Jitney by August Wilson will open at The Stagecrafters on Friday, November 23, 2012.  In this play, Wilson (1945-2005), one of the foremost American playwrights, chronicles, with pointed and poetic dialog, the ebb and flow of daily existence through interwoven stories brought to life in the setting of a gypsy taxicab station and its denizens, ca. 1977.  First produced in Pittsburgh in 1982, this work is part of Wilson's ten-play “Pittsburgh Cycle”, telling the story, decade-by-decade, of the twentieth century African-American experience in that city.  A New York Times critic described Jitney as “... holding its audience in charmed captivity ...”.   Wilson’s revised and expanded version of Jitney won in 2000 the New York Drama Critics Award for Best New Play and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play.                                                                          

           August Wilson is also the author of Fences (produced at The Stagecrafters in 2007), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, and Seven Guitars, among others. 

           The current Stagecrafters production of Jitney is directed by Marilyn Yoblick, with the cast led by Kash Goins, Damien Wallace, and Roderick Slocum.

            Production performance dates are November 23, 24, 29, 30, December 1, 6, 7, 8 at 8 p.m., December 2, 9 at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available at $17.00 Online (no service charge), $20.00 At-door.  (Thu. eve performances "2 for $25").  Students with valid ID $13.00 At-door.  Groups of 15 or more are offered a reduced rate of $15.00 a ticket, paid in advance.  The box office opens 45 minutes before each performance.  For information call 215-247-8881; for reservations call 215-247-9913.  The theater is located in the heart of Chestnut Hill at 8130 Germantown Ave.  Visit website for details:  www.thestagecrafters.org. 

Special NOTE:  “Meet the Cast and Director” Q & A sessions will be held following the performance on Friday, Nov. 30.  All attendees at that performance are welcome to stay and join in the discussion.