The Theatre Program of the University at Albany’s Department of Music and Theatre is pleased to present August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, winner of the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 1990 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play. Six public performances will take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown University at Albany campus.

The Piano Lesson is part of Wilson’s Century Cycle of ten plays, each written for a different decade of the 20th century and chronicling African American history and culture. It is the fourth play in the cycle (set in the 1930s) which also includes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fences (set in the 1950s).  Wilson's epic body of work has quickly gone from contemporary plays to being American classics.  Besides his Pulitzer for The Piano Lesson, he also won one for Fences (1987) along with a Tony Award for Fences, Britain’s Olivier Award for Jitney and eight NY Drama Critics' Circle Awards.

The play is set in the Hill District of Pittsburgh where Wilson grew up. It tells the story of a brother and sister who are in disagreement over what to do with a family heirloom piano, and a community reckoning with how to both honor their ancestors and move towards the future.

The play's first Broadway production was in 1990.  It is currently playing there with Samuel L Jackson who was also in the play's premiere in 1987 at Yale Rep.

Theatre Program Director Kate Walat explains, “We have been wanting to bring one of August Wilson's classics to the stage for some time and are thrilled to have Jean-Remy Monnay on board to direct one of his finest.”

Monnay is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY.  Founded in 2009, the group’s mission is to promote performances and theatrical pieces by, and about, artists of color. In highlighting these works, the company hopes to foster greater understanding, appreciation and participation in the performing arts within communities of color.   Monnay is also an Associate Artist with both Capital Rep in Albany and The Troy Foundry Theatre.

Monnay’s directorial credits include Yours For The Oppressed, Barbecue, Dead and Breathing, AIN’T Misbehavin’, The Light, A Lesson Before Dying, The Niceties, Mountaintop, Camp Logan, Fences, Eclipsed, Harriet Tubman Visits A Therapist, Medal Of Honor Rag, Slow Dance On The Killing Ground, Intimate Apparel, The Exonerated, American Dream, Wedding Band, Reunion in Bartersville, Meridian Mississippi and American Dream.

“One of my goals is to direct or produce all ten plays in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle,” says Monnay.  “All are about family struggle, pain, racism, dysfunctional at times, but love eventually wins.”

Date:

November 16-20, 2022

Hours:

Wednesday & Thursday, November 16 & 17 at 8pm; Friday, November 18 at 3pm; Saturday, November 19 at 2pm & 8pm; and Sunday, November 20 at 2pm.

Location:

UAlbany Performing Arts Center, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222

Advance tickets are $17 for the general public and $12 for students, senior citizens and UAlbany faculty-staff.  Tickets purchased on the day of the show (pending availability) are $22 for the general public and $17 for students, seniors and UAlbany faculty-staff.  All tickets must be purchased on-line from the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s site at www.albany.edu/pac. 

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