- Designed by
- Boritt, Beowulf, American
- Richardson Jackson, LaTanya, American, born 1949
- Subject of
- Wilson, August, American, 1945 - 2005
- Jackson, Samuel L., American, born 1948
- Brooks, Danielle, American, born 1989
- Washington, John David, American, born 1984
- Fisher, Ray, American, born 1987
- Byers, Trai, American, born 1983
- Potts, Michael, American
- Daniel, Nadia
- Swan, Jurnee
- Matthis, April
- Ethel Barrymore Theatre, American, founded 1928
- Produced by
- 88 Notes LLC, American, founded 2022
- Manufactured by
- Clavia Digital Musical Instruments, Swedish, founded 1983
- Date
- 2022
- Medium
- plastic polymer resin, wood and metal
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 58 × 58 1/2 × 30 1/4 in. (147.3 × 148.6 × 76.8 cm)
- Description
- The prop piano from the 2022 Broadway revival of August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson." Prop is in the style of an upright piano and features relief panels depicting faces and figures of the Charles family's ancestors on the upper front board, upper front board side strips, lower front board, legs, and left side board. The figures are in the style of the ujamaa, Dimoongo, or "Tree of Life" tradition of the Makonde people, and they are shown variously "jumping the broom," embracing children, supporting each other, held in bondage, and being crushed underneath a wooden casket. The figures are 3D printed out of plastic polymer resin and painted to appear like ebony.
- The prop houses a Nord Piano 5 keyboard with keys stained to appear like aged ivory. The keyboard sits in a tray in the prop piano.
- Place used
- New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Musical Instruments
- Props and Set Design
- Topic
- Broadway Theatre
- Design
- Families
- Literature
- Motherhood
- Slavery
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Director & Producers: LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Kandi Burruss, Todd Tucker, and Tom Kirdahy
- Object number
- 2023.23ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




