Ray Fisher on Going From Bartender During ‘Fences’ Broadway Theatre Run to Starring in ‘The Piano Lesson’: ‘It’s a Full Circle Moment’
variety.comClayton Davis Senior Awards Editor For Ray Fisher, “The Piano Lesson” was more than just a role — it was a personal and professional milestone, an opportunity to explore the layers of humanity, trauma, and family that have made Wilson’s artful pieces timeless. “August Wilson has this ability to tap into humanity itself,” Fisher says during this week’s episode of the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast. “Even though he wrote this play in the 1980s about the 1930s, it feels like it’s speaking directly to us today.
The family dynamics, the trauma, the way people are trying to figure out the path forward — it’s universal.” Listen below! Directed by Malcolm Washington and featuring a powerhouse cast including John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and Samuel L.
Jackson, “The Piano Lesson” reimagines Wilson’s words with a sense of urgency that resonates deeply in today’s climate. “The Piano Lesson” brings cinematic life to Wilson’s stage-bound text, incorporating visual elements that expand the play’s scope while preserving its emotional core.
Fisher praises Washington’s direction, describing him as “a human-focused individual” whose thoughtfulness shines. Malcolm Washington and co-screenwriter Virgil Williams found a way to trim the play while keeping its spirit intact.
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