For more than twenty years, August Wilson has been chronicling the African-American experience in the 20th century through his acclaimed cycle of plays, one for each decade. Almost all set in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District ( Wilson’s birthplace), they touch on everything from the birth of the blues to urban redevelopment. These plays have been widely produced and have won numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes.

Gem of the Ocean was the ninth of the ten plays to be written, though it is first in line chronologically, set in 1904. With the memory of slavery still fresh and the promise of freedom and reconstruction beginning to fade, economic distress and social upheaval are everywhere in the Hill District. While Pittsburgh offers a hopeful chance for Southern refugees, it’s not hospitable to everyone. Troubled souls turn to the wise Aunt Ester, who holds 285 years of experience in her memories – the entire history of Africans in America. Both concrete and mystical, this story about the new challenges of freedom leads us on a journey of exploration and redemption.

Gem of the Ocean was produced on Broadway in 2004, where it was critically acclaimed and nominated for multiple Tony awards. Unfortunately, the economics of Broadway forced it to close far too soon. McCarter is thrilled to be able to present a new production of the play with Ruben Santiago-Hudson (who acted in the Broadway production) making his directorial debut.