Everything's coming up... August?!
As we transition from the afterglow of
Black History Month, those of us in Pittsburgh have a extra reason
for pride. The Ground on Which I Stand
documentary shown on PBS's American
Masters
was such a boost to region as well as spark renewed interest in
August Wilson and the August Wilson Center for African American
Culture 2.0.
The
afterglow continues in an extended “after-party” of sorts with
the Pittsburgh's Public Theater's latest production, How
I Learned What I Learned,
opening on Thursday.
Penned
in 2003, How I
Learned
is a biographical/memoir written and performance by August Wilson,
reminiscing about the influences on his work, including his days in
Pittsburgh growing up, as a Centre Avenue poet and how the Hill
District community help influence and inspire his epic Pittsburgh
(Century) Cycle.
I
had an opportunity to chat with Eugene Lee, the actor charged with
conjuring a favored son of the Hill. Some of you may recall that
Pittsburgh's Montae Russell was in a similar scenario with Thurgood
when
he portrayed the late Supreme Court Justice. Russell's one-man turn
required him to assume 25
different characters whereas Lee only has August. The difference is
that Lee is portraying someone who only left us ten years ago in his
hometown.
“We're not trying to copy him, look like or sound or walk like
August,” says Lee, a veteran of four Wilson plays. “I try to
channel his spirit through his words, his characters, his language.
(How I Learned) will offer some insight into the man behind
the characters.”
As for Pittsburgher and Wilson's long-time dramaturge Todd Kreidler,
he feels the weight of the production squarely on his shoulders; he's
the director. I ran into him on the way to interview Lee (they both
recently did a run of How I Learned in Atlanta), so I asked
him. He emphatically said “YES!”as he continued his way ladened
with binders and notebooks. Suffice it to say that all are aware of
the significance and implications of presenting this production on
“ground zero,” here in Pittsburgh.
How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, co-conceived and
directed by Todd Kreidler is playing now at the Pittsburgh Public
Theater through April 5 (no performances on Monday).
Tickets are available calling the box office at Theater Square,
412-316-1600 or purchase online at http://ppt.org. Groups of 10 or
more qualify for a group discount. Call Katie at 412-316-8200 x 704
or kconaway@ppt.org for more
information.
