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Fences Show Poster

Fences Tickets

Troy Maxson is a Pittsburgh sanitation worker who once dreamed of a baseball career, but was too old when the major leagues finally admitted black players. As he faces off against the racial barrier at work and his own disappointments, Troy also grapples with his son, Cory, over the teenager’s hope for a football scholarship and with his wife, Rose, who confronts Troy over a child he has fathered with another woman.

This show is closed.

Performances ended on Jul. 11, 2010.

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About Fences on Broadway

dates
Previews: Apr 14, 2010 • Opening: Apr 26, 2010 • Closing: Jul 11, 2010
Broadway Plays Stars on Stage Drama 2010 Tony Winners Great for Dad

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Venue

James Earl Jones Theatre James Earl Jones Theatre
138 West 48th Street
New York, NY 10036
hearing assistance
Hearing Assistance
Assisted listening devices are available. An ID is required as a deposit.
wheelchair access
Wheelchair Access
Orchestra section and Main Level are fully accessible.
elevators and escalators
Elevators and Escalators
This theater has elevator access to every section.
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Story

What Is the Story of Fences?
Fences centers on the Maxons, an African-American family living in Pittsburgh in 1957. Patriarch Troy, a sanitation worker, is an embittered former player in baseball’s Negro Leagues. Matriarch Rose runs the household, stretching Troy’s meager paycheck to keep things going. Their teen son Cory is being recruited to play college football, a source of contention with his father. Also on the scene are Troy’s older son Lyons, brain-damaged brother Gabriel and drinking buddy Bono. The main action of the play takes places over a two-month period that changes the nature of the Maxons’ marriage and Cory’s path in life forever.
 

Reviews

critics reviews Critics’ Reviews (7)
A collection of our favorite reviews from professional news sources.
The New York Times

"Genuinely glorious. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis generate shiver-making heat and pathos. Vibrantly acted with scenes as vivid and heartfelt as any on Broadway now. Kenny Leon's direction is expertly fluid."

The New York Times

Ben Brantley

The New Yorker

"Gorgeous. Thrilling. Unmissable. The finest revival yet of an August Wilson play. You just do not see performances of this intensity and truthfulness on Broadway these days."

The New Yorker

John Lahr

New York Post

"A dramatic home run! Fences keeps audiences on the edge of their seats. Gorgeously acted by an incredible cast."

New York Post

Elisabeth Vincentelli

Associated Press

"A blistering production, directed with a sure, steady hand by Kenn Leon. Denzel Washington gives a big, bold performance in a big, bold play. Viola Davis gives an incandescent performance."

Associated Press

Michael Kuchwara

Newsday

"Magnificent and joyous. Denzel Washington hits it out fo the park. Rose is played with radiant and transparent joy by Viola Davis. A splendid ensemble."

Newsday

Linda Winer

Variety

"Fences is a masterpiece, and this meticulously mounted production does it proud. The high-wattage Washington is heartbreaking and irresistible. Viola Davis is a treasure - she is electrifying."

Variety

Marilyn Stasio

The Hollywood Reporter

"Superb and shattering. Washington's compelling turn keeps the audience constantly off-guard. He is beautifully matched by Viola Davis, who conveys her character to vividly. The work's raw power is well brought out by Kenny Leon's superbly acted production."

The Hollywood Reporter

Frank Scheck

Cast & Creative

Cast

Viola Davis
Rose
Chris Chalk
Cory
Russell Hornsby
Lyons
Mykelti Williamson
Gabriel

Creative

Written by
August Wilson
Director
Kenny Leon
Set Designer
Santo Loquasto
Original Music
Branford Marsalis
Costume Designer
Constanza Romero
Lighting Designer
Brian MacDevitt
Sound Designer
Acme Sound Partners
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