RSH: How sensitive he was. Because everybody knows
him as stern, straight, not approachable. But every young
actor that met him has a story. Owiso Odera, a young
actor I directed in Gem of the Ocean, saw August standing
outside. He said, “Mr. Wilson, I just want to say I love your
work.” August said, “Oh, thank you. What do you do?”
“I’m an actor.” August told him, “You gonna be good, man.
You’re good now I bet.” Didn’t know this kid from Adam.
The kid could’ve been more messenger boy than actor.
Turns out he is a fine actor. And he’s done August and
loves August.
CR: People might be curious about August and his life as
a young man. How I Learned is about what the world held
for him once he stepped out of his mother’s house, what
he found in his community, and what lessons he had to
learn to become the future playwright. This is an
autobiographical piece, it’s very personal.
Signature: It’s been ten years since the first production
of How I Learned. Why do you feel that now is the time
for it?
CR: When August passed it was too soon to even
approach the work. Eight years have passed. I feel that
top: Bill Sims, Jr., Ruben-Santiago-Hudson, and band perform at the Opening Night
for The Piano Lesson, 2012.
bottom: Ruben-Santiago-Hudson, Erika Mallin, Constanzo Romero, and Azula Wilson, 2012.
How I Learned is about what
the world held for him once he
stepped out of his mother’s house,
what he found in his community,
and what lessons he had to learn
to become the future playwright.
This is an autobiographical
piece. It’s very personal.
– CONSTANZA ROMERO
August would be getting impatient with us if we didn’t
tackle it now, especially since he was so specific about
having Ruben and Todd do the play. Signature is the
perfect place to mount this new production, it has always
been a friend and supporter of the estate. I am very
grateful to have this theatre home in New York City.
RSH: You know, I was kind of hoping that they had
forgotten August wanted me to do it. He called Todd
and he called me. And I actually said no. And he said,
“You’re gonna tell me no? Who knows how long I’m gonna
be here and you’re gonna tell me no.” It took
me a second to really stop and let my
trepidation and fear go and just realize
that it was an honor and a blessing.
DG: As a designer this was very hard
because I had established years
of serving a man and a man’s
work in a very particular way.
You’re creating something
And that license is something that makes you just a
that’s part of a canon,
bigger human being. I’ll never let that go. And now my
part of a cycle. And this
duty is just to pass that on to the next generation so
was the first time I didn’t
they can continue to know that this is their voice.
have him, I didn’t have
that world anymore.
Signature: What do you think audiences might be
surprised to learn about August through this play?
DG: For starters, that August was young. You read these
different because
plays and you think he was 300 years old, just from the
this is not doing an
sheer amount of wisdom. And how incredibly funny he was.
7
So the process for
August Wilson play,
this was extremely