The movie “Fences,” which is set in Pittsburgh and is an adaptation of the August Wilson

The movie “Fences,” which is set in Pittsburgh and is an adaptation of the August Wilson play, is now playing in theaters. Here are five facts about the movie, from imdb.com:

v On Broadway: “Fences” opened on Broadway in 1987, winning the Tony Award for Best Play, Best Actor (James Earl Jones) and Best Featured Actress (Mary Alice). A revival of “Fences” opened in 2010, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, Best Actor (Denzel Washington) and Best Actress (Viola Davis). Washington and Davis reprise their roles in this film adaptation, with Washington also directing.

v “Pittsburgh Cycle”: Fences was originally a 1983 play by American playwright August Wilson. Set in the 1950s, it is the sixth in Wilson’s 10-part “Pittsburgh Cycle.” Like all of the “Pittsburgh” plays, “Fences” explores the evolving African-American experience and examines race relations, among other themes. The play won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

v Playwright’s rule: August Wilson insisted that a film adaptation of the play be directed by an African-American.

v Prescient line: In the 2015 film “Lila & Eve,” a recurring line is that Viola Davis’ character has “a date with Denzel,” meaning she’s staying home watching movies starring Denzel Washington. One year later, she actually plays his wife in this film.

v Original lead: When Paramount Studios originally had the film rights to the play in the 1990s, Eddie Murphy was being considered for the male lead.

“Call the Midwife Holiday Special” (7:30 P.M., PBS): This special is all about bringing forth some good cheer. The story line has the Nonnatus House sisters coming to the aid of a tiny understaffed and underfunded mission hospital in South Africa.

“Doctor Who Christmas Special” (9 p.m., BBC America): In this special, our beloved Time Lord returns for his annual holiday adventure. This year, he’s teaming up with a superhero (Justin Chatwin) to battle brain-swapping aliens in New York.

TV listings, C4

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

‘Doctor Strange’ at science center

CLEVELAND

The Marvel movie “Doctor Strange” will open Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Cleveland Clinic DOME Theater at Great Lakes Science Center. It also will be screened at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Jan. 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 19, 20 and 21.

The recent digital conversion and interior remodeling of the former OMNIMAX Theater means the theater can now show movies from any digital source, as opposed to films available only in 15/70 mm prints.

“Doctor Strange” will be shown digitally in 6k high resolution with 11,600 watts of digital sound in industry standard theater aspect ratio. Beer, wine and other concessions will be available.

The Science Center’s new ticketing system allows guests to choose their seats in advance. Tickets are $11 for adults ($9 for Science Center members), and $9 for youths age 2 to 12 ($7 for youth members). Advance-sale tickets are available online at GreatScience.com, at the Science Center box office, or by calling 216-621-2400.