A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
While August Wilson often addresses the spiritual and supernatural throughout his Pittsburgh Cycle, none of his plays have such a literal take on being haunted as The Piano Lesson. Yet the ghost of Sutter is not the only thing that haunts the household. They are haunted by the broken promise of an America that continues to subject Black people to racism that holds any hope of true freedom beyond reach.
It would be nice to believe that we have evolved as a nation since 1936, when The Piano Lesson takes place. Yet, like the fall of Reconstruction orchestrated by white supremacy to turn back the clock, we once again find ourselves in a moment where the rights and freedoms that were courageously fought for and won over the last century are now being stripped away by the ghosts of racism that have continued to haunt this country. For the Charles family, we can only hope that they can overcome all that haunts and divides them and unite to defeat the ghost of Sutter. As a nation, we too must find a way to come together and exorcise the demons that act as the enemies of diversity.
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ABOUT THE PLAY
Can you transcend the past? In August Wilson’s masterpiece, THE PIANO LESSON, the past is a ghost that haunts a Black family’s dreams of a better life. It’s the Great Depression, and Boy Willie has come north to Pittsburgh to see his sister, Bernice, with an opportunity to buy some land down home in Mississippi. He wants her to sell the family’s antique piano. But it is more than just a musical instrument; it’s a testament to the family’s rise from slavery, carved with the images of their ancestors. As the siblings contend with each other, can they escape the lives of their forefathers and put to rest the ghosts that still haunt them?
ABOUT THE PLAY
Can you transcend the past? In August Wilson’s masterpiece, THE PIANO LESSON, the past is a ghost that haunts a Black family’s dreams of a better life. It’s the Great Depression, and Boy Willie has come north to Pittsburgh to see his sister, Bernice, with an opportunity to buy some land down home in Mississippi. He wants her to sell the family’s antique piano. But it is more than just a musical instrument; it’s a testament to the family’s rise from slavery, carved with the images of their ancestors. As the siblings contend with each other, can they escape the lives of their forefathers and put to rest the ghosts that still haunt them?
THE LONG BEACH PLAYHOUSE
MEET THE CAST & CREW
Step into the heart of August Wilson’s masterpiece with a cast and crew whose talent brings this iconic play to life in unforgettable ways. From powerhouse performances that capture the depth and complexity of each character, to a creative team that crafts every detail with precision, audiences will be transported into Wilson's powerful world.
"I was born to a time of fire. This world ain't wanted no part of me." - Boy Willie
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NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR
While August Wilson often addresses the spiritual and supernatural throughout his Pittsburgh Cycle, none of his plays have such a literal take on being haunted as The Piano Lesson. Yet the ghost of Sutter is not the only thing that haunts the household. They are haunted by the broken promise of an America that continues to subject Black people to racism that holds any hope of true freedom beyond reach.
It would be nice to believe that we have evolved as a nation since 1936, when The Piano Lesson takes place. Yet, like the fall of Reconstruction orchestrated by white supremacy to turn back the clock, we once again find ourselves in a moment where the rights and freedoms that were courageously fought for and won over the last century are now being stripped away by the ghosts of racism that have continued to haunt this country. For the Charles family, we can only hope that they can overcome all that haunts and divides them and unite to defeat the ghost of Sutter. As a nation, we too must find a way to come together and exorcise the demons that act as the enemies of diversity.
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