Overview
Synopsis
It is 1911 in Pittsburgh at Seth and Bertha Holly’s boardinghouse. Seth and Bertha have a group of eccentric people staying at their home, including an old, spiritual man named Bynum and a young musician named Jeremy. Throughout the play, others arrive to stay: Mattie Campbell, a woman who is trying to get her boyfriend back, Molly Cunningham, a beautiful young woman who missed her train, and a mysterious man named Herald Loomis (and his daughter Zonia) who is looking to find his wife. The housemates are filled with questions about Loomis, and Seth wants him to leave. Bynum helps Loomis discover that he needs to find his song in order to move on, and when Loomis’s wife, Martha, shows up at the door, he does just that.
Show Information
- Book
- August Wilson
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1984
- Genres
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- august 1911. pittsburgh boardinghouse
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- community, college/university, professional, College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Elderly, Young Adult, Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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