The Piano Lesson is set in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1936. A brother and sister are locked in a war over the fate of a family heirloom: a piano carved with the faces of their ancestors. Only by revisiting history can the siblings endeavor to move forward. Directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson, The Piano Lesson is a part of August Wilson's American Century Cycle, which chronicles the Black experience throughout the 20th Century over the course of ten plays.
How to both honor history and move beyond it is the overriding theme of 'The Piano Lesson,' one of August Wilson's finest plays. The new Broadway revival, featuring Samuel L. Jackson and directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson (a noted actor who is married to Mr. Jackson), certainly does an honorable job of breathing new life into the work, which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1990. Wilson's plays are so dense with vividly felt experience-not to mention language that is simultaneously earthy and lyrical-that they always captivate.
Between Boy Willie and Berniece, their uncle Doaker plays peacemaker. It's something of a shock here to see Samuel L. Jackson (husband of LaTanya) put aside his alpha-male persona, honed not only in the movies but in that original 1987 production of 'The Piano Lesson,' in which he played Boy Willie. Our memories of those past, very different performances go a long way toward making this Doaker a most effective referee, even though he consistently agrees with his niece. More visceral is the slow onstage collapse delivered by Michael Potts in the role of the dissolute uncle, Wining Boy. By nearly matching the size and intensity of Washington's performance, Potts shows that his character's inebriated present is more likely to be Boy Willie's future than anything represented by the level-headed Doaker.
1990 | Broadway |
Broadway |
2012 | Off-Broadway |
Signature Theatre Company Off-Broadway |
2022 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Production Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Danielle Brooks |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Ray Fisher |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play | Japhy Weideman |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | The Piano Lesson |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | Cookie Jordan |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Danielle Brooks |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | John David Washington |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | The Piano Lesson |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play | Danielle Brooks |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Play | Michael Potts |
2023 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | John David Washington |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play | Samuel L. Jackson |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Play | The Piano Lesson |
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