AUGUST WILSON (Playwright) is the author of Jitney, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf. These works explore the heritage and experience of African-Americans, decade-by-decade, over the course of the twentieth century. Mr. Wilson made his professional stage debut in his 2003 one-man show, How I Learned What I Learned. Awards include Pulitzer Prizes for Fences (1987) and The Piano Lesson (1990); a Tony Award for Fences; Britain's Olivier Award for Jitney; seven NY Drama Critics Circle Awards, and an Emmy nomination for The Piano Lesson screenplay. Mr. Wilson has received Rockefeller and Guggenheim Fellowships, Whiting Writers Award, 2003 Heinz Award, was awarded a National Humanities Medal by the President of the United States, numerous honorary degrees, and the only high school diploma ever issued by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Alumnus of New Dramatists, member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 1995 American Academy of Arts and Letters inductee. Wilson passed away on October 2, 2005. Two weeks later, on October 16, 2005, Broadway's Virginia Theatre was renamed the August Wilson Theatre, marking the first time a Broadway theatre has been named in honor of an African-American. He is survived by his two daughters, Sakina Ansari and Azula Carmen Wilson, and his wife, costume designer, Constanza Romero.