Josh Wilder

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Josh Wilder
Born1990
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationPlaywright

Josh Wilder is an American playwright whose work has been performed regionally across the

Yale School of Drama.[3]

Biography

Wilder grew up in South Philadelphia, raised by his single mother. At ten years old, Wilder won a lottery to attend the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. After discovering

Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts and went on to attend Carnegie Mellon for acting and playwriting at Yale. Playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes acted as a mentor for Wilder throughout high school and beyond, encouraging him to pursue the craft.[5]

Plays

She A Gem

The plot centers around Jaleesa, Krystin, and Ambera,

The Kennedy Center's Theatre for Youth Audiences program and draws from Wilder's memories of block parties in Point Breeze growing up. Wilder uses the game of double-dutch as a symbol for resilience in a way that has implicit ties to African American pop culture.[6]

Leftovers

Embracing magical-realism, Leftovers follows two teenage brothers, Jalil and Kwamaine, who are raised by a single mother, Raquelle, in South Philadelphia. The two aspire to break free of the

dandelion grows out of the ground, the brothers make wishes and reckon with the consequences of their ambitions.[7] The young brothers dream of being as happy as the characters of The Cosby Show and look to the fictional T.V. character, Cliff Huxtable, as a surrogate father. Wilder weaves in the real-world social ramifications of Bill Cosby’s sexual-abuse accusations and what the news meant for African Americans.[8]

The play was workshopped at the

The Strand Theatre.[9]

In an interview with Portland Shakes, Josh Wilder revealed that as a Black adolescent growing up in his neighborhood, he saw first hand the conflict between the pursuit of following dreams and the limitations of the world around him. His personal experience and struggles of those in his neighborhood inspired him to write Leftovers.[10]

  • Salt Pepper Ketchup (2018) [11]
  • The Hands That Could (2018) [12]
  • The Highwaymen (2017) [13]
  • Wrong River (2017)

Honors and awards

References

  1. ^ "Josh Wilder". Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Josh Wilder". The Playwrights' Center. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  3. ^ "Interview with Playwright Josh Wilder". Portland Shakes. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. ^ Preston, Rohan (August 18, 2013). "Dreams in broken glass: Young playwright Josh Wilder seeks to follow in the footsteps of his idol, August Wilson". Star Tribune.
  5. ^ "Role Call". American Theatre. 32: 10–15. October 2015 – via EBSCOhost.
  6. ^ Timpane, John (14 February 2019). "Rising-star Philly playwright will premiere his latest at the Kennedy Center Friday". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  7. WBUR
    . Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Aucoin, Don (July 23, 2018). "Trying to keep dreams alive in Company One Theatre's inventive 'Leftovers'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Colby, Celina (August 2, 2018). "Leftovers". The Boston Banner.
  10. ^ "Interview with Playwright Josh Wilder". Portland Shakes. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  11. Philadelphia Tribune
    .
  12. ^ Brown, Donald (May 1, 2018). "Carlotta Festival Keeps The Faith". New Haven Independent. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  13. ^ "The Highwaymen". History Theatre. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Josh Wilder". The Playwrights' Center. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  15. ^ "Josh Wilder". The Playwrights' Center. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  16. The Kennedy Center
    . Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  17. The Kennedy Center
    . Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "The Playwright". Leftovers By Josh Wilder. 9 April 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "International Residencies". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  20. ^ Alcorn, Spencer (February 12, 2018). "Seven Global Theatre Artists Convene at Sundance Institute Playwrights & Composers Retreat at Ucross Foundation" (PDF). Sundance Institute. Retrieved November 24, 2020.

External links

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