Timeline: August Wilson (Playwright)

Apr 27, 1945

Birthdate

August Wilson was born on April 27, 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was raised only by his mother, Daisy Wilson, as his father, Frederick August left him and his five siblings.

1960

High School Education

He attended the Central Catholic High School in Pennsylvania, but unfortunately he left (only African-American student). He later enrolled in Connelley Vocational High School. When he was 16, he dropped out. In the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, he stayed to educate himself.

1960

What impacted his plays?

The complexity of August Wilson experiences as being a person of color would be expressed in his plays. He receive a lot of racism growing up.

1963

Jobs

Wilson held several interesting jobs before becoming a successful writer. He worked as a dishwasher, a gardener, a cook, a porter, a telemarketer, and a chauffeur. With the different jobs, he was able to have different experiences and their struggles and challenges people had in those jobs. He was able to portray these experiences in his writing.

1965

Changes name

August Wilson original name is Federick August Kittel Jr., named after his father. After his fathers death in 1965, he changes his name to August Wilson to honor his mother.

1969

Marriage #1

Wilson marries his first wife, Brenda Burton from 1969 to 1972. They had one daughter named Sakina Ansari.

1973

First Play: Recycling

Recycling was one of the first plays he staged, he wrote this after learning what the art of writing for stage from a library book was. With this one-act play he made his debut.

1981

Marriage #2

In 1981, Wilson marries Judy Oliver a social worker and is with her from 1980 to 1990.

1981

August Wilson's Century Play Cycle

Wilson's greatest contributions is his 10-play cycle. He has a play for each decade of the past century. All of the plays- except for Ma Rainey's Black Botton is set in Pittsburgh.
1900: Gem of the Ocean (2002)
1910: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (1986)
1920: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1984)
1930: The Piano Lesson (1989)
1940: Seven Guitars (1995)
1950: Fences (1985)
1960: Two Trains Running (1990)
1970: Jitney (1982)
1980: King Hedley II (2001)
1990: Radio Golf

1982

Jitney: 1970 (8)

Wilson did a two-act play titled, "Jitney" and it premiered in the Allegheny Repertory Theatre in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. It later went off-Broadway in New York.

1984

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: 1920 (3)

This is set in 1927, Ma Rain, the mother of the blues is recording new sides in Chicago. She fights to retain control over her music. Wilson is portraying rage, racism, self-hatred, and exploitation.

1985

Fences: 1950 (6)

Wilson's "most popular" work was 'Fences'. This play was set in 1957, which follows the story of Troy Maxson, An African American who is desperate as he is in need to provide his family. Troy struggles to find his purpose which profounds his family members to find their own.

1986

Joe turner's Come and Gone: 1910 (2)

Set in 1911, Wilson explore the migration pathway. With freed Blacks traveling for freedom in Pittsburgh. The protagonist, Herald Loomis is hunted by Joe Turner who illegally enslaved him and kept him for seven years. He is trying to find himself to freed himself from his past. Made its Broadway debut on March 27, 1988. 105 performances.

Nov 26, 1987

The Piano Lesson: 1930 (4)

On November 26, 1987, "The Piano Lesson" premiered at the Yale repertory Theater in New Haven, Connecticut. The Piano Lesson was a play set in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression in 1936. Focuses on the Charles family and the conflict in whether to sell a heirloom piano, Fourth play in ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle. In year 1930.

1990

New York Drama Critics Circle Award

Wilson received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play, 'The Piano Lesson'.

1990

Two Trains Running: 1960 (7)

Is set in Pittsburgh in 1969 where the rise of the Black power Movement was happening in the United States, it's about the people in a neighborhood diner that the city wants to purchase. A year before the play is set, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. This earned Wilson a Tony Award for best play in 1992.

Mar 28, 1996

Seven Guitars: 1940 (5)

Wilson wrote another play called Seven Guitars and on March 28, 1996 made the Broadway debut. This play is set in the backyard of a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1948. https://awaacc.org/american-century-cycle/seven-guitars/

1997

Marriage

In the late 1990's, Wilson married his third wife, a costume designer name Constanza Romero. They had a daughter and moved to Seattle, Washington where Wilson continued to work on his last plays. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/august-wilson-the-ground-on-which-i-stand-august-wilsonbiography-and-career-timeline/3683/

2001

King Hedley-II: 1980 (9)

King Hedley II is a continue of the story of the characters from Seven guitars. This play shows the tragic realities for Black men in 1980's in Pittsburgh. After seven years in prison, the king attempts to rebuild his life.

2002

Gem of the Ocean: 1900 (1)

Gem of the Ocean is a play set in the Hill District in Pittsburgh in 1904. Focuses on Aunt esters home and the people within. Ester is a spiritual leader and the main connection to the community members' African heritage. They learn about their past https://study.com/academy/lesson/gem-of-the-ocean-summary-character-analysis.html#:~:text=Gem%20of%20the%20Ocean%20is%20a%202003%20play%20by%20August,eventually%20take%20over%20her%20duties.

2005

Radio Golf: 1990 (10)

This play is set in Pittsburgh in the late 1990's. It's a story about a successful entrepreneur who aspires to be the city's first Black mayor. When his past catches up to him, secrets get reveal. https://ardentheatre.org/production/radio-golf/