The evening will be held at Columbia University's Earl Hall Auditorium and will feature a discussion to "highlight and explore the musical elements contained within many of August Wilson's works." Those scheduled to be part of the 6:30 PM event include Columbia and Barnard scholars Robert O'Meally, Martin Puchner and Shawn-Marie Garrett as well as Signature directors and performs Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Kevin Carroll.

The one-night-only event will also include performances of excerpts of the late Wilson's works.

August Wilson (April 27, 1945-Oct. 2, 2005) authored Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Fences, Two Trains Running, Jitney, King Hedley II and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of African Americans, decade-by-decade, over the course of the 20th century. Wilson's plays have been produced at regional theatres across the country and all over the world, as well as on Broadway. In 2003, Wilson made his professional stage debut in his one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. Wilson's works garnered many awards, including Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987); and for The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Great Britain's Olivier Award for Jitney; as well as seven New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars and Jitney.

The Earl Hall Center Auditorium is located within Columbia University at 2980 Broadway at 11th Street. For more information visit www.columbia.edu.

* King Hedley II, the third play in the Signature Theatre Company's August Wilson series, will begin previews at the Peter Norton Space Feb. 20 and will play a limited engagement through April 15. For more information visit www.signaturetheatre.org.