August Wilson Season Cancelled at Signature

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/3/05 at 4:45pm

Sad news from Playbill.com:

"Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre Company announced Nov. 3 that, at the request of the August Wilson Estate, the company would not be presenting the August Wilson celebration in 2006, previously announced as part of the 15th anniversary season.

In a letter sent to the company, "the Estate expressed its appreciation of Signature's extensive efforts to celebrate Mr. Wilson's body of work, but said that it couldn't continue to grant rights at this time," according to Signature.

Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson died of cancer Oct. 2. He was 60 years old. Announced far in advance of Wilson's summer revelation that he was battling liver cancer, the August Wilson season at Signature was to begin in fall 2006 with a new production of Two Trains Running. The season was to also feature Wilson's one-man show How I Learned What I Learned; and a marathon reading of all the dramas that make up his decade-by-decade examination of African-American life during the 20th century.

Signature's founding artistic director James Houghton said in a Nov. 3 statement, "We are very disappointed not to have the opportunity to honor our friend and Playwright-in-Residence August Wilson but, of course, we respect the wishes of Mr. Wilson's estate. This is a very difficult time for his family and for all of us who cared so much for August and revere his extraordinary body of work."

Signature Theatre Company will be announcing revised programming shortly."



http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96063.html

Updated On: 11/3/05 at 04:45 PM