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Chuck Cooper, S. Epatha Merkerson, Roger Robinson, and Leslie Uggams Celebrate Opening of Signature’s The Piano Lesson

New York City

November 19, 2012

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Constanza Romero, August Wilson’s widow, and their daughter, Azula Carmen Wilson, stopped for a quick photo with Piano Lesson director Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Signature Executive Director Erika Mallin.
(© David Gordon)

Tony Award-winner Chuck Cooper, who plays Wining Boy, proudly showed off his talented family, son Eddie and daughter Lilli.
(© David Gordon)

Rosalyn Ruff appears in The Piano Lesson as Berniece, along with Alexis Holt as Maretha.
(© David Gordon)

Mandi Masden and Jason Dirden appear as Grace and Lymon in the Signature’s Piano Lesson.
(© David Gordon)

Eric Lenox Abrams plays Avery in Signature’s production of The Piano Lesson.
(© David Gordon)

James A. Williams, who stars in The Piano Lesson as Doaker, smiled alongside August Wilson’s daughter, Sakina Ansari-Wilson.
(© David Gordon)

Piano Lesson cast member Brandon J. Dirden (Boy Willie), got close to his lovely wife, Clybourne Park star Crystal A. Dickenson.
(© David Gordon)

Director Ruben Santiago-Hudson stopped for a photo with his production’s composer, noted blues musician Bill Sims, Jr.
(© David Gordon)

After closing their show Wild With Happy at the Public Theater on Sunday afternoon, Maurice McRae, Sharon Washington, Korey Jackson, and Tony nominee Colman Domingo headed uptown to help Signature open The Piano Lesson.
(© David Gordon)

Stage and screen veteran S. Epatha Merkerson received a Tony nomination for her performance in the original Broadway production of The Piano Lesson in 1990.
(© David Gordon)

Leslie Uggams, who received a Tony nomination for her performance in August Wilson’s King Headley II, smiled for our camera with her First Breeze of Summer co-star, Yaya DaCosta.
(© David Gordon)

Tracie Thoms was on hand to congratulate her Stick Fly co-star, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, on his opening night.
(© David Gordon)

Roger Robinson won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2009 revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.
(© David Gordon)

Stephen McKinley Henderson is no stranger to the plays of August Wilson, having appeared on Broadway in his plays King Headley II, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Fences, for which he received a Tony nomination.
(© David Gordon)

Drama Desk nominee Jennifer Lim, currently appearing in Signature’s production of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child, was eager to check out the other show Signature currently has to offer.
(© David Gordon)

Singer-songwriter and stage and screen veteran Naturi Naughton (Fame) paled around with Crystal A. Dickenson on the press line at the opening night of Signature Theatre Company’s rendition of The Piano Lesson .
(© David Gordon)

Matthew Rauch and Marsha Stephanie Blake appeared on Broadway together in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice in 2010.
(© David Gordon)

Brenda Pressley, who appeared in Signature’s 2006 production of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars wouldn’t miss the company’s latest Wilson staging.
(© David Gordon)

Signature Theatre alum Amir Arison was on hand to help welcome the company’s Piano Lesson to the Pershing Square Signature Center.
(© David Gordon)

Signature Theatre Company celebrated the opening night of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson on Sunday, November 18. Directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is set in 1936, as a Pittsburgh family battles over their shared legacy: an antique piano.

The current cast includes Eric Lenox Abrams as Avery, Chuck Cooper as Wining Boy, Brandon J. Dirden as Boy Willie, Jason Dirden as Lymon, Alexis Holt as Maretha, Mandi Masden as Grace, Roslyn Ruff as Berniece, and James A. Williams as Doaker.

Guests at the opening included the playwright’s widow, Constanza Romero, and their daughter Azula Carmen Wilson, Emmy Award winner S. Epatha Merkerson, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Brenda Pressley, Tony Award winner Roger Robinson, Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams, Amir Arison, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Eddie Cooper, Lilli Cooper, Yaya DaCosta, Crystal A. Dickinson, Colman Domingo, Korey Jackson, Jennifer Lim, Maurice McRae, Naturi Naughton, Matthew Rauch, Tracie Thoms, Sharon Washington, and CJ Wilson.

The design team includes Michael Carnahan (scenic designer), Karen Perry (costume designer), Rui Rita (lighting designer), David Van Tieghem (sound designer), Bill Sims, Jr. (original music), J. David Brimmer (fight direction), Valerie Gladstone (wig & hair designer), and Vinnie Bagwell (piano sculptor).

Click here to read TheaterMania’s review of The Piano Lesson.

Click here for more information and tickets to The Piano Lesson.

Chuck Cooper, S. Epatha Merkerson, Roger Robinson, and Leslie Uggams Celebrate Opening of Signature’s The Piano Lesson

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