The Piano Lesson has eight scripted characters, but its cast depends on which version you mean. In the 2022 Broadway revival, Danielle Brooks played Berniece; in the 2024 film, Danielle Deadwyler plays her. Here are the characters, their relationships, and the performers in each version.
Who are the characters in The Piano Lesson?
August Wilson’s play follows siblings Berniece and Boy Willie Charles, whose conflict over an heirloom piano drives the drama. Boy Willie wants to sell the piano to buy land; Berniece resists because it carries the history of their family. The play is set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1936, during the Great Depression, and takes place in the home of their uncle Doaker. August Wilson’s play overview describes the central dispute and setting.
| Character | Relationship or role in the story |
|---|---|
| Avery Brown | Berniece’s romantic interest |
| Berniece Charles | Boy Willie’s sister and Maretha’s mother; she opposes selling the piano |
| Boy Willie Charles | Berniece’s brother; he wants to sell the piano to pursue land |
| Doaker Charles | Berniece and Boy Willie’s uncle; the action takes place in his home |
| Grace | A woman pursued by both Boy Willie and Lymon |
| Lymon | Boy Willie’s friend and partner on the journey north |
| Maretha | Berniece’s daughter |
| Wining Boy | Berniece and Boy Willie’s uncle |
The roles and relationships are summarized in the American Masters educational packet. They describe the characters, not the performers’ biographies.
Who was in the 2022 Broadway revival?
The Broadway production announcement named the following performers. The revival began performances on September 19, 2022, and its final performance was January 29, 2023, so this is a historical cast, not a current engagement. Broadway.com’s announcement gives the announced roles; its separate cast listing records a difference noted below.
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| Character | 2022 Broadway revival performer |
|---|---|
| Doaker Charles | Samuel L. Jackson |
| Berniece | Danielle Brooks |
| Boy Willie | John David Washington |
| Avery | Trai Byers (announced cast); Charles Browning (separate Broadway.com cast listing) |
| Grace | April Matthis |
| Lymon | Ray Fisher |
| Wining Boy | Michael Potts |
| Marthea | Nadia Daniel and Jurnee Elizabeth Swan alternated; the announcement uses this spelling |
The Broadway.com announcement identifies LaTanya Richardson Jackson as director. Its announcement spells the daughter’s name “Marthea”; the play character is generally listed as Maretha.
Who is in the 2024 film?
Netflix’s film guide, dated January 8, 2025, lists these central roles and performers:
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- Lesson, Level 3A, Basic Piano Adventures
- Level 3A introduces 3/8 and 6/8 time signatures and the triplet. Students learn the chromatic scale, the 7th, one-octave arpeggios, and explore the key of D major. Contents include: Amazing Grace, Campbells are Coming, Cool Walkin’ Bass, Cossak Ride, Echoes of the Harp, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Ice Dancing, Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho, Land of the Silver Birch, Looking-Glass River, Lunar Eclipse, March Slav, and more.
| Character | 2024 film performer |
|---|---|
| Doaker | Samuel L. Jackson |
| Boy Willie | John David Washington |
| Lymon | Ray Fisher |
| Berniece | Danielle Deadwyler |
| Wining Boy | Michael Potts |
| Avery | Corey Hawkins |
| Maretha | Skylar Aleece Smith |
Netflix notes that four performers in the film came from the 2022 Broadway revival. The casts overlap, but they are not identical: Danielle Brooks played Berniece on Broadway, while Danielle Deadwyler plays Berniece in the film. Netflix’s guide says the film is streaming on its service; availability may vary by region and over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What differs between the Broadway and film casts?
- Berniece: Danielle Brooks in the 2022 Broadway revival; Danielle Deadwyler in the 2024 film.
- Avery: Trai Byers in the Broadway production announcement, while Broadway.com’s separate cast listing names Charles Browning; Corey Hawkins plays Avery in the film.
- Maretha: Nadia Daniel and Jurnee Elizabeth Swan alternated in the Broadway announcement, which spells the name “Marthea”; Skylar Aleece Smith plays Maretha in the film.
- Shared performers: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, and Michael Potts appear in both versions, in the roles listed above.
Malcolm Washington, director of the 2024 film, described its aim as: “Our first mandate was to honor and uphold the legacy of August Wilson.” The statement appears in Netflix Tudum’s film guide.
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Best Value
- Published by Faber Piano Adventures 72 Pages
- Lesson Book C Piano Level Young Beginner - Skips on the
- Composer: Randall Faber
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- Alfred's Basic Piano Library Complete
- Level 1 Lesson
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- The Theory Book is Designed to be Used in Conjunction with the Other Books in Level 1
- Arranged for Piano
- Standard Notation
- Publisher: Faber Piano Adventures
- 40 Pages
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