Podcasts about August Wilson

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (2020) from writer Ruben Santiago-Hudson and director George C. Wolfe.  Adapted from the August Wilson play, the legendary "Mother of the Blues" Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) arrives at a sweltering Chicago recording studio for a session fraught with tension between her, her white management, and her ambitious band.  While Ma fiercely guards her artistic authority and personal dignity against exploitation, her volatile trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Boseman) pushes for a modernized sound, fueled by his own traumatic past and a desperate desire for stardom.  As the afternoon wears on, the recording booth becomes a pressure cooker where clashing egos and deep-seated racial grievances threaten to boil over into an irreversible confrontation.  The film clocks in at 1 h and 34 m, is rated R and you can find it on Netflix. Please note there are SPOILERS in this review.#MaRaineysBlackBottom #AugustWilson #RubenSantiagoHudson #GeorgeCWolfe #ViolaDavis #MaRainey #ChadwickBoseman #Levee #ColmanDomingo #Cutler #GlynnThurman #Toledo #MichaelPotts #SlowDrag #JeremyShamos #Irvin #JonnyCoyne #Sturdyvan #TaylourPaige #DussieMae #DusanBrown #Sylvester #PeriodDrama #Drama #Music #BlackStories #BlackHistoryMonth  @Netflix  #FridayFamilyFilmNightAnd if you can support my @CovenantHouse sleepout, it would be appreciated.  Any amount will go a long way to help the young people they help.  This is an organization that's existed since I was a teen and they continue this life saving work.  You can donate herehttps://www.sleepout.org/participants/66266Opening intro music: GOAT by Wayne Jones, courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

The Pittsburgh Public Schools board is discussing school closures…again. Executive producer Mallory Falk and producer Sophia Lo are with City Cast contributor and TribLive reporter Colin Williams to talk about whether the district will finally make a decision. Plus, they explain why Pine-Richland might reserve its controversial school library policy, and what that says about larger book ban efforts across the country. They also discuss ways to learn about and celebrate local Black history all year long, including attending the premiere of a new documentary about WAMO, and dig into Congresswoman Summer Lee's response to President Trump's State of the Union. Finally, they celebrate a young Pittsburgher who broke the record for Girl Scout cookies sales and went viral in the process. Notes and references from today's show: PPS board agrees to decide on school closures by end of school year 'one way or the other' [WESA] Mayor Corey O'Connor wants to see vacant Pittsburgh Public schools utilized [WESA] Pine-Richland takes first step in revamping controversial library book policy [Post-Gazette] 7 Ways To Learn About Black History in Pittsburgh [City Cast Pittsburgh] PODCAST: Why a Pittsburgher Just Officially Became Baseball's Best Hitter [City Cast Pittsburgh] Democrat cruises to victory in South Hills special election [Public Source] In response to Trump, Summer Lee offers a different state of the union [Post-Gazette] Pittsburgh City Council bans waste transfer stations within 500 feet of homes, schools, parks [TribLive] Allegheny County's human services director leaves to work for Mamdani in New York City [TribLive] Pittsburghers took home four medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics [Axios Pittsburgh] Crosby out at least 4 weeks for Penguins [NHL] NFL Films and Pat McAfee celebrate Pittsburgh with ‘The Football Town' [TribLive] Pittsburgh Girl Scout goes viral after she sells a record-breaking number of cookies [Post-Gazette] Learn more about the sponsors of this February 27th episode: The Frick Pittsburgh P3R - Use code CITYCAST15 to save 15% off any event registration Pittsburgh Opera Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We're on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. 

Brian Moreland recently made waves on Broadway as a producer of the groundbreaking revival of Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. The production shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing play revival in global history. His impressive repertoire includes the Broadway revival of The Wiz, starring Wayne Brady and Deborah Cox; August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, directed by LaTanya Richardson Jackson and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, and John David Washington — which became the highest-grossing revival of the season; The Lifespan of a Fact, featuring Cherry Jones, Daniel Radcliffe, and Bobby Cannavale; Sea Wall / A Life, a moving dual narrative with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge; and The Sound Inside, a compelling drama headlined by Mary-Louise Parker. Hailing from California, Brian now calls New York City home, where he continues to shape the cultural landscape through his visionary storytelling and unwavering passion for the performing arts. His dedication to accessibility and equity in theatre is reflected in his active role with the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), an organization committed to expanding access to live performance. A respected leader within the industry, Brian serves on the Board of Governors of The Broadway League, where he also co-chairs the Multicultural Task Force, advocating for greater diversity and inclusion across the theatre community. He also holds leadership roles as a Board Director for NYC Tourism and Conventions, a Trustee of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and a Trustee of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he helps support and guide the next generation of performing artists. In recognition of his impactful contributions, Brian has been honored with the Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award by the Audelco Awards and acknowledged by the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) for his continued service to the field. Through his compelling productions and steadfast leadership, Moreland has established himself as a transformative force in contemporary theatre. His work not only entertains but also uplifts and challenges audiences, enriching the cultural narrative with stories that reflect the depth, diversity, and complexity of the human experience.Joe Turner's Come and Gone is lead produced by Brian Anthony Moreland with casting by ARC Casting. 101 Productions, Ltd. is serving as general managers.For additional information, please sign up at www.JoeTurnerBway.comConnect with Brian Anthony Moreland:Website: https://www.bmorenowproductions.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealbrianmoreland/?hl=en TurnKey Podcast Productions Important Links:Guest to Gold Video Series: www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/gold The Ultimate Podcast Launch Formula- www.TurnkeyPodcast.com/UPLFplusFREE workshop on how to "Be A Great Guest."Free E-Book 5 Ways to Make Money Podcasting at www.Turnkeypodcast.com/gift Ready to earn 6-figures with your podcast? See if you've got what it takes at TurnkeyPodcast.com/quizSales Training for Podcasters: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sales-training-for-podcasters/id1540644376Nice Guys on Business: http://www.niceguysonbusiness.com/subscribe/The Turnkey Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turnkey-podcast/id1485077152

Jackson and Jacob discuss one of America's most influential, profound playwrights: August Wilson. Wilson's play "Two Trains Running" is part of the Century Cycle. This play follows a group of regular's at a diner in the Hill District, a diner which is about to be torn down. Listen in!  ------------------------------ Check out these other voices and their discussions of "Two Trains Running": Interview with the cast of the 2019 Royal and Derngate production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc3g35R_vr0) Director Lou Bellamy talks about the play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6rOBnytq_0) 1991 Interview with August Wilson for the LA Times (https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-01-ca-7570-story.html) ------------------------------ Please consider supporting us on Patreon. For as low as $1/month, you can help to ensure the No Script Podcast can continue.  https://www.patreon.com/noscriptpodcast  ----------------------------- We want to keep the conversation going! Have you read this play? Have you seen it? Comment and tell us your favorite themes, characters, plot points, etc. Did we get something wrong? Let us know. We'd love to hear from you. Find us on social media at:  Email: noscriptpodcast@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/No-Script-The-Podcast-1675491925872541/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noscriptpodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/noscriptpodcast/ ------------------------------ Thanks so much for listening! We'll see you next week.

Delroy Lindo, actor and theatre director, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA studios in November 2008 while directing August Wilson's play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Berkeley Rep. Actor and director Delroy Lindo was born in London and moved to the United States at the age of 16, eventually coming to San Francisco where he studied acting at ACT at the age of 24. In his early career, he focused on the stage, winning a Tony nomination in 1988 his role in the original Broadway production of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. From there, he moved toward television and film, and performed in three Spike Lee films, including Do The Right Thing  and Malcolm X, along with Get Shorty, Romeo Must Die and other films. More recently, he received acclaim for his role in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods in 2018 and has been nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Delta Slim in the Ryan Coogler film, Sinners. In the interview, he discusses his work directing Joe Turner's Come and Gone, as well as his views on directing and acting, and the work of August Wilson. First posted September 27, 2020. The post Delroy Lindo, Actor and Director, 2008 appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Hershey Felder: Pianist and Performer, “The Piano and Me” Hershey Felder discusses his world premiere stage show, “The PIano and Me,” playing at TheatreWorks Mountain View through February 8, 2026, with host Richard Wolinsky. Over the past three decades, Hershey Felder has been performing one-person plays with his piano accompaniment, focusing on a variety of different composers, including George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Tschaikovsky, Beethoven, Chopin and others. He has also created film versions of these and others, which can be found at his website, hersheyfelder.net. “The Piano and Me” focuses on Hershey Felder's own life, looking at his immigrant family who came to Canada after surviving the Holocaust, and his own education at the piano, from his first teachers to his more formal schooling, to the advent of his very first show, “George Gershwin Alone.” In the interview, Hershey Felder talks about how this show came into being, his preparation for each performance, his work in film, and his view of live theatre today. Recorded January 23, 2026. Complete 31-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.   Delroy Lindo: Oscar Nominated Actor and Theatre Director, 2008 Delroy Lindo, actor and theatre director, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky in the KPFA studios in November 2008 while directing August Wilson's play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Berkeley Rep. Actor and director Delroy Lindo was born in London and moved to the United States at the age of 16, eventually coming to San Francisco where he studied acting at ACT at the age of 24. In his early career, he focused on the stage, winning a Tony nomination in 1988 his role in the original Broadway production of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. From there, he moved toward television and film, and performed in three Spike Lee films, including Do The Right Thing  and Malcolm X, along with Get Shorty, Romeo Must Die and other films. More recently, he received acclaim for his role in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods in 2018 and has been nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Delta Slim in the Ryan Coogler film, Sinners. In the interview, he discusses his work directing Joe Turner's Come and Gone, as well as his views on directing and acting, and the work of August Wilson. Review of the Streetcar Project's production of Tennessee Williams' “A Streetcar Named Desire” at ACT Toni Rembe Theatre through February 1, 2026.       The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – January 29, 2026: Hershey Felder – Delroy Lindo appeared first on KPFA.

KPFA Theatre Critic Richard Wolinsky reviews the Streetcar Project's production of  “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams at ACT Toni Rembe Theatre through February 1, 2026.           TEXT OF REVIEW (some changes were made during recording and cuts for timing were made for radio). ​​​​​The greatest of plays often allow for multiple interpretations. We see that all the time in Shakespeare. We see it in Arthur Miller, in the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, even in August Wilson. And of course we see it in Tennessee Williams. Most interpretations of Williams' second play, A Streetcar Named Desire, are inhibited by the famous movie, which catapulted Marlon Brando to fame. It's hard to see Blanche Dubois beyond Vivien Leigh's faded Southern belle, and it's even harder to see the crude Stanley Kowalski past Brando's scream of “Stella!” But those interpretations, however close to Williams' wishes, obscure the play's lyricism and more to the point, his greatest creation, Blanche Dubois. This production by The Streetcar Project, now at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre through February 1st, which has played in a variety of site-specific spaces, changes the paradigms, first by removing all props and sets, and second by discardmg the characters' accents, particularly that of Blanche Dubois, played by project co-creator, Lucy Owen. In addition, the full text has been restored. In this production, the stage area is fully open, bounded on three sides by two rows of audience members on folding chairs. Characters wander on and off stage, their voices carry but their bodies are sometimes hard to find.. it can feel like a reading, a radio play, but not always, and not in Act Two. What this shows now is that Streetcar is clearly Blanche's play. Whether with her sister, Stella, beautifully embodied by Heather Lind – their sisterhood is palpable, or with Mitch, Stanley's friend who falls for Blanche, played by James Russell as a product of his era, or with the brutal Stanley, performed by Brad Koed, who never quite escapes Brando. Without the accent, without the affectations, Lucy Owen's Blanche is revealed as brilliant, incisive, misunderstood and wronged. Her lies are no longer signs of weakness; they're not delusional; they're necessary for her survival, and the survival of her pride. It's a fascinating interpretation, which Williams' poetic dialogue om;y amplifies. She's caught in the trap of her times, and it's brought her down low. While much is gained here, something is also lost. Concessions to time and place come from the sound system and from costumes, but much of the action becomes incomprehensible without visible cues and with only the four actors. The giant stage, the cavernous theatre weaken the passion between Stella and Stanley. Chemistry vanishes when characters seem a football field apart. Would such a strong Blanche break so thoroughly at the end of the play? But whatever those issues, this is a Streetcar well worth visiting in its short run, through February 1st. For more information, you can go to act-sf.org. I'm Richard Wolinsky on Bay Area theatre for KPFA. The post Review: “A Streetcar Named Desire” at ACT Toni Rembe Theatre appeared first on KPFA.

We spoke with Vincent J. Orduna, Artistic Director, and Mary Carrick, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Omaha Community Playhouse about their production of "The Piano Lesson."  This production opens January 16th and runs until February 8th, 2026. This is August Wilson's fourth play in his ten-play Century Cycle, which explores the African American experience. This play has some unusual twists and turns, and explores family conflicts, and the tension between the generations of past and the future. Listen in to find out more about this production!  "The Piano Lesson" had many awards and nominations, but most notably, it received the 1990 Pulitzer Prize Award for Drama, and also won the New York Drama Critics Circle award, as well as five Tony Award Nominations.  It was also adapted into a television film which earned a Peabody Award. For Tickets:  www.omahaplayhouse.com Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE HOW TO LISTEN TO THE PLATTE RIVER BARD PODCAST Listen at https://platteriverbard.podbean.com or anywhere you get your podcasts. We are on Apple, Google, Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Podbean, Overcast, Listen Now, Castbox and anywhere you get your podcasts. You may also find us by just asking Alexa. Please share, follow us on social media and subscribe!  

The playwright behind ‘Committed,' ‘Apologies to Lorraine Hansberry (You too August Wilson),' and more shares shares her journey from aspiring corporate defense attorney to playwright.

As a Holiday, treat, the Philadelphia actor Brian Wilson talks with us about his life and career. Brian tells us about his memories - everything from his roles on "The Wire," to his work with the director Walter Dallas, to his quest to perform in all the plays of August Wilson (no relation!). And he shares this thoughts about the state of African-American theater in the Quaker City at the beginning of the 21st Century.For a blog page with photos and additional info go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/king-brian-the-first/Support the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now! Our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address: AITHpodcast@gmail.comBluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support our work and get BONUS EPISODES on Patreon! GO HERE© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

Why Community & Public Arts? Ask Sallyann Kluz...Guest Biography: Sallyann Kluz, Executive Director. Shiftworks Community+Public Art.  Sallyann Kluz is a Pittsburgh-based arts administrator, architect, and urban designer whose practice is situated at the intersection of art and community development. With over 20 years of practice in the Pittsburgh region, her work is focused on the public realm and the people who inhabit it. Her practice includes public art programs and strategies, community engagement, design education, public space design, and neighborhood development strategies. In her leadership role, Sallyann is focused on providing technical assistance to artists and clients, and expanding the role of artists in community development, civic design, and community engagement.“We work at the convergence of public art and civic design in the Pittsburgh Region.”  Formerly the Office of Public Art (OPA), Shiftworks launched in 2005 through partnership between the public and private sectors. The vision: Support and advance the role of public art in the Pittsburgh region. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts envisions a region in which the creative practices of artists are fully engaged to collaboratively shape the public realm and catalyze community-led change. Shiftworks Community+Public Arts now operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Words from August Wilson, Pittsburgh Creative & Playwright “Art does not change the world. It changes people and people change the world.”

In this episode, Tony Zooms with acclaimed actor Russell Hornsby for a wide-ranging conversation about craft, legacy, and the joy of storytelling. Hornsby opens up about the roles that have defined his career and the lessons he's carried with him along the way. ✨ Playing Don King Russell shares how embodying the legendary boxing promoter was about tapping into showmanship and theatricality. He reveals that the role allowed him to explore aspects of his personality that Hollywood hasn't often seen, but that his friends and family know well. It was a chance to bring hidden layers of himself to the screen.

Episode SummaryThis week, host Justin Boark sits down with award-winning playwright, director, and educator James Ijames, the creative force behind plays including Kill Move Paradise, The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Tony-nominated Fat Ham. Their conversation digs into process, purpose, and the responsibility of telling stories that reshape the American stage. If you care about bold writing, fearless storytelling, and the next wave of theatrical innovationEpisode NotesGuestJames Ijames – @jwijames  | Official Website - https://www.jamesijames.com/Playwright of Abandon, Good Bones, Reverie, Youth, History of Walking, Matter Out of Place, Kill Move Paradise, White, Moon Man Walk, The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, The Threshing Floor, Fat Ham, and TJ Loves Sally 4 Ever.Topics Covered• Acting, directing, and writing• Philadelphia, PA• The work of playwright August Wilson• Finding the comedy in Hamlet James Ijames Bio – James' plays have been produced by Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, Theatre Horizon, Wilma Theatre, Theatre Exile, Azuka Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The National Black Theatre, JACK, The Public Theater (NYC), Hudson Valley Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Definition Theatre, Timeline Theater (Chicago IL) Shotgun Players (Berkeley, CA) and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Lark, Playwright's Horizon, Clubbed Thumb, Villanova Theater, Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre and Victory Garden. James is the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist recipient, and two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Brothers Size with Simpatico Theatre Company and Gem of the Ocean with Arden Theatre. James is a 2015 Pew Fellow for Playwriting, the 2015 winner of the Terrance McNally New Play Award for WHITE, the 2015 Kesselring Honorable Mention Prize winner for ....Miz Martha, a 2017 recipient of the Whiting Award, a 2019 Kesselring Prize for Kill Move Paradise, a 2020 and 2022 Steinberg Prize, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama recipient and a 2023 Tony nominee for Best Play for Fat HamJames was a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia's first playwright producing collective. He received a BA in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and an MFA in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.The Scene TeamJustin Borak - Host Zach Dulli - Executive Producer KJ Lampar - Producer Leah Barker - Producer & Talent CoordinatorJim Colleran - EditorAdditional music and sound effects licensed through Envato ElementsLinksBe sure to follow The Scene Podcast on Instagram and YouTubeSubscribe to The Scene NewsletterSpecial ThanksJennifer IsaacsonLauren KardosJeffery KeilholtzShow ContributorsLeah BarkerJustin BorakJim ColleranZach DulliJames IjamesKJ Lampar The Scene TeamJustin Borak - Host Zach Dulli - Executive Producer KJ Lampar - Producer Leah Barker - Producer & Talent CoordinatorJim Colleran - Editor Additional music and sound effects licensed through Envato Elements LINKSBe sure to follow The Scene Podcast on Instagram and YouTubeSubscribe to The Scene Newsletter

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Susan Hill: Master of Ghost Stories and Noir Susan Hill, author of “The Woman in Black” and other novels, in conversation by phone with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded November 29, 2021. The Woman in Black, a play by Stephen Mallatratt and directed by Robin Herford is playing in Walnut Creek at The Lesher Center under the auspices of CenterREP from November 5th through November 23, 2025. Susan Hill has written over thirty novels, most of them stand-alones in the gothic ghost story genre, and eleven crime novels featuring her detective Simon Serrailer, the most recent being The Benefit of Hindsight, published in 2020, with A Change of Circumstance published in March 2022. She's also written six collections of short stories, an autobiography among nine non-fiction works, five plays, and 13 Children's Books. She became a Dame of the British Empire in 2020. Complete 48-minute interview.   Rita Moreno: Broadway and Hollywood Legend Richard Wolinsky and Rita Moreno, Sept. 16, 2011 at KPFA. Rita Moreno, legendary Hollywood star, actress, dancer and singer, in conversation about her career and her one-woman show, “Rita Moreno: Life Without Make-up,” recorded September 16, 2011 in the KPFA studios. Hosted by Richard Wolinsky. The talented winner of the big four awards, Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony, Rita Moreno continues to work in film and television. In this interview recorded during previews of her one-woman show at Berkeley Rep ten years ago, she discusses not only her work on the show, but her time in Hollywood, her five year relationship with Marlon Brando, her work on the film The King and I, working with Morgan Freeman on PBS, and other stories. Complete 35-minute interview. Review of “Suffs” at BroadwaySF Orpheum Theatre through November 9, 2025   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley.  See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre  Stereophonic (in association with BroadwaySF, at the Curran), Oct 28 – Nov 23. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Playhouse. Annie. November 7- December 21. Once, February 20 – March 22.  Berkeley Rep. The Hills of California .by Jez Butterworth, Oct. 31 – Dec. 7, Roda Theatre. Mother of Exiles by Jessica Huang, World Premiere, Nov. 14 – Dec. 32, Peets Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company The Tempest, Oct. 24 – Nov. 2,  Immersive theatre. Point Montara Lighthouse. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. BroadwaySF: Stereophonic (in association with ACT), Oct 28 – Nov 23, Curran. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose:  Kinky Boots, Nov. 28-30. See website for other events. Center REP: The Woman in Black, U.S. Tour, November 5-23.. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works Dada Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff, Oct. 18 – Nov. 16, Cinnabar Theatre. Young Rep: Disney's The Little Mermaid, November 14-23, Studio Space, Petaluma Outlet Mall. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 –  21. . See website for other events. Golden Thread  Pilgrimage by Humaira Ghilzal and Bridgette Dutta Portman, a co-production with Z Space, October 24 – November 8, Z Space's Steindler Stage. Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. Los Altos Stage Company. Freaky Friday, The Musical. October 24 – November 2. A Christmas Carol, November  28 – December 21.. Lower Bottom Playaz  August Wilson's King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland. Magic Theatre. Actors Reading Collective: Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, See website for other events and productions. Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions. Marin Theatre: Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks. October 30 – November 23. The Lightning Thief, MSC Teen Company, November 7 -9. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Spanish Stew by Marga Gomez, October 17 – November 23. New Performance Traditions.  See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. Cabaret, November 21 – December 14. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for event listings. Pear Theater. Ada & The Engine  by Lauren Gunderson, November 21 – December 7. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. Newsies, November 8-16. Presidio Theatre. Peter Pan Panto, Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show. October 9 – November 1, The Oasis. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. Noises Off by Michael Frayn. September 25 – November 8. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players.  Sunday in the Park with George, November 15 – December 30. South Bay Musical Theatre:  Let It Snow: A Broadway Holiday Celebration, December 20-21, Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026. SPARC: See website for upcoming events. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico Frankenstein, October 11 – November 2. Theatre Rhino  The Break-Up written and performed by Tina D'Elia, November 6-23. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. A Driving Beat by Jordan Ramirez Puckett, Oct 29 – Nov. 23, . Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Second Stage.Georgiana & Kitty, Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Dec. 3 – 28, Lucie Stern Theatre. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org   The post October 30, 2025: Susan Hill – Rita Moreno appeared first on KPFA.

In episode 78, The Boston Sisters discuss the film adaptations of plays by award-winning playwright August Wilson (1945 - 2005) and their significance in understanding American history with Dr. Sandra G. Shannon, a leading authority on Wilson's work, as well as founder and President Emerita of the August Wilson Society. Three of Wilson plays were adapted into feature films: FENCES, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, andTHE PIANO LESSON. JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE is currently in development. Dr. Shannon highlights Wilson's mission to give voice to the African American experience and the importance of historical context in teaching his plays. The conversation also explores metaphysical elements in Wilson's works compared to the popular 2025 Ryan Coogler film SINNERS, and the impact of Wilson's plays on contemporary culture.TIMESTAMPS0:02 - Intro to Podcast and Dr. Sandra D. Shannon1:00 - Overview of August Wilson's Plays2:31 - Film Adaptations: MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, THE PIANO LESSON, FENCES4:18 - Dr. Sandra D. Shannon's first impressions of August Wilson8:06 - August Wilson Society mission and legacy25:10 - Baltimore's August Wilson Project26:05 - Teaching August Wilson to a tech/media savvy student30:06 - MA RAINEY's BLACK BOTTOM blues history34:39 - THE PIANO LESSON and the value of owning land44:41 - Pittsburgh as "ground" and microcosm56:35 - Teaching history through August Wilson plays59:20 - JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE and Great Migration1:01:30 - August Wilson, SINNERS, and the supernatural1:11:58 - Upcoming film adaptation1:17:09 - African belief systems in August Wilson1:20:54 - Where to watch FENCES, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, and THE PIANON LESSON1:21:14 - Books by Dr. Sandra Shannon1:22:09 - Disclaimer-----SUBSCRIBE to HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS® on your favorite podcast platformENJOY past podcasts and bonus episodesSIGN UP for our mailing listSUPPORT this podcast  SHOP THE PODCAST on our affiliate bookstoreBuy us a Coffee! You can support by buying a coffee ☕ here — buymeacoffee.com/historicaldramasistersThank you for listening!

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Richard Powers: Playground, a novel about Big Tech and AI Richard Powers discusses his latest novel, “Playground” with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios October 31, 2024. Richard Powers won the Pulitzer Prize i 2019 for “The Overstory,” and the National Book Award in 2006 for “The Echo Maker.” He is also the author of “The Time Of Our Singing,” “Orfeo,” and “Bewilderment.” He has been a Booker Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist multiple times. “Playground” brings together the history of Silicon Valley and the growth of A.I. with a look at deep ocean diving and the notion of floating cities in a story that circles back on itself, and was possibly written by an artificial intelligence. Complete interview     Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2025), Best Selling Novelist Bebe Moore Campbell (1950-2006), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded August 23, 2001 while on tour for her novel, “What You Owe Me.” In her books, she explored racial justice, childhood obesity and the tensions in friendships between Black and white people; she shared the stigma of mental illness and memories of the summers she spent with her father in North Carolina. Bebe Moore Campbell died of brain cancer on November 27, 2006 at the age of 56,  and was on the verge of recognition as a major African American novelist and journalist at the time of her death. Her first novel, published in 1992, Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, won the NAACP Image Award for Literature that year, and was a notable book in both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Her second novel, Brothers and Sisters, hit the New York Times best seller list after two weeks. Along the way, she became a regular commentator on NPR's Morning Edition. I interviewed Bebe Moore Campbell on August 23, 2001 while she was on the publicity tour for her fourth novel, What You Owe Me. Most of the interview focuses on that book. Bebe Moore Campbell would only write one more novel before her untimely death 72 Hour Hold. As for October, 2025, none of her works have been adapted for film or television. This was one of the final Bookwaves interviews recorded on analog tape, and was digitized and edited on October 20, 2025. This interview has not aired since 2002. . Bebe Moore Campbell Wikipedia page   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley.  See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre  Stereophonic (in association with BroadwaySF, at the Curran), Oct 28 – Nov 23. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Hills of California .by Jez Butterworth, Oct. 31 – Dec. 7, Roda Theatre. Mother of Exiles by Jessica Huang, World Premiere, Nov. 14 – Dec. 32, Peets Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company The Tempest, Oct. 24 – Nov. 2,  Immersive theatre. Point Montara Lighthouse. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. BroadwaySF: Stereophonic (in association with ACT), Oct 28 – Nov 23, Curran. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose:  Some Like It Hot, Oct. 21-26. See website for other events. Center REP: The Woman in Black, U.S. Tour, November 5-23.. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works Dada Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff, Oct. 18 – Nov. 16, Cinnabar Theatre. Young Rep: Disney's The Little Mermaid, November 14-23, Studio Space, Petaluma Outlet Mall. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 –  21. . See website for other events. Golden Thread  Pilgrimage by Humaira Ghilzal and Bridgette Dutta Portman, a co-production with Z Space, October 24 – November 8, Z Space's Steindler Stage. Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. Los Altos Stage Company. Freaky Friday, The Musical. October 24 – November 2. A Christmas Carol, November  28 – December 21.. Lower Bottom Playaz  August Wilson's King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland. Magic Theatre. Actors Reading Collective: Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, See website for other events and productions. Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions. Marin Theatre: Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks. October 30 – November 23. The Lightning Thief, MSC Teen Company, November 7 -9. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  Spanish Stew by Marga Gomez, October 17 – November 23. New Performance Traditions.  See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. Cabaret, November 21 – December 14. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for event listings. Pear Theater. Ada & The Engine  by Lauren Gunderson, November 21 – December 7. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. Disney's Moana JR., Oct 17-19; Newsies, November 8-16. Presidio Theatre. Peter Pan Panto, Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show. October 9 – November 1, The Oasis. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. Noises Off by Michael Frayn. September 25 – November 8. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players.  Sunday in the Park with George, November 15 – December 30. South Bay Musical Theatre:  Let It Snow: A Broadway Holiday Celebration, December 20-21,Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026. SPARC: See website for upcoming events. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico Frankenstein, October 11 – November 2. Theatre Rhino  The Break-Up written and performed by Tina D'Elia, November 6-23. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. A Driving Beat by Jordan Ramirez Puckett, Oct 29 – Nov. 23, . Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Second Stage.Georgiana & Kitty, Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Dec. 3 – 28, Lucie Stern Theatre. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org   The post October 23, 2025: Richard Powers – Bebe Moore Campbell appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Thomas Perry (1947-2025), Award Winning Mystery Novelist Thomas Perry (1947-2025) who died on September 15, 2025 at the age of 78, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded on June 21, 2006 in the KPFA studios while promoting Nightlife in hardover and Pursuit and Dead Aim in trade paperback. In the career of Thomas Perry, which began in 1982 with the novel The Butcher's Boy, which won the Edgar Award that year for Best First novel, thirty two books have been published, nine in the Jane Whitfield series, four in the Butcher's Boy series and two in the Jack Till series. A final novel in the Jane Whitfield series will be published in February 2026. Vanishing Act, in the Whitfield series, published in 1995, was voted one of the hundred favorite mysteries of the 20th century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. The TV series The Old Man with Jeff Bridges was based on his novel of the same name, published in 2017, and ran for two seasons on Hulu. The upcoming Russell Crowe film, Bear Country, was based on Thomas Perry's 2010 novel, Strip.   Edmund White (1940-2025), Patron Saint of Gay Literature Edmund White (1940-2025), who died on June 3, 2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded while on tour for “The Farewell Symphony,” the third volume of his autobiographical trilogy, recorded September 15, 1997. Digitized, remastered and edited on October 10, 2025 and heard for the first time in over a quarter century. Edmund White wrote novels, memoirs, plays, essays, biographies, and various hybrids. He was the co-author of The Joy of Gay Sex, and worked extensively in the gay community during the AIDS crisis and later. This interview, the second of four conducted with Edmund White between 1993 and 2014, was recorded on September 15, 1997 while he was on tour for “The Farewell Symphony” the third volume of his semi-autobiographical trilogy about his early year and the effect of the AIDS crisis. Complete Edmund White Interview   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley.  See website for readings and events. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).  Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. American Conservatory Theatre  Kim's Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre. Stereophonic (in association with BroadwaySF, at the Curran), Oct 28 – Nov 23. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Hills of California .by Jez Butterworth, Oct. 31 – Dec. 7, Roda Theatre. Mother of Exiles by Jessica Huang, World Premiere, Nov. 14 – Dec. 32, Peets Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company The Tempest, Oct. 24 – Nov. 2,  Immersive theatre. Point Montara Lighthouse. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings. BroadwaySF: Stereophonic (in association with ACT), Oct 28 – Nov 23, Curran. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose:  Some Like It Hot, Oct. 21-26. See website for other events. Center REP: The Woman in Black, U.S. Tour, November 5-23.. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works Dada Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff, Oct. 18 – Nov. 16, Cinnabar Theatre. Young Rep: Disney's The Little Mermaid, November 14-23, Studio Space, Petaluma Outlet Mall. Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 –  21. . See website for other events. Golden Thread  Pilgrimage by Humaira Ghilzal and Bridgette Dutta Portman, a co-production with Z Space, October 24 – November 8, Z Space's Steindler Stage. Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. Los Altos Stage Company. Freaky Friday, The Musical. October 24 – November 2. A Christmas Carol, November  28 – December 21.. Lower Bottom Playaz  August Wilson's King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland. Magic Theatre. Actors Reading Collective: Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, See website for other events and productions. Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions. Marin Theatre: Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks. October 30 – November 23. The Lightning Thief, MSC Teen Company, November 7 -9. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC)  The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall, September 19 – October 19. New Performance Traditions.  See website for upcoming schedule Oakland Theater Project. Cabaret, November 21 – December 14. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for event listings. Pear Theater. The Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro, October 3-19. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. Disney's Moana JR., Oct 17-19; Newsies, November 8-16. Presidio Theatre. Peter Pan Panto, Nov. 29 – Dec. 28. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show. October 9 – November 1, The Oasis. Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events. San Francisco Playhouse. Noises Off by Michael Frayn. September 25 – November 8. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season Shotgun Players.  The Motion by Christopher Chen, September 13 – October 18 (extended) South Bay Musical Theatre:  The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18. SPARC: See website for upcoming events. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico Frankenstein, October 11 – November 2. Theatre Rhino  Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. A Driving Beat by Jordan Ramirez Puckett, Oct 29 – Nov. 23, . Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts Second Stage.Georgiana & Kitty, Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, Dec. 3 – 28, Lucie Stern Theatre. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Fort Mason Center. Events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org   The post October 16, 2025: Thomas Perry – Edmund White appeared first on KPFA.

Join us on the latests Whisper in the Wings from Stage Whisper, we were so thrilled to welcome on the actress Veralyn Jones and director Gregg T Daniel, to talk about one of the greatest works by August Wilson, being presented by A Noise Within, Joe Turner's Come and Gone. This incredible piece of theatre was so wonderful to speak with, and our guests were so inspired in their conversation. So be sure that you tune in and get your tickets now for this incredible production!A Noise Within PresentsJoe Turner's Come and GoneOct 12th- November 9th @ A Noise Within (Pasadena, CA)Tickets and more information are available at anoisewithin.org And be sure to follow our guests to stay up to date on all their upcoming projects and productions: @officialgreggdaniel@veralyn-jonesanoisewithin.org

This episode features an interview with Dr. Derek G. Handley, author of the book Struggle for the City: Citizenship and Resistance in the Black Freedom Movement. Dr. Handley is an Associate Professor in the English Department at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He is also affiliated faculty in the African and African Diaspora Studies Department and in the Urban Studies program. Before that, he was a Chamberlain Project Fellow in English and Black Studies at Amherst College and a Predoctoral Mellon Fellow at the James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference at Emory University. He has taught at Lehigh University, the United States Naval Academy, and the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently, he is co-director of the digital humanities project “Mapping Racism and Resistance,” which maps racial covenants in Milwaukee County and uncovers Black resistance to such discrimination. In this interview, we discuss his concept of Black rhetorical citizenship, the role of Black women in the civil rights movement in the urban North, the plays of August Wilson, and housing covenants that prevented Black people from purchasing or renting particular properties throughout much of the twentieth century. This episode features a clip from the song "The City" by The Kyoto Connection. Episode Transcript

Saturday Church is running at New York Theater Workshop through October 24th. To learn more, visit www.nytw.org. Follow The Present Stage on Instagram at @thepresentstageThe Present Stage: Conversations with Theater Writers is hosted by Dan Rubins, a theater critic for Theatermania and Slant Magazine. You can also find Dan's reviews on Cast Album Reviews and in The New Yorker's Briefly Noted column.The Present Stage supports the national nonprofit Hear Your Song. If you'd like to learn more about Hear Your Song and how to support empowering youth with serious illnesses to make their voices heard though songwriting, please visit www.hearyoursong.org

From the publisher: As the US struggles to provide affordable housing, millions of Americans live in deteriorating public housing projects, enduring the mistakes of past housing policy. In The Projects, Howard A. Husock explains how we got here, detailing the tragic rise and fall of public housing and the pitfalls of other subsidy programs. He takes us inside a progressive movement led by a group of New York City philanthropists, politicians, and business magnates who first championed public housing as a solution to urban blight. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the controversial city planner Robert Moses, many well-known historical figures made a convincing case for affordable housing in America.Despite the movement's lofty ideals, the creation of the Projects led to the destruction of low-income communities across the country. From the Hill District in Pittsburgh to Black Bottom in Detroit, predominantly Black neighborhoods were judged only by the quality of their housing. Husock looks beyond these neighborhoods' physical conditions to their uncounted riches, from local artists like August Wilson to vital community institutions. As he shares residents' stories, he honors what they crafted through their own plans, rather than those of city planners.Husock traces the history of public housing to contemporary debates on the government's role in the housing market. Through interviews with residents, he reveals how public housing transformed the lives of Americans and the physical faces of cities and towns. He ultimately critiques "repair and reform" efforts, making policy recommendations that address the core failings of public housing for the people it was once designed to help. Mapping out a better path for policy-makers, he lays a new foundation for upward mobility in America.For information on his book from NYU Press, check out: https://nyupress.org/9781479828432/the-projects/Support our show and Reach out and Read of Tampa Bay at https://patreon.com/axelbankhistoryAxelbankHistory.com is designed by https://www.ellieclairedesigns.com/Axelbank Reports History and Today" can be found on social media at https://twitter.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://instagram.com/axelbankhistoryhttps://facebook.com/axelbankhistory

Starletta DuPois chats with LaTangela Fay on the #tanline With nearly 5 decades of experience in the entertainment industry, this beautiful soul is still landing roles, paving the way for others and currently in theaters nationwide alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller "One Battle After Another". She has acted in groundbreaking television series, including The Jeffersons, Little House on the Prairie, Lost, City of Angles, Black Jesus, and The Steve Harvey Show. On stage, she has earned critical acclaim with standout performances in Miss Evers' Boys, August Wilson's The Piano Lesson (as Bernice), and in the American Playhouse TV adaption of the iconic A Raisin in the Sun. She also received a Tony nomination for her powerful performance in The Mighty Gents. Chime in : www.LaTangela.com Watch full episode HERE RADIO - WEMX- Baton Rouge, La. Mon-Fri 10a.m.-3p.m.CST KTCX - Beaumont, Tx. Mon-Fri 3-8 CST WEMX Sundays 10a.m KSMB Sundays 10a.m. WWO - YouTube - #LaTangelaFay Podcast - ALL digital platforms - #iTunes #Spotify #WEMX #WAFB+ www.LaTangela.com www.TanTune.com Special Thank You - Gordon McKernan Injury Attorney - Official Partner #GordonGives #TanCares #225BulletinBoard TanTune #POOF POWER OVER OBSTACLES FOREVER GT Legacy AutoThe Fiery CrabHair Queen Beauty Super CenterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Resident Company Member Chinai Routté and director Paige Hernandez return to The Truth in This Art to illuminate Everyman Theatre's production of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.Routté shares the transformative experience of portraying Berniece, the play's powerful central character, and how her own life informs the role's emotional depth. Hernandez opens up about the responsibility and honor of being one of the few women to direct an August Wilson work, reflecting on why this representation deeply matters in the American theater landscape.Together, they reveal the enduring impact of The Piano Lesson—exploring its themes of family, memory, and legacy, and discussing how Wilson's storytelling continues to spark dialogue and unity in Baltimore and beyond. Their conversation uncovers the creative process, the challenges, and the joys of bringing this essential story to the stage.For Routté and Hernandez , The Truth in This Art is a space to share what it means to honor history, create change, and inspire community—one performance at a time.Topics Covered:The significance of The Piano Lesson for today's audiences and artistsRoutté's journey interpreting Berniece and the layers of family legacyHenandez's perspective as one of few women directing an August Wilson playHow cultural representation and storytelling foster connection in BaltimoreExperience the play's impact at everymantheatre.org and follow @everymantheatre on Instagram for tickets, updates, and behind-the-scenes stories. Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

We sit down with actor/producer André Holland, the acclaimed actor and producer behind Love, Brooklyn, opening nationwide September 5th. From his breakout role in the Academy Award-Winning film Moonlight to his Broadway debut in August Wilson's Jitney, Holland shares anecdotes about past projects and why we need to check out Love, Brooklyn. Join us as we explore his passion for storytelling, his role as a producer, and the creative drive fueling his latest project. Holland is such a down to earth guy!Follow André Holland:@andreholland on instagramom/love-brooklyn-2025-241054/movie-overviewHarper Road Films: https://deadline.com/2025/05/love-brooklyn-greenwich-entertainment-acquires-andre-holland-movie-1236390489/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bL5iuOpHWwA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danielle Deadwyler is an actor who wows and captivates with every performance, across moods and genres. You may have seen her as Mamie Till in TILL, as Berniece in THE PIANO LESSON, or in the new post-apocalyptic action thriller 40 ACRES (in theaters and now available to rent at home). Danielle shares her deep ties to history, the whispers of the ancestors, and the power of stillness in this conversation, through her love of PAN'S LABYRINTH and IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.  Feeling Seen is hosted by Jordan Crucchiola and is a production Maximum Fun.Need more Feeling Seen? Keep up with the show on Instagram and Bluesky.

Old friend and colleague, Mark Clayton Southers, sits down with Tressa for a fascinating, candid, and hopeful conversation about his journey, building community, his road to recovery (and inspiration) after a devastating accident, and how he got to know the legendary August Wilson. Yinz don't want to miss this one, we promise you.(Also, Don shares the story of how he and Tressa met - and how Pittsburgh Playwrights was involved...)Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co.: https://www.pghplaywrights.org/Mark Clayton Southers: https://www.markclaytonsouthers.com/https://www.yinzaregood.com/Want to learn more about the podcast, including all of the guests who've been featured thus far? Check out our website: ⁠https://www.yinzaregood.com/⁠FOLLOW US on social media!Instagram: ⁠@yinzaregood⁠ Facebook: ⁠@YinzAreGood⁠Have a story of GENEROSITY or KINDNESS to share with us? Want a KINDNESS CRATE dropped off at your business or school? Email us at yinzaregood@gmail.com

Welcome to the Pinkleton Pull-Aside Podcast. On this podcast, let's step aside from our busy lives to have fun, fascinating life giving conversation with inspiring authors, pastors, sports personalities and other influencers, leaders and followers. Sit back, grab some coffee, or head down the road and let's get the good and the gold from today's guest. Our host is Jeff Pinkleton, Executive Director of the Gathering of the Miami Valley, where their mission is to connect men to men, and men to God. You can reach Jeff at GatheringMV.org or find him on Facebook at The Gathering of the Miami Valley.Karen Abercrombie is an award-winning actress, singer-songwriter, master oral storyteller, writer and producer. She is also an activist and an avid environmentalist. Born and raised in Aliquippa, PA, Karen is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Karen has a long list of credits to her name which include playing Grandma Quill in the Marvel Franchise's, The Guardians of The Galaxy Volume 3, Judge Eleanor Thomas in the Sony Provident TV Series – Eleanor's Bench, Miss Virginia in OWN's TV Series – Delilah, and Miss Clara in the Kendrick Brothers film, War Room. You may have also seen her on Vampire Diaries, Saved by The Bell, Judging Amy, The Inspectors, Ali McBeal, Strong Medicine, etc. As for stage, Karen has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions. Some of her favorite stage experiences include portraying Aunt Ester in August Wilson's Gem of The Ocean at The Actors Theatre, Three Views of Mt Fuji at Playwrights Horizon, portraying Peggy in Charles Randoph Wright's Blue at The Actors Theatre, and Tambourines to Glory at The Billie Holiday Theatre. 

**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS FULL SPOILERS**For our Connections Series finale, we close out with a powerful, resonant adaptation of August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (2020), directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted for the screen by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. This tense, intimate drama set in a 1927 Chicago recording studio explores exploitation, racism, and the self-hate that racism breeds - all anchored by powerful performances from Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman. Does this play translate well to the big screen? Listen to find out! And thanks for joining us this season - Film is Lit will be back later this summer with season 16 - our most thrilling season yet! Surprises are on the horizon ;)#FilmIsLit #MaRaineysBlackBottom #Season14Finale #FilmPodcast #Adaptation #AugustWilson #BlackVoicesMatter #ViolaDavis #ChadwickBoseman #GlynnTurman #ColmanDomingo #MichaelPotts #BroadwayToScreen #NetflixFilm #SummerPreview #ConnectionsSeries

How housing policy failed the people it was designed to help -- and how to fix it As the US struggles to provide affordable housing, millions of Americans live in deteriorating public housing projects, enduring the mistakes of past housing policy. In The Projects: A New History of Public Housing (NYU Press, 2025), Howard A. Husock explains how we got here, detailing the tragic rise and fall of public housing and the pitfalls of other subsidy programs. He takes us inside a progressive movement led by a group of New York City philanthropists, politicians, and business magnates who first championed public housing as a solution to urban blight. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the controversial city planner Robert Moses, many well-known historical figures made a convincing case for affordable housing in America. Despite the movement's lofty ideals, the creation of the Projects led to the destruction of low-income communities across the country. From the Hill District in Pittsburgh to Black Bottom in Detroit, predominantly Black neighborhoods were judged only by the quality of their housing. Husock looks beyond these neighborhoods' physical conditions to their uncounted riches, from local artists like August Wilson to vital community institutions. As he shares residents' stories, he honors what they crafted through their own plans, rather than those of city planners. Husock traces the history of public housing to contemporary debates on the government's role in the housing market. Through interviews with residents, he reveals how public housing transformed the lives of Americans and the physical faces of cities and towns. He ultimately critiques "repair and reform" efforts, making policy recommendations that address the core failings of public housing for the people it was once designed to help. Mapping out a better path for policy-makers, he lays a new foundation for upward mobility in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How housing policy failed the people it was designed to help -- and how to fix it As the US struggles to provide affordable housing, millions of Americans live in deteriorating public housing projects, enduring the mistakes of past housing policy. In The Projects: A New History of Public Housing (NYU Press, 2025), Howard A. Husock explains how we got here, detailing the tragic rise and fall of public housing and the pitfalls of other subsidy programs. He takes us inside a progressive movement led by a group of New York City philanthropists, politicians, and business magnates who first championed public housing as a solution to urban blight. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the controversial city planner Robert Moses, many well-known historical figures made a convincing case for affordable housing in America. Despite the movement's lofty ideals, the creation of the Projects led to the destruction of low-income communities across the country. From the Hill District in Pittsburgh to Black Bottom in Detroit, predominantly Black neighborhoods were judged only by the quality of their housing. Husock looks beyond these neighborhoods' physical conditions to their uncounted riches, from local artists like August Wilson to vital community institutions. As he shares residents' stories, he honors what they crafted through their own plans, rather than those of city planners. Husock traces the history of public housing to contemporary debates on the government's role in the housing market. Through interviews with residents, he reveals how public housing transformed the lives of Americans and the physical faces of cities and towns. He ultimately critiques "repair and reform" efforts, making policy recommendations that address the core failings of public housing for the people it was once designed to help. Mapping out a better path for policy-makers, he lays a new foundation for upward mobility in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

How housing policy failed the people it was designed to help -- and how to fix it As the US struggles to provide affordable housing, millions of Americans live in deteriorating public housing projects, enduring the mistakes of past housing policy. In The Projects: A New History of Public Housing (NYU Press, 2025), Howard A. Husock explains how we got here, detailing the tragic rise and fall of public housing and the pitfalls of other subsidy programs. He takes us inside a progressive movement led by a group of New York City philanthropists, politicians, and business magnates who first championed public housing as a solution to urban blight. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the controversial city planner Robert Moses, many well-known historical figures made a convincing case for affordable housing in America. Despite the movement's lofty ideals, the creation of the Projects led to the destruction of low-income communities across the country. From the Hill District in Pittsburgh to Black Bottom in Detroit, predominantly Black neighborhoods were judged only by the quality of their housing. Husock looks beyond these neighborhoods' physical conditions to their uncounted riches, from local artists like August Wilson to vital community institutions. As he shares residents' stories, he honors what they crafted through their own plans, rather than those of city planners. Husock traces the history of public housing to contemporary debates on the government's role in the housing market. Through interviews with residents, he reveals how public housing transformed the lives of Americans and the physical faces of cities and towns. He ultimately critiques "repair and reform" efforts, making policy recommendations that address the core failings of public housing for the people it was once designed to help. Mapping out a better path for policy-makers, he lays a new foundation for upward mobility in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In season 4, episode 176, we discuss the play Fences by August Wilson.Visit our website at https://www.tbrlowdown.com to see our show notes, join our Discord, book club, and subscribe to our Substack newsletters.

Listen to an inspiring and insightful interview with Ronald Eli and Deidra LaWan Starnes as they talk about their collaboration with August Wilson's The Piano Lesson at 1st Stage. 

Episode 73 is the 2025 Page to Screen podcast where The Boston Sisters talk about 5 books related to historical drama series and films for summer reading.This year we highlight stories or provide a deeper dive into the films and series featured in the 4th podcast season (2024 - 2025). The authors of three 2025 summer reads were guests on the podcast.*​The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen* (2015) | Ep. 58​The Piano Lesson by August Wilson (1986) | Ep. 62​Shirley Chisholm In Her Own Words: Speeches and Writings by Zinga A. Fraser, PhD* (2024) | Ep. 59​Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth (2002) | Ep. 70​Miss Austen by Gill Hornby* (2020) | Ep. 71-------TIMESTAMPS0:14 - Intro to Episode 731:17 - THE SYMPATHIZER/Viet Thanh Nguyen9:40 - The PIANO LESSON/August Wilson12:59 -SHIRLEY CHISHOLM IN HER OWN WORDS: SPEECHES AND WRITINGS/ Zinga A. Fraser, editor27:52 - Break28:30 CALL THE MIDWIFE/Jennifer Worth41:14 - MISS AUSTEN/Gill Hornby53:05 - Recap------SUBSCRIBE to HISTORICAL DRAMA WITH THE BOSTON SISTERS® on your favorite podcast platformENJOY past podcasts and bonus episodesSIGN UP for our mailing listSUPPORT this podcast  SHOP THE PODCAST on our affiliate bookstoreBuy us a Coffee! You can support by buying a coffee ☕ here — buymeacoffee.com/historicaldramasistersThank you for listening!

A conversation with one of the longest-serving and most consequential artistic directors and producers of the modern era of Philadelphia theater history, Sara Garonzik. As we continue our Season Four, we learn about her early years - first as and actor, then as a director, then as a producer at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. And we learn her stories about how she took PTC from a 25-year-long home at the Plays and Players Theatre to the new Suzanne Roberts Theatre on Broad Street. Plus, we learn about how she committed the theater to presenting consequential  modern American playwrights such as Terrence McNally, David Ives and August Wilson, and worked with so many amazing directors, composers and performing artists of the American theater - everyone from Richard Thomas to Billy Porter to Bill Irwin to Kathleen Turner. A blog post on our website, with photos of Sara Garonzik and the opening of the Suzanne Robert Theatre in 2007 on Broad Street is here: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/images-for-episode-100-the-suzanne-roberts-theatre-grand-opening-2007/On Sunday, June 29th, the author and podcaster Peter Schmitz will be appearing at the Brookline Books stall at the 2025 American Library Association annual conference and exhibition at the Philadelphia Convention Center. If you're a librarian - or a fan of libraries - and are coming to the ALA in Philly this year, please be sure to stop by and say hello!Support the show"Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book retailers now!To order our book via Bookshop.org - GO HERE Our website: www.aithpodcast.comOur email address: AITHpodcast@gmail.comBluesky: @aithpodcast.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AITHpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aithpodcast/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AITHpodcast© Podcast text copyright, Peter Schmitz. All rights reserved. ℗ All original voice recordings copyright Peter Schmitz. ℗ All original music copyright Christopher Mark Colucci. Used by permission.

There's no parallel in American theater to August Wilson's American Century Cycle … 10 plays that together depict a century of change in one neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Black Rep's production of the cycle's final play, “Radio Golf,” marks a milestone for the company and its artists.

In this episode, we dive back into the film Sinners, not just as a movie, but as a cultural reckoning. We're breaking down how the film tells a deeper story about Black American folklife, Blues culture, and the enduring legacy of Blues People. This time, we're not just exploring themes; we're getting into the characters, the plot, and the ways they reveal the real-life struggle between tradition and transformation.Rather than just reviewing the film, we're asking why Sinners matters. It's not just entertainment, it's a bold statement about what it means to be a Blues person in a world where survival, spirituality, and cultural memory are constantly tested. We'll explore how the film reflects critical ideas like Blues Ecology, Clyde Woods' Development Arrested, and the legacy of the Plantation Complex. We'll also look at how the film's portrayal of Black womanhood, feminism, and colorism challenges or reinforces cultural narratives.Big Bill Broonzy's legacy will be front and center as we examine how his words and music resonate with the film's themes. As Broonzy once said, “They don't like the idea of hearing the old original way it went because it's said to carry them back to the horse and buggy days, and slavery time, and they don't want to think about that.” Just like his music, Sinners forces us to confront the past and ask hard questions about what's been lost and what survives, and how Ryan Cooger brings to life this visual story of Blues People, Blues Folk Belief, and Blues Culture of the time!We'll also dig into the cultural intersections of the Mississippi Delta, how Irish, Chinese, Black, and Afro-Indigenous communities shaped the Blues tradition. And we'll make connections to other cultural works like August Wilson's plays, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Crossroads, exploring how each handles the intersection of performance, truth, and storytelling.To break it all down, I'm joined by Dr. Langston Collin Wilkins and Dr. Elisha Oliver, whose insights into Black folklore and cultural memory will help us unpack the film's deeper layers.This episode isn't just a conversation; it's a call to think critically about how Black life and Blues culture are represented and remembered. Tune in for a cultural reckoning where the Blues itself gets to testify.

The National Endowment for the Arts has withdrawn more than half a million dollars worth of grants that arts organizations all over Oregon were relying on. Portland Playhouse got a letter that said it would not get $25,000 meant for its production of August Wilson’s and Joe Turner’s "Come and Gone" that was to open the next day. Other organizations that saw their funding pulled include All Classical Portland, Oregon Children’s Theatre, NW Children’s Theatre, Passinart: A Theatre Company, and Profile Theatre. Portland Playhouse donors quickly made up the theatre’s lost $25,000 grant, but future federal funding is looking bleak to many Oregon arts organizations. Many of them met this week with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who vowed to do everything in her power to get federal funding restored. Claire Willett is a Portland-based playwright, artist and grant writer. She’s been following the NEA funding cuts for Oregon Arts Watch and joins us to share the latest developments.

For the hundredth episode (!!), Katie checks in with Lucille Lortel award winning actor (Chicken and Biscuits on Broadway, (pray), Nina), Aigner Mizzelle.

"I DIED?!?!" We are here with Tony-nominated actor, L. Scott Caldwell. You Might Know Her From Insecure, Lost, The Fugitive, Bad Monkey, How to Get Away with Murder, Waiting to Exhale, The Net, Soweto Green and the Broadway production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone. L. Scott gave us all the scoop on acting opposite Crystal the Monkey in Bad Monkey, bringing her personal story to Rose's story on Lost, and working with August Wilson on the Broadway production of his 1988 play Joe Turner's Come and Gone. All that, plus being killed off as Molly's mom on Insecure (she forgot!), working with Uta Hagen and the Negro Ensemble Company, and what she learned from Joe Pantoliano on the set of The Fugitive. L. Scott was a total dream and we hope you love it as much as we did!  Patreon: www.patreon.com/youmightknowherfrom Follow us on social media: @youmightknowherfrom || @damianbellino || @rodemanne Discussed this episode: Rob Lowe as Stone Phillips and Shaggy Sarah Michelle Gellar as Posh Spice (Chris Kattan as Mel Be) and Debbi Matanopolous The Curious Case of Natalia Grace made into a mini-series with Ellen Pompeo called Good American Family Anne currently binging 2 seasons of Making a Murderer on Netflix  Parker Posey in The Staircase  True Crime Con featured Jon Benet Ramsey's father was the keynote speaker My Favorite Murder We tried to convince Jiggly Caliente to do Lorena Bobbit on Snatch Game Cult-y video Damian sent Anne on TikTok We are currently reading Sarah Schulman's books: People in Trouble, Stagestruck L Scott plays Jodi Turner Smith's grandmother in Bad Monkey Fear of cats: Ailurophobia Had a chemistry test with Crystal the monkey L Scott played Molly's mom, “CeeCee” on Insecure  Dies in A Million Little Pieces, The Gridiron Gang, Insecure Played Rose Nadler of Rose and Bernard on the phenomenon known as Lost Co-starred in big 90s movies like The Fugitive, Devil in a Blue Dress, The Net, Waiting to Exhale Aggie Rodgers was the costume designer for The Fugitive Richard Jordan dies while shooting of The Fugitive  and was replaced with Jeroen Krabbé Soweto Green written by Mfundi Vundla NEC: Negro Ensemble Company Was named “Nombula” = bringer of the rain Won a Tony for her role In Joe Turner's Come and Gone on Broadway  A Play of Giants at Yale Rep 1984  NEC members: Barbara Montgomery, Frances Foster, Michele Shay, Adolph Caesar, Graham Brown, Charles Brown, Samm-Art Williamson OG company: Hattie Winston, Judyann Elder, Rosalind Cash, Denise Nicholas,  Men: Norman Bush, Allie Woods, Robert Hooks,  NEC: The Room and it moved to Broadway the next year Uta Hagen promoted some movie called The Other on Mike Douglas show Got injured going toe to toe with Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder Has played a judge, lawyer or doctor more times than she can count Tom Petty music video for “Don't Come Around Here No More” and Genesis “Land of Confusion” video with giant Reagan puppets  

Veteran Shakespearean actor Geoffrey Barnes joins the Reduced Shakespeare Company to play Yorick and Ophelia's mother in the regional theatre premiere of The Comedy of Hamlet! (a prequel). The RSC's 11th stage show marks the company's seventh appearance at Merrimack Repertory Theatre, as well as MRT's 300th production, and Geoffrey discusses how his many years at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and Oregon Shakespeare Festival – as well as his background in musical theatre and experience performing RSC scripts at CSC – serve him well in this comic prequel to Shakespeare's greatest tragedy. Geoffrey reveals the value of a comedian not thinking he's funny; how he finds the rhythms and music of the language, whether it's Shakespeare, vaudeville, or August Wilson; and the importance of letting the music and the jokes serve the characters and the story. (Length 21:05) The post Meet Geoffrey Barnes appeared first on Reduced Shakespeare Company.

Book Vs. Movie: The Piano LessonThe 1987 August Wilson Play Vs. the 2024 Netflix AdaptationAugust Wilson's *The Piano Lesson*, first staged in 1987 and winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1990, centers on siblings Berniece and Boy Willie as they clash over a family heirloom—the intricately carved piano symbolizing their ancestors' struggles. Set in 1936 Pittsburgh, the play explores themes of heritage, trauma, and the tension between honoring the past and moving forward. The 2024 film adaptation, directed by Malcolm Washington and produced by Denzel Washington, stars John David Washington as Boy Willie, Danielle Deadwyler as Berniece, and Samuel L. Jackson as Doaker. This version promises a fresh retelling with a broader setting and enhanced visuals, including supernatural elements like Sutter's ghost. So, which version did we prefer? Have a listen to find out in this ep; the Margos discuss:August Wilson's life and work. The multiple changes between the play and the 2024 filmThe cast includes Samuel L. Jackson (Doaker,) John David Washington (Boy Willie,) Danielle Deadwyler (Berniece,) Ray Fisher (Lymon,) Corey Hawkins (Avery,) Michael Potts (Winning Boy,) Skylar Aleece Smith (Maretha,) Stephen James (Boy Charles,) Erykah Badu (Lucille,) and Malik J. Lai as Wili BoyClips Featured:“Oh Lord, Berta”The Paino Player (2024 trailer)“Berneice and Avery”“Berneice and Boy Willie”“1995 Oh Lord, Berta scene.”“Berneice and Lymon”The end sceneSoundtrack for The Piano Lesson (2024)Follow us on the socials!Join our Patreon page “Book Vs. Movie podcast”You can find us on Facebook at Book Vs. Movie Podcast GroupInstagram: Book Versus Movie @bookversusmoviebookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com Margo D's Blog: Brooklynfitchick.comMargo D's Instagram “Brooklyn Fit Chick”Margo D's TikTok Margo D's YouTube: @MargoDonohueMargo P's Instagram: @shesnachomama Margo P's Blog: coloniabook.comMargo P's YouTube Channel: @shesnachomamaOur logo was designed by Madeleine Gainey/Studio 39 Marketing Follow on Instagram @Studio39Marketing & @musicalmadeleine 

JOIN TSL WORKSHOPS: https://tslworkshops.circle.so It's no secret that plays and movies are entirely different mediums, and even a play as celebrated as The Piano Lesson by late American master August Wilson demanded a cinematic treatment. From the start, co-writer and director Malcom Washington came in with a very specific take on the material, and was incredibly grateful when Oscar-nominated MUDBOUND co-writer Virgil Williams came on board to help nurture (and focus) that take on the page. In today's conversation, you'll hear the two of them wrote together in the desert, creating a routinized approach to the material, while still leaving space for discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In order to fully understand The Piano Lesson, you have to understand the source. In this episode, Jazmine helps us understand the genius of August Wilson, his love of Pittsburgh and the Black people who live and lived there, and the role Wilson's work has come to play as a rite of passage for the venerable Black actors of our time. Watch The Piano Lesson now on Netflix. Listen to more from Netflix Podcasts.   The Piano Lesson: The Official Podcast is produced by Netflix and Pineapple Street Studios.

Danielle Deadwyler stars in the Netflix adaptation of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about her journey from the Atlanta theater scene to the big screen, her three masters degrees, and playing Mamie Till, mother of Emmett, in the 2022 movie Till. Also, our book critic Maureen Corrigan shares her top 10 books of 2024. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A new film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning August Wilson play The Piano Lesson is now on Netflix. It's about a brother and sister battling over what to do with a family heirloom piano. Denzel Washington and his daughter Katia served as producers, and his sons John David and Malcolm starred in and directed it. The brothers talk about bringing the play to the screen. Also, we hear from Selena Gomez about the Spanish-language musical Emilia Pérez. Gomez plays the wife of a brutal drug cartel leader who decides to undergo gender-affirmation surgery. Film critic Justin Chang reviews blockbusters Wicked and Gladiator II.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Piano Lesson is about a conflict in a Black family over whether to keep an exquisite heirloom piano — or to sell it to buy the land their family was enslaved on. Denzel Washington's son Malcolm directed the new film adaptation for Netflix, and his brother John David stars as Boy Willie. Tonya Mosley talks with the brothers about collaborating as a family on the project.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

You may not see Denzel Washington in the new Netflix film adaptation of the August Wilson play The Piano Lesson, but his influence as producer – and parent – is unmistakable. Denzel's son Malcolm Washington is the director, and his son John David Washington plays one of the leads alongside Danielle Deadwyler and Samuel L. Jackson. It's a story about family, legacy and community. And the hauntings both literal and figurative make a big impression.Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sean is joined by Juliet Litman to discuss another highly anticipated 2024 release in Jon M. Chu's ‘Wicked.' They unpack their very mixed feelings (1:07), hypothesize why this movie is such a big hit (41:30), and forecast its Oscar chances by asking whether it could really win Best Picture (50:37). Then, they both rank their top five favorite musicals from the 21st century (58:58). Finally, Sean is joined by writer and director Malcolm Washington to discuss his new film, ‘The Piano Lesson.' They talk about coming from a Hollywood family, what he hoped to attempt when given the chance to make this film, and turning August Wilson's stage play into a bold cinematic experience (1:26:57). Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Juliet Litman and Malcolm Washington Audio Producer: Sasha Ashall Video Producer: Jack Sanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danielle Deadwyler, who first grabbed the spotlight for her performance as Emmett Till's mother in the film “Till,” stars in a new film called “The Piano Lesson”—one of August Wilson's Century Cycle plays about Black life in Pittsburgh. Denzel Washington has committed to adapting and producing all ten of Wilson's Century Cycle plays; “The Piano Lesson” is directed by his son Malcolm, and his other son John David co-stars. Deadwyler plays Berniece, a widow who has kept the family piano after her migration north to Pittsburgh; her brother, who remained in Mississippi, wants to sell it to buy a plot of land. Themes of inheritance and history are central to the siblings' conflict. “Histories are passed as we keep doing things together . . . through struggle, through joy, through lovemaking, through challenge,” Deadwyler explained to the New Yorker's Doreen St. Félix. “The Piano Lesson” is playing in select theatres, and will be available on Netflix starting November 22nd.