By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Sad news came my way today.

August Wilson's last and final play 'Radio Golf' is going out with a bang.

And not in a good way either.

The Kenny Leon-directed play, which officially opened May 8 at Broadway's Cort Theatre will play its last performance July 1. By then, it would've played 64 performances and 17 previews at the Cort.

Before Broadway, 'Radio Golf' played 272 performances across the United States on its seven-city journey to The Big Apple.

Starring TV and film actor Harry Lennix and two time Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, 'Radio Golf' marked the Wilson's final work in his 10 play Century Cycle -- the historic decade-by-decade portrait of 20th Century African-American life.

Set in 1997 in the city's renaissance-ready Hill District, 'Radio' is the story of a charismatic real estate mogul with promising political aspirations. He and his publicity savvy, Starbuck-swigging spouse are a shoo-in to be the city's next power couple. But ghosts from the past shake him to his moral core, as a government sanctioned gentrification project gets underway.

Great story with all the renaissances popping up in previously abandoned urban areas in cosmopolitan cities.

And perfect timing considering Senator Barack Obama is shaking up the political landscape with his presidential aspirations.

But even though 'Radio Golf's' cast also featured two 2007 Tony Award nominees Anthony Chisholm and John Earl Jelks (along with James A. Williams), and was nominated as 'Best Play," it was snubbed by The American Theater Wing -- producers of the Tonys.

Hailed by some mainstream critics and being named Best American Play by the New York Drama Critics Circle (marking Wilson's record 8th win), ticket sales were still a bit lackluster. and it didn't make the grade on The Great White Way.

Producer Jack Viertel still sees the fact that the play -- which did remarkably well regionally -- making it to Broadway is "unquestionably the most significant accomplishment by any American playwright in the second half of the 20th Century astonishing feat."

"It is doubly astonishing that this feat was achieved by an African-American writer born in Pittsburgh's ghetto, who was largely self-educated, but determined to make a mark that the world would never forget," he said.

BV EXTRAS:

-- AUGUST ALL OVER: A photo gallery of August Wilson here.

-- FEELS LIKE AUGUST: 10 Memorable Quotes from August Wilson here.

-- SEE 'RADIO GOLF' FOR YOURSELF!!! Discounted Tickets are Available here.