With News from City Theatre, PMT, August Wilson Center, PSO and Pittsburgh CLO, plus Goodbyes and Gratitude.
(Image by Kristi Jan Hoover)
City Theatre’s final production of 2025, the rolling world premiere of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, has eclipsed box-office sales records that date back to 2006. For only the third time in the organization’s history, more than 6,000 individuals attended one of 26 public performances – including a five-show extension week. City reported that production enjoyed a total audience of 6,006 in the 246-seat Main Stage (94% capacity) and grossed more than $198,000 in ticket sales – a record for the 51-year-old organization.
Lauren Gunderson’s adaptation of the classic novel was directed, by Kaja Dunn and featured a cast of Annalisa D’Aguilar, Zanny Laird, Alex Manalo, Nancy McNulty, Nell Murphy, Brenden Peifer, and Juan Rivera Lebron.
During the production, City Theatre partnered with the Allegheny Regional Asset District’s RAD Pass program to provide 367 free tickets to library card holders; and 404 tickets were sold for one of three “pay-what-you-want” performances, with tickets as low as $5.
The 3,469 single and group tickets (including two sold-out student matinees) issued to the production are the most ever for a subscription season production (surpassing Eve Ensler’s The Good Body from 2006. City also estimated that 25% of attendees (1,728 tickets) were first-time visitors to the South Side theater.
The announcement added, “During its ongoing recovery from the pandemic shutdown in 2020 and 2021, City Theatre continues to experience strong attendance growth. Subscriptions are up four percent (4%) over last year, though still below pre-pandemic levels. Several recent titles have reached the top 11 in single and group sales.
Top grossing main season shows since 2006:
- Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, by Lauren Gunderson (2025-2026)
- Hand to God, by Robert Askins (2016-2017)
- POTUS Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, by Selina Fillinger (2024-2025)
- The Good Body, by Eve Ensler (2006-2007)
- Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, by Lauren Gunderson (2023-2024)
Most attended main season shows since 2006:
- The Good Body, by Eve Ensler (2006-2007)
- Hand to God, by Robert Askins (2016-2017)
- Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, by Lauren Gunderson (2025/2026)
- Vanya, Sonia, Masha & Spike, by Christopher Durang (2013-2014)
- The 39 Steps, by Patrick Barlow (2010-2011)
Ending on a sweet note, City Theatre’s announcement noted that, during the production of Little Women, the concession sold “472 Nancy B’s Bakery cookies, an average of 18 cookies per performance. While historic data on cookie sales is not reliable, this is factually a lot.”
would like when renovations are completed.
GRANTS PROVIDE BIG BOOST FOR PMT RENOVATIONS
Pittsburgh Musical Theater is sending out big thanks to State Senators Wayne Fontana and Jay Costa, and State Representative Dan Deasy, for helping to secure $750,000 in state grant funding, through the Commonwealth Financing Authority. In a statement, PMT said, “This investment will allow us to move forward with major improvements, including a new elevator and accessible entrance, upgraded patron lobby and restrooms, a new balcony, façade enhancements, and vital electrical, HVAC, and fire safety upgrades.” The 100+-year-old West End building that houses the company, conservatory and Gargaro Theater broke ground on major renovations on July 9, 2025.
10 YEARS OF POETRY UNPLUGGED AT AUGUST WILSON CENTER
The August Wilson African American Cultural Center will celebrate the 10th anniversary celebration of the Poetry Unplugged series with this year’s edition, Poetry Unplugged: Still Dreaming!, an evening of spoken word honoring the enduring life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Friday, January 16, 2026, the lineup of Pennsylvania-based poets “who “will speak truth to power, reflect on today’s ever-shifting social climate, and uplift audiences through words rooted in resilience, justice, and hope.” The evening is curated and hosted by Orlando Watson, governor of the Recording Academy’s Philadelphia Chapter and a member of the Academy’s Spoken Word Poetry National Committee, and includes an appearance by 2026 Grammy-nominated songwriter Khemist Mayfield. Pittsburgh artists include Diarra Imani, Thembisile Gxuluwe, Devantae Butler, Leslie Ezra Smith, Shockie G, and Mike Smalls, 2025 AWAACC Century Cycle Poetry Slam Champion. DJing the event is Selecta; following the performance, ticketholders are invited to an afterparty with DJ and open mic.
🎟️ At the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Tickets are $25 at awaacc.org
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING … SOUTH PACIFIC IN CONCERT
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh CLO and Carnegie Mellon School of Drama are collaborating to bring a Golden Age musical to the Heinz Hall stage: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific in Concert, January 30-February 1, 2026. The three-day event follows in the footsteps of last year’s concert version of Fiddler on the Roof, which combined Broadway stars with local talent, backed by the PSO. Andy Einhorn will conduct South Pacific, with former Broadway Phantom of the Opera and Shrek, Ben Crawford (also on Broadway, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Les Misérables and On the Twentieth Century as Emil.)
🎟️ The PSO is offering 25% off tickets to South Pacific in Concert with code TRUST25 (code expires January 31, 2026).
AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO 2025 …
🎼 We continue to mourn the loss of our colleague, George B. Parous. Via Resonance Works: “Today, we honor the memory of George B. Parous, a vital member of the Pittsburgh arts community. As the opera and classical music reviewer for onStage Pittsburgh, George was an early supporter of our work, and always a welcome face in our audience. He will be deeply missed.”
👏 onStage Pittsburgh says, “Bravo!,” to our readers for coming on strong in 2025, topping 1,000 social media followers. From our editors and contributors, we appreciate the Greater Pittsburgh community of artists and audiences, and wish one and all a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year, filled with fabulous live-performance experiences. See you at the theater.
👉 Don’t forget—you can always explore the next two months of performances, organized by date or company, anytime at onStage Pittsburgh.
👉Did we miss your show? Send us your updates at info@onstagepittsburgh.com so we can share them in a future Call Board.
Categories: Arts and Ideas, CALL BOARD, Our Posts
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