Radio Golf to close on 1 Jul 2007

Radio Golf, the tenth and final work in two-time Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright August Wilson's historic, decade-by-decade portrait of 20th Century African-American life, will play its final performance at the Cort Theatre on 1 Jul 2007, the play had been booking though to 2 Sep 2007.

The drama opened at the Cort Theatre on 8 May 2007, following previews from 20 Apr 2007. When the show closes it will have played 17 previews and 64 regular performances.

The show opened to mixed reviews: "Has the crackle of a bustling comedy crossed with an old-fashioned melodrama." (New York Times); "Smart, resonant and solidly entertaining production." (New York Daily News); "A swift, engrossing drama brimming with Wilson's characteristic wisdom and humor." (Star-Ledger); "It's extremely funny, with several wonderful characters, but it also suffers from an overload of plot and has only modest dramatic punch." (The Record); Sadly, with this play, a very considerable playwright goes out not with a bang but a whimper." (Bloomberg); "It's entertaining -- Wilson writes wonderful comedy." (NewYorkTheatreGuide.com).

Radio Golf was nominated for 4 Tony Awards: Best Play; Best featured Actor (Anthony Chisholm & John Earl Jelks); Best Scenic Design (David Gallo), the show let Tony Award Ceremonies empty handed. However, it did win the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award for Best American Play.

The play has been slow at the box office, with most weeks the show struggling to get more then 50% house capacity.

Directed by Kenny Leon, Radio Golf cast stars Harry Lennix as Harmond Wilks and Tonya Pinkins as Mame, and also features Anthony Chisholm (Elder Joseph Barlow), John Earl Jelks (Sterling Johnson) and James A. William (Roosevelt Hicks)

Set in 1997 in Pittsburgh's Hill District, Radio Golf could be ripped from today's headlines, as Harmond Wilks, a charming and powerful African-American politician, is running for the highest office of his career, with the loving support of his savvy wife, Mame (Pinkins). As Harmond steps into political prominence, the past is just a few steps behind him � and gaining fast.

Radio Golf features scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Donald Holder and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier.

The play is being produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Margo Lion, Tamara Tunie, The Bunting Management Group, Lauren Doll, Fran Kirmser and Gordon Davidson.

The other nine plays in Wilson's acclaimed cycle include: Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Tony nomination), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (Tony nomination), The Piano Lesson (Tony nomination and Pulitzer Prize), Seven Guitars (Tony nomination), Fences (Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize), Two Trains Running (Tony nomination), Jitney, King Hedley II (Tony nomination) and Gem of the Ocean (Tony nomination).

Radio Golf first premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre on 22 Ap 2005, and went on to play at Los Angeles� Mark Taper Forum from 31 July 2005 through 18 Sep 2005; The Seattle Repertory Theatre from 19 Jan to 18 Febr 2006; Baltimore�s CenterStage from 24 Mar 2006 to 30 Apr 2006; The Huntington Theatre Company in Boston from 8 September 8 through October 15, 2006; at Chicago�s Goodman Theatre, from January 13 through February 25, 2007 and at Princeton�s McCarter Theatre from March 18 through April 8, 2007.

Radio Golf toured seven cities before opening on Broadway. It had its world premiere at Los Angeles� Mark Taper Forum from 31 July 2005 - 18 Sep 2005, before ending its pre-Broadway engagements at Princeton's McCarter Theatre from 18 Mar - 8 Apr 2007.