Sad, sad news...

hello, friends,

the theater world has lost a monumental -- and overwhelmingly important figure: august wilson died today after his bout with liver cancer.

wilson, who only recently (august) announced that he had only months to live, had just completed his ten play cycle investigating the african-american experience in the 20th century. from JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, to KING HEDLY II to FENCES, these plays, with poignancy, violence and profound insight, helped to articulate the long struggle from 1900-2000.

my own interaction with mr. wilson was limited, but certainly the highlight was the time he showed up for a performance of KING HEDLEY II at philadelphia theatre company. he had said that he couldn't participate in the "american playwrights in context" discussion, citing work on GEM OF THE OCEAN. i found a wilson scholar to discuss the great man's work. imagine my surprise when i looked out from the stage and saw him sitting there, grinning. we laughed a lot.

he will be so so missed -- and i challenge others out there to keep his memory, and remarkable work, alive.

RIP...

gotohellifyouhatefreedom,
volansky