During September, Cleopatra and Antony to play in Pittsburgh’s parks. 

PSiP’s 19th season opens with the 10th Annual Week of Will on April 23, featuring staged readings of two comedies, Twelfth Night and the premiere of Shakespeare: First Drafts by Charles David “Stoney” Richards. The Bard’s 459th birthday celebration will begin with a tribute by Mrs. Shakespeare at Oakland’s Shakespeare statue on Sunday, April 23, and Week of Will wraps up with an international online puppet slam as a finale on Saturday, April 29.

Nick Hrutkay stages a one-hour version of Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. PSiP’s production of Twelfth Night takes a tropical twist in this immersive reimagining of mistaken identity, music, and unrequited love. “With Nick Hrutkay at the helm of our abridged version of Twelfth Night, be prepared to immerse yourself in a Jimmy Buffet-esque world replete with bikinis, a wading pool, and drinks with little umbrellas,” says PSiP’s Artistic Director Jennifer Tober.

Alan Irvine directs the premiere of Shakespeare: First Drafts, a new one-act by Charles David “Stoney” Richards, who also plays the Bard in this comic take on familiar works. William Shakespeare jumps on the bandwagon, determined to cash in on his several centuries of fame. Will reveals his creative process by staging glimpses into the hilariously rough first attempts at some of his iconic scenes and characters. Neither Hamlet, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet,or Richard III worked quite right the first time around—and that was before overly helpful actors, and union foremen got their hands on those scripts.

“We all have to start somewhere.” Stoney Richard says, “That was my inspiration for Shakespeare: The First Drafts.” As actors, writers, directors, and lovers of theatre—no what the finished product—we know it had to start somewhere with the first draft!” 

Richards admits, “A smile crossed my face as I started writing. It’s a comedy from the Bard doing a master class, time shifting in worlds to which we can all relate. It all began with the premise of ‘what if?’ I hope you’ll enjoy it even if only because Will and I share the same hairline!”

“And if you loved Stoney Richards as Bottom in our Midsummer Night’s Dream last year (who didn’t?!),” Tober says, “get ready to be wowed by his original play Think The Complete Works of William Shakespeare meets the British comedy Upstart Crow. A double feature of hilarious Shakespeare with coffee and cocktails. What could be better?”

A cast of nine portrays more than 30 roles in the two one-act plays. Actors appearing in the double bill include Richards as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and Shakespeare in his own play. Jennifer Tober, PSiP artistic director, appears as Duke Orsino and then various roles, including Romeo in the second play. Tober continues: “And what a stellar cast! Our double bill features many familiar faces of some of the finest talent in Pittsburgh.”

PSiP’s 19th year will honor the life and work of actor Ronald H. Siebert who performed in many Pittsburgh shows and events and at other regional theatre companies. 

PSiP’s 19th season continues on weekends in September with Tober directing an all-female cast in Cleopatra and Antony on weekends in September 2023.

The Week of Will lineup includes:

• Sunday, April 23 – Statue Tribute by Mrs. Shakespeare (Yvonne Hudson) with songs, sonnets, and stories from the Bard’s wife at noon on the steps of Carnegie Music Hall, Forbes Avenue, Oakland
• Sunday-Wednesday – April 23, 24, 25, and 26 at 7:30 pm. Staged readings of Twelfth Night and First Drafts at Soluna a coffee and mezcal restaurant at 1601 Penn Avenue, Strip District.  
• Friday-Sunday, April 28, 29, and 30 Pittsburgh Fringe Festival – Brawling Bard’s Vendetta in Verona at Bantha Tea Bar. Curtain times vary. Festival website.
• Saturday, April 29, 3 pm EST – Ciphers to this Great Accompt; An Annual Shakespeare Puppet Slam. Online celebration of international puppeteers inspired by Shakespeare. Reserve the Zoom link via Eventbrite.

Week of Will event details will be available soon at: https://www.pittsburghshakespeare.com

Categories: Preview, Show Previews

Tags: Jennifer Tober, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, Shakespeare: First Drafts, Twelfth Night