AUGUST WILSON'S GEM OF THE OCEAN
- Members and passholders only
- General on sale Jul 7
- Feb 27 - Mar 15 2026, 7:00pm
- Long Wharf Theatre @ Canal Dock Boathouse
- Wheelchair accessible, Audio loop available. More accessibility information
Event description
By August Wilson
Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, Gem of the Ocean begins at the home of Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old spiritual healer and former slave believed to carry the memory of the African diaspora. When Citizen Barlow, a newcomer from the South, arrives haunted by guilt, Aunt Ester sends him on a spiritual journey to the mythical City of Bones, to confront his past and ancestry. As the community wrestles with protest, injustice, and the cost of resistance, Citizen must choose the legacy he’ll carry forward. The first in The American Century Cycle and a Tony Award-winning play, Gem of the Ocean is a lyrical story of reckoning and the path to freedom.
Getting here
Accessibility
Wheelchair access
If you need a seat closer to the performers for vision or hearing needs, limited mobility, or wheelchair accommodation, please contact our Box Office at boxoffice@longwharf.org or call/text 203.693.1486.
Audio loop
Assisted listening devices are available upon request at our Box Office.
What to expect at this show
When you arrive at the Canal Dock Boathouse, you'll be greeted by our box office staff. Here is more of what to expect:
Duration
2 hours and 45 minutes
Intermission
15-minutes
Latecomer policy
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management. Late seating may not be available for all shows. To avoid any issues, please plan to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the expected start of the show.
Age guidance
10+
Pricing
Buy from $45.00
What to wear
At the theatre, we embrace the idea of "come as you are." Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident—whether that's casual or dressed up, it's all about enjoying the show in your own style.