Pittsburgh, 1904: Seeking redemption, a young southerner, Citizen Barlow, arrives at the doorstep of the legendary Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old spiritual guide. There he meets Solly Two Kings, a former slave turned Underground Railroad conductor. Through a series of intertwining events, their lives become forever altered, as Citizen Barlow is taken on a mythical journey of awakening to the City of Bones, realizing the value of community and the power of belief.

A 2005 Tony Award Nominee for Best Play, “Gem of the Ocean” is the first in Aurora Fox’s commitment to producing August Wilson’s ten-play “The American Century Cycle.” Boasting multiple Tony Awards and Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, the cycle follows the lives of Black Americans throughout each decade of the 20th century.

Directed by donnie l. betts
Aurora Fox Mainstage

Content Advisory: Ages 16 and up. Contains mature themes and adult language.

The Jewels in Gem of the Ocean: History and Research
Read the Dramaturg HERE

donnie l. betts and Steffen Beal interview with Tree King on Mid-morning Jazz: