Fences will recoup its $2.8 million capitalization

The Broadway revival of August Wilson's 1987 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play Fences, the most Tony-nominated play on Broadway this season and the most nominated play revival ever, will recoup its $2.8 million capitalization after only eight weeks of performances, during the week ending 13 Jun 2010.

Starring two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Academy Award nominee and Tony Award winner Viola Davis, Fences opened at the Cort Theatre on 26 Apr 2010, following previews from 14 Apr, where it is playing a strictly limited 13-week engagement through to 11 Jul 2010.

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.'

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.

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Fences is nominated for ten 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play, Leading Actor in a Play (Denzel Washington), Leading Actress in a Play (Viola Davis), Featured Actor in a Play (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Direction of a Play (Kenny Leon), Scenic Design of a Play (Santo Loquasto), Costume Design of a Play (Constanza Romero), Lighting Design of a Play (Brian MacDevitt), Sound Design of a Play (Acme Sound Partners), Original Score Written for the Theatre (Branford Marsalis).

The original Broadway production opened on 26 Mar 1987 at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre), and played 525 regular performances. It was one of the most critically acclaimed and successful plays of the 1980s, winning four Tony Awards including Best Play, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, three Drama Desk Awards, including Best Play and the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play.