August Wilson Season back on at Signature

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 2:04pm

Personally I was hoping for Joe Turner's Come and Gone, but this is good news nonetheless --

From Broadway.com:

"Signature Theatre Company has announced that its plans to present a season of August Wilson season are back on after further discussion with the estate of the late playwright. It was announced earlier this month that the season would not be taking place because the August Wilson Estate requested that it be canceled.

Signature will present three plays from Mr. Wilson's 10-play cycle, Seven Guitars, Two Trains Running and King Hedley II, beginning in the fall of 2006. Dates and full creative teams for the three productions will be announced in the coming weeks.


"We are extremely grateful to August's wife, Constanza Romero, for initiating the further discussions that led to this very happy outcome," Signature Founding Artistic Director James Houghton said in a statement. "We look forward to working with her as we continue to schedule the season and do all that we can to honor this great American playwright. We're thrilled that she has accepted our invitation to be involved with the company throughout the season. Her guidance will be invaluable.

Wilson died on October 2 at the age of 60. Before his death, the Signature season of his works was to include the New York premiere of How I Learned What I Learned, Wilson's one-man show about his life, and a world premiere comedy about coffin makers on strike."




http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=522041

Updated On: 11/30/05 at 02:04 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 2:10pm

And from Playbill.com:

"Constanza Romero said in a statement, "I thank Jim Houghton and everyone at Signature for allowing us the time we needed to have some clarity about the immediate future of August's legacy. My husband had great admiration for Signature, a sentiment echoed by so many of his collaborators. I'm very pleased that the company will be able to proceed with its very gracious tribute and was happy to work with Jim in choosing the plays for the season."

To make theatre accessible to the broadest possible audience, Signature has partnered with Time Warner, Inc. to establish a groundbreaking ticket initiative offering every seat at every show for $15 throughout the 15th Anniversary. All three August Wilson productions are included in this initiative."


http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96539.html

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 2:18pm

This is great news.

It only makes sense that the family would eventually decide, after the abruptness of his passing, that they would want his legacy to be expressed in this manner.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 3:41pm

A revival of King Hedley II already? It's not his best work to begin with, and it was JUST on Broadway 5 years ago. I echo Margo's sentiments about being dissapointed that the brilliant Joe Turner's Come and Gone (one of the finest plays EVER written) was not included, but I'm pleased as punch that the season is back on.