August Wilson

August Wilson (1945-2005) was a prolific playwright born in Pittsburgh's Hill District. His renowned series of 10 plays, The American Century Cycle, chronicles the African American experience throughout each decade of the 20th century. His plays expressed the strength of Hill District culture as its citizens struggled against poverty, racism, and oppression. Audiences of all backgrounds continue to be entertained by his humorous, poetic, and authentic representation of the Hill District's social fabric. He was the first African American to have two plays on Broadway at the same time. He received numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes, a Tony Award, eight New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and three American Theater Critics Association Awards. In 1999, he received the National Humanities Medal from the President of the United States. He was also the first African American to have a Broadway theater named after him, as well as a cultural center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · United States