Pittsburgh Public Theater's Season to Continue with HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED, 3/5-4/5

Pittsburgh Public Theater's 40th anniversary Season of Legends continues with the Pittsburgh premiere of How I Learned What I Learned, the final play by August Wilson. How I Learned was co-conceived and will be directed by Todd Kreidler, a Duquesne University graduate, former Pittsburgh Public Theater staff member, and author of the recent Broadway musical, Holler If Ya Hear Me. How I Learned What I Learned runs March 5 - April 5, 2015 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.

Mr. Wilson performed his one-man show at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2003. The New York premiere was produced by Signature Theatre in New York City in 2013. Starring in The Public's production will be Eugene Lee, a stage, film and television actor, writer, and artist in residence at Texas State University. Last year he performed the role at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre in Atlanta, GA.

How I Learned begins in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1965 when Mr. Wilson was 20 years old. He tells of dropping out of school at age 15 to write poetry, and how he supported himself by cutting grass and working at Klein's and Kroger's. He talks about the neighborhood and its people, and how he was inspired by what they saw in him. He dishes about his girlfriend, Snookie, and how he almost fought a duel in her honor at Downtown's Oyster House. From the Christmas pageant in Sister Mary Eldephonse's seventh grade class to hearing John Coltrane at the Crawford Grill in 1966, Mr. Wilson reveals his outrage and passion. Sometimes shockingly provocative and often hilariously funny, How I Learned is an amazingly generous portrait of this uncompromising artist as a young man.

The designers for How I Learned What I Learned are David Gallo (Scenery and Projections), Constanza Romero (Costumes), Thom Weaver (Lighting), and Dan Moses Schreier (Sound). Fred Noel is the Production Stage Manager.

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