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Who is August Wilson?
On April 27, 1945 legendary playwright, August Wilson, was born Frederick August Kittel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1965 he adopted the pen name of “August Wilson” as a tribute to his mother, Daisy Wilson, after his father’s death.
During the length of his career August Wilson wrote a series of 10 plays depicting each decade of the 20th century African-American experience. His play titled “Fences,” set in the 1950s, appeared on Broadway and starred a well-known actor named James Earl Jones. As the highest grossing production on Broadway, “Fences” helped August Wilson win a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play in 1987.
The Film Journey
August Wilson was approached by Hollywood years ago to create the film adaptation for “Fences.” He emphatically turned it down due to not having a black director overseeing the film at that time. August Wilson believed that the African-American experience should be directed by an individual that understood the plight of the characters.
Behold we are in the year 2016 and August Wilson’s wish will finally come true. The African-American director for this film is none other than Denzel Washington. A precious gift will be unwrapped on Decemer 25, 2016 when “Fences” is available in theaters for all to witness this magical moment in time. This film is going to be epic.
Not only is Denzel Washington working behind the scenes, he is also working in front of the camera by playing the lead role of Troy Maxson, along with Viola Davis playing the role of his wife, Rose Maxson. These two powerhouse actors are familiar with August Wilson’s “Fences” due to the 2010 experience of portraying these same roles on Broadway together. Denzel and Viola will now grace our movie screens for the first time with their phenomenal presence and leave us in awe of their drama skills. I’m getting excited just thinking about this.
With all that is going on in our country today, this film is arriving with poetic timing. August Wilson believed that although his work depicted the African-American experience, he didn’t create his plays just for African-Americans. He believed all should enjoy well written storytelling as told through the eyes of a human being.
View the trailer below as we look forward to celebrating the life and legacy of August Wilson. Enjoy.
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