Jitney by August Wilson, a script-in-hand performance
April 19 at 7:30pm in the Mainstage

August Wilson's literary legacy – a cycle of ten plays, one for each decade of the 20th century evoking 100 years of the African American experience – captivates audiences worldwide with its poeticism and passion. When Geva Theatre Center began its commitment to present "August Wilson's American Century,” a program was inaugurated that would include one fully-staged play and one script-in-hand performance from the canon over five seasons.

In its first year (the 2006-07 season), Gem of the Ocean was produced on the Mainstage, and a reading of Joe Turner's Come and Gone was presented for a one-night engagement. During 2007-08 Geva produced The Piano Lesson and presented a staged reading of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The 2008-09 season included a script-in-hand performance of Seven Guitars and a production of Fences featuring film and TV star Tony Todd that was lauded by critics and audiences alike

This season, we venture into the 1960s and 70s with a production of Wilson’s most accessible and optimistic play Two Trains Running (March 30-April 25), and a script-in-hand performance of Jitney (an audience favorite when Geva produced it back in 1998-99) on April 19, 2010 at 7:30pm in the Mainstage.

Tickets to the script-in-hand performance of Jitney are free, but must be reserved in advance.

August Wilson’s American Century

Resources about August Wilson and his work:

Gem of the Ocean Discovery Guide (PDF)

The Piano Lesson Discovery Guide (PDF)

Fences Discovery Guide (PDF)

Read about the Geva Jurists: Ambassadors for August Wilson (John Marshall High School) here.