Reply #10: Many people misunderstood August Wilson's point. It was about employment, as much as culture [View All]

[HamdenRice]

Wilson felt that most plays in American theater were about whites, so most actors who got a shot at acting were white. Almost all directors were white. Most of the technical staff were white.

He was saying that when he wrote a play about black characters, not only did it give black actors an opportunity, but because of the interpretation of culture and history and accent needed, it could give black directors an opportunity.

That said, when Joe Turner was staged recently in NY, the white director admits that he relied heavily on the black actors to understand much of Wilson's text and the feelings and beliefs of the characters.

I don't really think there are many white directors who could have staged the first version of Wilson's plays and gotten them right (at least not without Wilson there, which was sometimes the case, or without a black dramaturge.)