Signature Stories Vol 7 | Page 6

A WAY WITH August Wilson, 2004. THE STORYTELLING POWER OF AUGUST WILSON Signature Theatre returns to Legacy Playwright August Wilson’s body of work in How I Learned What I Learned, Wilson’s originally self-performed solo show. Longtime collaborators Todd Kreidler, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Constanza Romero, and David Gallo are reuniting to bring this New York Premiere to the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who will step into Wilson’s shoes in How I Learned What I Learned, has worked extensively with Wilson as both an actor and director since his Tony Award-winning turn as Canewell in 1996’s Seven Guitars. Constanza Romero, Wilson’s widow, acted as costume designer and sounding board since their meeting in 1987, and David Gallo earned two Tony nominations for Best Scenic Design over the course of his work with Wilson. Santiago-Hudson, Romero, and Gallo sat down with Literary Fellow Whitney Eggers to talk about their work with Wilson and the biggest challenge of How I Learned What I Learned: bringing August Wilson himself to the stage. 5