Fences plays final performance on Broadway

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson's 1987 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play Fences, starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, which won the 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, will play its final performance on 11 Jul 2010 at the Cort Theatre as scheduled.

The most nominated play revival ever, Fences recouped its $2.8 million capitalization after eight weeks of performances, during the week ending 13 Jun 2010, and broke the box office record at the Cort six times.

Fences opened at the Cort Theatre on 26 Apr 2010, following previews from 14 Apr. The production played 88 regular performances and 13 previews.

The show, directed by Kenny Leon, opened to positive reviews: Vibrantly acted (NY Times); Whiff of soap opera (The Record); Hugely satisfying evening (Backstage); Blistering revival (AP); Superb revival (Hollywood Reporter).

Fences is one of the ten plays in August Wilson's sweeping Pittsburgh Cycle, focusing on the twentieth century African-American experience.

Set in the late 1950's the play tells the story of Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington), an embittered ex-con and former negro baseball player. Discrimiation stops Maxson from gaining promotion at work, and the resultant shame he feels for not being able to provide adequately for his family causes him to emotionally wihdraw from them.

In addition to Denzel Washington as 'Troy Maxson' and Viola Davis as 'Rose Maxson,' the cast features Chris Chalk as 'Cory,' Stephen McKinley Henderson as 'Jim Bono,' Russell Hornsby as 'Lyons,' Mykelti Williamson as 'Gabriel,' and with Eden Duncan-Smith and SaCha Stewart-Coleman alternating in the role of 'Raynell.'

Fences won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play Revival, as well as Tony Awards for Best Actor Denzel Washington and Best Actress Viola Davis.

The production team includes Branford Marsalis (Original Music), Santo Loquasto (Set Design), Constanza Romero (Costume Design), Brian MacDevitt (Lighting Design), ACME Sound Partners (Sound Design).

Fences is produced by Carole Shorenstein Hays (who produced the original Broadway production) and Scott Rudin.