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1 Whatismeantbytheconceptofthe“AmericanDream”?HowdoTroyandCoryeachviewtheAmericanDream?Whydotheirviewsdiffer?DoyouthinktheAmericanDreamissomethingthatcancometrueforpeopleinyourgeneration?
HowdoesAugustWilson’sperspectiveontheAmericanDreamcomparetoperspectivesontheAmericanDreampresentedinotherliteratureyou’veread?
2 IsTroyaheroiccharacter,atragiccharacter,abitofboth,orneither?Why?
3 Fencesissetin1957.Howdothedefiningcharacteristicsofthiserainfluencethecharactersandtheeventsintheplay?Inwhatwaysmightthecharacters’livesdifferifthestoryhadbeensetin1937,beforeWorldWarII?Howwouldtheydifferifthestorytookplacein1967,ortoday?
4 KeyQuote:“Somepeoplebuildfencestokeep
peopleout…andotherpeoplebuildfencestokeeppeoplein.”—JimBono,Act2
Whatdoesthefence-buildingprojectrepresentforeachoftheMaxsons(Troy,Rose,andCory)?
FENCESEXPLORING THE PLAY
Set in 1957
PulitzerPrizeWinner
DRAMA
1987
A father’s frustration with his own past threatens
his son’s future
FENCESBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
INYOURBACKYARDWhenTroywasayoungplayeratthetopofhisgame,MajorLeagueBaseballwassegregated.BythetimetheLeaguewasintegrated,Troywasconsideredtoooldtoplayinit.ResearchNegroLeagueteamsthatwereestablishedinornearyourcommunity.Whoweresomeofthestandoutplayers?WhathappenedtothemaftertheintegrationofMajorLeagueBaseball?
EXPRESSIONPROJECTHerStory:Writeaone-actsequelorprequeltoFences,withRoseasthecentralcharacter.Writeaone-actsequeltoFenceswithRaynellasthecentralcharacter.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/[email protected].
Troy’sLegacyImagineCory’slifeaftertheeventsthattookplaceinFences.Writeamonologueforhimsetinthefuture,whenheisTroy’sage.
Set in 1904
Tony Award® Nominee
BEST PLAY
2005
Through the power of memory,
a man takes a mystical journey toward freedom and redemption
1 InGemoftheOcean,AuntEsterspeaksofthe“CityofBones,”amythicalcityatthebottomoftheoceanrepresentingtheburialplaceofanestimated15%ofthe11–13millionenslavedAfricanswhoperishedduringtheMiddlePassageonshipsfromAfricatotheAmericasduringtheAtlanticslavetrade.
ReadAuntEster’sdescriptionsoftheCityofBonesandthenmakeadrawing,painting,orcollageofit.Whatdoyouimagineitlookslike?
2 AftervisualizingtheCityofBones,writeaone-actplaythatissettherefromstarttofinish.
3 AuntEsterisknowninthecommunityasa“washerofsouls.”ShetakesCitizenBarlowonasymbolic,life-changingtriptotheCityofBones.WhydoesthistriphavesuchaprofoundimpactonCitizen?Howdoesitcleansehissoul?
GEM OF THE OCEANEXPLORING THE PLAY
GEM OF THE OCEANBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
IN YOUR BACKYARDBeforeEmancipation,SollyTwoKingsandEliwerepartoftheUndergroundRailroad.Researchnearbyhistoricsites,museums,parks,librariesandmonumentsinyourareatofindoutifanyoftheselandmarkswerestopsontheUndergroundRailroad.Ifso,createabrochureabouttheseplacesthatcouldbeusedbyyourcommunity’svisitors’centerortourismboard.Alistofknownsitescanbefoundatpbs.org/black-culture/shows/list/underground-railroad/locations.
EXPRESSION PROJECT Research the contributions and successes of African Americansthatyoudon’ttypicallyhearaboutduringBlackHistoryMonth,includingpeopleinyourcommunity.Workwithyourclassmatestocreateaslideshow,photoexhibit,orgraphicbookletcelebratingtheseunsungindividuals.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Who Keeps the Collective Memory?Atnearly300yearsold,AuntEsterembodiestheAfricanpresenceinAmerica,beginningwithslavery.Assuch,sheholdsthecollectivememoryandwisdomofhercommunity.Howdotheeldersandwisepersonsinyourfamilyandinyourcommunitykeepthecollectivememoryofyourculture?Whatmemoriesdotheyholdandhavepasseddowntoyou?Recordthesememories(conductinterviewsasneeded).Howdoescollectivememoryhelpsustainandupliftafamilyorcommunity?Compareyourculturetootherculturesinthisregard.
Key Quote: “The people made a kingdom out of nothing.” —Aunt Ester describing the City of Bones AuntEster’swordsalsodescribetheresilienceoftheenslavedAfricanswhosurvivedMiddlePassage,andoftheirdescendants.Startingwithnothing,orverylittle,AfricanAmericansformedcommunities,builtbusinesses,createdartforms(jazz,blues),andmore.Askyourolderrelativesorneighborstodescribeatimewhentheycreated“somethingoutofnothing.”Recordtheseinterviews.Chooseoneasthebasisforapieceofcreativewriting.
Set in 1977
Bonds between generations are
tested by personal and community
conflicts
1 TherelationshipbetweenBeckerandhissonBoosterischaracterizedbytheirdifferentviewsonpersonalpride.DoyourelatemorecloselytoBecker’sperspectiveonpride,Booster’s,both,orneither?
2 Jitneyissetinsideanunofficialcabstation.Inwhatwaysisthisuniquesettingcentraltothestory?Theunlicensedandunregulatedcabservicescurrentlyoperatinginsomecitiesaremodern-dayjitneys.Theseserviceshavecomeunderfirebecausetheydonotfollowexistingrulesforcabs.Doyousupportthistransportationoptioninyourcommunity?Whyorwhynot?
3 TwoTrainsRunningandRadioGolfaretwootherAugustWilsonplaysthat,likeJitney,dealwithurban
redevelopment’svisibleandinvisiblecoststotheAfricanAmericancommunity.SummarizeWilson’sviewofurbanredevelopment,basedonthese3plays.Doyouagreewithhisperspective?Whyorwhynot?
4 KeyQuote:“There’snoideaintheworldthat
isnotcontainedbyblacklife.IcouldwriteforeverabouttheblackexperienceinAmerica.”—AugustWilson
ConsiderthequoteaboveandtheinteractionsbetweenYoungbloodandRena,BeckerandBooster,andothercharactersinJitney.Howaretheserelationshipsbothpersonalanduniversal,reflectingthebroadthemesoflove,honor,duty,and/orbetrayal?
JITNEYEXPLORING THE PLAY
NewYorkDramaCritics’CircleAwardWinner
BEST PLAY
2000
JITNEYBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
INYOURBACKYARDAugustWilsondevelopedthecharactersinJitneyfromlisteningtotheeverydayconversationsofpeopleinhisneighborhood,TheHillDistrictofPittsburgh.Goonalisteningexpeditiontofindinterestingcharactersandvoicesinyourneighborhood.Takenotes.Coffeeshops,barbershops,parks,reccenters—evenyourschoolcafeteriaandhallways—arefullofmaterial.Chooseonemorebitsofdialoguetofocuson,andtransformthismaterialintoastorysetinyourcommunity.
EXPRESSIONPROJECTBridgingtheGenerationGap:Ifyouwroteaplaysetinthehub,orcenter,ofyourcommunity,wherewouldittakeplace?Whowouldbethere?Whatconflictsmightarise?
Whatconflictsexistbetweenpeopleofdifferentgenerationsinyourfamilyorinyourcommunity?Howistoday’sgenerationgapsimilartotheoneinJitney?Howaretheydifferent?Whatmighthelptobridgetoday’sgap?
Explorethepossibilitiesbywritingascenebetweentwopivotalcharactersfromdifferentgenerations.Then,writeadditionalscenestocreateaone-actplay.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/[email protected].
Set in 1911
Tenants of a boardinghouse contend with
the personal and social aftermath of
slavery and the Great Migration
1 InJoeTurner,asinallofAugustWilson’splays,thecharacters’personalandcollectivehistoriestakecenterstage.ResearchtheMiddlePassageandTheGreatMigration.Howdotheseliteral,historicaljourneysinfluencethepersonalandemotionaljourneysofthecharactersinJoeTurner?
2 DuringTheGreatMigration,millionsofAfricanAmericansjourneyedfromtheruralSouthtotheNorth,West,andMidwestinsearchofgreatereconomicopportunitiesandfreedom.Whatdidfreedommeanforthemin1911?Whatdoesfreedommeantoyou,today?
3 KeyQuote:“Icanlookatyou,Mr.Loomis,and
seeyouamanwhodoneforgothissong…Fellowforgetthatandheforgetwhoheis”—Bynum
AugustWilsondefinedaperson’ssongastheiruniquegiftsandwayofbeingintheworld.WhatdoesBynummeanwhenhetellsHeraldLoomisthathehasforgottenhissong?WhatcausedMr.Loomistoforgethissong?
4 Art+History:Part1TheboardinghouseinwhichJoeTurnerissetwasinspiredbya1978RomareBeardenpainting,MillHand’sLunchBucket.Thetitleoftheplayitselfcomesfromabluessongofthesamenamewhichwasaboutthereal-lifeJoeTurner(Turney)whoranachaingang.Viewthepainting,readthesonglyrics,andresearchJoeTurney.
JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONEEXPLORING THE PLAY
NewYorkDramaCritics’CircleAwardWinner
BEST PLAY
1988
JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONEBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
INYOURBACKYARDDidAfricanAmericansmigratefromortoyourcommunityduringTheGreatMigration(1910–1930)?Ifso,conductinterviewswitholderresidentstocreatealocaloralhistoryprojectabouthowthemigrationimpactedindividuals,families,andthecommunityat-large.
FINALPROJECTWhat’sYourMigrationStory?Checkoutexamplesofinteractivehistorymapping,suchastheTheAbolitionistMapofAmericaatpbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/interactive-map/abolitionists-map/andtheprojectsathistorypin.org.Writeyourfamily’smigrationstorybeginningwiththemigrationsofoldergenerationsofyourfamily,uptoandincludingyourpersonalmigrations(eachtimeyouhavemovedtoanewplace,eveninthesamecity).Workwithyourclassmatestomapthesestorieswithpictures,audio,andvideo.CompiletheaudioofyourprojectintoapodcastandshareitviaiTunes®oranotherpodcastdirectory.
ShareyourstorieswiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/[email protected].
Art+History:Part2Likeacollagist,AugustWilsonpulledtogetherpiecesofartandhistorytocreateanoriginalstory.Thinkofthevariousartforms—painting,music,literature,etc.—currentandhistoricalevents,andimportantpeopleyou’vestudiedinschooloronyourown.Combinetwoormoreoftheseelementstocreateafreshstory.
ReachOut:WhathelpedHeraldLoomistosinghissongagain?Thinkofsomeoneyouknowwhohasforgottentheirsong.Writealetterofencouragementtothem.
Set in 1985
A man’s quest for identity and dignity
is thwarted by limited opportunity,
secrets from the past, and
personal demons
1 KingHedleyIIrevisitsthestoriesofcharactersintroducedpreviouslyinAugustWilson’sSevenGuitars,setin1948.Readbothplays,andthencompareandcontrastsocialandeconomicconditionsforAfricanAmericans,almost40yearsearlier.Identify2–3historicaleventsthattakeplacebetweenthetwoplays.Howdotheseeventsinfluencethechangesyounoted?
2 WhenRubydecidedtonameherson“KingHedley,”whatkindoflegacydidshegivehim?Wasthislegacyablessing,acurse,orboth?Why?
3 KingHedleyIIisconsideredtobeAugustWilson’smosttragicplay.Doyouagreewiththisassessment?Whyorwhynot?
4 AuntEsterdiesatthereportedageof366yearsold.HerbirthparallelsthearrivalofAfricansinAmerica.Withherdeath,whatstatementdoyouthinkAugustWilsonwasmakingaboutthestateofurbanAfricanAmericancommunitiesinthe1980s?
KING HEDLEY IIEXPLORING THE PLAY
Pulitzer Prize Finalist
DRAMA
2000
KING HEDLEY IIBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
IN YOUR BACKYARDAskyourrelatives,teachers,familyfriends,neighbors,localbusinessowners,andothershowyourcommunityhaschangedsince1985.Then,identify2–3historicaleventsthathavetakenplaceinthedecadessince1985.Howdidtheseeventsinfluencethechangesthattookplaceinyourcommunity?Createavisualtimelineofeventsthatisuniquetoyourcommunityandshareitwithyourlocalhistorymuseum.
EXPRESSION PROJECT Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood? Alongwithseveralfriendsorclassmates,takeawalkingtourofyourneighborhood,orofseveralneighborhoodsinyourcity.Takephotosofpeoplethatyousee(Remembertoaskforpermission!).Howdothesepicturestellthestoryofyourcommunity?Howdothesepicturestellthestoryoflifeinthe21stcentury?Createaphotoessaywithyourpictures.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Key Quote: “I’m through with babies. I ain’t raising no more. I ain’t raising no kid to have somebody shoot him. To have his friends shoot him. To have the police shoot him. Why I want to bring another life into this world that don’t respect life? I don’t want to raise no more babies when you got to fight to keep them alive.” —Tonya Likeotherurbanareasinthe1980s,Pittsburgh’sHillDistrict—whereKingHedleyIIand8otherplaysintheCenturyCycleareset—wasplaguedbygunviolence,gangs,andthedrugtrade.HowdoesthisharshrealitycolorTonya’sperspective
onbecomingamotheragain?Findlocal,state,andnationalcurrentevents,suchasinFerguson,MO,thatreflecttheissuesthatTonyalamentedin1985.Makeacollageofheadlinestoillustratetheproblems.
Set in 1927
Stifled and disillusioned by exploitation by white record labels, black
musicians turn their rage inward
1 ConsiderhoweachofthecharactersinMaRaineyrespondstothepersonalandprofessionalinjusticestheyface.Whichcharacterismostlikeyouintermsofhowtheyreact?Whichcharacterisleastlikeyou?Howdoyourespondwhenyou’retreatedunfairly?
2 WhatsimilaritiesdoyounoticebetweentheeachofthemusiciansinMaRaineyandtheirrespectiveinstruments?Whichinstrumentbestreflectsyourpersonalityandtemperament?Why?
3 DidLevee’sactionsattheendofMaRaineysurpriseyou?WhydoyouthinkAugustWilsonchosetoendtheplaythisway?Summarizewhatyouseeasthemessageoftheplay,basedonthisending.
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOMEXPLORING THE PLAY
Tony Award® Nominee
BEST PLAY
1985
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOMBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
IN YOUR BACKYARDWhatareotherexamplesofinstitutionalracismyou’veobservedorencountered?Writeaone-actplay,essay,orshortstorythataddressesoneormoreoftheseissues.
EXPRESSION PROJECT Mother of the Blues:Gertrude“Ma”Raineywasoneofthemostpopularbluesartistsofthe1920s.Learnmoreaboutthereal“MaRainey.”Then,telladifferentpartofherstorybywritingaone-actplaysetbeforeoraftertheeventsinMaRainey’sBlackBottom.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Key Quote: “You don’t sing [the blues] to feel better – you sing ’cause that’s a way of understanding life.” —Ma RaineyListentosomeofMaRainey’ssongsoniTunes®:bit.ly/maraineysblues.Then,listentosomecontemporarybluessongsbyRuthieFoster:bit.ly/ruthiefostersblues. Compareandcontrasttoday’sbluesmusicwiththatofthe1920s.Composeabluessongthatreflectsthecaresandconcernsofyour21stcenturylife.Workwithyourclassmatestosetyoursongstomusicandperformthem.
Then vs. now: InthedecadesimmediatelyfollowingEmancipation,AfricanAmericansfacedracism,segregation,andprejudice.Asamusicalform,theBluesgavevoicetoAfricanAmericans’personalandpoliticalfrustrations.However,institutionalracismexistedwithinthemusicindustryitself.Research“race records”(AfricanAmericanmusicrecordedinthe1920sand1930s).Whoweretheleadartistsoftheday?Howweretheytreatedbymusicindustryexecutives?CompareandcontrasttheirexperienceswiththoseofyourfavoritecontemporaryAfricanAmericanrecordingartists.
Set in 1936
Siblings disagree about how to honor the legacy of their
family’s painful past
1 TheghostsinThePianoLessoncouldbeviewedasmerelyrestlessorvengefulspirits.Or,theycouldrepresenttheunresolved,internalstrugglesofthecharacters.Revisiteachappearanceofghostsinthetext,andforeach,describewhatyouthinkishappening.
2 Berniece,awidow,objectstotheideathatasawoman,heronlyworthisinrelationtoaman.HowareBernieceandtheotherwomencharactersinThePianoLesson—includingthedeceasedonesthatarementioned—portrayed?Aretheypresentedonlyinrelationtomen?
3 BerniecerejectsAvery’sproposalsandresiststhepressuretobeinarelationship.ButshesharesanunexpectedkisswithLymon.WhatdoesthisrevealtoyouaboutBerniece?
THE PIANO LESSONEXPLORING THE PLAY
Pulitzer Prize Winner
DRAMA
1990
THE PIANO LESSONBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
INSPIRING MINDSThePianoLessonwasinspiredbyaRomareBeardenpaintingofthesamename.Thepaintingfeaturesawomanandagirlsittingatapiano(seeithere:bit.ly/beardenspianolesson),andit’sbelievedthatrenownedjazzpianistMaryLouWilliamsinspiredthepainting(listentoWilliamsoniTunes®:bit.ly/marylouwilliams).Whoaretheartistsandothersthatinspireyou?Makealistofyourinspirationsandhoweachofthemhelpsyoutoexpressyourself.
EXPRESSION PROJECT Metaphorically Speaking:Inadditiontotheghosts,whatotherextendedmetaphorsdoesWilsonuseinthisplay?ChooseoneofWilson’smetaphorsanduseittocreateacreativework(poem,story,play)ofyourown.ShareyourworkwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Key Quote: “Mama Ola polished this piano with her tears for seventeen years. For seventeen years she rubbed on it till her hands bled. Then she rubbed the blood in…mixed it up with the rest of the blood on it. Every day that God breathed life into her body she rubbed and cleaned and polished and prayed over it.’Play something for me, Berniece. Play something for me, Berniece.’ Every day. ’I cleaned it up for you, play something for me, Berniece.’” —Berniece
AugustWilsonusedthephrase“blood’s memory”todescribethememoriesofasharedpastamongAfricanAmericans,apastwithdeepandinextricableancestralrootsinAfrica.InallofWilson’splays,knowingandhonoringthiscollectivepastisessentialtothecommunity’spresent-dayviability.InThePianoLesson,thefamilyheirloom—apianoacquiredfromthesaleoftwoancestorsduringslavery—isapointofcontentionbetweenBernieceandBoyWillie.Decidewhichsibling’splansforthepianoyoubelievemosthonortheirancestors,thenwriteapersuasivelettertotheothersiblingtomakeyourcase.
Set in 1997
The rewards of the American Dream
are weighed against the cost to the
larger community
1 AugustWilsonusedthegameofgolfasametaphorforaquestionfacingtheblackmiddleclasstowardtheendofthe20thcentury:Doyouhaveto“playthegame”ofthedominantcultureinordertosucceedsociallyandeconomically?
InRadioGolf,whatdoesthismetaphorical“game”involve?Howdothecharactersbalancepersonalambitionwithpersonalintegrityandadesiretohonorthepastandtheircommunity?
2 ResearchtheHillDistrict,thePittsburghcommunityinwhichRadioGolfisset.Howdoesthiscommunity’spastandwhat’shappeningtheretodayinfluenceyourunderstandingofRadioGolf?
RADIO GOLFEXPLORING THE PLAY
New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winner
BEST AMERICAN PLAY
2005
RADIO GOLFBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPRESSION PROJECT In Your Own Backyard:TheissueofgentrificationisatthecenterofRadioGolf.Isyourschoolorhomeinornearaneighborhoodthathasbeenorisbeinggentrified?Inwhatwayshastheneighborhoodchanged?Makeavideoofaclassdebateabouttheprosandconsofthesechanges.ShareyourvideowiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Key Quote: “A Negro don’t know he’s a Negro. He thinks he’s a white man. It’s Negroes like you who hold us back.” —SterlingHowisRooseveltholdingthecommunityback,accordingtoSterling,quotedabove?Doyouagree?
Dare to Dream? Doyouthinkit’spossibletoachievesuccessinAmericawithoutcompromisingwhoyouare?
What Would You Do?Describeasituationinwhichyourpersonalintegritycameintoconflictwithsomethingyouwanted.
The Fate of 1839 Wylie Avenue:Holdaclassdebatewithtwoteams—onearguingforthedemolitionofthehouse,onearguingagainst.
Speak Out!:You’vebeenaskedtoaddressthecrowdprotestingthedemolitionof1839WylieAvenue.Writea2-minutespeechthatconveysyourthoughtsaboutthefateofthehouse.
Set in 1948
Internal and external struggles
shape African American men as they fight for their humanity and self-worth
1 AugustWilsonbelievedtheGreatMigration—theearly20thcenturyrelocationofmillionsofAfricanAmericansfromtheSouthtonortherncitieslikeChicagoandPittsburgh—wasamistake.ReadWilson’sJoeTurner’sComeandGone.GiventheexperiencesofcharactersinJoeTurnerandinSevenGuitars,doyouagreewithWilson?Whyorwhynot?
2 WhatdidChicagosymbolizeforFloyd?Whydoyouthinkhewassodeterminedtogetbackthere,despitetheobstaclesinhisway?
3 IfVerahadaskedyouifsheshouldgowithFloydtoChicago,whatadvicewouldyouhavegivenher?Why?
4 AugustWilson’sKingHedleyII,setin1985,featuressomecharactersfromSevenGuitars.Readbothplays,andthencompareandcontrastsocialandeconomicconditionsforAfricanAmericans,almost40yearslater.Identify2–3historicaleventsthattakeplacebetweenthetwoplays.Howdotheseeventsinfluencethechangesyounoted?
SEVEN GUITARSEXPLORING THE PLAY
New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winner
BEST PLAY
1996
SEVEN GUITARSBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPRESSION PROJECT PSA:BothCanewellandFloyddescribebeing“arrestedfornothing”inChicagoandinPittsburgh.HowmightAugustWilsonhavedramatizedcurrenteventsinthenews,suchasinFerguson,MO,relatedtoracialprofilingandharassmentofAfricanAmericans?Writeandrecorda30-secondPublicServiceAnnouncementraisingawarenessaboutthisissue.ShareyourvideowiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
Key Quote: “I am not a historian. I happen to think that the content of my mother’s life — her myths, her superstitions, her prayers, the contents of her pantry, the smell of her kitchen, the song that escaped from her sometimes parched lips, her thoughtful repose and pregnant laughter — are all worthy of art. Hence, Seven Guitars.” —August Wilson
SevenGuitarsisset,literally,inthebackyardofAugustWilson’schildhoodhome.Howdothe“contents”ofyourparentsorotherlovedoneslives’informyourviewofhistoryandtheartyoucreate?
MakealistsimilartoWilson’saboveaboutthecontentsofthelifeofsomeoneyoulove.Usethesedetailstocreateastory,poem,song,orone-actplay.
Her Story: WhilethestrugglesandfateofAfricanAmericanmenisakeythemeinSevenGuitars,thecharactersofVera,Louise,andRubyarealsocentraltothestory.Foreachcharacter,createthreebriefstorysketches/notes:1) HerstorybeforetheeventsofSevenGuitars2) Herstoryaftertheseevents3) Herstoryifshewerethecentralcharacterin
SevenGuitars.
Challenge:AugustWilsonsketchedhisideasoneverydayitems,suchasnapkins,thencollectedthemlatertowritehisplays.Jotdownyoursketchesonnapkins(orsimilarsizeditems),usingonenapkinpersketch.Practiceworkinginthislimitedspace.Then,chooseoneoftheninesketchestodevelopintoalargerstoryorplay.
Set in 1969
African Americans grapple with the social and psychological
impact of the Civil Rights and Black
Power Movements
1 WhatdoesHambone’s“Hegonnagivememyham”sayabouthisbeliefintheAmericanDream?HowdoesthiscomparetoMemphis’sideaoftheAmericanDream?
2 ThecharacterofAuntEsterismentionedorappearsinthreeplays(TwoTrainsRunning,KingHedleyII,andGemoftheOcean)inAugustWilson’s10-playcycle.InTwoTrains,herageisgivenas349yearsold;herbirthcoincideswiththearrivalofthefirstcapturedAfricansinAmerica.Readthethreeplaysmentioned.WhatdoesAuntEsterrepresentinTwoTrains,andinWilson’sCenturyCycleasawhole?
3 By1969,theCivilRightsMovementhadcometoanend.AsevidencedbythecharactersandeventsinTwoTrains,whatissuesremainunresolvedforAfricanAmericans,andforAmericaasacountry,in1969?Didthisplaychangeorimprove
yourunderstandingoftheCivilRightsMovement?Ifso,howso?
4 TheyearbeforeTwoTrainstakesplace,Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.wasassassinatedinMemphis.AugustWilsonnamesoneofthecentralcharactersMemphis,andthestorytakesplaceinadiner,thesiteofmanyCivilRightsMovementprotests. Memphislamentshisdecliningcustomerbase;assmallbusinessesclose,fewerpeoplearecomingtogethertosharemealsinthecommunity.Risa,theonlywomanamongthecentralcharacters,isn’tinterestedinattendingtheracialjusticerally.Throughthesestoryandcharacterelements,whatdoesAugustWilsonrevealaboutthepost-CivilRightsMovementera?Viewedthisway,doyouthinktheCivilRightsMovementsucceeded,failed,orsomethinginbetween?
TWO TRAINS RUNNINGEXPLORING THE PLAY
New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winner
BEST AMERICAN PLAY
1992
TWO TRAINS RUNNINGBEYOND THE PLAY: YOUR VOICE, YOUR COMMUNITY
Key Quote: “You can’t go through life carrying a ten-gallon bucket. Get you a little cup. That’s all you need. Get you a little cup and somebody put a little bit in and it’s half full. That ten-gallon bucket ain’t never gonna be full. Carry you a little cup through live and you’ll never be disappointed.” —WestDidWesthimselfliveaccordingtohiswordsabove?DoyouagreewithWest’sapproachtolife?Whyorwhynot?Writeyourownphilosophyoflife,usingnomorethan50words.
Her Story: WriteaprequeltoTwoTrainswithRisaasthecentralcharacter.Inyourprequel,revealtheeventsthatledhertocutherlegs.
IN YOUR BACKYARDFindoutwhereyourparentsandgrandparentswerelivingin1969.HowweretheirlivessimilartothelivesofthecharactersinTwoTrainsatthattime?Howweretheirlivesdifferent?Askeachpersontodescribethatyearinasingleword.Usethosewordstocreateapoementitled,“1969.”ShareyourpoemwiththeAugustWilsonEducationProjectatwqed.org/augustwilson/toolkit/share or [email protected].
EXPRESSION PROJECT“Take a Look”: Whenthejukeboxstartsup,thesongthatplaysisArethaFranklin’s“TakeaLook.”Lookupthelyricstothissong.WhydoyouthinkAugustWilsonchosethissongforthisparticularplay?Whatsongwouldyouchoosetoplayinthebackgroundofastoryorone-actplayaboutyourlifethisyear.Choosethesong,thenwritetheplayorstory.