| The first Broadway revival of "Fences" has | | | | move to Los Angeles to pursue film, Washington |
| recently opened to critical and commercial fame. | | | | has since starred in two Broadway shows – |
| Previews began April 14 at the Cort Theatre | | | | 1988's "Checkmates" and 2005's "Julius Caesar." |
| starring Academy Award winner Denzel | | | | He moved from the stage initially to keep a less |
| Washington and Tony Award winner Viola Davis, | | | | hectic schedule, but now that his four children are |
| along with Kenny Leon of Broadway's "Radio Golf" | | | | grown he admits he'll be doing more. "This is my |
| and "A Raisin in the Sun" as director. As the first | | | | first love," he said onFences' website. "This is |
| re-creation of this 1987 Pulitzer Prize/Tony | | | | what I love to do, and what I'll continue to do. I'll |
| Award-winning show, these talented Broadway | | | | be back here as much as they'll allow me, for the |
| residents have huge shoes to fill before the official | | | | rest of my career." |
| late April premiere – don't miss this 21st | | | | The revival act isn't following in Wilson's original |
| Century version as it hits Broadway this season, | | | | suit, as it has taken music from Broadway |
| with <a rel="nofollow" | | | | newcomer and composer Branford Marsalis. |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | Though the Grammy winner has seen tons of |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" tickets< | | | | critical acclaim, composing music for a Broadway |
| a> from | | | | show is a new method for the saxophonist, who |
| Undoubtedly the star power of Washington is | | | | said to Playbill, "What a dream come true to be |
| going to attract huge crowds, but that isn't why | | | | making my 'Broadway debut' composing music for |
| this silver screen star returned to Broadway after | | | | this new production of August Wilson's 'Fences.'" |
| five years. Washington was first taken aback by | | | | According to Playbill, in addition to Marsalis for the |
| the riveting drama the year it premiered, though | | | | quick 13-week engagement, team members |
| it never occurred to him that he would eventually | | | | include Santo Santo Loquasto (set design), |
| take on its leading role. "I didn't think, 'oh, one day | | | | Constanza Romero (costume design), Brian |
| I should play that part,'" he said to USA Today. | | | | MacDevitt (lighting design) and ACME Sound |
| Rather, the "classic American play" was something | | | | Partners (sound design). |
| his family could relate to as it followed Troy | | | | The story was a huge hit when it first appeared |
| Maxon, an uneducated sanitation worker and son | | | | on Broadway in the '80s, picking up four Tony |
| of a sharecropper in the 1950s. | | | | Awards including Best Play. Washington's role was |
| "My father was raised on a farm in Virginia, and | | | | first conceptualized by James Earl Jones, who |
| he was uneducated like Troy," Washington | | | | took the story following a Pittsburgh native who |
| continued. "I remember him talking about not | | | | once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball |
| having enough money." Though Washington lived | | | | player to new heights. Taking place over a |
| another type of life, as he was the first round of | | | | timeline of 1957 to 1965, the story is one in a |
| black students bussed into white schools and he | | | | cycle of ten plays from Wilson's repertoire that |
| eventually attended college, the August Wilson | | | | discusses African-American life in the 20th |
| story has always resonated in his life. | | | | century. Other Wilson plays include "Gem of the |
| While Washington might be better known for his | | | | Ocean," "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," "Ma |
| action roles of Hollywood, he opened his career in | | | | Rainey's Black Bottom," "The Piano Lesson," |
| the Off-Broadway feature "A Soldier's Play," a | | | | "Seven Guitars," 'Two Trains Running," "Jitney," |
| role that earned him an Obie Award. Following a | | | | "King Hedley II" and "Radio Golf. |