August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

A co-production with Pyramid Theatre Company

It is 1936 and Boy Willie arrives in Pittsburgh, full of aspirations. He has an opportunity to buy some land but needs to come up with the money quick. He wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations, but he shares ownership with his sister, Berniece. An antique covered with incredible carvings that detail the family’s history, Berniece has already rejected several offers for the piano. Boy Willie tries to persuade his sister that the past is the past, but Berniece is more formidable than he anticipated.

Content Warning: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson contains displays of guns, use of fog, flashing lights, and eerie sounds

Please join us in the West Lobby 30 minutes prior to each curtain for a pre-show talk presented by Playhouse staff.

If ticket prices are keeping you away from this show, please call the ticket office at 515.277.6261, Noon-5:00 PM, Tuesday-Friday. We have supporters who want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see this production.

Performance Times:
7:30 PM Wednesdays through Saturdays & 2:00 PM Sundays
Theatre:
John Viars Theatre
Run Time:
2 hours 55 minutes including a 15-minute intermission
Content Advisory:
The Playhouse does not rate subject matter as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have questions about content, age appropriateness, or other aspects of the show (ie strobe lights and other theatrical effects), please contact the ticket office at 515.277.6261.
Download Playbill

Company

  • Avery

    Clifton Antoine

    Avery
  • Lymon

    Ryan Collier

    Lymon
  • Grace

    Colo Chanel

    Grace
  • Berniece

    Tiffany Johnson

    Berniece
  • Boy Willie

    Emmett Saah Phillips Jr

    Boy Willie
  • Doaker

    Daron Richardson

    Doaker
  • Wining Boy

    Aaron Smith

    Wining Boy
  • Maretha

    Larryah Travis

    Maretha
  • Director

    Ken-Matt Martin

    Director
  • Scenic Designer

    Sydney Lynne

    Scenic Designer
  • Costume Designer

    Angela Lampe

    Costume Designer
  • Lighting Designer

    John Pomeroy

    Lighting Designer
  • Sound Designer

    G Clausen

    Sound Designer
  • Stage Manager

    Rachel Meyer

    Stage Manager
  • Assistant Stage Manager

    Tinika Roland

    Assistant Stage Manager
  • Production Manager

    Paige Beck

    Production Manager
  • Pyramid Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director

    Tiffany Johnson

    Pyramid Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director
  • Pyramid Theatre Company Managing Director

    Alexis Davis

    Pyramid Theatre Company Managing Director
  • Playhouse Executive Director

    David R. Kilpatrick

    Playhouse Executive Director
  • Playhouse Artistic Director

    Katy Merriman

    Playhouse Artistic Director

Photos/Video

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (clockwise from lower left) Larryah Travis, Aaron Smith, Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, and Tiffany Johnson. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (clockwise from center) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (from left) Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (from left) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr and Aaron Smith. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (from left) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (from left) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (clockwise from lower left) Larryah Travis, Aaron Smith, Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, and Tiffany Johnson. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (from left) Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (clockwise from center) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr, Aaron Smith, Tiffany Johnson, and Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features Larryah Travis. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

  • August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson features (top row) Clifton Antoine, Daron Richardson, Larryah Travis, Colo Chanel; (middle row) Ryan Collier, Tiffany Johnson, Aaron Smith; and (seated) Emmett Saah Phillips Jr. August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is a co-production of Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse, performed at The Playhouse, Feb. 3-19, 2023.

Press Release

Des Moines Playhouse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kill Date: Feb. 19, 2023
Subject: The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company Present: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
Contact: Lee Ann Bakros, Playhouse Marketing & Public Relations Director, 515-974-5358

The Des Moines Playhouse and Pyramid Theatre Company present August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Feb. 3-19, 2023. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com and by phone at 515.277.6261. This production is sponsored by Prairie Meadows.

The Piano Lesson is set in 1936. Boy Willie arrives in Pittsburgh, full of aspirations. He has an opportunity to buy some land but needs to come up with the money quick. He wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations, but he shares ownership with his sister, Berniece. An antique covered with incredible carvings that detail the family’s history, Berniece has already rejected several offers for the piano. Boy Willie tries to persuade his sister that the past is the past, but Berniece is more formidable than he anticipated.

The Piano Lesson cast includes Clifton Antoine, Ryan Collier, Colo Chanel, Tiffany Johnson, Emmett Phillips, Daron Richardson, Aaron Smith, and Larryah Travis. The show is directed by Ken-Matt Martin with scenic design by Sydney Lynne, costume design by Angela Lampe, lighting design by John Pomeroy, and sound design by Gabriel Clausen. This is the third collaboration between Pyramid Theatre Company and The Des Moines Playhouse following Beaufield Berry’s Buffalo Women in June 2022 and A Love Offering in June 2021.

The production has three theme nights planned.
Thursday and Friday, Feb. 9-10, 2023: Students, student organizations, and families
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023: Black Greek Letter Organizations and Black Organizations
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023: Senior Adults and Ray Society/OLLI

Pyramid Theatre Company (PTC) provides a gateway to the arts for the Des Moines community by illuminating the presence of Black artists in the theatre canon and providing a means of artistic expression to emerging Black voices. The company commits itself to the tenet of Sankofa, a word in the Akan language of Ghana meaning "return to retrieve." With this in mind, PTC offers works firmly rooted in the lessons of the past in order to serve needs of the present.

The Des Moines Playhouse mission, as one of Iowa's largest and oldest producing theatres, is to create extraordinary, shared experiences through live theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage. 

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Performances Feb. 3-19, 2023
7:30 PM Wednesdays-Saturdays
2:00 PM Sundays
The IRIS Sensation Team will provide audio description for the 2:00 PM, Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, performance. The Playhouse can provide for those who have the need for ASL translations with advance notice.

August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Tickets 
Tickets start at $29
To purchase: Dmplayhouse.com, 515-277-6261, or Des Moines Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312

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Show Credits

By August Wilson

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc, www.concordhtheatricals.com

Sponsored by

  • Prairie Meadows