In The Know - August Wilson's The Piano Lesson

Justin Waldman is the Artistic Director of Two River Theater. He is a theatrical producer and director who has brought over 275 productions to life during his over 25-year career. Prior staff positions include: Associate Artistic Director (The Old Globe Theatre), Artistic Associate (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Artistic Associate (Huntington Theatre Company) and Producing Artistic Director at Next Stages, which he founded. New York directing: The Atheist (with Campbell Scott, Circle in the Square/Culture Project), Sonia Flew (Summer Play Festival), Jester’s Dead (Studio Tisch and The Peoples Improv Theater), 52nd St. Project Playmaking, News Junkie (Lincoln Center Directors Lab). Regional: As You Like It (The Old Globe/USD MFA Program), Samuel J. and K. (with Justin Long), What is the Cause of Thunder? (with Wendie Malick and Betty Gilpin), The Atheist (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Brendan, The Atheist (Huntington Theatre Company), Over It (Next Stages), This Is Our Youth (Theatre Workshop of Nantucket), 12 Angry Men (Stanley B. Theater Company). Assistant Directing:  Saturn Returns (Lincoln Center Theatre, Nicholas Martin, dir), Houdini (musical workshop w/Hugh Jackman, Scott Sanders productions, Jack O’Brien, dir), Present Laughter, The Cherry Orchard, The Rose Tattoo, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Persephone, among others (Huntington Theatre Company), three seasons at Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. He has also directed readings and workshops by Theresa Rebeck, Noah Haidle, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Mat Smart, Sam Forman, Melinda Lopez, and Ronan Noone, among others. Justin is a graduate of Tufts University.

FRANCOIS BATTISTE (DIRECTOR) is thrilled to be making his Two River Theater debut! He is a Chicago-raised, New York–trained, California-based actor, director, and teaching artist. Recent directing credits include Broke-ology at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Between Riverside and Crazy at Celebration Arts Theatre, Broke-ology at B-Street Theatre, and Hospice at Illinois State University. As an actor he has performed in London, on the Broadway stage and off, as well as regionally. Most recently he was seen in the World Premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Here We Are (directed by Joe Mantello). Other Broadway: Bronx Bombers, Prelude to a Kiss, and Magic/Bird, as well as the Broadway National Tour of August Wilson’s Jitney. In London he played Malcolm X in One Night in Miami at The Donmar Warehouse (Olivier nomination). Off-Broadway he has created roles and garnered recognition in The Good Negro (Obie Award), Detroit ’67 (Audelco nomination), Broke-ology (Audelco nomination), and A Raisin in the Sun (Audelco Award winner for Best Leading Actor). He starred as Scrooge in Jack Thorne’s five-time Tony Award-winning adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco. He has recurred on “Law & Order: SVU” and “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” A series regular on “10 Days in the Valley,” other TV includes “Godfather of Harlem,” “New Amsterdam,” “Station 19,” “Are We There Yet?,” “EVIL,” “The Family,” “Person of Interest,” and “The Good Wife.” Upcoming: “The Savant” (Apple TV) and Season 3 of “Paradise” (Hulu). He is a graduate of The Juilliard School (Houseman Prize recipient) and the British American Drama Academy at Oxford. He received his undergraduate degree from Illinois State University (Hall of Fame inductee). Francois couldn’t be more honored to share this experience with his beautifully precocious daughter Elaán Noelle Battiste, making her August Wilson debut as Maretha.