PITTSBURGH — Russell Hornsby met August Wilson in 1995 as a senior at Boston University. The late playwright and Hill District native brought his then-new play "Seven Guitars" to a nearby theater and took an interest in Hornsby, one of the few Black aspiring actors at BU.
Two years later, Hornsby was cast as Youngblood in an off-Broadway production of "Jitney" and began bonding with Wilson over the fact his father also grew up in the Hill District. The young actor was simply "enamored with his wisdom."
"It was more of that Obi-Wan/Luke Skywalker kind of relationship," he told the Post-Gazette. "He's very quiet and matter-of-fact in what he says and how he says it to you."
Now 47, Hornsby credits Wilson with providing an early opportunity that helped lead to a more than two-decade-long career as a Hollywood actor — especially his role as Lyons Maxson in the 2016 film adaptation of Wilson's 1985 play "Fences." He has continued showing his devotion to Wilson by agreeing to promote August Wilson House's legacy brick campaign to help fund ongoing restoration efforts.
August Wilson House aims to finish construction on the playwright's childhood home at 1727 Bedford Ave. in the Hill District by the end of April, with a grand opening in mid-August, according to Denise Turner, the nonprofit's acting chief executive and board president. The house is to open for tours and be used as a community center for artists, with an outdoor theater.
On April 30, the August Wilson Birthday Celebration Block Party will kick off a year of events and programs in Pittsburgh. The free party in his honor will be based at his boyhood home and surrounding streets of his old neighborhood with entertainment, food, vendors, kids' activities and more from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wilson, who would have turned 77 on April 27, is also featured in "August Wilson: The Writer's Landscape," a permanent exhibit dedicated to the playwright's life and work that opened last week at Downtown's August Wilson African American Cultural Center.
The Hill District block party began in 2016 and continued through 2019, attracting thousands of people. August Wilson House was preparing the 2020 block party when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. No in-person events were held in 2020, but a scaled-down block party was held last year.
"I think people are so excited for something to do," said Fantasy Zellars, owner and operator of Bounce Marketing and Events and the block party's executive event producer. "This is outside and at least on the surface is looking more COVID-friendly than an indoor event. ... I'm anticipating this to be its biggest year yet."
Organizers have lined up a dozen food trucks and 115 vendors, most of them local small businesses, according to Zellars. There will be a dedicated children's zone with a foam party and lots of local performers spanning a variety of musical genres.
Zellars, who moved to Pittsburgh from New York City, said "it's super exiting to be on the ground floor" of an event supporting August Wilson House.
"You know a great family-friendly event when you see parents running up and down the street by themselves," she said. "I'm really proud that people feel comfortable and safe enough to allow their children to have a good time like that. That says a lot to me."
Turner said August Wilson House has "been plugging through it" to finish renovation and make the building accessible to the public. The pandemic paused construction in March 2020, but it resumed about a year later and has continued unabated. Wilson always wanted the house to be "a place he considered to be useful," Turner said, and now they're closer than ever to fulfilling that wish.
She is looking forward to "being out there with the people" during the block party while also promoting the legacy brick campaign. Anyone can buy a specially inscribed brick for $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 at a booth at the party or at augustwilsonhouse.org. The bricks will be permanently installed in walkways around the house. The fundraising campaign gives Pittsburghers a tangible way to connect with Wilson and his work, Turner said.
"It's definitely important to protect the power he brings, his words and to honor his legacy through artist support. ... It's the way to build a legacy. It allows a community space for the community to participate in."
It didn't take much convincing to get Hornsby on board with the legacy brick campaign. He remembered how involved Denzel Washington was with August Wilson House when they were in town shooting "Fences" and said that Wilson basically "helped raise me through his work."
Though Hornsby probably won't be at the block party, he hopes to attend August Wilson House's grand opening later this summer. He urged Pittsburghers to "continue to support the arts as a whole" and keep up their passion for preserving Wilson and the indelible mark he left on American culture.
"The better we serve August and the more we really dig deep into honoring him today is going to represent how people are affected tomorrow."
