Author Archives
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“For the First Time in Forever,” Pittsburgh’s CLO Welcomes ‘Disney’s Frozen: the Broadway Musical’
By JESSICA NEU The windows are open, and so are the doors, as the Benedum Center welcomes Disney’s Frozen: the Broadway Musical, based on the Disney film that shifted the cultural zeitgeist, and concludes Pittsburgh CLO‘s 2025 summer season. Yesterday evening, dozens… Read More ›
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Review: The Prom Is A Triumphant Dance Full of Heart and Inclusivity
By JESSICA NEU I went to the prom my junior and senior year of High School. My date and I gleefully danced amongst all of our friends to “Get Low” and “Hollaback Girl.” Were they the best nights of my… Read More ›
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Review: Jazz Aficionado Diana Krall Turns Heinz Hall Into a 1930’s Jazz Club
By JESSICA NEU Heinz Hall’s iconic red stage curtain remained closed last night. It gracefully draped the stage, but hung back toward mid-stage to frame the space for a piano, upright bass, and percussion kit. Several spotlights illuminated the stage,… Read More ›
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Review: Pittsburgh Public Theater’s ‘Twelfth Night’ is a Triumph of Community, Diversity, Joy, and Love
onStage Pittsburgh dispatched Sharon Eberson and Jessica Neu to review Marya Sea Kaminski’s final production at the Public. You can read Sharon’s review here. By JESSICA NEU Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, Twelfth Night, tells the story of twins Viola (Chelsea Zeno) and… Read More ›
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REVIEW: The Strand Theater’s ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Lives Up To Its Name
By JESSICA NEU After a successful tribute performance to the incomparable Carole King, Ron Carter, President & Executive Director of the Strand Theater decided that Beautiful: The Carole King Musical would be an excellent choice for the company’s 2024-25 season. Beautiful tells the… Read More ›
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REVIEW: “Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble:” Vigilance Theater Group’s ‘Mac Beth’ Is Equal Parts Shakespeare and Brat Summer
BY JESSICA NEU (Updated with more images from the production.) Shakespeare’s Macbeth tells the tragic story of Macbeth, a general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will be the King of Scotland one day. Persuaded heavily by his wife,… Read More ›
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An Interview with The Becoming Art’s Collective Founder Darrin Friedman: Cool People Doing Really Cool Work in Community Theater
By JESSICA NEU This past January, playwright Darrin Friedman and director Art DeConciliis debuted Friedman’s original play Three Blind Mice. After achieving commercial and critical success, Friedman recognized untapped potential in Pittsburgh’s community theater scene. He sat down with his wife, Heather Friedman, and the pair… Read More ›
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Oh Baby! Front Porch Theatricals’ ‘Baby’ Delivers Joy, Humor and Emotional Challenges
By JESSICA NEU Pregnancy is a strange thing. Every woman’s journey to finding out they are expecting differs. Sometimes, it is expected; sometimes, it is a complete shock. Not to mention the myriad symptoms, side effects, cravings, emotions, and reactions…. Read More ›
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Review: They Played Paradise: PSO’s ‘Clouds in my Coffee: Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King & Carly Simon’ at Heinz Hall
By JESSICA NEU Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Clouds in My Coffee is a Perfect Tribute to Mitchell, King, and Simon. Conductor Ted Sperling leads the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in Clouds in My Coffee: The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon, the latest… Read More ›
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Review: Order Up! PMT’s ‘Waitress’ is a Musical Baked to Perfection
By JESSICA NEU Sugar. Butter. Flour. At first glance, they seem like simple ingredients—Staples of any household. However, for Jenna (Zanny Laird), these are the ingredients to life. Making its regional debut, Pittsburgh Musical Theater serves up a heaping helping of… Read More ›
