Last Chance to catch Washington DC's Studio Theatre production of August Wilson's Seven Guitars, extended twice to its Mar. 15 closing date. Studio's mounting began previews Jan. 7, opened Jan. 11, and was first scheduled to end Feb. 15, then extended to March 1.
Nominated for eight Tony Awards, Seven Guitars is the story of Floyd, a Pittsburgh jazz musician struggling to get his band, his sweetheart and himself to Chicago, where he is convinced wealth and fame await him. It's the most recent in August Wilson's cycle of plays about the lives of African-Americans (mainly in Pittsburgh), crossroads of the great South/North migration of American blacks, during the 20th century.
The play closed on Broadway, Sept. 8, 1996, after a five-month run.
Seven Guitars is directed by Thomas W. Jones II, co-founder and co- artistic director of Atlanta's Jomandi Productions. At the Studio he's directed Bessie's Blues, Hip 2: Birth Of The Boom and Wilson's Two Trains Running (a Helen Hayes Award winner for outstanding resident play).
Marcus Naylor currently stars as Floyd (replacing J. Samuel Davis, Mar. 11), a role he previously played at Arizona Theatre Company. Co-starring are Donald Griffin, Frederick Strother, Gregory Reid Jr., Amy-Monique Waddell, Deidra LaWan Johnson and Cheryl Colllins. Designing the show are Daniel Conway (set), Michael Giannitti (lighting), Reggie Ray (costumes) and Gil Thompson (sound), with Scott Burgess providing original music. For tickets and information on Seven Guitars at The Studio Theatre, 1333 P St. NW, call (202) 332-3300.
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Upcoming shows in the Studio's 20th Anniversary season include The Steward Of Christendom and The Old Settler. From Ireland comes Sebastian Barry's Steward Apr. 1-May 3, opening Apr. 5. Ted van Griethuysen will play Tom Dunne, who years after Irish Independence wastes away in a Dublin madhouse. In exile from his Loyalist past, he escapes into his memories. Joy Zinoman directs.
The Old Settler closes the season, May 27 - June 28. Seret Scott directs John Henry Redwood's romantic comedy about two middle-aged and single sisters in 1943 Harlem, awakened by an "electrically sexual boarder" from down South.
-- By David Lefkowitz
