Post-Show Activities

by Liana SC and Nick Hone

1. In this play, August Wilson uses moments from his life to show how he developed into the person and writer he ultimately became. Think about some defining moments in your life. What are some anecdotes (stories from your life) that have helped to shape you into who you are today? Choose one of these and write a short monologue describing this moment.

2. Though this play tells stories from August Wilson’s life, the stories are not told in chronological (time) order. How do the playwright, the actor, and the overall production ensure that the audience can follow the sequence of events even though they are not told in the correct order?

3. A central theme of this play is pride: both its strengths and weaknesses. Take a moment and reflect on your own life. What are you proud of? What do you stand for? Are there times when your pride got you in trouble? Write a paragraph by yourself examining this.

4. This play explores race relations in 1960s Pittsburgh from a first-person perspective, and gives a lens into the world August Wilson grew up in. Find a partner, and together do some research into the history of the Black community in Pittsburgh. Discuss.

Focus Questions

by Liana SC and Nick Hone

1. This play is considered a memoir. What is a memoir? What are some other examples of memoirs you have read or seen? What is the difference between memoir and autobiography?

2. As the author and central character, August Wilson intentionally chose which anecdotes to include in this play. Why do you think he chose what he did? What sort of picture do these stories paint? How could Wilson’s perspective affect the accuracy of the events he is retelling?

3. The central character in this play is an aspiring poet and some of his poetry is woven throughout the play. How does the poetry support the narrative? Does it strengthen your understanding of the play? Of the character? Why or why not?

4. In the play, Wilson discusses the “limitations of the instrument” as the line all artists strive to find, even if it halts their ability to create. Do you believe this is a legitimate artistic criticism? Can artists reach a “limitation of an instrument”?