King Hedley II
“I know right from wrong. I know which way the wind blow too. It don’t blow my way.”
First Chicago Storefront Production
by August Wilson
Directed by Artistic Associate Manny Buckley
Oct 16—Nov 29, 2026
Revisiting characters established in August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, this play returns to Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1985. King Hedley, a man recently released from prison, attempts to rebuild his life by selling stolen refrigerators so he can buy a video store. Despite decades of generational trauma, can King break free from the crippling socio-economic struggles that have held him down? Amid the realities of rampant crime and drug use in the neighborhood community, he tries to carve out his own destiny.
25th Anniversary of the Broadway Production
Cast
Crew
Manny Buckley (Director) a proud artistic associate, last directed City Lit’s Chicago storefront premiere of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, 2024 Non Equity Jeff Award winner for best production. Credits include work with Playground Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Shattered Globe, Bramble and American Blues Theater. Mr. Buckley has received nominations for the Joseph Jefferson Award, Helen Hayes Award and 3Arts Award; he is the recipient of a Black Theater Alliance Award and Black Excellence Award.
Brian Pastor (Executive Artistic Director) is a trans/non-binary director, actor, playwright, and Jeff Award-winning producer (Production—Play, August Wilson’s Seven Guitars) and the Executive Artistic Director of City Lit Theater. Brian previously spent ten and a half years on staff at City Lit, including nine as Managing Director. From 2019 to 2024, Brian served as City Lit’s Resident Director, where they directed last season’s R.U.R and Glassheart, as well as The Night of the Hunter, The Playboy of the Western World, Arms and the Man, J.B., and their own acclaimed adaptation of Robert Kennedy’s Thirteen Days. Brian is a founder and Emeritus Artistic Director of Chicago’s Promethean Theatre Ensemble, where they directed The Lion in Winter, The Winter’s Tale, and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (all Broadway World Award Nominated—Best Director), as well as Henry V and The Dark Side of the Bard. Love to Joshanna and the kitties.
Devi Angel (Asst. Stage Manager) is an intern working at City Lit while finishing their senior year at Lake Forest College. Devi is a theater lover, actor, director, and playwright who studies the relationship between theater, philosophy, and storytelling. Devi is working at City Lit to expand their understanding of what it means to make a theater company work by working in the administration office and assistant stage managing for Shane and King Hedley II.
Jeremiah Barr (Scenic Designer/Technical Director) A jack of all trades, carpenter, designer and artist Jeremiah is very excited to be working with the KH2 crew. Some of his past design credits include Shane (scenic/technical director), Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Clowns (scenic design), Glassheart (scenic design) Strange Cargo (props/puppet design) with City Lit Theatre; St. Nicholas (scenic/props design) with Black Button Eyes. A big shout out to Samantha for all her love and knowledge of cats that keeps him on his toes.
Greg Geffrard (Intimacy & Violence Director) Selected previous credits: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, The Color Purple (Goodman); Choir Boy (Steppenwolf Theatre); Two Sisters & A Piano, Hot Wing King, The Band’s Visit (Writer’s Theatre); Eureka Day! (Timeline); BOTH ( Teatro Vista); The Factotum (Lyric Opera); Confederates (Redtwist Theatre); The Mountaintop (Beverly Arts Center); Fen (Court Theatre).
Becca Holloway (Casting Director) (she/her) is thrilled to have cast this amazing team! Selected casting credits: Scaramouche (City Lit Theater), Indoor Cats, Hamlet, The Pilon, The Seagull (Red Theater), Wise Guys, Party At The Pantheon, Die Hard 4 Your Luv (Factory Theater), Romeo And Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost (Midsommer Flight). Aside from her work as a director and casting director, Becca is also the curator of the monthly Readings at Red series to help support and develop new plays written by Chicago local playwrights. Much love as always to CWW. IG: bwaybexy
Michael Lesko (Stage Manager) (he/him) This is Michael’s second production with City Lit following the recent Shane. Recent stage management credits include The Trojan Women (Eos Theatre), Bat Boy The Musical (Stage Wright), and Lyn Knottage’s Sweat (Loop Players). He has worked various roles throughout his career as an actor, sound designer, and stage carpenter. He wants to thank his family and friends for their endless support.
Mike McShane (Lighting & Sound Designer) is a theatrician practicing design in Chicago since 2019. Previous designs at City Lit Theater include August Wilsons’ Seven Guitars, T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral, Waiting for Tina Meyer and Text Me. mikemcshane.weebly.com
Andres Mota (Costume Designer) is a Mexican costume designer who holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from the National School of Theater Arts in Mexico City. Mexico credits include El Casamiento, Opción Múltiple, and Aura (National Institute of Fine Arts, opera version); the short films Verónica and Adiós Hamburgo (Argos Productions); and En el Ombligo de la Luna (Contempo-Danza). Chicago credits include Buried Child (AstonRep Theatre Company), A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), American Son (Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Company), and Latin History for Morons, Touching the Void, and Jane Austen in 89 Minutes! (StageWorks Theatre Tampa). Andrés is thrilled to return to CityLit Theater as the costume designer for King Hedley II.
Melanie Thompson (Props Designer) is a Chicago-based freelance artist. You’ve seen her work with AstronRep, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Black Button Eyes Productions, 16th Street Theatre, Pride Films and Plays, Erasing the Distance, Dominican University and many others. She’s so delighted to join the crew at CityLit! She thanks her friends, family, Prince, Sheba, Winter, and Michael the turtle for their love and support.
