August Wilson’s ‘Jitney’ Is Must-See Theater

There’s a lot to love about the Pasadena Playhouse. It’s a gem of a theater, beautifully renovated, intimate and not a bad seat in the house.

The current production at the Playhouse was written by August Wilson who won the Pulitzer Prize for “Fences” and “The Piano Lesson.”

We saw it last night. It’s called “Jitney,” the story of cab company owner Becker, as he tries to stop the city from tearing down the building while also dealing with the homecoming of his son who is returning after serving 20 years in prison for murder.

“Jitney” is part of Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, a 10-play tribute to his home city. The plays are each set in a different decade and together they paint a vivid picture of the Black experience in the 20th century.

Wilson once said that his plays offer a different way to look at Black Americans by showing the commonalities of life’s experiences.

Listen to my conversations with Charlie Robinson, who plays Becker, and Sheldon Epps, artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse and find your way to the theater to see “Jitney.” It was well worth staying up late on a Thursday night.

Jitney closes July 15, 2012
Tickets at www.pasadenaplayhouse.org or call 626-356-7529