph Smith..............................Caesar

Radio Golf- Saturday, September 28

Directed by Marion McClinton

Anthony Chisholm.............. ....Elder Joseph Barlow

John Earl Jelks.............................Sterling Johnson

Rocky Carroll..............................Harmond Wilks

Sharon Washington...........................Mame Wilks

James A. Williams........................Roosevelt Hicks

For further information, visit www.thegreenespace.org.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski