It used to be that Monday nights were a day of rest in the theater world, but more and more, dark Mondays have seen the light.
CITY REWINDS: CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS
On February 24, 2025, City Theatre continues its reading series City Rewinds: 50 Years of New Plays, with a fourth Monday-night offering that acknowledges the South Side company’s anniversary season. The fourth offering in the series is Sam Shepard’s Curse of the Starving Class, directed by Jed Harris, at 7 p.m. in the main building’s Gordon Lounge.
Harris directed City’s 1981 production under trying circumstances. The family drama “was slated to be City Theatre’s first production in the Annex Space on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus, the fledgling company’s newly acquired home. However, on opening night, the building failed to pass a fire code inspection. After much pleading, the opening performance was allowed to continue, but the rest of the run was paused. Performances were relocated to another building on campus.”
That history, provided by City Theatre, called the experience “a formative moment for the young company.”
That history, provided by City Theatre, called the experience “a formative moment for the young company.” An article about the production noted that City had “reached a new peak under its third artistic director, 27-year-old CMU grad Marc Masterson.”
Masterson, who stepped down as co-artistic director of City last year, is back as a director for Birthday Candles, opening Saturday, March 8.
Performers for the 2025 Curse of the Starving Class reading are Adam Lauver, Sam Lothard, Isaac Miller, Cameron Nickels, Max Pavel, Becki Toth and Shannon Arielle Williams. In 1981, the production featured Michael Cook, Ruth Lesko, Holly Thuma, Charles R. Altman, Larry John Meyers, Bill Dalzell, John Hall, Victor Barreiro and Douglas Shields.
Tickets are $25 at https://citytheatre.culturaldistrict.org/production/94464/city-rewinds-50-years-of-new-plays .
of Finalists at the O’Reilly Theater. (Image: Courtesy of Pittsburgh Public Theater)
SHAKESPEARE MONOLOGUE AND SCENE CONTEST
Also on Monday, Pittsburgh Public Theater presents the annual Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest: Showcase of Finalists.
The competition that began more than 30 years ago today includes hundreds of students in grades 4-12 – split into the lower division (grades 4-7) and upper division (grades 8-12) for judging purposes – from across the region. A panel of independent judges determining which students from the preliminary rounds are invited to participate in the Showcase of Finalists, held at 7 p.m. on the O’Reilly Theater stage.
During the Showcase of Finalists, judges select a winner from each category, and each winning school or organization will receive a $300 cash prize from Pittsburgh Public Theater. More at https://ppt.org/production/100174/shakespeare-monologue-and-scene-contest-showcase-of-finalists
Categories: Our Posts, Show Previews
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