Fences

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Beau Meyer

Alphaeus Green Jr. (left) and Burgess Byrd in the University Theatre production of "Fences."

Alphaeus Green Jr. (left) and Burgess Byrd are Troy and Rose Maxson in the University Theatre production of "Fences."

General rule of thumb: don't pass up the chance to see a play by August Wilson. In Fences, Wilson chronicles the bitter decline of Troy Maxson, who's gone from starring in the Negro baseball league to working as a garbage collector. It's a timely production that mirrors this country's ongoing struggles with race and racism. “August Wilson shares history we cannot allow to disappear but must remain on our stages,” says University Theatre production director Baron Kelly. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., March 2-3; 2 and 7:30  p.m., March 4; 2 p.m., March 5; and 7:30 p.m., March 9-10. Tickets at artsticketing.wisc.edu; or at the lobby box office one hour prior to performances. Read Gwendolyn Rice's preview here.

media release: University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Theatre and Drama / University Theatre presents August Wilson’s FENCES. Directed by Baron Kelly.

Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues toils as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Excluded as a black man from the major leagues during his prime, Troy's bitterness takes its toll on his relationships with his wife and his son and threaten to tear his family apart. August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play is a landmark work of American Theatre.

This special faculty research project, directed by UW-Madison Department of Theatre and Drama faculty member Dr. Baron Kelly, features guest professional actors Alphaeus Green as Troy, Burgess Byrd as Rose, Julian White as Jim Bono, and Baron Kelly as Gabriel alongside student actors Noah Mustapha Kohn-Dumbaya (UW-Madison) as Lyons, Micah Anderson (Madison West Hight School), as Cory, and Naomi Greer as Raynell.

The scenic and lighting designer is guest artist Kevin Gawley, costume designer is guest artist Shelly Cornia, sound designer is Ryan Bertelson, technical direction by Angie Hause, properties by Myra Delikat, with Jahana Azodi as stage manager, assisted by Carson Romano and Fina Zhou.

Baron Kelly (Kelly) says of Fences: "The play is culturally specific to the Black American  experience, but the human quality of a family’s struggles………the love, hate, and the intergenerational squabbles are universal.  If the play is done well, this universality will come across. We are all human."

In  his artistic direction of the play Kelly plans to play on his music roots: "Because of my music roots I see the play structured like a blues song. The play all takes place in one place like a key or music and the characters each have their own rhythm and melody where they can riff off of each other around the common locale.Characters repeat phrases, or pass phrases around, like a blues band with a line of melody.”

Kelly also remarks: "In Fences, Wilson fits the whole country in a backyard and makes the bigness of his ideas seem life-size. In his time, ahead of his time for all time, August Wilson shares history we cannot allow to disappear but must remain on our stages. Wilson’s plays are a vital encapsulation of Black history and contemporary life."

Content Advisory: This play contains physical violence, mature content and language including racial epithets.

Please Note: As of March 12, 2022, UW-Madison no longer requires face coverings in campus buildings. There is no vaccination requirement to attend. Safety measures including face coverings, capacity limits, and seating for social distancing are subject to change as directed by UW–Madison guidelines for campus events.

For more information visit https://theatre.wisc.edu/

This production is made possible by support from the Anonymous Block Grant, the Lorraine Hansberry Fund, the Nellie Y. McKay-Lorraine Hansberry Fund, and the Joyce J. and Gerald A. Bartell Award in the Arts.

Performances will be held March 1-10, 2023, in the Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre, Vilas Hall 821 University Avenue Madison WI 53706.

Ticket Prices: $26 Adult; $21 Senior (62 +); $21 UW Faculty/Staff (ID); $9 UW Students (ID); $9 Children (K-12); $15 Group Sales (10 tickets or more)

To Order Tickets:

1. Call 608-265-2787

2. Online www.artsticketing.wisc.edu

3. Walk up sales: Mitchell Theatre Lobby Box Office opens 1 hour prior to performances for walk up sales.