Historical state marker will honor playwright August Wilson’s childhood home in Hill District

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
By Christopher Rawson,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Today at 10 a.m., an official Pennsylvania State Historical Marker will be unveiled at 1727 Bedford Ave., Hill District, the childhood home of the late Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning playwright August Wilson.

The text will recognize not only Mr. Wilson but also the Hill, which inspired his poetry and plays and provided the setting for nine of his epic 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle, which chronicles African American life decade-by-decade throughout the 20th century.

The marker is being presented by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in partnership with the Senator John Heinz History Center, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and the Estate of August Wilson.

Making remarks will be some of Mr. Wilson’s brothers and sisters, along with his daughter, Sakina Ansari-Wilson, who will do the unveiling, although not until a number of officials have also had their say.

They include Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, Councilwoman Tonya Payne, Andrew E. Masich of the History Center, Neil Barclay of the August Wilson Center and Barbara Franco of the Historical and Museum Commission.

There will also be messages from Gov. Ed Rendell, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and state representative Jake Wheatley.

The ceremony is open to the public. The rain location is the Ammon Recreation Center, 2217 Bedford Ave.

(Post-Gazette theater editor Christopher Rawson can be reached at crawson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1666. )