With news from H.S. MUSICAL THEATER, CITY THEATRE, NEW HAZLETT CSA, PICT, MENDELSOHN CHOIR, , CHATHAM BAROQUE, PITT STAGES and PITTSBURGH YOUTH SYMPHONY

SPRING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER SEASON IS HERE

What’s that you say? SPRING in FEBRUARY? Yes, it’s that time of year — if you’re going by the high school musical theater calendar. That season begins in February, and in some cases is already under way. On Stage Pittsburgh brings you an early-bird version of its annual listing of WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SPRING HIGH SCHOOL MUSICALS including participating schools in the 2026 Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater and Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards.

Please reach out when you see something missing or in error, and check back for updates throughout the season.

‘EUREKA DAY’ AT CITY THEATRE IS ALMOST HERE

City Theatre’s 51st season continues with Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day. The 2025 Best Revival of a Play Tony winner was described by Jesse Green of The New York Times as  a “hilarious poison-pen satire of educational wokeism,” and has director Adil Mansoor saying, “I cannot wait for this incredible cast to bring these deeply hilarious and all too familiar characters to life.”

The cast comprises Daina Michelle Griffith, Max Pavel, John Shepard, Jalina McClarin, and Desiree Mee Jung.

The play is about a progressive, private elementary school in California, facing a mumps outbreak, and explores the challenges of reaching a consensus across the divide of vaccine policies, personal beliefs, and safety – it could be a companion piece to Pittsburgh Public Theater’s current production, An Enemy of the People.

“The design team,” Mansoor said, “has been inspired by local libraries, elementary school music teachers, and our favorite children’s books, as we imagine the world of our play.” 

On City Theatre’s Main Stage, 1300 Bingham Street, South Side, March 7 – 29, 2026. Opening night is March 13. 

🎟️ TICKETS AND DETAILS: https://citytheatrecompany.org/production/100836/eureka-day

IN DEVELOPMENT: ‘AGNUS TEACHES ACTING’ & ‘ISLE OF NOISES’

Two featuring local creatives and performers, supported by local companies, were taken a step further in development last weekend. 

I saw the New Hazlett Theater’s CSA presentation of Agnus Teaches Acting, starring Treasure Treasure, who co-created the musical work with Zanny Laird and Lucas Fedele. The character of Agnus Stephenson, the self-proclaimed greatest actress in the world, and greatest teacher of the craft, is a wickedly funny bundle of ego, oblivious to any failings but constantly pointing those out in her students, played by Joe Kosha, Richard McBride and Wallis Lucas. 

I can’t wait to see what Agnus does next. As for Treasure, she is playing the lead in City Theatre’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, opening May 2.

Also last week, Pittsburgh International Classic Theater presented a workshop of TJ Young’s Isle of Noises. Inspired by The Tempest, the play begins with Caliban’s origin story, as Sycorax washes up on shore mid-labor, and Ariel convinces “the great fey who occupy the island to save Sycorax and her unborn child, Caliban.” When her child comes of age, Sycorax conscripts him to seek revenge on those who did her wrong, while Ariel schemes to challenge Sycorax and Caliban in their play for power. 

Directed by Elizabeth Elias Huffman, the actors bringing the story to life were Dionysius Akeem, Cynthia Marie Dallas, Arjun Kumar, Cameron Nickle, Kelsey Robinson, and Stacey Roslek. Robinson and Dallas also took part in PICT’s 2024 Bards From the Burgh reading of Isle of Noises. 

– Sharon Eberson

MENDELSOHN CHOIR APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh has named Cameron Gunsbury-Massey as its new Executive Director. He joins the organization from the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, where he led growth in enrollment and budget. Gunsbury-Massey began his new role February 2 and will work alongside Music Director Daniel Singer.

CHATHAM BAROQUE’S THE LISETTE PROJECT

Chatham Baroque presents The Lisette Project: Lisette: Haitian Creole Music, exploring the remarkable history of “Lisette quitté la plaine,” the earliest surviving Haitian Creole song text. Led by Haitian baritone Jean Bernard Cerin, the program blends performance and scholarship with guest artists Michele Kennedy, Nicholas Mathew, and Scott Pauley.

🎟️ TICKETS AND DETAIL The Lisette Project on February 22 at Shadyside Presbyterian Church. https://www.chathambaroque.org

PITT STAGES PRESENTS THE TREES

Pitt Stages opens its spring season with Agnes Borinsky’s The Trees, an absurdist comedy examining community, crisis, and connection. Performances take place at the Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre. Opening GFebruary 20 with ASL interpretation on ther 22nd. All performances follow a Relaxed Performance format.

🎟️ Tickets and details: https://www.play.pitt.edu/trees

AFTER VALENTINES DAY WITH THE PYSO

Looking for an affordable way to attend a classical symphony concert, or to introduce your children to the magic and power of a symphony orchestra and Heinz Hall? Then join the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, February 15 at 7:30 pm at Heinz Hall and the let their music warm your heart in the cold of winter.

Don’t let the term Youth be off putting, these young adults are superb musicians.

The program includes Mozart’s vibrant Symphony No.31 “Paris Symphony,” Beethoven’s dramatic Leonore Overture No. 3, and concludes with Richard Strauss’s epic tone poem Don Juan. The concert also features PYSO violinist Karin Hoppo, the winner of our 2025-26 season Concerto Competition, performing the first movement of Sibelius’s demanding Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

🎟️ The concert is FREE, but tickets are required. To download tickets, visit: https://pyso.org/tickets

👉 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

Tags: Alumni Theatre Company, Bricolage, New Hazlett Theater, PICT Classic Theatre, Quantum Theater, South Park Theatre, Trust Cabaret Series