18 min listen
August Wilson and Lloyd Richards: The Voice of Genius
FromWhat It Takes®
ratings:
Length:
41 minutes
Released:
Feb 13, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Meet two giants of the American theater: playwright August Wilson and director Lloyd Richards. Together they brought many award-winning plays to Broadway, including "Fences," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," and "The Piano Lesson." August Wilson, who wrote ten plays (together known as the Century Cycle), started out as a poet. When he turned to writing plays, intent on telling the stories of African-Americans on stage, it was Lloyd Richards who recognized his talent and helped him shape it. Richards was already an icon in the theater world. He had begun his career a generation before, aspiring to be an actor at a time when there were almost no roles for African-Americans. His big break came when Sidney Poitier asked him to direct a new play called "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry. In this episode you'll hear Lloyd Richards tell the story behind that ground-breaking production. You'll also hear both August Wilson and Lloyd Richards describe how they came to meet and have one of the most successful artistic collaborations in history.
Music in this episode by Charlie Haden & Hank Jones, Sergei Stern, and BenSound.com. Theme music by Kara Square.
Music in this episode by Charlie Haden & Hank Jones, Sergei Stern, and BenSound.com. Theme music by Kara Square.
Released:
Feb 13, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Johnny Cash: True To His Own Voice: Johnny Cash had a voice that could make a mountain quake. His impact on the world of music is legendary. On this episode, you'll hear the deeply introspective Cash near the end of his career (1993). He reflects on how he overcame considerable personal obstacles and turned his failures into the stepping stones to success. He also talks about the first music he remembers, the voice teacher who advised him to stop taking lessons, and the source of his creativity. by What It Takes®