By JESSICA NEU
I recently listened to an interview with Senator Fetterman’s wife, Gisel Barreto Fetterman. After immigrating to the United States from Brazil, Barreto Fetterman now calls the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Braddock her home. One of the main reasons she fell in love with Braddock is because of the rich stories embedded within the town. Braddock is just one of many Pittsburgh neighborhoods with decades of tradition, heritage, pride, and stories paved into its streets.
However, amidst our current moment of big tech expansion, gentrification, expensive and expansive urban housing, and a contentious mayoral election, it is easy to lose sight of these stories about what makes Pittsburgh wonderful. Many who moved here later in their life, perhaps for college or to begin their professional career, may not know these stories at all.
Ensemble Actors Studio provides a wonderful opportunity for true Yinzers and young Pittsburghers alike to bear witness to what makes the City of Bridges unique. The All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival n’at showcases dozens of local actors taking the stage to perform 10 different plays running 10-15 minutes each. The show is billed as “10 new plays celebrating the heart of Pittsburgh.” This description is undoubtedly true, but I would argue that the All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival n’at is much more than a celebration of the heart of Pittsburgh. These short plays simultaneously evoke a sense of collective memory, public memory, and nostalgia.
When was the last time you talked with someone outside of your inner social circle about your first memories of going to Kennywood? Or your first time trying a Primanti Sandwich? Or whether you ever attended an event at Three Rivers Stadium? This play festival sparks those memories and, through clever comedic writing, blasts through the construction on 376 and takes us all down our unique road of Yinzer anecdotes.
Upon arrival, patrons can purchase Clark Bars and Smiley Cookies from the lobby while listening to local Pittsburgh music. As the house lights faded, Grandma Betty opened the show. Clad in a nightgown, gray permed wig, and sporting a walker with a “no parking” sign, Betty introduced herself to the audience, noting, “yinz can call me babushka.” Cue the memories. I had a grandma Betty. She is my daughter’s namesake. And she always had her babushka. Especially when we went swimming because she could not get her freshly permed hair wet. Two of Grandma Betty’s friends joined her on stage, and the trio broke into a traditional polka dance. All of a sudden, I was back in my grandparents’ living room watching Lawrence Welk and dancing the Polka and Csardas with my grandma. The beauty of All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival n’at was immediately palpable, and I fell down a rabbit hole of nostalgia steeper than the drop on the Steel Phantom.
From there, each play was its own unique glimpse into Pittsburgh culture. Themes included the wedding cookie table, the iconic Isaly’s Chipped Ham, the competitive Pierogi Race at Pirate Games, and even our finicky and unpredictable weather. However, each play reached beyond its primary theme to include as many Pittsburgh references as possible. The first featured play was Home Is Where You Park Your Chair. Written by Chris Duvall and directed by Brooke Echnat, the short play tells the story of a young man from Denver who travels to Pittsburgh to meet his girlfriend’s parents and ask her father for his blessing in their marriage.
This plot alone is enough to create a well-developed 10-minute comedic skit, but Duvall packs the play with clever references that set the tone for the rest of the festival. The boyfriend is from Denver and, while talking to his brother, mocks Mt. Washington for hardly being a mountain. From there, references to giant eagle bags, the Pittsburgh potty, parking chairs, the Warhol Museum, the scenic overlook at Mt. Washington, Steeler jerseys, yinzer accents, and more remind us of just how unique, or as Mr. Rogers would say, “special,” Pittsburgh is.
If Home Is Where You Park Your Chair“\ is Yinzer 101, A Pittsmas Carol is the photo album we found in the attic that we forgot we had. Written by Gayle Pazerski and directed by Wali Jamal, A Pittsmas Carol tells the story of a young lady who moves to Pittsburgh to work at Kennywood, but calls her mother mortified after a coworker died earlier that day. Carole, a maintenance worker on the Thunderbolt, comes to visit the young lady, much like Ebenezer Scrooge and the Marley Brothers from A Christmas Carol. It is a clear nod to the famous clip from Kennywood Memories where maintenance workers Bryan and Geno are cleaning the coaster and Geno falls on the slippy tracks. The play is certainly a dramatization of the event, as Geno was fine after his fall. Still, you could not help but hear Rick Sebak narrating the entire story in your head.
The young lady is then visited by the ghosts of Pittsburgh past and present, who try to convince her to stay in Pittsburgh instead of moving back home. The ghost of Pittsburgh past takes her to the grounds of the old Three Rivers Stadium and mentions Clemente and the Immaculate Reception. I immediately thought of going to Pirate games with my dad. He always bought seats in the 100 level, but I hated the view and always asked to sit up in the 300s. My first time at Three Rivers was on May 26, 1992, for Genesis’ “We Can’t Dance Tour” – my first concert. My final visit to Three Rivers was for Nsync’s “No Strings Attached” tour. I still have my Contempo Casual outfit that I wore to the show tucked away in a box patiently awaiting their reunion show. Then the ghost of Pittsburgh’s past traveled to the old downtown Kaufmann’s department store. That was where I went clothes shopping with my mom. They also had a Ticketmaster counter inside, and we bought our tickets to the Beach Boys concert for their show at Star Lake on September 24, 1993. That was my first show at Star Lake, and tonight, I am headed there for the 50th time.
The young lady points out that Three Rivers is nothing but a parking lot, and Kaufmann’s oddly resembles Target. Still, the ghost of Pittsburgh’s past points out that “that’s what Pittsburghers do. We walk around and talk about what used to be there.” I do this all the time. Most notably when I am driving down Murray Avenue in Squirrel Hill and mourn the loss of Gullifty’s and their pie selection, unfortunately, the ghost of Pittsburgh present is derailed by construction and detours. They cannot reach their destinations, but the young lady notes that one of the great things about Pittsburgh is that there is always more than one way to get to where you need to be.
And perhaps that is part of the magic of Pittsburgh. You always get where you need to be. The other eight short plays are equally delightful with witty references and jokes about wedding cookie tables, putting French Fries on everything, Iron City, the Incline, generational divides, the Pirate pierogi races, overpriced coffee shops, Yinzer accents, KDKA, Eat’ N Park, Isaly’s Chipped Ham, and SO much more. We all have stories to share about any of these topics. I was obsessed with KDKA as a child, so much so that my dad took me down to Gateway Center when I was 4 or 5 years old to meet news anchor Patty Burns, who came out of a meeting to meet me—Core Yinzer memory.
All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival n’at is the in-person WQED special that you didn’t realize you needed. The show is important for Pittsburghers of all ages, but perhaps especially for children. I did not see many children in the audience last night, and it occurred to me that my children would be perplexed if they saw this festival. This show was a reminder that I have not yet instilled within them the generational stories that make Pittsburgh thrive. They have been to Blue Slide Park and DeLuca’s, but do not know the word “yinz” or the function of a parking chair. They have been to weddings, but are not familiar with the history of the cookie table. They have been to sporting events, but have never heard of the Immaculate Reception. They have been to Kennywood, but do not know about Bryan, Geno, Beth Snodgrass, or the Saint Athanasius picnic boys from Kennywood Memories. They shop at Target, not Kaufmann’s. It is up to me to instill these traditions and stories in them. Whether they live here for the rest of their lives or eventually move away, these stories must continue to be told and celebrated so forthcoming generations understand the “why” behind their actions and traditions. Without these stories, Pittsburghers will end up driving around the old West End Circle in a continuous loop, constantly missing their exit.
These stories move us forward. Down Carson Street, 51, or over the West End Bridge – all with the Incline, Heinz Field, and the skyline holding a steadfast horizon on a city with rich history and endless passion.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Ensemble Actors Studio production of ‘All Things Pittsburgh Play Festival’ performances are at with remaining pedrformances August 2nd, 2025, at 8pm and the 3rd at 2pm. at 937 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
Lots more information and ticketsfor the showe are availablde here.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
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