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NOW PLAYING
Our Town. The Thornton Wilder classic, through Sat., May 23 (Little Lake).
Detroit. Lisa D’Amour’s drama about two couples from vastly different backgrounds in contemporary suburban Detroit, through May 30 (12 Peers Theater).
Fences. August Wilson’s Pulitzer-winner, through Sat., May 30 (Pittsburgh Playwrights).
American Falls. Miki Johnson’s new drama about life in a small Idaho town, through May 31 (barebones productions).
Midsummer Song. A play with songs about a wild weekend, by David Greig (The Monster in the Hall), with songs by Gordon McIntyre, through May 31 (City Theatre).
MAY
Knickers. Sarah Quick’s comedy about a custom underwear business, Thu., May 21-June 6 (South Park).
Saints Tour. Immersive theater work by Molly Rice about everyday saints that incorporates a guided tour of Braddock, Thu., May 21-June 13 (Bricolage).
Eve Apart. Operatically trained vocalists star in the Pittsburgh premiere of Tim Hinck’s multimedia musical-theatrical work reimagining the Garden of Eden, Fri., May 22-Sun., May 24 (Alia Musica at the Hillman Auditorium, Hill District; www.aliamusicapittsburgh.org).
The Last Five Years. Jason Robert Brown’s hit musical about two people falling in love, one of whom tells the story backward, Fri., May 22-31 (Front Porch Theatricals).
To Kill a Mockingbird. Adaptation of the Harper Lee novel, May 22-31 (The Heritage Players).
Girls Only: The Secret Comedy of Women. A reprise of this crowd-pleaser, which combines sketches, improv and songs, about two women discovering their childhood diaries, Wed., May 27-Aug. 16 (CLO Cabaret).
In the Mood. Staged tribute to 1940s big bands, with a 13-piece group and six singer-dancers, May 28 (Byham).
Butterflies Are Free. Leonard Gershe’s 1969 Broadway hit about a blind man, his controlling mother and his free-spirited female neighbor, May 28-June 6 (Apple Hill).
Dance on Widow’s Row. Samm-Art Williams’ comedy about four Nashville widows looking for new husbands, May 28-June 14 (New Horizon).
The Best of Everything. Julie Kramer’s adaptation of the Rona Jaffe novel about ambitious secretaries in the big city in 1958, May 28-June 13 (Little Lake).
How the Other Half Loves. Two dinner parties on different nights occur onstage at once in Alan Ayckbourn’s farce, May 28-June 13 (PICT Classic).
Buyer & Cellar. Tom Lenk (from TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer) stars in playwright Jonathan Tolins’ one-man show centering on the (fictive) clerk who staffs the “street of shops” in Barbra Streisand’s (real-life) basement, May 28-June 28 (Pittsburgh Public Theater).
JUNE
Out of This Furnace. A reprise of Andy Wolk’s stage adaptation of the classic Thomas Bell 1941 novel about generations of steelworkers in Braddock, June 4-21 (Unseam’d Shakespeare).
A (Micro) History of World Economics, Danced. Pittsburgh premiere for French playwright and director Pascal Rambert’s internationally performed dance-theater work exploring economics’ impact on people’s lives, June 5 and 6 (City of Asylum/Pittsburgh).
The Ruling Class. The 14th Earl of Gurney, who believes he is God, joins the House of Lords in Peter Barnes’ classic 1968 satire, June 5-13 (Throughline Theater Co.).
Mary Poppins. Stage-musical adaptation of the Disney move, itself a Broadway hit, June 9-21 (CLO).
Making God Laugh. Sean Grennan’s play follows “a typical American family over the course of 30 years’ worth of holidays,” June 11-27 (South Park).
Molly’s Hammer. A staged reading of Tammy Ryan’s new play about the life of peace activist Molly Rush, co-founder of the Thomas Merton Center, June 15 (Unseam’d).
Funny Money. Ray Cooney farce about a CPA who tries to keep a briefcase full of suspicious cash, June 18-27 (Apple Hill).
Lucky Guy. Pittsburgh premiere of Nora Ephron’s 2013 Broadway play about the rise, fall and rise of real-life Pulitzer-winning newspaper reporter Mike McAlary, June 18-July 3 (Little Lake).
Man of La Mancha. Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion’s classic musical about “The Impossible Dream,” June 23-28 (CLO).
Brewed. Scott T. Barsotti’s dark, fabulistic family drama about six adult sisters condemned to spend their days stirring a cauldron, June 26-July 11 (No Name Players).
JULY
Swingtime Canteen. Musical set in a USO canteen during World War II, by William Repicci, Linda Thorsen Bond and Charles Busch, July 2-18 (South Park).
The World Goes Round. Musical salute to the writing team of Kander & Ebb, with “All That Jazz,” “Cabaret” and more, July 9-18 (Apple Hill).
Last Gas. Romantic comedy about a small-town guy and his old flame from John Cariani (Almost, Maine), July 9-25 (Little Lake).
Sherlock’s Last Case. Charles Marowitz’s 1987 comedy about famous detective Holmes, sidekick Watson and their old pal Moriarity, July 9-26 (Kinetic Theatre Co).
Gypsy. The classic musical about a stage mother, by Jules Styne, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim, July 10-19 (CLO).
Bloody Hell. New show based on characters from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, set in a dystopian future London, July 10-25 (Rage of the Stage).
The Marriage of Figaro. Mozart’s classic, produced for SummerFest, July 10 and 19 and Aug. 1 (Opera Theater).
Stoop Is a Verb. Premiere of a multi-genre performance work that grew from visiting musician Oliver Lake’s residency at City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, in which input from community members inspired a portrait of Pittsburgh’s North Side in music, poetry, dance and art, July 11 (City of Asylum).
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Musical spoof of the fairy tale that’s the family offering at SummerFest, July 11, 18 and 25 and Aug. 1 (Opera Theater).
Damn Yankees. The Adler & Ross musical, produced for SummerFest, July 11-Aug. 1 (Opera Theater).
Chicago. The classic Kander & Ebb musical, with songs including “All That Jazz,” July 16-26 (Theatre Factory).
The Drowsy Chaperone. The 1998 Broadway about a die-hard theater fan whose favorite cast album comes to life, with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, July 16-25 (Stage 62).
Sharon’s Grave. John B. Keane’s 1960 “folk play,” set in 1920s Ireland, that weaves a family feud with a Celtic myth, July 16-Aug. 8 (PICT Classic).
Medea. Euripides’ drama of revenge, July 17-25 (Throughline).
A New Kind of Fall-Out. New opera based on the life of Rachel Carson, by playwright Tammy Ryan and composer Gilda Lyons, July 18, 24 and 26 (Opera Theater).
Pine. A dead man still living in his house is confronted with his ex-fiancée’s new boyfriend in this comedy by Eugenie Carabatsos, July 23-Aug. 8 (South Park).
The Wedding Singer. Musical based on the Adam Sandler romantic comedy, from Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, July 24-Aug. 2 (CLO).
Live & Direct 3: Music, Performance Art & Interactive Visuals. An evening at Garfield’s BOOM Concepts gallery, July 25 (www.facebook.com/boomconcepts).
Capricio. The Strauss opera, produced for SummerFest, July 25 and 31 and Aug. 2 (Opera Theater).
Rhinestone Steel 2015. A queer music and arts festival, July 26 at Garfield’s BOOM Concepts gallery (www.facebook.com/boomconcepts).
It Could Be Any of Us. Alan Ayckbourn’s comedic murder mystery set amidst a family of failures fighting over a will, July 30-Aug. 8 (Apple Hill).
Outside Mullingar. John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck) wrote this play about two misfits, a budding romance and a family feud, July 30-Aug. 16 (Little Lake).
Peter Pan. J.M. Barrie’s tale as a musical, July 31-Aug. 9 (Heritage Players).
AUGUST
Kinky Boots. Pittsburgh native Billy Porter reprises his starring role as Lola in the touring version of this hit Broadway musical by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, about a struggling British shoe factory that starts making shoes for drag queens, Aug. 4-9 (CLO).
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The Broadway incarnation, from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music, Aug. 11-16 (CLO).
Exit Laughing. Paul Elliot’s comedy about three bridge partners coping with the death of the fourth, Aug. 13-29 (South Park).
The Light in the Piazza. The Broadway musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, a romantic musical set in 1953 Italy, Aug. 21-Aug. 30 (Front Porch).
Be My Baby. Ken Ludwig’s comedy about a mismatched couple, a Scot and a Briton, thrown together on a road trip to retrieve an infant, Aug. 20-29 (Apple Hill).
A Little Hotel on the Side. Adaptation of the classic Feydeau/Désvallières farce set in a hotel, Aug. 20-Sept. 5 (Little Lake).
SEPTEMBER
Bell, Book & Candle. John Van Druten’s romantic-comedy chestnut about a guy who falls for a witch, Sept. 3-19 (South Park).
Saint Joan. George Bernard Shaw’s historical “tragedy without villains” about Joan of Arc, Sept. 3-19 (PICT).
DANCE
Artcity: Reed Dance Intensive. Showcase for students ages 8-12, July 6 (Trust Arts Education Center).
Bodiography Center for Movement. The dance school’s spring performance, including classical and contemporary works, June 6 (Byham Theater).
Carnegie Performing Arts Center. Starburst (year-end student recital), May 30 and 31. Carnegie, 412-279-8887.
The Pillow Project. Monomyth: The Hero’s Journey (collaboration with OvreArts), May 30. The Space Upstairs, Point Breeze, www.pillowproject.org
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. The spring dance performance including classical and contemporary works performed by students from both student and pre-professional divisions (Byham).
Texture Contemporary Ballet. Strength & Grace (new and old work by dancers/choreographers Alan Obuzor and Kelsey Bartman), July 16-19 (New Hazlett). www.textureballet.org
Visionary Performing Arts Academy. Students ages 2-18 perform a program titled Living Out of the Box in styles including tap, jazz, modern and lyrical, June 13 (Byham).
COMEDY
Arcade Comedy Theater. Troop Grown-Up, Fri., May 22, and Sat., May 23. The Sisters Sorella (“live sitcom” by No Name Players), Fri., May 22, Sat., May 23 and June 19-20. Marta on the Move: Live, May 29. Comic Wars, May 29. May Flowers, May 30. Knights of the Arcade (comedy Dungeons & Dragons), May 30, June 27, and July 25. Your Life: The Musical, June 5. Hotel Nowhere & Well Known Strangers, June 5. Dinner With the Nolens, June 6. Blue Light Special, June 6. Hi-Fi Music Improv Mix, June 12. Arcade Pride, June 12-13. Penny Arcade: Kids Comedy Show, June 13, July 11 and Aug. 8. Comedy Royale, June 19 and July 17. All Made Up, June 20. Blue Light Special, July 3. Matt & Improv Show, July11. Hootenanny!, July 11. Hustlebot: The Show, July 17. Downtown, 412-339-0608
Club Café. Davon Magwood with Jordan Weeks, Brandon Mickey and Stoph Edison, Fri., May 22. South Side, 412-431-4950
David Feherty. The sportcaster known for his comedy visits, June 5 (Byham)
DVE Comedy Festival. DVE’s Randy Baumann hosts an evening featuring Jim Norton, Michael Che, Tom Segura, Christina Pazsitzky and Bill Crawford, June 26 (Byham).
Latitude 360. Bryan Cork, Fri., May 22 and Sat., May 23. Ricky Reyes, May 29 and 30. Chris Gorges, June 5 and 6. Chuck Krieger, June 12 and 13. Adam Ace, June 19 and 20. Robinson, 412-693-5555
The Maker Theater. The Draft; Atomic Jane; and Play, Date (all improv), June 5. The Duo Show (improv) and Keystone Comedy Show, June 6. LGBTQ*Bert (improv), June 12. Father’s Day Show and open mic, June 19. Shadyside, 412-404-2695
Pittsburgh Comedy Showcase. For pros and amateurs, hosted by Tom Kupiec. Corner Café, South Side, 412-488-2995
Pittsburgh Improv. Reno Collier, Thu., May 21-Sun., May 24. Gary Owen, May 28-31. Aries Spears, June 4-7. Justin Willman, June 11-14. Michael Blackson, June 17. Pablo Francisco, June 18-21. Stand-Up Pittsburgh Open Mic, hosted by T-Robe, June 24. Ralphie May, June 25-28. Pittsburgh All-Star Comedy Showcase, July 2 and 3. Colin Kane, July 9-12. Doug Benson, July 11 and 12. Pete Davidson, July 16-18. Bert Kreischer, July 24-26. Loni Love, July 31-Aug. 2. Rodman, Aug. 7-9. Corey and Chad (The Smash Brothers), Aug. 20-23. Sommore, Aug. 28-30. Steve Trevino, Sept. 3-6. West Homestead, 412-462-5233
Pittsburgh Improv Jam. Thursdays at Cabaret at Theater Square, Downtown, 412-281-3973
Pittsburgh Public Theater. Famed Chicago-based sketch and improv troupe The Second City visits for three performances of a new show, Fully Loaded, including new and classic material, Aug. 28 and 29.
Slapsticks Comedy Club. David Kaye, Lawrence Mullaney and Matt Light, May 30 (Rose Bar & Grille, White Oak). www.slapsticksproductions.com
LITERARY and TALK
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Summer Reading Extravaganza, June 7 (free family activities and entertainment). Oakland, 412-622-3151
Cave Canem Poets. Annual reading series by the collective for African-American poets and City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, this year featuring Toi Dericotte, Cornelius Eady, Amber Flora Thomas and Willie Perdomo. June 18, North Side.
East End Book Exchange. Creative Nonfiction Reading with Jill Kandel (So Many Africas) and Lori Jakiela (The Bridge to Take When Things Get Serious), Thu., May 21. Lori Jakiela and Sarah Einstein: New Creative Nonfiction, Fri., May 22. Bloomfield, 412-224-2847
Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series. Pittsburgh Poetry Exchange readers, Tue., May 26. Squirrel Hill Poetry Workshop, June 2. Margaret Bashaar, Craig Bernier, Romella Kitchens, Leslie Anne Mcilroy and Sheila Squillante, June 9. Tess Barry, Jan Beatty, Celeste Gainey
and Rachel Mennies, June 16. Ace Boggess, Barbara Edelman, Mike Schneider, Michael Simms and Ellen McGrath Smith, June 23. Deborah Bogen, Robin Clarke and TBA, June 30. Jimmy Cvetic, Ed Ochester, Terrance Hayes, Judith Vollmer and Michael Wurster, July 7. David Ades, Sheila Carter Jones, Gene Hirsch, Moon Soon Lee, Joan E. Bauer and Joseph Karasek, July 14. Tameka Cage Conley, Frank Montesonti, John Repp, Marianne Trale, Bob Walicki and Carolyne Whelan, July 21. The Grand Finale, with Jason Baldinger, Stephanie Brea, Kristofer Collins, Angele Ellis, John Korn, Adam Matcho, Bob Pajich and Scott Silsbe, July 28. Hemingway’s Café, Oakland, jbauer103w@aol.com
Joseph Finder. Thriller author visits, June 15 (Barnes & Noble Homestead, 412-462-5743).
The Living Room Chronicles. Prominent local people tell stories about their lives: Playwright, producer and director Mark Clayton Southers, Wed., May 27 (Hill House Kaufmann Center, Hill District, 412-392-4400).
The Moth StorySLAM. Themed storytelling nights: Delusions, June 2. Rex Theater, South Side, www.themoth.org
Penguin Bookshop. Literary fantasy author Deborah Harkness, May 31 (at the Hillman Center for Performing Arts, Fox Chapel). Cookbook author Jessica Merchant, June 25. Novelist Sharon Huss Roat, June 27. Illustrator Mark Brewer, July 8. Jonathan Auxier, July 23. Sewickley, www.penguinbookshop.com
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures. Authors on Tour series: Chuck Palahniuk, Thu., May 21 (sold out), and Celeste Ng, June 1 (Carnegie Lecture Hall, Oakland). WritersLIVE (locally based authors): novelist Robert Yune (Eighty Days of Sunlight), June 17; novelist Philip Beard (Swing), July 14; poet Terrance Hayes (How to Be Drawn), July 28; and Mary Jo Sonntag (Write, If You Live to Get There: Tracing Westward Expansion through 120 Years of Family Letters), Aug. 11 (Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Oakland). 412-622-8866
TEDX PITTSBURGH. Ten local speakers discuss the “ideas and innovations that are redefining the Steel City,” Sat., May 23 (Byham).
WordPlay. Quarterly series blending true stories with live DJ, hosted by comic Alan Olifson, Aug. 14 (Bricolage).
Children’s Theater
MAY
Jungalbook. Contemporary adaptation of the classic Kipling Story about a boy raised by wolves, through Sun., May 24 (Playhouse Jr.).
A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare’s fantastical comedy, adapted for young audiences, through Sun., May 24 (Playhouse Jr.).
Luna. A contemporary play, by Ramon Esquivel, about a daughter of migrant workers who always finds herself the new girl at school, Sat., May 23-June 7 (Playhouse Jr.).
JULY
The Spell of Sleeping Beauty. June 15-24 (South Park Children’s Theatre).
The Invisible Dragon. An unhappy princess, an unhappy prince and an imaginary serpent, June 16-26 (Johnny Appleseed).
The Adventures of a Bear Called Paddington. Adaptation of Michael Bond’s beloved stories, June 24-July 11, with June 27 tea party (Looking Glass Theatre).
Rats: The Story of the Pied Piper. A musical, June 29-July 8 (South Park).
JULY
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. A musical adaptation, July 7-17 (Johnny Appleseed).
Cinderella. July 13-22 (South Park).
Goodnight, Moon. Musical adaptation of the book by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, July 15-Aug. 1, with July 18 tea party (Looking Glass Theatre).
A Pirate Christmas. July 28-Aug. 6 (South Park).
The Emperor’s New Clothes. A comic take on the cautionary fable, July 28-Aug. 7 (Johnny Appleseed).
AUGUST
Alexander Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move. A musical, with book and lyrics by Judith Viorst, Aug. 2-22, with Aug. 15 tea party (Looking Glass).
Theater Companies and Venues
Apple Hill Playhouse. Delmont, 724-468-5050
barebones productions. Braddock, www.barebonesproductions.com
Bricolage Theatre. Downtown, 412-394-3353
Byham Theater. Downtown, 412-456-6666
City of Asylum/Pittsburgh. North Side, 412-323-0278
City Theatre. South Side, 412-431-2489
CLO Cabaret. Downtown, 412-281-3973
Front Porch Theatricals. North Side, www.frontporchpgh.com
The Heritage Players. Brookline, 412-254-4633.
Johnny Appleseed Children’s Theater. Delmont, 724-468-5050
Kinetic Theatre Co. North Side, www.kinetictheatre.org
Little Lake Theatre. Canonsburg, 724-745-6300
Looking Glass Theatre. Canonsburg, 412-561-4402
New Horizon Theater. Homewood, www.newhorizontheater.org
New Hazlett Theater. North Side, 412-320-4610
No Name Players. Oakland, www.nonameplayers.org
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Oakland, 412-621-1499
PICT Classic. Oakland, 412-561-6000
Pittsburgh CLO. Downtown, 412-325-1582
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Co. Downtown, www.pghplaywrights.com
Pittsburgh Public Theater. Downtown, 412-316-1600
Playhouse Jr. Oakland, 412-621-4445
Rage of the Stage Players. McKeesport, www.rageofthestage.com
South Park Theatre. South Park, 412-831-8552
Stage 62. Carnegie, 412-429-6262
The Theatre Factory. Trafford, 412-374-9200
Throughline Theatre Company. Lawrenceville, www.throughlinetheatre.org
Trust Arts Education Center. Downtown, 412-456-6666
Twelve Peers. Lawrenceville, www.12peerstheater.org
Unseam’d Shakespeare. Oakland, 412-621-0244
This article appears in May 20-26, 2015 and Summer Guide (2015).
