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Dan Marsula, Post-Gazette |
On Aug. 26, 2005, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Mr. Wilson had been told he had liver cancer and that doctors had given him only months to live. He said, "I've lived a blessed life. I'm ready." He died in Seattle, Oct. 2, and was buried in Pittsburgh, Oct. 8. The Post-Gazette published a comprehensive obituary, photo journal and subsequent appreciation.
In revealing his fatal disease, Mr. Wilson expressed satisfaction that he had been able to complete his dramatic epic dealing with African Americans' struggles and aspirations throughout the 20th century -- an unparalleled achievement that may appropriately be called the Pittsburgh Cycle, since all but one of the 10 plays are set in Pittsburgh.
Two of the plays premiered in Pittsburgh. "Jitney," the earliest in order of composition, premiered here twice: it debuted at the small Allegheny Repertory Theatre in 1982 and was re-written for its professional premiere at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in 1996. "King Hedley II" premiered in 1999 at the opening of the O'Reilly Theater, new Downtown home of the Public Theater. All of Mr. Wilson's plays have been produced by the Public Theater as soon as rights were available. Many have also been staged by the Kuntu Repertory Company, with which he was active in the 1970s, and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, which from 2004 to 2006 co-sponsored with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust an annual showcase performance of excerpts from his works.
Since his death, Pittsburgh has debated how to honor the life and work of this great native son. One honor is the new $41 million August Wilson Center for African American Culture, located in the Downtown Cultural District, for which ground was ceremonially broken on October 19, 2006. The AWC opened in 2010, and in the fall it staged an ambitious two-week festival of plays and panels on "The Legacy of Aunt Ester."
(NOTE: This patragraph awaits updating.) As as of 2008, there has been little agreement on how to save the sites associated with him on the Hill. But the building of a new arena on the edge of the Lower Hill opened up the possibility of funds for development and historic preservation -- and as of early 2008, negotiations continue. There has recently been progress on preserving his boyhood home as a future artists' center.
On May 30, 2007, a state historical marker was finally placed at Mr. Wilson's childhood home, 1727 Bedford Ave. in the Hill District. And after delay and confusion, resulting in almost daily newspaper stories for several weeks, on Feb. 20, 2008, Pittsburgh City Council awarded the building historic status.
No newspaper has covered Mr. Wilson's work more fully than the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which regularly interviewed him on the progress of his career. Theater Critic Christopher Rawson, who has chronicled his work in the "Best Plays" theater yearbooks and who wrote the August Wilson entry for the "Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance," regularly reviewed his plays as they evolved. Over the years, Mr. Wilson made important and inspiring speeches in Pittsburgh, some of which were reprinted in the Post-Gazette. And in 1999, he topped the paper's list of most powerful Pittsburgh culture brokers.
To make this record widely available, here are selected articles from the Post-Gazette archives in eight categories, covering Mr. Wilson and his career. For many smaller or recent items and letters to the editor, use our site search engine. This index to Post-Gazette resources will gradually be updated with newer articles and with earlier pieces from the 1990s and 1980s.
ESSENTIAL COVERAGE:
• Obituary Oct. 3, 2005
• Funeral Oct. 9, 2005
• The Pittsburgh Cycle
• August Wilson timeline, 1945-2005
• Photo Journal
• Hill District map locates Pittsburgh Cycle plays April 27, 2007... with an interactive map
SOME RECENT COVERAGE:
• Preview: Public Theater kicks off season with Wilson's last play, 'Radio Golf', Oct. 2, 2008
• Montae Russell is 'hitting for the cycle' of August Wilson plays, Oct. 2, 2008
• Two linked August Wilson Pittsburgh Cycle plays pair to dramatic advantage in Atlanta, Sept. 24, 2008
• Volunteers clear out and secure August Wilson's boyhood home, Aug. 10, 2008
• Review: August Wilson's diner of dreams comes to life in 'Two Trains', May 22, 2008
• Preview: Anthony Chisholm, actor here for 'Two Trains Running,' became friend and confidant to playwright August Wilson, May 8, 2008
• Preview: Award-winning Alfre Woodard comes to town to celebrate August Wilson, April 24, 2008
• Review: Kennedy Center readings get to the heart of August Wilson's 'Pittsburgh Cycle,' April 13, 2008
• Montae Russell and the August Wilson Cycle at Kennedy Center, a journal, March 3-April 5, 2008
• In the Wings: Casting Coup, Chisholm, Udin in 'Two Trains Runing,' March 27, 2008
• Review: Three Kennedy Center readings, March 20, 2008
• Five week reading of Pittsburgh Cycle to begin at Kennedy Center, March 2, 2008
• Council OKs historic status for Wilson home Feb. 21, 2008
• August Wilson in 2007 Jan. 3, 2008
• Book set mostly does justice to Wilson's grand cycle Oct. 31, 2007
• Family and others unveil marker at August Wilson's childhood home June 1, 2007
• Pomp and party mix in tribute to playwright August Wilson May 31, 2007
• 'Radio Golf' parallels current debate; Hill District map locates Pittsburgh Cycle plays April 27, 2007... with an interactive map
• Preserving August Wilson's dreamscape: the gem of the Hill District Feb. 25, 2007
• Finding Aunt Ester: Phylicia Rashad at 1839 Wylie Ave. Feb 22, 2007
