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AUGUST WILSON (Playwright, April 27, 1945 - October 2, 2005). August Wilson authored Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II, and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of African Americans, decade-by-decade, over the course of the twentieth century. Mr. Wilson's plays have been produced at regional theaters across the country and all over the world, as well as on Broadway. In 2003, Mr.. Wilson made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. Mr. Wilson's works garnered many awards, including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987); and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain's Olivier Award for Jitney; as well as seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, and Jitney. Additionally, the cast recording of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom received a 1985 Grammy Award, and Mr. Wilson received a 1995 Emmy Award nomination for his screenplay adaptation of The Piano Lesson. Mr. Wilson's early works included the one-act plays: The Janitor, Recycle, The Coldest Day of the Year, Malcolm X, The Homecoming and the musical satire Black Bart and the Sacred Hills. Mr. Wilson received many fellowships and awards, including Rockefeller and Guggenheim Fellowships in Playwrighting, the Whiting Writers Award, 2003 Heinz Award, was awarded a 1999 National Humanities Medal by the President of the United States, and received numerous honorary degrees from colleges and universities, as well as the only high school diploma ever issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. He was an alumnus of New Dramatists, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a 1995 inductee into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and on October 16, 2005 Broadway named the theater located at 245 West 52nd Street "The August Wilson Theatre." Mr. Wilson was born and raised in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in Seattle, Washington at the time of his death. He is immediately survived by his two daughters, Sakina Ansari and Azula Carmen Wilson, and his wife, costume designer Constanza Romero.
RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON (Director) Made his directorial debut with August Wilson's Gem Of The Ocean at the McCarter Theatre and A.C.T. Ruben received the 1996 Tony Award for Best Featured Performer in August Wilson's Seven Guitars. He made his Broadway debut four years earlier as Buddy Bolden opposite Gregory Hines in Jelly's Last Jam. Also on Broadway he appeared in August Wilson's Gem Of The Ocean. He received rave reviews for his starring role in the off-Broadway production of Deep Down and as Walter Lee Younger in the Williamstown Theater Festival production of A Raisin In The Sun. He also starred as Roma in the McCarter Theatre production of Glengarry Glen Ross. He won the 2005 Humanitas Prize for his screenplay for Lackawanna Blues on HBO, which was written from his award-winning play of the same name. For Television, he starred opposite Halle Berry in ABC's Their Eyes Were Watching God for producers Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones. His other television appearances include "The Red Sneakers", "Little John", "American Tragedy", "Hunt For The Unicorn Killer"," Which Way Home", "Solomon and Sheba" and "Rear Window". His film credits include Domestic Disturbance, Bleeding Hearts, Blown Away, Coming To America, Devils Advocate, Shaft and recently completed Mr. Brooks opposite Demi Moore and Kevin Costner. In the spirit of August, Lloyd and Tommy - the guitars keep on strumming.
KEVIN CARROLL (Canewell). Broadway: Take Me Out, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Bring In The Noise Bring In The Funk, and Angels in America. Off-Broadway: Mr. Carroll is happy to return to the Signature after Adrienne Kennedy's Sleep Deprivation Chamber. Other Off-Broadway: Scapin, Stop Kiss, and most recently Satellites. Film: Margaret, Betty Page, Paid In Full, The Object of My Affection, Always Outnumbered, Pipe Dream, Ed's Next Move. Television: "Numbers," "Law & Order," and "100 Centre Street."
CASSANDRA FREEMAN (Ruby). Regional: Intimate Apparel (Guthrie), Vagina Monologues (Ruby Diamond), The Wolves, Blue for an Alabama Sky, The Crucible, Measure for Measure (C.C. Shakespeare), Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest (Southern Shakespeare), Comedy of Errors (Fallon), The Little Foxes, The Long Goodbye, Unsatisfactory Supper, Heidi Chronicles (Lab), Hot'l Baltimore (Turner). Film: Spike Lee's The Inside Man. Television: Recurring on "Numbers."
STEPHEN McKINLEY HENDERSON (Red Carter). Broadway: King Hedley II, revival of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Drowning Crow, Dracula, the musical. Off-Broadway: Jitney, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, revival of Zooman and The Sign. Regional: Bono in Fences (Denver Center), Azdak in Caucasian Chalk Circle (Studio Arena), Sizwe in Sizwe Bansi is Dead (Repertory Theater of St. Louis). Film: Everyday People (HBO Films), Waltzing Anna (Ind.). Television: Recurring on "Law & Order" and "Law & Order SUV."
BRENDA PRESSLEY (Louise). Broadway: Cats, Dreamgirls (original company), The Moony Shapiro Songbook. Off-Broadway: Fran's Bed, Goodwill, Marvin's Room, Blues In the Night, And The World Goes Round - The Songs of Kander and Ebb (1991 Outer Critics Circle Award). Regional: Fran's Bed (Long Wharf), The Old Settler (McCarter Theatre and The Freedom Theatre - 2000 Barrymore Award for Best Actress), Jar the Floor (Syracuse Stage), Blues for an Alabama Sky (Old Globe and Cincinnati Playhouse). Film: 16 Blocks, Cradle Will Rock, Twisted, It Could Happen to You. Television: "Brewster Place" (ABC series starring Oprah Winfrey), "Law & Order," "Law & Order SVU," "Headline," "New York Undercover," "Educating Matt Waters," "HBO Life Stories," "Harambee," "Daddy's Girl."
LANCE REDDICK (Floyd Barton). Broadway: Angels in America. Regional: Julius Caesar (Guthrie) Film: Dirty Work, Bridget, Brother to Brother (Sundance), Don't Say a Word, I Dreamed of Africa, The Siege, Great Expectations, Godzilla. Television: Regular as Lt. Daniels on "The Wire," recurring on "CSI: Miami," "L&O: Criminal Intent," & "Falcone." "OZ," "Law & Order," "Keep the Faith," "The West Wing."
ROSLYN RUFF (Vera). a native of Buffalo, NY is honored to be a part of this season dedicated to August Wilson. Off-Broadway: Killa Dilla by OyamO, dir. André DeShields (The Working Theatre); The Cherry Orchard and Macbeth (The Classical Theatre of Harlem - 2003 Bonn Biennale Festival/Shakespeare Festival of Neuss in Germany); Pudd'nhead Wilson (world premiere) and The Taming of the Shrew (The Acting Company National Tour/Lucille Lortel) Regional: Intimate Apparel and world premiere of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, dir. Doug Hughes (Alliance Theatre); Gem of the Ocean (McCarter Theatre/American Conservatory Theatre); King Lear (Yale Rep), dir. Hal Scott; The Oedipus Plays (Shakespeare Theatre DC at 2003 Athens Festival in Greece), dir. Michael Kahn; A panto: Sleeping Beauty, Once in a Lifetime and In the Blood (People's Light & Theatre Co.); Three Farces and a Funeral (American Repertory Theatre). Television: "The Jury," "The Sopranos" and "All My Children." Awards: 2003 Barrymore Award (Philadelphia) - In the Blood and 1999 Buffalo Artvoice Award - Amen Corner. MFA IATT @ Harvard.
CHARLES WELDON (Hedley). Broadway: The River Niger. Regional: Hair, Big Time Buck White, The Great MacDaddy, The Offering, The Brownsville Raid, A Soldier's Play, Gem of the Ocean (Pittsburgh Public), A Selfish Sacrifice (Denver Center), Thunder Knocking on the Door (Guthrie), Coming of the Hurricane and Two Trains Running (Denver Center), Fences and King Lear (Asolo), It Ain't Nothing But the Blues (Kennedy Center), The Piano Lesson (Center Stage), Touch the Name (Cleveland Playhouse), Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, and Driving Miss Daisy (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Film: Serpico, Stir Crazy, A Woman Called Moses, The River Niger, Malcolm X, Drop Squad. Television: "The Wishing Tree," "Roots: The Next Generation," "New York Undercover," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Trial by Jury."
BILL SIMS, JR. (Musical Director/Composer). An internationally respected Master of the Blues, his 1999 Warner Bros. self-titled cd demonstrates his knowledge of the many facets of the blues. He majored in music at Ohio State University. His stage credits include, Lackawanna Blues (2001 Obie Award winner for music) (Public), Deep Down (Intar), Gem Of The Ocean (McCarter), Crowns (Intiman), Trick The Devil (Freedom Theater), Moms and Her Ladys (Producers Club), Polk County (McCarter). Mr. Sims was also the subject of the critically acclaimed 1999 PBS documentary, "An American Love Story." Other film credits include Lackawanna Blues (HBO) and New York Stories (DKNY). His voice can also be heard on many commercials; Reebok, Coke, Verizon, Mercedes Benz. This will mark the fourth production he has had the opportunity to work with Mr. Santiago-Hudson.
RICHARD HOOVER (Production/Scenic Designer). Richard has designed sets for theater and film for many years. Recent and notable theater credits include: Seven for Jo Bonney at the New York Theater Workshop; 1984 for Tim Robbins (The Actor's Gang); Hamlet and Death of a Salesman, for Joe Dowling and the Guthrie Theater; After the Fall for Michael Mayer at the Roundabout Theatre Company; A Beautiful Child, for Terry Kinney at the Vineyard Theater; Embedded, for Tim Robbins at the Public Theater; The Thing About Men, for Mark Clements at the Promenade Theater, New York; Not About Nightingales (directed by Trevor Nunn) at Circle in the Square (1999 Drama Desk, Outer Critics' Circle, and Tony Awards) and the Royal National Theatre (1998 London Evening Standard, London Critics' Circle Award and Olivier Award nomination); Bat Boy (directed by Scott Schwartz) at the Union Square Theater (2001 Drama Desk Award nomination); The Tempest at McCarter Theatre; Fifth of July at Signature Theatre; Speaking in Tongues at the Roundabout; The Idiot at Manhattan Ensemble Theatre; Twelfth Night (directed by Joe Dowling) at the Guthrie Theatre; Trojan Women (directed by Liz Diamond) at Oregon Shakespeare Festival and House Arrest (directed by Jo Bonney) at the Public Theatre. Film: North Country for Niki Caro; Drunkboat for John Malkovich; Girl Interrupted for Jim Mangold,, Live from Baghdad for Mick Jackson; The Cradle Will Rock, Dead Man Walking and Bob Roberts (all directed by Tim Robbins); Payback (directed by Brian Helgeland); Apt Pupil (directed by Bryan Singer); Ed Wood (directed by Tim Burton); Torch Song Trilogy (directed by Paul Bogart) and Mothman Prophesis (directed by Mark Pellington). Television: "Twin Peaks," "Fail Safe," "Heat Wave," "Family of Spies," several music videos including "Lonesome Day" for Bruce Spingsteen, pilots for current network and cable shows including "Numbers," and "Entourage."
KAREN PERRY (Costume Designer) designed costumes for the McCarter Theatre Center, American Conservatory Theatre, and the Pittsburgh Public's productions of Gem of the Ocean. Perry is one of entertainment's foremost costume designers. Career highlights include Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, John Sayle's The Brother From Another Planet, Just Looking (dir. Jason Alexander), Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk on Broadway, "Saturday Night Live," the UPN sitcom "Abby," and the acclaimed CBS original movie One Day in Montgomery: The Rosa Parks Story, for which she received a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination. Perry has also worked as a personal wardrobe stylist to several premier artists, including Gregory Hines, with whom she has collaborated on numerous commercials, marketing campaigns, and theatrical projects, including The Tic Code, CBS's "The Gregory Hines Show," and the Showtime original film Bojangles. She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in costume design for American and Black American theater, film, and television, presented at the National Black Theatre festival. Karen also received a "Woodie Award" nomination this year for her work on King Hedley II at St. Louis Black Repertory.
JANE COX (Lighting Designer). Previous August Wilson designs with Ruben Santiago-Hudson: Gem of the Ocean at McCarter and ACT. Designs for Signature Theatre: Enter the Night, Lesson Before Dying, and Urban Zulu Mambo. Theatre in New York: Dame Edna on Broadway and designs for BAM; Playwrights Horizons; Vineyard Theatre; NYSF/Public Theatre; CSC. Regional/international theatre: Guthrie; Arena Stage; CenterStage; Seattle Rep; Denver Center; Long Wharf; National Theatre, London; Project Theatre, Dublin. Dance: Eliot Feld, Doug Varone, David Dorfman, Monica Bill Barnes. Jane was the resident lighting designer for the O'Neill Playwrights Conference from 2000-03.
DARRON L. WEST (Sound Designer). Sound designer and company member of Anne Bogart's SITI Company. Broadway and Off-Broadway, his work has been heard in over 390 productions all over Manhattan as well as nationally and internationally. Among numerous nominations his accolades for sound design include the 2006 Lortell Award, 2004 and 2005 Henry Hewes Design Award, the Princess Grace, The Village Voice OBIE Award, and the Entertainment Design Magazine EDDY Award. Former Resident Sound Designer for Actors Theater of Louisville, his directing credits include Kid Simple for the 2004 Humana New Play Festival, Big Love for Austin's Rude Mechs (Austin Critics Table Award Best Director) and SITI's, War of the Worlds Radio Play, national tour.
RICK SORDELET (Fight Director). Thirty-five Broadway shows including Tarzan, Aida, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Titanic, Urinetown, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. He staged fights for Cyrano at the Met and the Royal Opera House with Placido Domingo. Rick has staged fights for over 40 first-class productions on five continents. He is the stunt coordinator for "Guiding Light" and an instructor at Yale School of Drama and the Neighborhood Playhouse. Rick is a company member of the Drama Dept. and board member of the Shakespeare Festival of New Jersey. He authored the play Buried Treasure and is married to actress Kathleen Kelly with three beautiful children, Kaelan, Christian, and Collin.
KEN ROBERSON (Choreographer) New York City Credits include: Avenue Q; All Shook Up; Freak (associate) and Jelly's Last Jam (assistant.) Purlie (Encores! Series,) Harlem Song, Drowning Crow, The Mineola Twins, Blade to the Heat and Inserrection. Outside of NYC; Avenue Q (London.) Regional theatre credits; Pasadena Playhouse, the Goodman Theater, Arena Stage, Baltimore Center Stage and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Film and T.V. credits include Lackawanna Blues for HBO, Preaching to the Choir, and House of Buggin.' Mr. Roberson's awards include; an Emmy Award nomination; two NAACP achievement awards, a Drama Desk nomination, a Lucille Lortel nomination, an AUDELCO Award; NPT spirit award; a NYSCA and an Our Time Theater Award.
WILLIAM BERLONI (Animal Trainer) Broadway: Annie (original Sandy), Camelot, Frankenstein, The First, Alive in Wonderland, Oliver!, Anything Goes (LCT), Nick and Nora, La Bete, The Wiz, Annie (20th Anniversary), The Wizard of Oz, Dinner at Eight (LCT), Double Feature (NYCB), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Woman in White, Awake and Sing (LCT) and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Since 1977 he has trained animals for hundreds of Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions, tours, movies and television shows. Published author of Sandy the Autobiography of a Star and Doga and recipient of the ASPCA Humanitarian Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and the American Humane Association Patsy Award. Currently the Director of Animal Behavior at the Humane Society of New York. www.theatricalanimals.com.
CONSTANZA ROMERO (Associate Artist) Ms. Romero's Costume Design credits include: Broadway: Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson and Gem of the Ocean (Tony nomination.) Regional theatres: Goodman Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Mark Taper Forum (2003 Ovation Award for Best Costume Design, Gem of the Ocean); The Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Crossroads Theatre Company; Intiman Theatre in Seattle; A Contemporary Theatre; Indiana Repertory Theatre; Yale Repertory Theatre; Milwaukee Repertory Theater; The Acting Company, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz and Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. Ms. Romero taught costume design at the University of Washington, as well as scenic design at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Additionally, Ms. Romero designed the artwork for both the Broadway productions and publications of The Piano Lesson and Seven Guitars. Ms. Romero received an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and currently resides in Seattle with she and her late husband, August Wilson's daughter, Azula Carmen Wilson.
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