The Bonstelle Theatre celebrates Black History Month with August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning drama Fences, playing Feb. 13-22. 

The theatre welcomes local guest director Lynch Travis for this production, which follows an African American father and his son as each struggle with unfulfilled hopes and shattered dreams in the 1950s. 

Travis is a Chicago native who has resided in the Detroit area for 28 years. Active in the theatre community as a director, actor and coach, Travis’ work has been lauded through awards from the Ann Arbor News, Oakland Press, Detroit Free Press and the Wilde Awards. 

“It is certainly a privilege to direct August Wilson's Fences,” Travis said. “It is without question one of the best plays written in my lifetime, by a playwright who was able to tell stories from the African American experience that resonate with audiences no matter their background or ethnicity. We look forward to bringing you the story of a family caught in the dynamics of a changing world.”

Written in 1983, Fences is the sixth play in Wilson’s 10-part “Pittsburgh Cycle,” and explores the evolving African American experience while examining race relations during the 1950s. The story centers around Troy Maxon, a former Negro League baseball star who was excluded from the major leagues during his prime. Now a Pittsburgh garbage man, Troy harbors a lingering bitterness that threatens his relationships with his wife and his son, who also aspires to play ball. 

Tickets are $15-20, with student rush tickets available for $10 on the day of the performance. Call 313-577-2960 or visit wsushows.com to order. Tickets also are available at the Wayne State University Theatre Box Office, located at 4743 Cass Avenue.