Becker, D-Hill District, returns

Former Pittsburgh City Councilman Sala Udin -- the political mentor of state Rep. Jake Wheatley and Councilman Dan Lavelle -- is returning to the stage in August Wilson's "Jitney." From Bob Hoover:

The play, set in 1977, had its premiere in Pittsburgh in late 1982 with Mr. Udin as Becker, the proprietor of the jitney stand, an older man well-established in the community. Bob Johnson, also a choreographer, directed at a performance space in Oakland near the Pittsburgh Playhouse, according to Mr. Udin.

Saturday, he reprises that role when the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre presents the play, directed by Mark Clayton Southers, the Playwrights Theatre founder, who intends to stage all of Mr. Wilson's works.

"I had to make my hair gray and wear false spectacles to play Becker then. Now, I don't need any makeup to do it. I kind of grew into the role," laughed the 67-year-old former Pittsburgh city councilman.