Tag: Theatre

Microsoft Word – PRESS RELEASE 2014-15 Season.doc

 

 

CITY THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE LINEUP FOR MOMENTUM 2014
A FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS AT DIFFERENT STAGES

MAY 29 – JUNE 1, 2014

 

The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence

by Madeleine George

 

The Unbuilt City

by Keith Bunin

Halftime with Don

by Ken Weitzman

 

Mr. Joy

by Daniel Beaty

PITTSBURGH, PA (May 20, 2014)—City Theatre announces four original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre’s annual festival of new plays at different stages. This year’s selection features three of City’s favorite alums as well as a distinguished playwright new to Pittsburgh audiences. The play’s themes run the gamut from technology and football to history and community.

MOMENTUM is a celebration of new theatrical works featuring readings, workshops, panels, and conversation. The festival is a chance for audiences to not only see four new works in their earliest incarnations, but also to get to know the process of creating new plays and to glimpse inside the minds of the playwrights.

“MOMENTUM is vital to our mission as a home for playwrights and new play development,” says Tracy Brigden, City Theatre’s Artistic Director. “The festival provides an opportunity for writers to hear their work performed in front of an audience and a creative community, and that has impact. Last year, we featured a reading of Michael Hollinger’s new play, Hope and Gravity. Subsequently, after revisions, rehearsal, and collaborative artistic input, the world premiere of Hope and Gravity is now enjoying a successful run on City Theatre’s Mainstage. This progression exemplifies the goal of MOMENTUM—to launch new plays into their next phase of development. This year, we’re excited to welcome playwright Madeleine George back to City after her success here with Precious Little. Her Pulitzer-nominated play, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence, spans centuries and uniquely confronts our reliance on ever-changing technology. In addition, Keith Bunin, author of Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir and The Credeaux Canvas, returns with The Unbuilt City, an enigmatic story set in Brooklyn about life, love and art. We’ll also feature Ken Weitzman’s play Halftime with Don. Featuring a retired NFL player, Weitzman’s engaging and topical script is inspired by NFL players suffering from game-induced trauma, including former Steeler “Iron Mike” Webster. Lastly, beloved playwright Daniel Beaty, returns with Mr. Joy, a moving solo play about how a Harlem community comes together in crisis. Audiences will have the opportunity to watch this poignant work progress from a reading at MOMENTUM to a fully-produced show on our Mainstage during the 2014-2015 season. We’re thrilled to feature these gifted writers throughout the festival weekend.”

STAGED READINGS

The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
by Madeleine George

Directed by Sheila McKenna

Watson: trusty sidekick to Sherlock Holmes; loyal engineer who built Bell’s first telephone; unstoppable super-computer that became reigning Jeopardy! champ; amiable techno-dweeb who, in the present day, is just looking for love. These four constant companions become one in this brilliantly witty, time-jumping, loving tribute (and cautionary tale) dedicated to the people—and machines—upon which we all depend.

The Unbuilt City

by Keith Bunin
Directed by Tracy Brigden

Still residing in the Brooklyn Heights townhouse in which she grew up, Claudia has lived a life of luxury and loneliness. Now as her health is failing, and her money is drying up, a representative from an archive visits with an opportunity. Hoping to persuade Claudia to sell her famously secret collection, Jonah uncovers mysteries surrounding the nature of her legacy and the untold history of New York City.

Halftime with Don

by Ken Weitzman

Directed by Christian Parker

Featuring Tom Atkins

Retired NFL player Don Devers has had more surgeries than he can count, experiences violent outbursts, and relies on Post-It notes to offset his struggle with traumatic brain injury. Just as he’s ready to throw in the towel, super fan Ed Ryan knocks on his door. With the help of Don’s daughter Stephanie and Ed’s wife Sarah, both pregnant and plotting from the sidelines, the fan and his hero find new resolve to get back in the game.

Mr. Joy
by Daniel Beaty

What happened to Mr. Joy? A Harlem community is disrupted when the Chinese immigrant’s shoe repair shop, a neighborhood pillar for decades, does not open its doors. Nine customers, ranging from 11-year-old Clarissa, a budding shoe designer, to Bessie, a “gangsta granny,” reflect on the shop owner’s impact in this moving exploration of one community’s efforts to heal in order to dream again.

 

 

PANELS/WORKSHOPS

Playwrights and Directors Panel

Participating artists join together for an insightful panel about the festival’s featured plays.

 

Workshop: Writing Across Dramatic Mediums

Instructor:  Keith Bunin

Today’s well-rounded dramatist must be able to work across multiple storytelling mediums. To have a successful career, you want to be the master of as many mediums as possible. So what are the story principles common among plays, movies, and novels adapted for film? And what makes each form different from the next? Join playwright and screenwriter Keith Bunin, who will lay out the similarities and differences, and share what he’s learned while working across mediums. Bunin is currently writing screenplays for Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, CBS Films, Fox Searchlight, and Likely Story/Mandalay Films, among others. He wrote the screenplay for the film Horns, directed by Alexandre Aja, starring Daniel Radcliffe, and based on the novel by Joe Hill. City Theatre has produced his plays Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir (2011) and The Credeaux Canvas (2002). His plays, including The Busy World is Hushed, The World Over, Vera Laughed, The Principality of Sorrows, The King of Clocks, and the musical (book) 10 Million Miles, have also been produced at Playwrights Horizons, Atlantic Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, Lincoln Center Lab at HERE, and Pure Orange Productions. He was a writer for the HBO TV-series “In Treatment.”

 

 

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
All events take place at City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203.

Thursday, May 29

7:00 pm                                Reading: The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence

 

Friday, May 30

6:30 pm                                Playwrights and Directors Panel

8:00 pm                                Reading: The Unbuilt City

 

Saturday, May 31

2:00-3:00 pm                      Workshop: Writing Across Dramatic Mediums

4:00 pm                                Reading: Halftime with Don

6:00 pm                                Momentum Party

8:00 pm                                Reading: Mr. Joy

 

Sunday, June 1

2:00 pm                                Reading: The Unbuilt City

 

TICKETS
$20 four-day pass; $5 per show

Available by phone at 412.431.CITY (2489) or online at www.citytheatrecompany.org

City Theatre’s 40th anniversary season begins this fall. Located on Pittsburgh’s historic South Side, City Theatre specializes in new plays, commissioning and producing work by playwrights including Daniel Beaty, Jessica Dickey, Christopher Durang, Michael Hollinger, Willy Holtzman, Tarell McCraney, and Theresa Rebeck. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, Managing Director Mark R. Power, and a 45-member Board of Directors, City Theatre’s mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays of substance and ideas that engage and challenge a diverse audience.  CityTheatreCompany.org

 

 

PITTSBURGH – Point Park University’s Playhouse Jr. closes its 65^th season with The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the hilarious Tony Award-winning musical that The New York Times called “irresistible and entirely lovable.”

Directed by Zeva Barzell, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opens Friday, May 23, and runs through Sunday, June 8, in the Rauh Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Ave.

Public performances will begin at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412.392.8000, or at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com. Special performances for school field trips are available. For more information about field trips, call the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office. Please note the show contains some adult content and is recommended for audiences ages 13 and older.

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee gives the squeaky clean tradition of the county spelling bee a fresh treatment when the gawky contestants – including four selected audience members – compete for local glory, their parents’ affection and, of course, cash. Along the way, they learn the value of doing the best they can and enjoying what they do. Spelling Bee won two Tony Awards, three Drama Desk Awards and two Lucille Lortel Awards.

The Playhouse Jr. production features scenic design by Michael Thomas Essad, costumes by Don DiFonso, lighting design by Todd Nonn and sound design by Steve Shapiro. Camille Villalpando Rolla is the music director. Hugo Schroeder is the stage manager.

 

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, Contributor for ‘Burgh Vivant.   

The newly renamed PICT Classic Theater (still spraying graffiti on Hadrian’s Wall) opens up their 18^th season with Noel Coward’s wickedly funny, paranormal comedy “Blithe Spirit.” The play’s title refers to a line from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem, “The Skylark,” but here it is top notch directing, excellent acting, and a classic piece of theater that creates poetry.

Coward perfected the drawing room comedy with his acerbic wit and acid tongue. The characters snipe at one other with urbane, sophisticated humor. “Blithe Spirit” is one of the playwright’s broader comedies, replete with slapstick and the requisite clever repartee.

Charles Condomine (Dan Rodden) is an author with a wicked wit drier than his martini. On the pretense of researching his new novel, Condomine and his second wife, Ruth (Daina Michelle Griffith) hold a séance. Charles invites his friend Dr. Bradman (Jim FitzGerald) and his wife (Lissa Brennan) over to their country home for the occult event.

The Condomine’s have a cook and a maid (writing must have paid better back then). The cook is never seen. The maid, Edith (Karen Baum), however, sprints through the house with manic fervor.

The séance is performed by Madame Arcati (Mary Rawson), a self-proclaimed spiritual specialist. Guests wait with baited breath, half hoping for a magical encounter, even though they remain skeptical.

Then, all hell breaks loose (literally and figuratively) when Arcati conjures up the spirit of Charles Condomine’s first wife, Elvira (Vera Varlamov). Yes. I said Elvira. Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow.

Only the author, Charles Condomine, can see and hear her.

The verbal sparring of the living Condomines, Charles and Ruth, is exacerbated by the pesky poltergeist. Ruth demands to hold Charles’ full attention, but he’s busy placating the apparition of his first wife. Elvira finds the entire predicament hilarious, and enjoys causing mischief between the couple…until Ruth discovers the truth.

Ruth’s jealously conspires to rid the house of the ghost, and calls upon Arcati. The spiritual advisor doesn’t know how to dispatch the phantom. Meanwhile, Charles battles with both wives, living and dead. The characters vault over each other with a dazzling displays of verbal gymnastics.

Chaos ensues, leading to several unexpected twists and turns.

The brilliant script is enhanced by the superb acting of Pittsburgh’s finest performers, such as Rawson, FitzGerald, Griffith and Baum (sounds like a law firm).

Rodden, new to the Pittsburgh stage, is spot on as the British author. It’s a joy to watch his stiff upper lip quiver when he is besieged from the beautiful bride from beyond.

Varlamov is luminescent as the ethereal Elvira. Kudos goes to hair, make up and especially, Costume Designer Joan Markert.

Griffith’s Ruth is spectacular. The actor immerses herself in the role. It’s little wonder why the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette crowned her Performer of the Year in 2013.

Baum plays the goofiest of goofballs. Edith, the maid, is always sprinting to the door, nervously setting down tea, and generally crashing about. Slight spoiler (Can one call spoilers on a 73 year-old play?): the maid is not as inconsequential to the play as many would be led to believe. Baum handles it with aplomb. She remains in character even during the closing bow.

Rawson plays the buoyant clairvoyant as a kindly grandmother with a love for cucumber sandwiches. Someone invite Coward’s Arcati and Wilde’s Algernon to a Victorian tea. They are both fond of the classic canapé.

Director Alan Stanford brings this glorious farce to life (pun always intended). It’s rife with droll humor, slapstick and supernatural fun. It is one enchanted evening, or to paraphrase Shelley, “Hail to thee, Blithe Spirit!”

 

– MB.

Pittsburgh, PA • May 7, 2014– Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh are proud to announce the nominees for the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater. The awards show will take place on Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Over the past three months, a panel of 30 judges have attended the performances by the following 29 Allegheny County high schools: Avonworth, Baldwin, Bishop Canevin, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, Central Catholic, Chartiers Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Hampton Township, Keystone Oaks, McKeesport, North Hills, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Penn Hills, Pine-Richland, Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy, Pittsburgh Brashear, Pittsburgh CAPA, Pittsburgh Perry, Plum, Quaker Valley, Riverview, Shady Side Academy, Springdale, St. Joseph, West Allegheny, West Mifflin, Winchester Thurston and Woodland Hills.

The judging panel was comprised of performing arts educators, arts administrators, entertainment professionals and performers. On May 2 these judges met and reviewed highlights from each high school performance. The scoring was then tabulated by Deloitte LLP.

The Nominees for the 2014 Gene Kelly Awards are:

Best Scenic Design
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart	The Wiz
Pittsburgh Perry	Seussical
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical
Budget Level II
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Riverview	Fiddler on the Roof
Budget Level III
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can
Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd

 

Best Costume Design
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart	The Wiz
Quaker Valley	Pirates of Penzance
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical
Budget Level II
Bishop Canevin	The Drowsy Chaperone
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Budget Level III
Baldwin	Shrek, the Musical
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd

 

Best Lighting Design
Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart	The Wiz
Pittsburgh CAPA	Footloose
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical
Budget Level II
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Riverview	Fiddler on the Roof
Budget Level III
Avonworth	Man of La Mancha
West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can
Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd

 

Best All-Student Orchestra
Baldwin	Shrek, the Musical
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
North Hills	42nd Street
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Pittsburgh CAPA	Footloose
West Mifflin	Bye Bye Birdie

 

Best Supporting Actor
Rush Hodgin	Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie	“Trevor Graydon III”
Noah Baynes Lheureau	Bishop Canevin	The Drowsy Chaperone	“Robert Martin”
Drew Praskovich	Pittsburgh CAPA	Footloose	“Willard Hewitt”
Julius Ralph	Penn Hills	The Wiz	“The Wizard”
Quintin Reynolds	CW North Catholic	Children of Eden	“Cain/Japeth”
Michael Zak	Central Catholic	Spamalot	“Patsy”

 

Best Supporting Actress
Leah Prestogeorge	Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd	“Joanna Barker”
Amanda Rulis	Hampton	Young Frankenstein	“Inga”
Jillian Schmidt	Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie	“Muzzy Van Hossmere”
Mara Singleton	Plum	My Favorite Year	“KC Downing”
Ashley Sitarik	Our Lady of the Sacred Heart	The Wiz	“Addaperle”
Brook Taylor	Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd	“Beggar Woman/Lucy Barker”

 

Best Ensemble
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Quaker Valley	Pirates of Penzance
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical
West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can

 

Best Crew/Technical Execution
Baldwin	Shrek, the Musical
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Riverview	Fiddler on the Roof
Woodland Hills	Sweeney Todd

 

Best Choreography
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Pittsburgh CAPA	Footloose
West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can

 

Best Direction
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Quaker Valley	Pirates of Penzance
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical

 

Best Actor
Ryan Borgo	West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can	“Frank Abignale, Jr.”
Connor Cook	Plum	My Favorite Year	“Benjy Stone”
Tom Curry	West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can	“Carl Hanratty”
Peter Heres	Quaker Valley	Pirates of Penzance	“Pirate King”
Adam Rayan	Penn Hills	The Wiz	“Tinman”
Nathanial Yost	Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot	“King Arthur”

 

Best Actress
Abby Dionise	Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie	“Miss Dorothy Brown”
Alexandra Illescas	Pittsburgh CAPA	Footloose	“Rusty”
Alexis Loiselle	Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie	“Millie Dillmount”
Mallory Milberger	St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical	“Princess Fiona”
Marnie Quick	Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz	“Tinman”
Savannah Wiggins	Penn Hills	The Wiz	“Dorothy”

 

Best Musical
Budget Level I
Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy	The Wiz
Quaker Valley	Pirates of Penzance
St. Joseph	Shrek, the Musical
Budget Level II
Bishop Canevin	The Drowsy Chaperone
Central Catholic	Monty Python’s Spamalot
Hampton	Young Frankenstein
Budget Level III
Penn Hills	The Wiz
Pine-Richland	Thoroughly Modern Millie
West Allegheny	Catch Me If You Can

The nominees for Best Actor and Best Actress will be competing for the opportunity to represent Pittsburgh CLO’s Gene Kelly Awards in the sixth-annual National High School Musical Theater Awards in New York City on Monday, June 30. For more information on the National High School Musical Theater Awards, please visit www.nhsmta.com.

In addition to the more than 20 Kelly Awards presented at the event, several cash and university scholarships will be awarded.  These scholarships are made possible through the generous donations of Paul Block, Virginia S. Nicklas, the CLO Ambassadors, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and participating colleges. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on May 24.  More information is available at pittsburghCLO.org.

The Gene Kelly Awards are co-presented by the University of Pittsburgh with additional support provided by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, PNC Bank, Virginia S. Nicklas and the CLO Ambassadors. Deloitte Consulting, LLP is the official auditor for the Gene Kelly Awards.

Pittsburgh CLO is also pleased to announce that Gene Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, will once again participate in the awards show.

What:              24^th Annual Gene Kelly Awards

Where:             Benedum Center for the Performing Arts

When:              Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:            On sale May 13.  Call 412-456-6666