AP News, September 26th, 2007
It's called simply "The August Wilson Century Cycle" _ 10 plays celebrating the black experience in 20th-century America _ one for each decade.
And now Wilson's masterworks are available in one place: a 10-volume, hardcover, boxed set, to be published Oct. 1 by Theatre Communications Group at a special introductory price of $200. Each play _ from "Gem of the Ocean," which takes place in 1904, to "Radio Golf," set in 1997 _ will also be available separately.
Introductions to each of the plays were written by artists who knew Wilson's dramas well, from novelist Toni Morrison, who champions "The Piano Lesson," to playwright Tony Kushner, who extols "Seven Guitars," to actor Laurence Fishburne, who starred on Broadway in "Two Trains Running."
Wilson, who died of liver cancer in 2005 at the age of 60, set most of his plays in Pittsburgh's Hill District and the neighborhood, as well as a lengthy parade of indelible characters, come alive in these works.
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Broadway ticket availability and capsule reviews of shows as of Sept. 24. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the theaters' box offices for the shows listed. Details about how to obtain tickets appear at the end.
_"A Chorus Line." Michael Bennett's classic musical about dancers auditioning for a big Broadway show is back. Gerald Schoenfeld. Telecharge.
_"Avenue Q." Love blossoms among the 20-something set _ a group that includes puppets _ in this very funny, adult musical comedy. Golden. Telecharge.
_"Chicago." This Kander and Ebb-Bob Fosse creation is Broadway's longest running musical revival and deservedly so. Ambassador. Telecharge.
_"Curtains." A murder-mystery musical comedy with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb. David Hyde Pierce and Debra Monk star. Al Hirschfeld. Telecharge.
_"Grease." A revival of the venerable musical celebrating 1950s high school and featuring stars chosen during the recent NBC television reality series. Brooks Atkinson. Ticketmaster.
_"Hairspray." The cult John Waters movie set in 1960s Baltimore has been turned into a hilarious, tuneful musical. Neil Simon. Ticketmaster.
_"Jersey Boys." The musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four 2006 Tony Awards including best musical. August Wilson. Telecharge. Difficult.
_"Legally Blonde." Laura Bell Bundy stars in this musical version of the Reese Witherspoon movie about a determined young woman who goes to Harvard Law School. Palace. Ticketmaster.
_"Les Miserables. The epic musical version of Victor Hugo's sprawling novel is back for another run. Broadhurst. Telecharge.
_"Mamma Mia!" The London musical sensation featuring the pop songs of ABBA makes it to Broadway. Die-hard ABBA fans will like it best. Winter Garden. Telecharge.
_"Mauritius." Two half-sisters squabble over their late mother's rare stamp collection. A play by Theresa Rebeck. A Manhattan Thatere Club production. Now in previews. Opens Oct. 4. Biltmore. Telecharge.
_"Mary Poppins." The world's most famous nanny comes to the stage after her great success as a P.L. Travers book and a Disney movie. New Amsterdam. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747.
_"Monty Python's Spamalot." A musical inspired by that demented film comedy, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Shubert. Telecharge.
_"Pygmalion." Jefferson Mays is Henry Higgins and Claire Danes plays Eliza Doolittle in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of George Bernard Shaw's comedy about a professor wants to turn a Cockney flower girl into a lady. Now in previews. Opens Oct. 18. American Airlines. 212-719-1300.
_"Rent." Jonathan Larson's touching and now nostalgic look at struggling artists in New York's East Village. Loosely based on Puccini's opera "La Boheme." Nederlander. Ticketmaster.
_"Spring Awakening." A striking rock musical based on Frank Wedekind's classic drama about a dozen young people discovering their sexual identities. Music by Duncan Sheik. Book and lyrics by Steven Sater. Winner of the 2007 Tony Award for best musical. Eugene O'Neill. Telecharge.
_"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." A sweet-tempered, often hilarious new musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin about youngsters competing in a local spelling bee. Circle in the Square. Telecharge.
_"The Color Purple." A musical version of Alice Walker's novel, now starring Fantasia, about one woman's triumph over adversity. Broadway. Telecharge.
_"The Drowsy Chaperone." A big fan remembers his favorite musical from 1928 _ and it joyously comes to life. Marquis. Ticketmaster.
_"The Lion King." Director Julie Taymor is a modern-day Merlin, creating a stage version of the Disney animated hit that makes you truly believe in the magic of theater. Minskoff. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends.
_"The Phantom of the Opera." The one with the chandelier. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is the prime, Grade A example of big Brit musical excess. But all the lavishness does have a purpose in Harold Prince's intelligent production, now the longest running show in Broadway history. Majestic. Telecharge.
_"The Ritz." A revival of Terrence McNally's 1975 comedy about a Cleveland garbage collector on the run from his Mafia brother-in-law. He finds sanctuary in a gay bathhouse in Manhattan. Kevin Chamberlin and Rosie Perez star. A Roundabout Theatre Company production. Now in previews. Opens Oct. 11. Studio 54. 212-719-1300.
_"Wicked." An ambitious, wildly popular musical about the witches in "The Wizard of Oz" as young women. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Gershwin. Ticketmaster. Difficult.
_"Xanadu." A fast, funny roller disco musical loosely adapted from the cult 1980s film. The cast features Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson and Tony Roberts. Helen Hayes. Telecharge.
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The Telecharge number is 212-239-6200 unless otherwise indicated. There is a $6.50 service charge per ticket, plus a handling fee per order that varies from $2.50 to $4.00 depending on method of delivery.
Ticketmaster is 212-307-4100. There is a $7 "convenience" charge per ticket, plus a handling fee per order that varies depending on method of delivery.
All theaters owned by Jujamcyn _ the St. James, Martin Beck, Virginia, Eugene O'Neill and the Walter Kerr _ have a $1.50 surcharge per ticket for theater restoration. Shows in Shubert theaters have a "facilities" surcharge of $1.25 per ticket.
Both Telecharge and Ticketmaster will provide information on specific seat locations. They also have toll-free numbers for theater ticket calls outside New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. For Telecharge call 800-432-7250; for Ticketmaster call 800-755-4000.
The League of American Theaters and Producers has a special telephone line called the Broadway Line for information on most Broadway shows (except "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast") and how to purchase tickets. Calls must be made on a touch-tone phone. The number is 1-888-BROADWAY. The line also will provide information on Broadway touring productions. Consumers in the New York tri-state area may call 212-302-4111. The TKTS booth in Times Square is currently in a temporary location just outside the New York Marriott Marquis hotel on West 46th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. It sells same-day discount tickets to Broadway, off-Broadway, music and dance productions. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Cash or travelers checks only. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday evening performances, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; matinees Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The downtown TKTS booth is in the South Street Seaport at the corner of Front and John Streets. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. _ for Sunday evening performance tickets only.
Matinee tickets must be purchased at South Street Seaport the day before, meaning Wednesday matinee tickets are available Tuesday, Saturday matinee tickets are available Friday and Sunday matinee tickets are available Saturday.
Full-price tickets and information on Broadway and off-Broadway shows are available at the Broadway Ticket Center, located on the east side of Broadway between 46th Street and 47th Street. There is a $4.50 service charge per ticket.
