The Piano Lesson
Directed by Malcolm Washington

Wednesday, November 20, 1 pm | BUY TICKETS

$12 | $8 Speed members

“It works spectacularly.”—Radheyan Simonpillai, The Guardian

Adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork, The Piano Lesson explores the intergenerational dynamics of identity, resilience and transcendence – revealing startling truths about how we perceive the past and who gets to define our legacy.

A battle is brewing in the Charles household in Pittsburgh. At the center stands a prized heirloom piano tearing two siblings apart. On one side, a brother (John David Washington) plans to build the family fortune by selling it. On the other, a sister (Danielle Deadwyler) will go to any lengths to hold onto the sole vestige of the family’s heritage. Their uncle (Samuel L. Jackson) tries to mediate, but even he can’t hold back the ghosts of the past.

The film is directed and co-written by Malcolm Washington in his feature directorial debut. From Oscar-nominated producers Denzel Washington and Todd Black, and featuring co-stars Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, and Corey Hawkins. 2024, U.S., DCP, 127 minutes. Rated PG-13.