-
Press Release
Baltimore city-wide celebration of the AUGUST WILSON CENTURY CYCLE of 20th century plays will feature 10 different theaters across the city 3-year project kicks off in April with GEM OF THE OCEAN at Arena Players Ten theater companies in Baltimore are undertaking an unprecedented joint project with the 3-year BALTIMORE AUGUST WILSON CELEBRATION, which will
-
WATCH: Baltimore August Wilson Celebration on CBS Baltimore – Around Town: Behind the scenes of Fences at Maryland’s Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
CBS Baltimore – Around Town: Behind the scenes of Fences at Maryland’s Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Reporter: Dennis Valera Orignally aired on WJZ-CBS BALTIMORE on February 2, 2026 at 10:35 am E.D.T
-
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Archive
PROMOS ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Click here to view the digital show programCAST BOY WILLIE – RJ BrownMARETHA – Payton CrosierLYMON – Louis E. DavisAVERY – Mack LeamonWINING BOY – KenYatta RogersMARETHA – Mecca RogersBERNIECE – Chinai Routté*DOAKER – Jefferson A. Russell*GRACE – Mecca Verdell ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE TEAM Directed – Paige HernandezScenic Design – Daniel
-
Afro Exclusive – Baltimore continues salute to August Wilson as ‘The Piano Lesson’ debuts Aug. 31
Baltimore continues salute to August Wilson as ‘The Piano Lesson’ debuts Aug. 31 By D. Kevin McNeirOriginally published in Afro on August 15, 2025 During the latter decades of the 20th century, the works penned by a racially mixed, high school dropout from the economically depressed Hill District area of Pittsburgh began to cause a rumble
-
August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Archive
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION CAST Irvin: Gary DubreuilSturdyvant: Brian Lyons: BurkeMadame “Ma” Rainey: Kadejah OneLeVee: Justin BurleySylvester: Angelo Harrington IIOfficer: Glen HauptDussie Mae: Tia ThomasToledo: Archie WilliamsSlow Drag: Grant ChismCutler: Dominic Gladden ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE TEAM Director: Kevin S. McAllisterMusic Director: Cedric D. LylesSound Designer: Chris LaneFight/Intimacy: Sierra YoungChoreographer: Shalyce HembyScenic Design: Emily LotzCostume Design: Larry
-
WATCH: Baltimore August Wilson Celebration on WBAL –ArtsCentric hopes to bring people back in history with ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ performance
WBAL-TV: ArtsCentric hopes to bring people back in history with ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ performance Reporter: Brenna Ross Orignally aired on WBAL-11 on April 23, 2025 at 4:55pm E.D.T BALTIMORE — As actresses and actors perform “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at ArtsCentric, they want to take you back in history. The show is set in 1927 in Chicago as
-
August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone Archive
PROMOS ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Click here to view the digital show programCAST (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE) SETH HOLLY – Jefferson A. Russell +BERTHA HOLLY – Aakhu TuahNera Freeman +BYNUM WALKER – Gregory Burgess*RUTHERFORD SELIG – Joe CreaJEREMY FURLOW – Miles FolleyHEROLD LOOMIS – Josh WilderZONIA LOOMIS – Kenya Mitchell, Mikayla UqdahMATTIE CAMPBELL – Zipporah Brown
-
American Theatre Exclusive – Baltimore Theatres Go All In on August Wilson
Baltimore Theatres Go All In on August Wilson Over the next 3 years at 10 Charm City venues, the playwright’s entire American Century Cycle will unfold in chronological order. By Daniella IgnacioOriginally published in American Theatre on September 3, 2024 August Wilson’s plays reflect survival, resilience, and change among Black Americans throughout the 20th century.
-
Baltimore Magazine Exclusive – Baltimore Thespians Unite to Honor to August Wilson, “Theater’s Poet of Black America”
Baltimore Thespians Unite to Honor to August Wilson, “Theater’s Poet of Black America” As part of the Baltimore August Wilson Celebration, several of the city’s theaters will perform works from the prolific playwright’s 10-part American Century Cycle series. By Laura Farmer | August 2024 Originally published in Baltimore Magazine in their August 2024 Issue Lesley Malin
-
Gem of the Ocean Archive
PROMO PRODUCTION PHOTOS REVIEWS MD THEATRE GUIDE Theatre Review: ‘Gem of the Ocean’ at Arena Players By Max Garner Published April 10, 2024 “When the Baltimore August Wilson Celebration was announced last week, the project was already off to a head-start. Arena Players had already planned “Gem of the Ocean” for their 70th season. The
-
WATCH: Baltimore August Wilson Celebration on WBAL – Theaters perform 10 plays to honor August Wilson
WBAL: Theaters perform 10 plays to honor August Wilson Reporter: Brenna Ross Orignally aired on WBAL-11 on April 23rd at 5:55pm E.D.T BALTIMORE — A group of Baltimore theaters is coming together to showcase all 10 of August Wilson’s famous plays in chronological order over the course of three years. Wilson was a famous African
-
Washington Post Exclusive – Baltimore is producing August Wilson’s series of 10 plays in order
Baltimore is producing August Wilson’s series of 10 plays in order The cycle starts with ‘Gem of the Ocean,’ now running at Arena Players By Michael O’SullivanOriginally published in The Washington Post on April 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EDT When Lesley Malin graduated from Washington University in 1988 with a degree in English literature
-
In the News
WJZ – CBS NEWS BALTIMORE Around Town: Behind the scenes of Fences at Maryland’s Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Reported by Dennis Valera Aired February 2, 2026 AFRO Baltimore August Wilson Celebration continues with ‘Fences’ By Victoria Mejicanos Published February 1, 2026 AFRO Baltimore hosts sold-out ‘Seven Guitars’ production in tribute to August Wilson By Tashi McQueen
-
Baltimore Banner Exclusive – 10 Baltimore theaters will take on 10 August Wilson plays
By John-John Williams IV Originally published in The Baltimore Banner on Friday, March 29, 2024 The works of Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson are soon coming to a Baltimore theater near you. April will kick off a three-year effort during which 10 of the late scribe’s plays, each of which takes place