Broadway Comes to PIttsburgh in Two Trains Running

April 14, 2008
For Immediate Release Contact: Melissa Hill Grande
(740) 350-6456
melissa.grande@gmail.com




Broadway star Anthony Chisholm to star in Pittsburgh Playwrights
production of August Wilson's Two Trains Running


PITTSBURGH, PA -- Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre continues their
tradition of a yearly production of one of August Wilson's Pittsburgh
Cycle plays with Two Trains Running, from May 10th through the 25th at
the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, 542 Penn Ave. The production is
sponsored by the Pittsburgh Multicultural Arts Initiative, with
support from the Hill House Association and the Pittsburgh Cultural
Trust.

Two Trains Running is set in the historic Hill District in 1969, and
is the fifth play that Wilson wrote in his ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle.
The play explores attitudes about race, justice and civil rights held
by black Pittsburgh residents who congregate in Memphis Lee's
Restaurant. Two Trains received a Tony Award nomination for best play
in 1992.

A Hill District native, Wilson was the co-founder of Pittsburgh's
Black Horizon Theater along with playwright Rob Penny. His many awards
and honors include two Pulitzer Prizes, a Tony Award, and an Olivier
Award, as well as the only high school diploma ever issued by the
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

The production is directed by Onyx Award winner Mark Clayton Southers.
Founder and Artistic Director of PPTCO, Southers is a director and a
playwright. Locally he's directed for New Horizon Theatre, Bricolage
and Frick International Studies Academy. His plays have been produced
locally and on the national level.

Legendary actor Anthony Chisholm will play Memphis, owner of the diner
where the play is set. Chisholm is one of the nation's most prominent
interpreters of August Wilson's work, and was nominated for a 2007
Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway production of Wilson's
Radio Golf. His film and television credits include Beloved, Reign
Over Me, Vietnam War Stories (Cable Ace nomination), and the HBO
television series Oz.

Sala Udin returns to the role of Holloway, which he played in the
Pittsburgh Public Theater production in 1994. A member of the
Pittsburgh City Council for eleven years, he played the role of Becker
in the very first production of Jitney and in August in February at
the Byham Theatre.

The cast also features Wali Jamal as the numbers runner, Wolf. This is
Jamal's fifth full production of one of Wilson's works, having played
Toledo in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Seth Holly in Joe Turner's Come
and Gone, Canewell in Seven Guitars, and Avery in The Piano Lesson,
which earned Jamal a Best Supporting Actor award at the 2007 AACTA
Onyx Awards. Jamal has performed in all of the August in February
productions at the Byham Theatre.

Jomo makes his Pittsburgh debut as the mentally disabled Hambone.
Prior to coming to Pittsburgh, Jomo worked as an actor and teaching
artist in Chicago, Boston, and his hometown of Newark, New Jersey. He
has played Gabe in Wilson's Fences for the New Repertory Theatre
outside of Boston, and for Trinity Rep. in Providence, Rhode Island.

Donald Marshall, former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Performer of the Year,
plays the undertaker West. Most recently, Marshall played the role of
Mugabe in Quantum Theatre's production of Breakfast with Mugabe.
Jonathan Berry plays the handsome young ex-con Sterling. Berry
recently received the 2007 Best Actor AACTA Onyx Award for his
performance in New Horizon Theatre's Pill Hill. This marks his third
PPTCO August Wilson play. CAPA senior Sharnece Thomas plays Risa.
Thomas is an aspiring playwright and a director.

Due to the interest in the production, patrons are urged to purchase
tickets in advance. Tickets are $22.50 to $27.50 and are available
through the website at www.pghplaywrights.com. Group rates are
available by contacting Mark Southers at austinsills@aol.com.


Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre
Fact Sheet


Two Trains Running by August Wilson

May 10 – 25, 2008
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre
542 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Directed by: Mark Clayton Southers

Featuring: Jonathan Berry, Anthony Chisholm, Wali Jamal, Jomo, Donald
Marshall, Sharnece Thomas, and Sala Udin.

Scenic Design: Mark Clayton Southers
Costume Design: Cheryl El-Walker
Lighting Design: E.A. Smith
Sound Design: Mark Whitehead

Performance Dates and Times:
Thursdays and Fridays – 8 p.m.
Saturdays – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays – 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Ticket Prices:
Thursdays: $22.50
Fridays and Saturday evenings: $27.50
Matinee performances: $24.50
Opening night, Saturday May 10: $35.00


Sold out performances (as of April 14):
All previews May 8 - 10
May 10 opening night
May 11 at 7 p.m.
May 16 at 8 p.m.
May 17 at 2 p.m.

For tickets visit www.pghplaywrights.com