Dillard to kick off 77th theater season with ‘Two Trains Running’

Dillard University will kick off its 77th theater season this month with “Two Trains Running,” one of critically acclaimed playwright August Wilson’s most heralded plays.

“Two Trains Running” was the seventh play in Wilson’s 10-part series “The Pittsburgh Cycle.” It was first performed by the Yale Repertory Theater in New Haven, Con­necticut, while its Broadway premiere took place on April 13, 1992 at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City.

Wilson, who was born in 1945 and began pursuing writing professionally at the age of 15, was awarded two Pulitzer Prizes. He passed away in 2005.

“Two Trains Running” takes place in the Hill District, an African-American neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. in 1969. It explores the social and psychological manifestations of changing attitudes toward race from the perspective of urban Blacks.

The Dillard production of “Two Trains Running” is directed by Ray Vrazel with Cortheal Clark handling scenic design duties.

“Two Trains Running” will be presented on Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 8:00 p.m. and on Nov. 18 at 3:00 p.m.

For tickets, email theater@dillard.edu or call (504) 816-4857.

This article originally published in the November 05, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.