A letter from the Editor,
Hello friends and welcome to our third annual Fall Preview! If you’ve been sticking with us for a while, you know the drill! If you’re new to the PITR game, welcome! We’re glad you’re here.
After a busy summer of forty-five reviews and twelve features, we’re gearing up to cover another busy fall of fabulous theatre in Pittsburgh. This season has a wide range of shows including a number of world premiere works staged by several companies within their regular seasons and as part of the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts and the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. The arts scene in Pittsburgh never ceases to impress and this fall looks to be no exception as our region further reinforces its reputation for quality theatre, opera, and dance productions.
As we draw closer to our 5th anniversary (yes, you read that right) we’ll be bringing you a few new things, like our Musical of the Month series with Brian, our new partnership with Dear Theater Mom, and a few other surprises along the way! So keep your eyes peeled for even more action from Pittsburgh in the Round this fall! I owe a colossal amount of gratitude to all of our writers. You work so hard and produce such great content. This is our biggest preview yet! We wouldn’t be what we are without you.
We also want to thank all of our supporters and readers that have gotten us to this point. Pittsburgh in the Round has meant so much to all of us here and we are so very appreciative of every single one of you.
If your theater or business would like to feature any advertising on the website for any of the upcoming content this busy season, don’t forget to reserve your spot well in advance! Please don’t hesitate to contact us at about rates and packages at info@pghintheround.com.
Continue to scroll down for this fall’s five most anticipated productions and five fall musical picks, plus features on the upcoming seasons of seven area theatre companies and two major festivals and a piece on the occasionally controversial topic of audience etiquette.
There is plenty of great theatre to see this fall and we will make sure you don’t miss a thing! We would love to hear from our readers and follow along with your autumn theater adventures so keep in touch with us on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Email List and by using the hashtag #FallwithPITR.
Mara E. Nadolski
Editor in Chief, Pittsburgh in the Round
5 shows we’re looking forward to this Fall!
5. Young Frankenstein by The Theatre Factory – On the heels of their summer production of Big Fish, The Theatre Factory settles into another classic film adaptation, Young Frankenstein. After the death of his well know grandfather, Victor Frankenstein, Frederick takes over the estate he left behind, happens to also bring a creature to life, and hilarity ensues. If you’re in need of a laugh, the trip to Trafford should be worth it. Young Frankenstein runs September 14 – 23. For tickets and more information click here.
Photo by Duane Rieder
4. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co – Well known artist and activist Vanessa German stars in PPTCo’s latest installment of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The first of the Cycle and the only play not set in Pittsburgh, we find Ma Rainey running behind schedule in their Chicago recording studio amidst turmoil within her band. This production is part of the August Wilson Center’s Highmark Blues and Heritage Festival running September 14 through October 1. For tickets and more information click here.
3. Hamlet by Steel City Shakespeare Center – The Steel City Shakespeare Center continues to uphold their mission to engage and inspire communities by staging the upcoming production of Hamlet in the Millvale Community Library. One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will be produced using a small cast and minimal set, allowing the actors to focus on the text and the storytelling. And it’ll star Anne Rematt in the title role to boot. Hamlet runs from October 6th to 14th. For more information click here.
2. The Father by Kinetic Theatre – Sam Tsoutsouvas and Catherine Gowl star in this Tony-nominated play about love, loss, and memories. Tsoutsouvas plays Andre, a man suffering from dementia, who struggles to accept the changing world around him as his caregiver daughter Anne struggles to keep her own life in balance. Pittsburgh’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh partner’s with Kinetic Theatre to bring this tale to the New Hazlett stage. The Father runs September 15 through 23. For tickets and more information click here.
1. Of Mice and Men by Prime Stage – Returning for their 2018-2019 season of “Courage” Prime Stage presents us with the stage adaptation of the classic Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men. On the 80th anniversary of the play winning a New York Drama Critic’s Circle award we’ll follow George and Lennie in their desperate attempts to attain the American Dream. Prime Stage prides themselves on being able to “entertain, inspire and enrich through professional theatre by bringing literature to life” and this show further advances their mission. Of Mice and Men will open at the New Hazlett Theater on November 2 running through the 11th. For tickets and more information click here.
If you’re in the mood for a musical, check out George’s 5 Musicals You Don’t Want to Miss This Fall: 2018!
Are you new to the rapidly changing world of live theater? Check out Part 1 of Yvonne’s Theatre Etiquette special series! Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!
It’s already the beginning of Fall again and you know what that means? New theatre seasons are on the horizon! Check out our season previews here:
- Pittsburgh Opera
- PICT Classic Theatre
- Pittsburgh Musical Theater
- City Theatre
- Pittsburgh Public Theater
- Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks
The Pittsburgh New Works Festival is already in full swing but you can read more about it here.
One of the biggest events of the season is the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts starting in a few short weeks. Local companies like Quantum Theatre and Bricolage Production Company are getting in on the action too! See what they have for you here.
Corningworks is heading into their 10th season this week with The Waiting Room. Check out more about what they’re up to here.
And finally, we have a new intern from the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center! Check out Bec’s season preview here.
In case you missed it, check out our Collegiate Preview we published last week! Get all the info you need about Pittsburgh’s four major universities’ productions.
Highlights from this summer include:
How I Learned What I Learned by Ever Forward Productions
QUEER: New American Tall Tales by FolkLab
Grey Gardens by Front Porch Theatricals
The Inspector General by Throughline Theatre
Thoroughly Modern Millie by the Pittsburgh CLO
Catch Me If You Can by South Park Theatre
Stupid Fucking Bird by 12 Peers Theater
Heathers the Musical by The Summer Company
Gloria by Hatch Arts Collective
Arabella by the Pittsburgh Festival Opera
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels by Stage 62
A Streetcar Named Desire by Little Lake Theatre
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) by Jester’s Guild
Grease by the Apple Hill Playhouse
The Bridges of Madison County by Carnivale Theatrics
Blue Rooms by Amanda Filippelli
Orphans at Aftershock
Categories: Feature