Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Introducing the University of Pittsburgh's August Wilson Archive
HowlRound Theatre Commons: With every year that passes, it seems that playwright August Wilson's legacy looms ever larger over the American theatre. The signs of his influence are everywhere, from the recent announcement that his image will grace one of the US Postal Service’s Forever Stamps to the critical acclaim that greeted the recent movie adaptation of his play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
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To be frank, I’m not very familiar with theatrical works, but reading this transcript of this discussion on the Theatre History Podcast really led me to further appreciate August Wilson’s works. I knew briefly of his work and that he had a significant impact on the cultural richness of Pittsburgh as a city, but not the details of how complex and meaningful his work is, from when it was written until today. His works, the Pittsburgh Cycle, or American Century Cycle, in particular, which are largely set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, are almost mythical and of course, cyclical in nature, manipulating time and chronology to represent the experience of Black Americans throughout the 20th century. The collection at the University of Pittsburgh contains scripts and production materials relating to the Century Cycle plays, Wilson’s personal library, and his personal musical collection, in addition to unpublished works and hundreds of drafts. The collection is extensive and provides even more insight into the works of Wilson, as well as Wilson as a person. I’m looking forward to reading more of his works and learning more about the cultural fabric of Pittsburgh going forward!
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