Written by August Wilson

Directors: Carlene Coury and Gwendolyn Sampson Brown

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson is a play set in 1936 Pittsburgh that centers on a sibling conflict over an ancestral family piano. The core dispute is between Boy Willie who wants to sell the instrument to buy farmland, and Berniece, who refuses to part with it because it holds their sacred family history. She treasures it as a precious connection to their ancestors, and he sees it as the means to a more prosperous future.

Performance Dates

Performed at the California Theatre, Pittsburg, CA

• Friday, February 26, 2027, 7:30 pm
• Saturday, February 27, 2027, 7:30 pm
• Sunday, February 28, 2027, 2:00 pm
• Friday, March 5, 2027, 7:30 pm
• Saturday, March 6, 2027, 2:00 pm
• Sunday, March 7, 2027, 2:00 pm

Tickets

Purchase tickets through the California Theatre Box Office.

Call 925-427-1611 or visit www.tickets831.com

Season tickets and individual tickets available beginning November 1, 2026.

Audition Information

Link to be provided soon.

• Initial Auditions:
  • October 18th @ 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
  • October 19^th @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
• Location: TBA, Pittsburg, CA
• Callbacks: October 21^st @7p-8:30p by invitation

What to Prepare

We are seeking actors who bring authenticity, strong storytelling, emotional depth, humor, and the ability to listen and connect with scene partner(s).

• Review this audition packet for The Piano Lesson.
• Select and prepare a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue of your choice. Material from August Wilson or another African American playwright is welcome but not required.
• Actors will also be asked to read selected scenes from The Piano Lesson. Sides will be provided at auditions.
• Come prepared to discuss rehearsal availability and all conflicts from January 4, 2027 through March 7, 2027
• Actors interested in the role of Winning Boy should be prepared to sing a brief selection of your choice, approximately 30-60 seconds, a cappella; blues, gospel, folk, or similar material as appropriate.
• Complete the Audition Application found in the same audition packet and bring with you.
• Provide headshot (printed snapshot is acceptable)
  

Character Descriptions

• Berniece Charles: Approximately 35-year-old protagonist and mother to Maretha. She is a strong-willed, grieving widow and devoted mother. Berniece is determined to protect her family and preserve the legacy of the Charles family piano, even as she struggles with the weight of the past and the expectations placed upon her.
• Boy Willie Charles: Berniece’s brash, 30-year-old presenting brother. Fresh out of prison, he is loud, energetic, and ambitious, determined to sell the family piano to buy the land where his ancestors were enslaved, believing that ownership will secure his future.
• Doaker Charles: Berniece and Boy Willie’s 47-year-old presenting uncle, who owns the Pittsburgh house. A calm, steady railroad worker, he acts as a peacemaker and storyteller who knows the history of the piano and is the keeper of the family history.
• Wining Boy: Doaker’s 56-year-old presenting older brother. He is a traveling musician with a larger-than-life personality. He is charming, humorous, and worldly, but beneath his playful exterior is a man shaped by hardship, regret, and a deep understanding of the family’s past.
• Lymon Jackson: Boy Willie’s loyal, gentle, good-natured, and soft-spoken friend and traveling companion who helps drive the plot and considers staying in Pittsburgh to escape trouble down South. He is looking for stability and connection while trying to establish a new life for himself.
• Maretha Charles: Berniece’s 11-year-old presenting daughter who represents the next generation and takes piano lessons, bridging the family’s past and future. She is curious, intelligent, and musically gifted.
• Avery Brown: A local preacher who hopes to marry Berniece. He tries to help Berniece move past her grief and wants to bless the house to drive away haunting spirits. Avery is a sincere man and is ambitious and committed to his faith. He hopes to build a life with Bernice and believes the church can offer guidance and healing, though he does not fully understand the family’s relationship with the piano.
• Grace: A woman Boy Willie meets in Pittsburgh. Grace is warm, confident, and independent. She brings humor and energy to the household and is not easily intimidated by Boy Willie’s personality.