Ruben Santiago-Hudson, an accomplished actor, director, and writer, has maintained a deep artistic connection to the work of playwright August Wilson for more than two decades. Wilson, who passed away in 2005, is renowned for his Pittsburgh Cycle, a series of ten plays chronicling African American life in the 20th century. Santiago-Hudson’s collaboration with Wilson began in 1996 when he was cast in the role of Canewell in Wilson’s play "Seven Guitars," a part that earned him a Tony Award.
Shortly before Wilson’s death from liver cancer, the playwright entrusted Santiago-Hudson with performing his autobiographical one-man show, "How I Learned What I Learned." Initially hesitant, Santiago-Hudson accepted Wilson’s encouragement to tell the playwright’s story in his own voice. Since then, Santiago-Hudson has worked extensively to preserve and advance Wilson’s legacy, directing and acting in productions of many of Wilson’s plays, including a 2013 New York staging of the one-man show and a Tony-winning revival of "Jitney" in 2017. This year marks the 30th anniversary of "Seven Guitars," which Santiago-Hudson will direct in a new production at Lincoln Center Theater.
"Seven Guitars," set in the 1940s, follows Floyd “Schoolboy” Barton, a recently released prisoner and guitarist trying to reclaim his life in Pittsburgh. The play is noted for its vivid realism and underlying prophetic tone, reflecting Wilson’s thematic focus on African American experience and history. Santiago-Hudson sees himself not only as a vessel for Wilson’s voice but also as a continuator of the mentorship he received from director Lloyd Richards, the original director of many of Wilson’s works who played a pivotal role in shaping both Wilson’s and Santiago-Hudson’s careers.
Santiago-Hudson emphasizes the importance of blues music in understanding Wilson’s plays, explaining that the blues encapsulate the historical and emotional narratives of Black America, which Wilson sought to dramatize on stage. He maintains personal artifacts tied to Wilson—such as a borrowed ink pen and a harmonica from "Seven Guitars"—as tangible links to the playwright’s enduring presence.
Beyond his directing and acting, Santiago-Hudson has adapted Wilson’s work for film, notably writing the screenplay for the 2020 adaptation of "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom." He is also working on adapting "Joe Turner’s Come and Gone" for future productions. Reflecting on his continual engagement with Wilson’s characters, Santiago-Hudson acknowledges there are still roles in the cycle he has yet to portray, underscoring the long-lasting impact of Wilson’s vision.
As Santiago-Hudson prepares for the upcoming revival of "Seven Guitars," he continues to foster the connection between past and present generations of artists and audiences. He encourages actors to engage with the history embedded in Wilson’s work, urging them to “reach out” to the spirits of Wilson and Richards. This dedication ensures the legacy of August Wilson’s transformative body of work remains a vital part of American theater.