Author Archives
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Joniece Abbott-Pratt on Strong Female Roles, Pittsburgh Debut
When asked to do a piece on City Theatre’s upcoming work, a play that speaks to the struggles in the black liberation movement, I am admittedly nervous. As a white suburbanite, how can I truthfully get to the heart of… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Karla Boos
When it comes to Karla Boos, Artistic Director of Quantum Theatre, my usually talkative self is more than a little tongue-tied. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? For twenty-five years – longer than I’ve been alive… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Joanna Lowe
When I first met Joanna Lowe, it was on the Brentwood set of the horror film Corpsing, produced by 72nd Street Films, in the summer of 2011. I had just finished my freshman year of college that spring, and just… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Kim Brown
From our small wooden table in the window of the Starbucks on 14th and Carson Street, we can clearly see the building where Spotlight Costumes first opened its doors in 1988. It’s tiny and now called The Decade, a light… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Sabrina Hykes-Davis
Deciphering the one thing that makes Pittsburgh theatre unique is like looking for the crabby patty recipe. While scenic designer Sabrina Hykes-Davis agrees, with her personal experience and her kind, gentle manner, she also gives credence to a pattern I’ve… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Leon Zionts
Leon Zionts and I begin our interview, in a Starbucks on the South Side, as he tells me the etymology of his name, Zionts. “It means one who dwelled at the base of Mount Zion.” Oh my, I think to… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Clare Drobot
Every year, July is surprisingly busy. We’re juggling work, weddings, vacations, new projects and exercise routines. I know I’m definitely starting to sweat just considering my conflicting rehearsal schedules, part-time job, and this new writing gig. It’s exhausting. A fun,… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Matt Henderson
He would politely disagree with me, nibbling at his English muffin and slightly wide-eyed at the thought, repeating humbly, “that’s not a thing,” but I still think of Matt Henderson as a leader in Pittsburgh theatre. Perhaps he’s not the… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Connor Bahr
“I feel like I’m not talking about anything.” You’re talking about everything. Before listening to Connor Bahr’s zeal for absurdism, one might wonder what more can be gleaned from these pieces of theatre. What more could a bunch of existential… Read More ›
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Artist Spotlight: Virginia Wall Gruenert
Roughly seven miles south of downtown Pittsburgh, PA, the town of Carnegie situates itself between a bridge, interstate 79, and the railroad with a wry sense of humor. The narrow street traffic is constant in the middle of the day,… Read More ›