'Working in the Theatre' August Wilson Feature Airs 5/27

The American Theatre Wing's "Working in the Theatre" reflects upon August Wilson's legendary career on CUNY TV on Sunday, May 27 at 5 p.m. The segment will repeat on Friday, June 1 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, June 2 at 11 a.m.  The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, May 30.

The extraordinary legacy of playwright August Wilson and his 10-play cycle of African-American life in the 20th Century is explored in a two-part program.  First, a panel of Wilson's collaborators -- producer James Houghton (Signature Theatre Company), dramaturg Todd Kreidler, director Kenny Leon (Radio Golf, Gem of the Ocean), actor/director Ruben Santiago Hudson (Gem of the Ocean, Seven Guitars), producer Jack Viertel (Radio Golf) -- discuss the process of developing and producing Wilson's plays. In the second half, the depth and variety of Wilson's characters are explored by Stephen McKinley Henderson (Jitney, King Hedley II), Harry Lennix (Radio Golf), Tonya Pinkins (Radio Golf) and Phylicia Rashad (Gem of the Ocean), joined by director Kenny Leon.

August Wilson's plays have been produced at regional theatres across the country and all over the world, as well as on Broadway.  His works include Gem of the Ocean, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Jitney, King Hedley II and Radio Golf.  In 2003, Mr. Wilson made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned.  His works have garnered many awards, including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987) and The Piano Lesson (1990), a Tony Award for Fences, as well as seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. Additionally, Mr. Wilson received a 1995 Emmy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a 1995 inductee into the American Academy of Arts and as well as the Theatre Hall of Fame in 2007. On October 16, 2005, Broadway renamed the theatre located at 245 West 52nd Street the August Wilson Theatre.

The ATW "Working in the Theatre" panels bring together theatre's best-known performers, producers, playwrights, directors, choreographers, composers, agents and others for peer-to-peer conversation about the art, the craft and the business of theatre.

CUNY TV is a cable channel serving the five boroughs of New York City with educational, cultural and public affairs programs. As part of The City University of New York, CUNY TV operates as a non-commercial station. Its mission is to extend the academic and intellectual richness of the University beyond the campuses and to offer New York City residents a haven for life long learning experiences through television.

Visit www.americantheatrewing.org for more information.