Playwright August Wilson Dies
Monday, October 03, 2005
New York, NY –
Playwright August Wilson has died. Wilson, who chronicled African-American experiences, announced two months ago that he had inoperable liver cancer. He passed away Sunday in Seattle. Reporter Ginger Otis has more:
It took August Wilson more than two decades to complete his ambitious, 10-play cycle chronicling the black experience in 20th century America. He wrote one play for each decade. He grappled with major themes - from the effects of slavery on those who could still remember the Civil War to a burgeoning middle-class on the cusp of the 21st century.
Kenny Leon, who directed of Wilson's plays, remembered him as a fascinating man.
Wilson received the best-play Tony for "Fences," plus best-play Tony nominations for six of his other plays, the Pulitzer Prize for both "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson," and a record seven New York Drama Critics' Circle prizes. Later this month, a Broadway theater, the Virginia, will be renamed for Wilson.
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