Where was The Piano Lesson filmed? Locations explored

The Piano Lesson is an American historical drama film based on August Wilson's 1987 play of the same name. The movie, which made its theatrical release on November 8, 2022, is the directorial debut of Malcolm Washington, who co-wrote the script with Virgil Williams.

The story is set in 1936, after the Great Depression, and revolves around the Charles family. The plot is mainly centered around two siblings, Willie and Berniece, whose squabbles revolve around a family-inherited piano. Scrutinizing the carvings etched on it, the family is taken back to their slave ancestors, narrating a tale of love, struggle, and survival.

Led by actors including Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Michael Potts, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins, the story of The Piano Lesson is set in the city of Pittsburgh.

The Piano Lesson was announced in April 2023, and the filming took place in the same month, primarily in Georgie across Atlanta, Macon, and Canton. Additionally, the film was also captured in its central plot location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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The Piano Lesson: All filming locations explored

1) Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia, where the crew primarily did its shooting. It is the most populous city in the entire state, with deep historical significance, with Native American Settlements going back thousands of years, mainly by the indigenous Creek people.

After the European Settlements in the 19th century, the Native People were displaced, leading to the sudden uprising of commercialization in the 20th century. With its rich forests and varied landscapes, Atlanta is known as the "City in the Forest."

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2) Macon, Georgia, USA

Also located in Georgia, the city of Macon is one of the biggest cities in the state, also known as "The Heart of Georgia." It was found by White Settlers in the 18th century and was almost inhabited by Creek Indians before.

As per What's On Netflix, the filming team of The Piano Lesson found the place best for the shooting of historical scenes.

The city was developed around Fort Benjamin Hawkins, and it was a major military distribution point during the Creek Wars and War of 1812. For its large railway system, the city was a central pivot for transportation from the early 20th century.

Macon is a central traveling spot for its historical buildings, especially the Mercer University, Bibb County Courthouse, The Allman Brothers Band Museum, Cannonball House, Tubman Museum, etc.

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3) Canton, Georgia, USA

The city of Canton is the administrative center of Cherokee County, known for its natural scenery and landscapes. This place was used to shoot the countryside involved in the movie.

The city is governed by a council-mayor form of government, with its primary administrative center being held in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Etowah Rover flows by the city. Some of the popular tourist destinations in the city include Lake Arrowhead, Etowah River Park, Hobgood Park, Boiling Park, The Blankets Creek Trail System, and Hickory Log Creek Reservoir, etc.

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4) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

August Wilson's 1987 play The Piano Lesson is primarily set in 1936 Pittsburgh, right after the Great Depression. To provide the authentic ambience of the original setting, a major part of The Piano Lesson was filmed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

It is the second-most populous city in the state, located at the intersection of the Monongahela River and Allegheny River.

The city of Pittsburgh saw a massive increase in the Coal and Iron mining industry during the 19th century. Due to its history in the steel industry, Pittsburgh was named the "Steel City." With 446 bridges, Pittsburgh is also known as the "City of Bridges."

The history of slavery in Pennsylvania dates back to the 17th century when most of the slaves were bought from Africa through ships, like the Isabella ship, which bought a total of 150 slaves from Africa in December 1694.

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