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V o l .  1    |    S p r i n g  2 0 1 9  

 

 
I S S N  2 5 7 7 - 7 4 3 2  ( o n l i n e )  D O I  1 0 . 5 1 9 5 / a w j . 2 0 1 9 . 4 7  a u g u s t w i l s o n . p i t t . e d u  

 1 

Notes 
Keywords 

August Wilson, Pittsburgh Cycle, Century Cycle, American Century Cycle,  
Constanza Romero, August Wilson Estate 

 
Note #1 
 
American Century Cycle 
 
This note relates to the Journal's terminology involving the cycle of ten plays that August 
Wilson wrote commonly known as the "Pittsburgh Cycle" or the "Century Cycle." At the 
2018 August Wilson Society Colloquium held at the August Wilson Center in Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania, Constanza Romero, August's widow and coordinator of the August Wilson 
Estate, said to the group that her preference, going forward, is that the phrase "August Wil-
son's American Century Cycle" be used to refer to those ten plays. Being Pittsburghers, 
David and I you both love the term, "Pittsburgh Cycle," but we also understand that it is not 
entirely accurate as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is set in Chicago. Therefore, all references to 
Wilson's cycle in the August Wilson Journal will be standardized as the "August Wilson 
American Century Cycle," "August Wilson's American Century Cycle," or shortened to 
"American Century Cycle." 
 

 
 

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	Notes
	Keywords


