News
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson, who made headlines in 1996 with a controversial speech about African American theatre, is in residence at the College as a Montgomery Fellow for the entire Winter term.
Wilson, who has won numerous awards for his work, is teaching a playwriting class in the drama department and participating in the National Black Theatre Summit.
"This is an opportunity for Dartmouth students to interact with one of the greatest living playwrights," said English Department Chair William Cook, who described Wilson's visit as "unusual and unusually positive."
Wilson, author of "Fences," "The Piano Lesson" and the recent "Seven Guitars," is the first full-term Montgomery Fellow since Wilma Mankiller visited the College in the winter of 1996.
The Montgomery Endowment, initiated in 1978 by Kenneth Montgomery '25, invites prominent individuals from various disciplines to come to the College to share their experiences in lectures or classes.
In addition to the playwriting course he is teaching, Wilson's body of work is the subject of a course being taught by Drama Professor Victor Walker.
Wilson will also be participating in National Black Theater Summit from March 2-6 in Ashland.