The New Hazlett Theater’s 2026 journey to becoming a producing company continues with the announcement of a coproduction with the DEMASKUS Theater Collective, Othello of the End Zone, or The Steel City Tragedy, “a modern reimagining” of the Shakespeare classic.
The New Hazlett’s “first-ever co-production” will be directed by performer, arts leader and DEMASKUS founder Shaunda Miles McDill. Taking the tale of betrayal, jealousy and revenge to the world of pro football are stars Cynthia Dallas and Michael Patrick Trimm, October 22–25, 2026, at the North Side theater.
and stars Cynthia Dallas and Michael Patrick Trimm.
The reimagined work “follows Imani Othello as she navigates the treacherous world of professional sports after being named head coach of America’s most beloved football franchise. While the language is updated and the setting transformed, the adaptation preserves the original tragedy’s raw tension and spirit. The core emotional truth remains: a Black woman at the height of her power must maneuver through a world designed to doubt her. Rather than portraying her as a tragic pawn, the adaptation presents a fully realized human being, exploring the steep price of ambition and what awaits women who shatter the glass ceiling.”
Originally developed during a 2023 residency at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center by award-winning playwright and TV writer Franky D. Gonzalez (Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why), this adaptation swaps Shakespeare’s military battlefield for the cutthroat arena of professional football. reframing classic power dynamics “to deliver a sharp critique of intersectional discrimination, media scrutiny, and gender bias in modern sports.”
“At a time when our country is reporting disproportionate job loss for Black women, Othello of the End Zone puts one in the coach’s chair,” says McDill. “Imani Othello is not a symbol, but rather she is proof of what happens when talent finally gets the room it has earned.”
“Staging a play about a pro football franchise just blocks away from Acrisure Stadium feels like a perfect North Side moment, but the significance goes deeper,” says Melissa Cardello-Linton, New Hazlett Theater’s Artistic Director. “As the New Hazlett steps into a new era of growth, this coproduction is a direct reflection of our commitment to supporting incredible Pittsburgh talent. Doing it alongside Shaunda makes it incredibly meaningful, allowing us to create space for brilliant, uncompromised storytelling right in our neighborhood.”
In addition to Dallas and Trimm, the cast includes Maxwell Hayden Medford as Jacob Iago, Emily King Brown as Michaela Cassio, Richard McBride as Jameson, and Kevin McGuire as Mr. Mitchell.
🎟️ TICKETS AND DETAILS: https://www.newhazletttheater.org/events/othello
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