Gem of the ocean pittsburgh playwrights theatre company. Gem of the ocean is one of ten masterful plays in wilsons pittsburgh cycle, which tells the painful, often tragic but ultimately triumphant story of black america throughout the 20th century. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, gem of the ocean is the play that begins august wilsons tenplay cycle dramatizing the african american experience during the twentie. He began his writing career as a poet in the 1960s and 70s, while. Mtcs production of gem of the ocean, under the direction of daniel. Phylicia rashad performed the role on broadway and in a dramatic reading created for august wilson. Gem of the ocean is the first in august wilson s ten play cycle that chronicles the africanamerican experience in the twentieth century. Earlier in epub 2005, on the completion of the final work of his ten play cyclesurely the most ambitious american dramatic project undertaken in our historyaugust wilson disclosed his bout with cancer, an illness of unusual ferocity that. Wilson gives us a way to talk about the 2016 problems of how to rejoin the community after doing wrong, and the divides between law enforcement and those they are intended to serve. When citizen barlow comes to her pittsburghs hill district home seeking asylum, she sets him off on a spiritual journey to find a city in the middle of the atlantic ocean. Composer kathryn bostic has written scores for the august wilson plays gem of the ocean, joe turners come and gone and radio golf, and composed the. Gem of the ocean unfolds in the home of aunt ester, a well known 285yearold wise woman of the town whose home has become a sanctuary for the.
Marin theatre company continues its 49 th season with august wilsons gem of the ocean set in 1904, pittsburgh, gem marks the beginning of wilsons 10play centurycycle dramatizing the africanamerican experience during the 20 th century. Playwright august wilson is back on broadway with gem of the ocean, a show that was delayed by financial problems, but opened at the walter kerr theatre on december 6. Set in 1904, august wilsons gem of the ocean begins on the eve of aunt esthers 287th birthday. Did critics think august wilsons gem of the ocean is a. In august wilsons gem of the ocean, aunt ester is a matriarch and former slave. Africanamerican playwright august wilson won a pulitzer prize and a tony award for his play fences, and earned a second pulitzer prize for the piano lesson. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, it is chronologically the first work in august wilsons decadebydecade cycle dramatizing the african american experience during the 20th centuryan unprecedented series that includes the pulitzer prizewinning plays fences and the piano lesson. Avaliable format in pdf, epub, mobi, kindle, ebook and audiobook. Gem of the ocean 1920 monologues pdf 178 kb joe turners come and gone 1920 monologues pdf. Eli prepares to head to bed when there is a violent knock at the door. August wilsons pittsburgh cycle a series of ten plays each set in a different decade begins with gem of the ocean, which takes place in 1904 in the hill district of pittsburgh, pennsylvania where all of the cycles plays are set. In 2009, the august wilson center for african american culture devoted a. August wilsons gem of the ocean gives a 300yearold. Gem of the ocean by august wilson directed by gregg t.
May 18, 2007 gem of the ocean the ninth of august wilson s 10 plays about africanamerican life in the 20th century is a work of gripping theatricality, with a plot that snaps into place like puzzle. Like i give you sugar for sugar and salt for salt if you cant get along with me its your own damn fault. Gem of the ocean by august wilson 9781559362801 paperback. In the valley of the blind, the oneeyed man is king. Gem of the ocean the ninth of august wilsons 10 plays about africanamerican life in the 20th century is a work of gripping theatricality, with a plot that snaps into place like puzzle. August wilsons gem of the ocean features the potent power of aunt ester, wilsons gatekeeper to spiritual matters, and the hearts of the hill residents she loves. American masters phylicia rashad performs gem of the ocean. Gem of the ocean takes place about 40 years after the abolition of slavery, which is not nearly enough time for people to move on and evolve from such a detrimental occurrence in history.
Set in 1904, gem of the ocean is chronologically the earliest in. Interviews with stars phylicia rashad, anthony chisholm, john earl jelks, raynor scheine and lisa. It is the first installment of his decadebydecade, tenplay chronicle, the pittsburgh cycle, dramatizing the africanamerican experience in the twentieth century. August wilson s pittsburgh cycle a series of ten plays each set in a different decade begins with gem of the ocean, which takes place in 1904 in the hill district of pittsburgh, pennsylvania where all of the cycles plays are set. Broadway, he was the dramaturg for radio golf and gem of the ocean. Introduction august wilson was born frederick august kittel in 1945 in pittsburghs hill district, where he lived for 33 years. Aunt ester, a spirited and spiritually connected 285yearold matriarch who.
I often think directors notes are redundant, hoping that the production stands for itself and audiences. Seven years later, the university of central floridas production of. Set in 1904, august wilson s gem of the ocean begins on the eve of aunt esthers 287th birthday. Phylicia rashad performs scene from august wilsons gem of. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, it is chronologically the first work in august wilson s decadebydecade cycle dramatizing the african american experience during the 20th centuryan unprecedented series that includes the pulitzer prizewinning plays fences and the piano lesson. Read or download august wilsons gem of the ocean book by august wilson. Opening night of august wilsons gem of the ocean on. In gem of the ocean, we hear and feel history august wilsons weighty play gets a stirring production at a noise within. Pulitzer prize winner august wilson unfolds the african american legacy in the first chronological episode of his celebrated american century cyclea soaring, mystical tale of a man desperate for redemption in 1904 pittsburgh. Gem of the ocean opens late at night at 1839 wylie avenue in 1904.
But the occasion for this discussion isnt an abstract selfanalysis or a measurement of degrees. A journey to the city of bones in gem of the ocean at mtc. Feb 08, 2015 opening night of the august wilson play gem of the ocean. Discovering aunt ester in gem of the ocean by august wilson. August wilsons gem of the ocean gives a 300yearold her. It is a young man named citizen barlow, demanding to see aunt ester, an old woman with a magical reputation for washing peoples souls. August wilsons gem of the ocean concord theatricals. Aunt ester in gem of the ocean university of florida. Scott caldwell, preston butler iii, cleavant derricks and matt orduna with director kent gash. Like most though not all of the plays in the cycle, gem is set in pittsburgh.
August wilsons gem of the ocean examines freedom, self and. Freedom is at the core of august wilsons gem of the ocean, too, which portland playhouse opened last saturday at the world trade center. Gem of the ocean unfolds in the home of aunt ester, a well known 285yearold wise woman of the town whose home has become a. I often think directors notes are redundant, hoping that the production stands for itself and. Earlier in 2005, on the completion of the final work of his ten play cyclesurely the most ambitious american dramatic project undertaken in our history august wilson disclosed his bout with cancer, an illness of unusual ferocity that would. Feb 06, 2015 phylicia rashad was nominated for a tony award for her portrayal of ester in gem of the ocean. Phylicia rashad performed the role on broadway and in a dramatic. Opening night of the august wilson play gem of the ocean. In gem of the ocean, waves of former slaves and descendants venture north and find themselves at aunt esters abode in pittsburghs hill district, where wilson was born in 1945. Two trains running publisher files as pdf jitney king hedley ii. Perhaps the most memorable moments in the play are when the. Themes for discussion guilt, innocence, and absolution in august wilsons gem of the ocean, citizen barlow arrives at 1839 wylie avenue in pittsburgh, pa, in desperate need of aunt esters help. When aunt ester opens her home at 1839 wylie avenue to the troubled citizen barlow, a recent migrant from the rural south, a battle ensues not only within citizen, who begs aunt. Wilson was the fourth of six children of a white german father and africanamerican mother.
August wilsons gem of the ocean a dramaturgical case study. In august wilson s gem of the ocean, aunt ester is a matriarch and former slave. Here in a dramatic reading created for august wilson. Buy a cheap copy of gem of the ocean book by august wilson.
Gem of the ocean south coast repertory p3 the cast of august wilsons gem of the ocean. A monologue is a speech presented by a single character set within the context of a play. To celebrate black history month, cygnet theater brings in some of the cast from august wilsons gem of the ocean to share a scene. Phylicia rashad was nominated for a tony award for her portrayal of ester in gem of the ocean.
Gem of the ocean, the first play in his pittsburgh cycle. The characters that grace the home include eli, aunt esters protector. August wilsons gem of the ocean examines freedom, self. Complete summary of august wilson s gem of the ocean. Gem of the ocean by august wilson pdf free download ebook. Buy gem of the ocean by august wilson online at alibris. Aug 09, 2012 themes for discussion guilt, innocence, and absolution in august wilsons gem of the ocean, citizen barlow arrives at 1839 wylie avenue in pittsburgh, pa, in desperate need of aunt esters help. Gem of the ocean quotes by august wilson goodreads. Distributed to the book trade by consortium book sales and distribution, 2006 dlc 2006007812 ocolc64594340. Students registering for the august wilson monologue competition must select a monologue from the approved august wilson century cycle monologues below. And yes, how we as humans understand our own freedom is an important part of it. The afternoon will feature staged readings of gem of the ocean from philadelphia theatre favorite cathy. Gem of the ocean is a play by american playwright august wilson.
Earlier in 2005, on the completion of the final work of his ten play cyclesurely the most ambitious american dramatic project undertaken in our historyaugust wilson disclosed his bout with cancer, an illness of unusual ferocity that would. No one except perhaps eugene oneill and tennessee williams has aimed so high and achieved so much in the american theater. Gem of the ocean is the first in august wilsons ten play cycle that chronicles the africanamerican experience in the twentieth century. August wilsons gem of the ocean gem of the ocean brings us character who august wilson saw as the heart of his century cycle. Gem of the ocean recently played across the country and on broadway, with phylicia rashad as aunt esther.
794 1188 21 994 410 682 397 1592 341 1299 157 761 580 1338 349 659 854 1508 764 333 1356 315 1425 1128 1059 1012 704 1381 258 788 624 1119 1362 448 1077