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August Wilson’s iconic play “The Piano Lesson” is back on Broadway.
Production director LaTanya Richardson Jackson has been tapped to reprise Wilson’s critically acclaimed 1987 story. The whimsical tale follows two siblings, Boy Willie and Berniece, as they struggle over how to preserve their family heirloom, a piano that features images of their ancestors. Only by revisiting history can the siblings endeavor to move forward.
The new and improved Broadway play features a star-studded cast. David Washington plays the role of Boy Willie, while Tony-nominated actress Danielle Brooks stars as Berniece. Samuel L. Jackson takes on the role of the siblings’ uncle, Doaker Charles.
LaTanya Richardson Jackson talks about breathing new life into Wilson’s iconic play
During an interview with Sirius XM, Jackson spoke about the play’s legacy and how she tried to highlight aspects of the ancestral world present in the original Pulitzer Prize award-winning piece.
“A lot of families believe in the spiritual world. So for me, I wanted to see what would happen if we actually indulged ourselves and leaned into that,” she explained. “August wrote it that way. We just never amplified it… When I read it and when I saw it, I always felt the presence. So, it was an attempt to actually acknowledge them there in a metaphysical world.”
For Samuel Jackson, starring in the play is a full-circle moment. The Marvel actor told GMA that he had a long history with Wilson’s iconic piece, dating back to his days at Yale Repertory Theatre. In 1987, Jackson starred as Boy Willie in the theatre’s first production. He was later cast as Charles S. Dutton’s understudy in the 1990 original Broadway run. The experience saved his life.
August Wilson’s home was restored over the summer
Over the summer, August Wilson’s childhood home in Pittsburgh was transformed into a youth center for the arts. Denzel Washington and several other community leaders spearheaded the project. It took nearly a decade to restore the legendary playwright’s home back to its original state, according to reports.
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