ART // A Time of Fire
The legacy of Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson burns bright in a new permanent exhibit
by Lauren Earline Leonard
“Oshun” by Mic Urban; 40” x 30 “; digital photography print, 2020
EXCERPT //
Called “America’s Shakespeare,” [August] Wilson is one of our most beloved and produced playwrights. His plays are performed for audiences on Broadway and in high school auditoriums and have launched and made legendary the careers of directors, designers, and actors (Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, and Denzel Washington among them).
Presented in three sections—The Coffee Shop, The Office, The Street—the exhibit will explore Wilsonian themes of race, family, community, honor, betrayal, and love.
The Coffee Shop draws inspiration from an eatery in the Hill District, where Wilson spent much of his youth dreaming up the characters that would eventually come to life in his plays.
The Office is a replica of Wilson’s home work environment and will feature his writing desk, manuscripts, books, records, and other items.
The Street is a recreation of the Hill District where Wilson lived. An interactive map will mark its evolution. The street will be dressed with props and costumes from Broadway productions of his American Century Cycle plays.
The exhibit was designed by Constanza Romero, Wilson’s widow and executor of the August Wilson Estate, in collaboration with Scholar-in-Residence Sandra Shannon, professor of African American literature at Howard University and founder of the August Wilson Society. Tony Award-winning scenic designers David Gallo and Viveca Gardiner are also involved in the forthcoming exhibit. //
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