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NEW YORK, Aug 24, 2006 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Three plays written by the late playwright August Wilson will be presented at the Signature Theatre in New York, starting with "Seven Guitars."
The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, who died in October 2005, examined the cultural heritage of African Americans through the 20th century, Playbill.com reported.
"Seven Guitars," which opened Aug. 24, is directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who won a Tony for his performance in the original Broadway production in 1995-96. Original music was written for this production by blues musician Bill Sims.
The story centers on seven people in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1948: Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, a blues musician; a sick old man longing for an heir to carry on his name; and three single women.
"Like seven musical instruments, each one strikes a singular note in a discordant world," Signature said.
"(Wilson) was fully in love with African-American people, their laughter, anger, style and perseverance," Santiago-Hudson said. "It's a glorious thing for me to be in a position to honor the integrity of this man's work, which says: All my people are worthy and their worst qualities are redeemable."
Wilson won Pulitzer Prizes for drama for "Fences" in 1987 and "The Piano Lesson" in 1990.
URL: www.upi.com Copyright 2006 by United Press International
