Tuesday, June 21, 2011

August Wilson Center Moves from Presenting to Producing

At a performance-filled announcement at The August Wilson Center for the Performing Arts, President and CEO Andre Kimo Stone Guess said the center is moving away from a model of presenting to a model of producing.

Instead of emphasizing out-of-town performers, the center will work with local artists and has recently formed dance, theater and music ensembles.

Greer Reed-Jones will lead the dance ensemble, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra will be directed by Sean Jones and the Theater Ensemble headed by Mark Clayton Southers will perform in the 2011-2012 season. Ensemble members will be under contract and will be paid "a living wage."

Each season will also have a theme, said Guess and the theme for 2011-2012 will be Afrolacchia, focusing on arts from and about African-Americans in Appalachia.

The center will also launch an online literary magazine this fall.

Artists from outside the region will continue to come in and perform.

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