The August Wilson Century Cycle

Production Histories

Gem of the Ocean | Joe Turner's Come and Gone | Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom | The Piano Lesson | Seven Guitars | Fences | Two Trains Running | Jitney | King Hedley II | Radio Golf |


GEM OF THE OCEAN

The Goodman Theatre

Gem of the Ocean premiered on April 28, 2003, at The Goodman Theatre (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) in Chicago. The director was Marion McClinton and the consulting producer was Benjamin Mordecai; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn, the music and musical direction were by Dwight Andrews; the production stage manager was Joseph Drummond and the stage managers were Narda Alcorn and T. Paul Lynch. The cast was as follows:


Center Theatre Group

The play was produced on July 20, 2003, at Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director) in Los Angeles. The director was Marion McClinton and the consulting producer was Benjamin Mordecai; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Dan Moses Schreier and the music was composed and arranged by Kathryn Bostic. The cast was as follows:


Huntington Theatre Company

The play was produced on September 24, 2004, at Huntington Theatre Company (Nicholas Martin, Artistic Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) in Boston. It was presented by special arrangement with Sageworks. The director was Kenny Leon and the consulting producer was Benjamin Mordecai; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Dan Moses Schreier, the original music was composed and arranged by Kathryn Bostic; the fight director was J. Allen Suddeth, the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler, the production stage manager was Narda E. Alcorn and the stage manager was Jason Rossman. The cast was as follows:


Walter Kerr Theatre

On December 6, 2004, this production of Gem of the Ocean opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre with the same cast and creative team. It was produced by Carole Shorenstein Hays and Jujamcyn Theaters, in association with Robert G. Bartner. The production supervisors were Neil A. Mazzella and Gene O’Donovan.

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JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE

Joe Turner's Come and Gone was initially presented as a staged reading at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 1984 National Playwrights Conference.

Yale Repertory Theatre

Joe Turner's Come and Gone opened on April 29, 1986 at the Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director) in New Haven, Connecticut. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Pamela Peterson, the lighting design was by Michael Gianitti, the sound design was by Matthew Wiener; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Margaret Adair and the stage manager was Ethan Ruber. The cast was as follows:


Arena Stage

The Yale Repertory Theatre production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone opened on October 2, 1987, at Arena Stage (Zelda Fichandler, Producing Director; William Stewart, Managing Director; Douglas C. Wager, Associate Producing Director) in Washington, D.C. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Pamela Peterson, the lighting design was by Michael Gianitti; the musical director was Dwight Andrews and the stage manager was Karen L. Carpenter. The cast was as follows:

Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Joe Turner's Come and Gone opened on March 26, 1988, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway in New York City. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Pamela Peterson, the lighting design was by Michael Gianitti; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Karen L. Carpenter and the stage manager was Elliott Woodruff. The cast was as follows:

 

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MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was initially presented as a staged reading at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 1982 National Playwrights Conference.

Yale Repertory Theatre

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom opened on April 6, 1984, at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Charles Henry McClennahan, the costume design was by Daphne Pascucci, the lighting design was by Peter Maradudin; the music director was Dwight Andrews. The cast was as follows:


Cort Theatre

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom opened on October 11, 1984, at the Cort Theatre on Broadway in New York City. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Charles Henry McClennahan, the costume design was by Daphne Pascucci, the lighting design was by Peter Maradudin; the music director was Dwight Andrews. The cast was as follows:

 

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THE PIANO LESSON

The Piano Lesson was initially presented as a staged reading at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 1987 National Playwrights Conference.

Yale Repertory Theatre

The Piano Lesson opened on November 26, 1987, at the Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director) in New Haven, Connecticut. The director was Lloyd Richards; the set design was by E. David Cosier, Jr., the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by J. Scott Servheen; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Maureen F. Gibson and the stage manager was Gwendolyn M. Gilliam. The cast was as follows:


Huntington Theatre Company

The Yale Repertory Theatre production of The Piano Lesson opened on January 9, 1988, at the Huntington Theatre Company (Peter Altman, Producing Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) in Boston. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by E. David Cosier, Jr., the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by J. Scott Servheen; the musical director was Dwight Andrews and the stage manager was Gwendolyn M. Gilliam. The cast was as follows:


Walter Kerr Theatre

The Piano Lesson opened on April 16, 1990, at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway in New York City. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by E. David Cosier, Jr., the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by G. Thomas Clark; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Karen L. Carpenter and the stage manager was Russell Johnson. The cast was as follows:

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SEVEN GUITARS

The Goodman Theatre

Seven Guitars opened on January 21, 1995, at The Goodman Theatre (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) in Chicago. It was directed by Walter Dallas; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by Tom Clark; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was T. Paul Lynch and the stage manager was Paula Neeley-Wipf. The cast was as follows:


Huntington Theatre Company

Seven Guitars opened on September 15, 1995, at the Huntington Theatre Company (Peter Altman, Producing Director; Michael Masso, Managing Director) in Boston, Massachusetts. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by Tom Clark; the musical director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Jane E. Neufeld and the stage manager was Narda Alcorn. The cast was as follows:


Walter Kerr Theatre

Seven Guitars had its Broadway premiere at the Walter Kerr Theatre on March 28, 1996. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Scott Bradley, the costume design was by Constanza Romero, the lighting design was by Christopher Akerlind, the sound design was by Tom Clark; the musical director was Dwight Andrews and the production stage manager was Jane E. Neufeld. The cast was as follows:

 

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FENCES

Fences was initially presented as a staged reading at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s 1983 National Playwrights Conference.

Yale Repertory Theatre

Fences opened on April 30, 1985, at the Yale Repertory Theatre (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director) in New Haven, Connecticut. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by James D. Sandefur, the costume design was by Candice Donnelly, the lighting design was by Danianne Mizzy; the music director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Joel Grynheim and the stage manager was Terrence J. Witter. The cast was as follows:

46th Street Theatre

Fences opened on March 26, 1987, at the 46th Street Theatre in New York City. It was produced by Carole Shorenstein Hays, in association with the Yale Repertory Theatre. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by James D. Sandefur, the costume design was by Candice Donnelly, the lighting design was by Danianne Mizzy; the music director was Dwight Andrews, the production stage manager was Martin Gold and the stage manager was Terrence J.Witter. The cast was as follows:

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TWO TRAINS RUNNING

Yale Repertory Theatre

Two Trains Running opened on March 27, 1990, at the Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut (Lloyd Richards, Artistic Director; Benjamin Mordecai, Managing Director). It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Tony Fanning, the costume design was by Chrisi Karvonides, the lighting design was by Geoff Korf, the sound design was by Ann Johnson; the stage manager was Liz Dreyer and the production dramaturg was Lisa A. Wilde. The cast was as follows:


Walter Kerr Theatre

Two Trains Running opened on April 13, 1992, at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway in New York City. The Executive Producer was Benjamin Mordecai. It was directed by Lloyd Richards; the set design was by Tony Fanning, the costume design was by Chrisi Karvonides, the lighting design was by Geoff Korf; the production stage manager was Karen L. Carpenter and the stage manager was Fred Seagraves. The cast was as follows:

 

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JITNEY

Jitney had its world premiere in October 1982, at the Allegheny Repertory Theatre in Pittsburgh. It was then presented in 1985, by the Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Subsequent productions of a revised version of Jitney were performed at the following theaters: Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh, June 1996; Crossroads Theatre Company, New Brunswick, New Jersey, April 1997; Huntington Theatre Company, Boston, October 1998; CENTERSTAGE, Baltimore, January 1999; Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, New York, March 1999; Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, New York, April 1999; The Goodman Theatre, Chicago, June 1999; Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, January 2000.

Second Stage Theatre

Jitney had its New York premiere on April 25, 2000, at the Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Alexander Fraser, Executive Director; Carol Fishman, Managing Director). It was directed by Marion McClinton; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Rob Milburn; the production stage manager was Narda Alcorn. The cast was as follows:

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KING HEDLEY II

Pittsburgh Public Theater

King Hedley II premiered on December 11, 1999, at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, in association with Sageworks, in a co-production with the Pittsburgh Public Theater (Edward Gilbert, Artistic Director; Stephen Klein, Managing Director) and Seattle Repertory Theatre (Sharon Ott, Artistic Director; Benjamin Moore, Managing Director). The production subsequently opened at Seattle Repertory Theatre on March 13, 2000.The director was Marion Isaac McClinton; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Toni-Leslie James, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Rob Milburn; the production stage manager was Diane DiVita. The cast was as follows:


Huntington Theatre Company

This production of King Hedley II opened on May 24, 2000, at Huntington Theatre Company (Peter Altman, Producing Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) in Boston with the same artistic team and cast, except for the following changes: original music was composed by Max Roach and the production stage manager was Glynn David Turner. This production then opened on September 5, 2000, at Center Theatre Group’s Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director) in Los Angeles with the same artistic team, except the production stage manager was Tami Toon. The cast was as follows:


The Goodman Theatre

The production then opened on December 11, 2000, at The Goodman Theatre (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schuler, Executive Director) in Chicago with the same artistic team, except the production stage manager was Diane DiVita. The cast was as follows:


The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The play opened on February 25, 2001, at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. with the same artistic team. It was produced by Sageworks, Benjamin Mordecai, Jujamcyn Theatres and Manhattan Theatre Club, in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions. The cast was as follows:

On May 1, 2001, King Hedley II transferred to Broadway at the Virginia Theatre with the same artistic team and cast. It was produced by Sageworks, Benjamin Mordecai, Jujamcyn Theaters, 52nd Street Productions, Spring Sirkin, Peggy Hill and Manhattan Theatre Club, in association with Kardana-Swinsky Productions.


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RADIO GOLF

Yale Repertory Theatre

Radio Golf premiered on April 22, 2005, at the Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) in New Haven, Connecticut. It was directed by Timothy Douglas; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Vincent Olivieri; the stage manager was Narda E. Alcorn and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:

Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum

The play was produced on July 31, 2005, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, Founding Artistic Director; Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director) in Los Angeles. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Jon Gottlieb, original music was composed and arranged by Kathryn Bostic; the production stage managers were Narda E. Alcorn and Mary K Klinger, and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


Seattle Repertory Theatre

The play was produced on January 25, 2006, at Seattle Repertory Theatre (David Esbjornson, Artistic Director; Benjamin Moore, Managing Director) in Seattle. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Dominic Cody Kramers, original music was composed and arranged by Kathryn Bostic; the production stage manager was Narda E. Alcorn and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


CENTERSTAGE

The play was produced on March 29, 2006, at CENTERSTAGE (Irene Lewis, Artistic Director; Michael Ross, Managing Director) in Baltimore. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Amy C. Wedel, original music was composed by Kathryn Bostic; the stage manager was Marion Friedman and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


Huntington Theatre Company

The play was produced on September 13, 2006, at the Huntington Theatre Company (Nicholas Martin, Artistic Director; Michael Maso, Managing Director) in Boston. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Dan Moses Schreier, original music was composed by Kathryn Bostic; the production stage manager was Marion Friedman, the stage manager was Eileen Ryan Kelly and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


The Goodman Theatre

The play was produced on January 13, 2007, at The Goodman Theatre (Robert Falls, Artistic Director; Roche Schulfer, Executive Director) in Chicago. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, the sound design was by Dan Moses Schreier, original music was composed by Kathryn Bostic, the production stage managers were Narda E. Alcorn and Marion Friedman, the stage manager was Joseph Drummond and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


McCarter Theatre Center


The play was produced on March 18, 2007, at the McCarter Theatre Center (Emily Mann, Artistic Director; Jeffrey Woodward, Managing Director) in Princeton, New Jersey. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, original music and sound design were by Dan Moses Schreier; the production stage manager was Narda E. Alcorn, the stage manager was Marion Friedman and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:


Cort Theatre


On April 20, 2007, Radio Golf opened at the Cort Theatre on Broadway. It was directed by Kenny Leon; the set design was by David Gallo, the costume design was by Susan Hilferty, the lighting design was by Donald Holder, original music was composed and arranged by Dan Moses Schreier; the production stage manager was Narda E. Alcorn, the stage manager was Marion Friedman and the dramaturg was Todd Kreidler. The cast was as follows:

 

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