Wilson is known for his Fences, as well as many other plays, including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, Jitney and King Hedley II.

The August Wilson Project marks the scribe's acting debut. In the new one Man work, — which he, of course, wrote — the playwright draws upon his life for stories about the struggle of an artist who is "at the crossroads of black and white culture." Todd Kreidler directs.

The new work kicks off a three-week span of presentations of plays in development. Seattle Rep will also host its second annual "Hot Type" — a festival of new play readings — and its sixth annual "Women Playwrights Festival."

"Hot Type" — subtitled "Sizzling New Plays at Seattle Rep" — will feature the latest works from Steven Dietz, recent Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz, Katie Forgette, Michael Feingold and Chay Yew. The new plays will run at the Seattle stage, May 26-June 1.

The 2003 "Women Playwrights Festival" will play June 4-7 and highlight the works of women playwrights Julia Cho, Sarah Ruhl, Kathleen Tolan and Karen Zacarías. For more information on both festivals, visit the Seattle Rep website at www.seattlerep.org. Tickets for The August Wilson Project, at Seattle Rep, 155 Mercer Street in Seattle, WA, can be purchased by calling (206) 443-2222 or (877) 900-9285.