Dr. Ellen Bonds: August Wilson Conference

This past weekend, 4/27-29, Dr. Ellen Bonds of the Villanova English department participated in the August Wilson Society conference "Go Back and Pick up the Ball," a colloquium on Wilson's American Century Cycle, held in Pittsburgh.  The conference included plenary sessions by Mark Whitaker, a journalist whose work includes The Untold Story of Smoketown:  The Other Great Black Renaissance; Constanza Romero, wife of  and collaborator with the late Wilson and award-winning costume designer;  and Harry Elam who spoke on "August Wilson in the Age of Trump and Tweets."  The weekend also included a block party to celebrate Wilson's birthday (4/27 just one day after Shakespeare's).  The party took place  in the Hill District of Pittsburgh on Bedford Avenue,  the location of Wilson's childhood home which is being restored.  See Dr. Bonds' pictures below of the house and block party.