Wilson's Gem of the Ocean Delayed for 2nd Time; Starts 11/23
In Gem of the Ocean, 2004 Tony winner Phylicia Rashad stars as Aunt Ester, a legendary community elder with astonishing powers. Set in 1904 in Pittsburgh, Citizen Barlow John Earl Jelks arrives looking for guidance on how to build a better life. He soon starts off on a journey to find the mythic City of Bones, leading him to startling discoveries and setting him on a course of duty and redemption. On his path to shape the future, he inevitably learns the lessons of the past. The cast also includes Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lisagay Hamilton, Anthony Chisholm and Raynor Scheine.
Directed by Kenny Leon, the play recently had a popular run at Boston's Huntington Theatre. The Broadway mounting has been in doubt because of well-publicized financing troubles, which delayed the load-in and threatened to sideline the whole production. However recently multi-Tony Award winner Carole Shorenstein Hays has joined the producing team, pumping some much needed capital into the show.