Author Archives

• Everything’s Coming Up Roses at Pittsburgh CLO’s “Book of Merman”

  By Jade Goodes on February 11, 2020

    One of Broadway’s most legendary performers comes face-to-face with two of Broadway’s most current residents in Pittsburgh CLO’s production of The Book of Merman. A hilarious heartfelt musical about being true to oneself, the show is a comedic romp… Read More ›

• Comtra Shows a Lot of Heart in “Dogfight”

  By Jade Goodes on January 14, 2020

  This past weekend I attended Comtra Theatre’s opening night performance of Dogfight. The show first debuted Off-Broadway in 2012 as a musical adaptation of the 1991 film of the same name. Comtra’s production is directed by Johnny Gallagher who presents… Read More ›

• Tidings of Raunch and Hilarity at Arcade Theatre’s “The Night Before Christmas”

  By Jade Goodes on December 11, 2019

    This holiday season, Arcade Comedy Theater invites audiences to join them for a night of debauchery with The Night Before Christmas by Anthony Neilson. Unlike the classic poem of the same name, The Night Before Christmas is a rowdy… Read More ›

• A Night of Delights at Stage 62’s “Hairspray”

  By Jade Goodes on November 19, 2019

    Stage 62 takes audiences back to the 1960s in their latest production of Hairspray. The musical is based on John Waters’s 1988 film of the same name. With its six-year run on Broadway, eight Tony Awards, and a film… Read More ›

• Can You Detect the Truth in “The Ravages of Now”?

  By Jade Goodes on November 10, 2019

  Non-State Actors latest production tackles cults and their susceptible nature in The Ravages of Now. The devised play puts the audience in the middle of a meeting for, “The Collective,” a no-technology, non-religious group who are eagerly looking to recruit… Read More ›

• Classic Thrills and Killer Creeps in Cup-a-Jo’s “Unhing3d”

  By Jade Goodes on November 1, 2019

  Cup-A-Jo Productions along with Pittsburgh Fringe debuted their third installment of Unhinged this past weekend at Aftershock Theatre. What they’ve coined as, “Pittsburgh’s only Halloween Theatre,” the experience blends theatre with elements of a haunted house. Each year, the company… Read More ›

• barebones’ “True West” Brings Brotherly Squabbles to Center Stage

  By Jade Goodes on September 16, 2019

  It’s all familial turmoil at barebones productions with their current production of Sam Shepard’s dra-medy, True West. The Pulitzer Prize winning play focuses on a sibling rivalry between two estranged brothers, and the pent-up emotions they feel for each other,… Read More ›

• Farce, Family, and Melodrama in Cup-A-Jo’s “Tartuffe”

  By Jade Goodes on August 21, 2019

    Cup-A-Jo’s latest production is one of Moliere’s most famous theatrical comedies, Tartuffe. Adapted by Richard Wilbur, Tartuffe follows a family who is desperate to expose an outwardly pious man for the deceitful and egregious person he is. Melodramatic and… Read More ›

• The Lottery of Life in 12 Peers’ “Everybody”

  By Jade Goodes on August 6, 2019

  12 Peers Theater’s latest production is the 2018 Pulitzer Prize Finalist play, Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Based on the play, Everyman, a 15th century morality play, Everybody tackles life, death, and one’s own impermanence and transience. Everybody is an engaging,… Read More ›

• Full-Throttle Camp in “Rock of Ages”

  By Jade Goodes on July 28, 2019

  On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of seeing Pittsburgh CLO’s opening night performance of Rock of Ages. A campy, jukebox musical featuring hit 1980s rock`n`roll anthems from artists such as Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, Steve Perry, and… Read More ›