August+Wilson+Biography

john Boison
== August Wilson is a famous American Play writer who is well known for his plays // Fences // and // the Piano Lesson. // Wilson was born in Pittsburg in 1945 and dropped out of high school at the age of 15. In the late 1960’s he joined the black arts movement and became the cofounder of a theatre in Pittsburg called “Black Horizon” while publishing poetry in journals. In 1978 Wilson moved to Minnesota and began writing plays a few years later.

Jazz Music and African American life were common reoccurring themes in Wilsons plays. August Wilson Wrote plays describing the life of African Americans living in the 1900s. His First major play called // Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom // showed in Broadway in 1984. The play was written about blues singers and black musicians in Chicago. In 1985 Wilson wrote // Fences, // a play about conflicts between a father and his son. // Fences // later won him a Tony award for best play. In 1988 Wilson wrote // Joe Turner’s Come and Gone //, a play about people living in a boarding house in the early 1900s. // The Piano Lesson // was written after and was about a family living in the 1930s about a family selling a heirloom. Wilson continued to make several more plays later on.

August Wilson left a significant influence of the theatre and literary communities. He won many honors as well as seven New York drama critics circle awards for his plays. After his death in 2005, 14 days later a theatre in New York was renamed after him in his honor.

"August Wilson Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story - Biography.com." //Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com //. Web. 17 Jan. 2012. .

"August Wilson - Biography of Playwright August Wilson." //About Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Pennsylvania for Residents & Visitors //. Web. 17 Jan. 2012. .