Go Inside Opening Night of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, and John David Washington, officially opened October 13 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre after beginning previews September 19. Tony nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson directs the 17-week engagement.

Set in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1936, The Piano Lesson follows a brother and sister who are embroiled in a battle over a family heirloom piano carved with the faces of their ancestors. It is the fourth play in Wilson's Century Cycle, which explores the Black experience in every decade of the 20th century; other works in the cycle include Fences, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and Jitney, among others.

The cast stars Jackson as Doaker Charles, Washington as Boy Willie, Brooks as Berniece, Trai Byers as Avery, Ray Fisher as Lymon, April Matthis as Grace, Michael Potts as Wining Boy, and Nadia Daniel and Jurnee Swan alternating in the role of Maretha.

Rounding out the company as understudies are Shirine Babb, Charles Browning, Peter Jay Fernandez, Sharina Martin, Warner Miller, Doron JePaul Mitchell, and Kim Sullivan.

See Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, John David Washington, More on Opening Night of The Piano Lesson

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_LaTanya Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson_HR — See Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, John David Washington, More on Opening Night of The Piano Lesson

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Danielle Brooks_HR — Danielle Brooks arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Warner Miller_HR — Warner Miller arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Peter Jay Fernnandez_HR — Peter Jay Fernnandez arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Shirine Babb_HR — Shirine Babb arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Ray Fisher_HR — Ray Fisher arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Michael Potts_HR — Michael Potts arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_John David Washington_HR — John David Washington arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Jackson_HR — Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Jackson arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Trai Byers_HR — Trai Byers arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_April Matthis_HR — April Matthis arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Trai Byers and Grace Byers_HR — Trai Byers and Grace Byers arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jurnee Swan_HR — Jurnee Swan arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Nadia Daniel_HR — Nadia Daniel arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Nadia Daniel and Jurnee Swan_HR — Nadia Daniel and Jurnee Swan arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Doron JéPaul Mitchell_HR — Doron JéPaul Mitchell arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Sharina Martin_HR — Sharina Martin arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Star Jones_HR — Star Jones arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Whoopi Goldberg_HR — Whoopi Goldberg arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Eva Marcille_HR — Eva Marcille arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Carla Hall_HR — Carla Hall arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jurnee Smollett_HR — Jurnee Smollett arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jane Krakowski_HR — Jane Krakowski arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_David Rockwell_HR — David Rockwell arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Danielle Moné Truitt_HR — Danielle Moné Truitt arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Deborah Roberts and Al Roker_HR — Deborah Roker and Al Roker arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_David Burtka_HR — David Burtka arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Tamara Tunie_HR — Tamara Tunie arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_George C. Wolfe_HR — George C. Wolfe arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Sherri Shepherd_HR — Sherri Shepherd arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Brian Stokes Mitchell and Alyson Tucker_HR — Brian Stokes Mitchell and Alyson Tucker arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Tom Kirdahy_HR — Tom Kirdahy arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jesse Tyler Ferguson_HR — Jesse Tyler Ferguson arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Mandy Gonzalez and Douglas Melini_HR — Mandy Gonzalez and Douglas Melini arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jesse Williams and Adepero Oduye_HR — Jesse Williams and Adepero Oduye arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Uma Thurman_HR — Uma Thurman arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_ Adepero Oduye_HR — Adepero Oduye arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jesse Williams_HR — Jesse Williams arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Kenny Leon_HR — Kenny Leon arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Dnay B and Jaquel Knight_HR — Dnay B and Jaquel Knight arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Beowulf Boritt and Mimi Bilinski_HR — Beowulf Boritt and Mimi Bilinski arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Lynn Nottage_HR — **Lynn Nottage**

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Cody Renard Richard_HR — Cody Renard Richard arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Oscar Isaac_HR — Oscar Isaac arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Pauletta Washington_HR — Pauletta Washington arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Tonya Lee and Spike Lee_HR — Tonya Lee and Spike Lee arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Tonya Lee, Pauletta Washington, and Spike Lee_HR — Tonya Lee, Pauletta Washington, and Spike Lee arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Pauletta Washington and Spike Lee_HR — Pauletta Washington and Spike Lee arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Lorraine Toussaint_HR — Lorraine Toussaint arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Cherry Jones_HR — Cherry Jones arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Ruben Santiago-Hudson_HR — Ruben Santiago-Hudson arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Duncan Stewart_HR — Duncan Stewart arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Camryn Manheim_HR — Camryn Manheim arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Sunny Hostin_HR — Sunny Hostin arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Joe Morton_HR — Joe Morton arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_S. Epatha Merkerson_HR — S. Epatha Merkerson and guest arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Donna Murphy_HR — Donna Murphy arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Joaquina Kalukango_HR — Joaquina Kalukango arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Joel Grey_HR — Joel Grey arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_David Winfield, Tonya Winfield, and Arielle Winfield_HR — David Winfield, Tonya Winfield, and Arielle Winfield arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Patti LuPone_HR — Patti LuPone arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Patti LuPone and Etai Benson_HR — Patti LuPone and Etai Benson arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Jamie DeRoy and David Zippel_HR — Jamie DeRoy and David Zippel arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Cookie Johnson, and EJ Johnson_HR — Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Cookie Johnson, and EJ Johnson arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_EJ Johnson_HR — EJ Johnson arrives on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Cookie Johnson, LaTanya Jackson, and Earvin "Magic" Jonson_HR — Cookie Johnson, LaTanya Jackson, and Earvin "Magic" Jonson arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

Heather Gershonowitz

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Cookie Johnson_HR — Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Cookie Johnson arrive on the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

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The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Curtain Call_Opening Night_2022_HR — The company of *The Piano Lesson* takes bows on opening night

Emilio Madrid

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Curtain Call_Opening Night_2022_John David Washington_HR — John David Washington takes a bow on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

Emilio Madrid

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Curtain Call_Opening Night_2022_Samuel L. Jackson_HR — Samuel L. Jackson takes a bow on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

Emilio Madrid

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Curtain Call_Opening Night_2022_Danielle Brooks_HR — Danielle Brooks takes a bow on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

Emilio Madrid

The Piano Lesson_Broadway_Opening Night_2022_HR — A scene from the red carpet on opening night of *The Piano Lesson*

Emilio Madrid

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The creative team also includes Tony-winning music director Jason Michael Webb, who composed new music for the revival, Tony-winning set designer Beowulf Boritt, Tony-nominated costume designer Toni-Leslie James, Tony-nominated lighting designer Japhy Weideman, Tony-winning sound designer Scott Lehrer, Drama Desk-nominated designer Cookie Jordan, Tony-winning projection designer Jeff Snug, and choreographer Otis Sallid. Casting is by Calleri, Jensen, Davis, and general management is by Foresight Theatrical.

Visit PianoLessonPlay.com.

See Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, John David Washington, More on Opening Night of The Piano Lesson

See Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Brooks, John David Washington, More on Opening Night of The Piano Lesson

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