August Wilson’s masterfully-documented full century of the African American experience in the 10 plays that make up the American Century Cycle – nine of which have been staged on Broadway – will, for the very first time, be performed via stage readings before live audiences, and will be made available nationally as
They will continue to be available online for at least three months, and will air on WNYC and other public radio stations in 2014.
The Estate of August Wilson has granted Greene Space the rights to record all 10 of these works.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson is Artistic Director on the project.
The series has assembled a formidable group of “Wilson Warriors” including Phylicia Rashad, S. Epatha Merkerson, Kenny Leon, Leslie Uggams, Anthony Chisholm and many others, along with Wilson first-timers including Taraji P. Henson and Jesse L. Martin.
All performances will be available as live video webcasts at www.thegreenespace.org; select plays will air on WNYC and other public radio stations in 2014 and beyond.
The series began last night, at 7pm EST (all readings will start at 7pm) with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson, and a cast that includes:
David Margulies……………………………
Tuck Milligan…………………………………….Irvin
Charles Weldon…………………………………Cutler
Clarke Peters…………………………………..Toledo
Harvy Blanks……………………………….Slow Drag
Ebony Jo-Ann…………………………..…Ma Rainey
Joniece Abbott-Pratt………………..…….Dussie Mae
Jonathan Majors………………………..…… Sylvester
The complete video recording of last night’s performance can be watched in the video player embedded below.
First, the rest of the series schedule follows:
Fences–Wednesday, August 28
Directed by Kenny Leon
Eugene Lee………………………………… Jim Bono
Jesse L. Martin………………………………….Lyons
Ray Anthony Thomas………………………….Gabriel
Jonathan Majors………………………………….Cory
Regina Taylor…………………………………….Rose
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone– Wednesday, September 4
Directed by Phylicia Rashad
Keith David………………………………..Seth Holly
Taraji P. Henson……………….… Molly Cunningham
S. Epatha Merkerson……………………. Bertha Holly
Roger Robinson……………………….……… Bynum
Raynor Scheine………………….……Rutherford Selig
Jason Dirden…………………….……..Jeremy Furlow
John Douglas Thompson……….……..Harold Loomis
January LaVoy………………….……Mattie Campbell
Nile Bullock………………….………Reuben Mercer
Alexis Holt…………………….………..Zonia Loomis
The Piano Lesson– Monday, September 9
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Brandon J. Dirden……………………..…..Boy Willie
Roslyn Ruff………………………………….Berniece
Jason Dirden………………………………….Lymon
Alexis Holt……………………………………Maretha
Eric Lenox Abrams…………………………….Avery
Chuck Cooper……………………………Wining Boy
Mandi Masden………………………………….Grace
Two Trains Running– Wednesday, September 11
Directed by Michele Shay
Ron Cephas Jones……………………………….Wolf
James A. Williams………………………….Holloway
Owiso Odera………………………………….Sterling
Leon Addison Brown……………………….Hambone
Harvy Blanks…………………………………….West
Seven Guitars– Friday, September 13
Directed by Stephen McKinley Henderson
Ruben Santiago-Hudson…………………… Canewell
Wendell Pierce……………………….……Red Carter
Brenda Pressley…………………………………Louise
Lou Ferguson………………………………….Hedley
Harry Lennix……………………………Floyd Barton
Cassandra Freeman………………………………Ruby
Jitney– Monday, September 16
Directed by Ruben Santiago Hudson
Anthony Chisholm…………………………….Fielding
Amari Cheatom………………………….Youngblood
Stephen M. Henderson…………………………Turnbo
Barry Shabaka Henley…………………………..Doub
Harvy Blanks…………………………………..Shealy
Joaquina Kalukango……………………………..Rena
King Hedley II– Saturday, September 21
Directed by Michele Shay
Russell Hornsby………………………King Hedley II
Leslie Uggams…………………………………..Ruby
Kevin Carroll……………………………………Mister
Stephen M. Henderson………………………..Elmore
Marsha Stephanie Blake………………………..Tonya
Arthur French……………………………Stool Pigeon
Gem of the Ocean– Tuesday, September 24
Directed by Kenny Leon
Eugene Lee…………………………………………Eli
Stephen Tyrone Williams……………..Citizen Barlow
Phylicia Rashad……………………………Aunt Ester
Danai Gurira………………………………Black Mary
Raynor Scheine………………………Rutherford Selig
Anthony Chisholm………………….Solly Two Kings
Keith Randolph Smith…………………………Caesar
Radio Golf– Saturday, September 28
Directed by Marion McClinton
Anthony Chisholm………….. ….Elder Joseph Barlow
John Earl Jelks………………………..Sterling Johnson
Rocky Carroll…………………………Harmond Wilks
Sharon Washington………………………Mame Wilks
James A. Williams……………………Roosevelt Hicks
Watch last night’s staged reading of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom below:
