August Wilson

August Wilson (April 27, 1945 ? October 2, 2005) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright. His singular achievement and literary legacy is a cycle of ten plays, each set in a different decade, depicting the comedy and tragedy of the African-American experience in the 20th century.

Awards and tributes

• 1985: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• 1985: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• 1987: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, Fences
• 1987: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Fences
• 1987: Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Fences
• 1987: Tony Award for Best Play, Fences
• 1988: Literary Lion Award from the New York Public Library
• 1988: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
• 1988: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone
• 1990: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play, The Piano Lesson
• 1990: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, The Piano Lesson
• 1990: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, The Piano Lesson
• 1990: Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The Piano Lesson
• 1992: American Theatre Critics' Association Award, Two Trains Running
• 1992: New York Drama Critics Circle Citation for Best American Play, Two Trains Running
• 1992: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, Two Trains Running
• 1996: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Seven Guitars
• 1996: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, Seven Guitars
• 1999: National Humanities Medal
• 2000: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, Jitney
• 2000: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, Jitney
• 2001: Tony Award nomination for Best Play, King Hedley II
• 2004: The Freedom of Speech Award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

Playbill magazine announced September 2, 2005, that Broadway's Virginia Theatre will be renamed for Wilson on October 17 2005. This will be the first Broadway theatre to bear the name of an African-American.

Related Topics:
Playbill - September 2 - 2005 - Broadway - Virginia Theatre - October 17

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