By JESSICA NEU Something Rotten! is tagged as “the funniest musical in at least 400 years.” Given the sustained, uproarious response from the audience at Paragon’s production last night, that tagline might be true. Directed by Deborah Metzger, the 2015 musical is a… Read More ›
Reviews
Reviews of current productions by our writers
Chantal Joseph Brings ‘Stars @ Riverview’ to Exciting Close
By JAMES LEWIS Chantal Joseph, the acclaimed jazz and soul vocalist, brought the Stars @ Riverview concert series to a thundering close Saturday evening at Riverview Park. Joseph is well-known to Pittsburgh audiences, having twice been named Best R&B Performer by Pittsburgh… Read More ›
Review: ‘SUFFS’ Marches Into the Benedum with Strength, Fortitude and Conviction
By JESSICA NEU Beginning with a 2022 run at the New York Public Theater, SUFFS, like Six and Hamilton, features fictionalized versions of historical figures. However, instead of Henry VIII’s ex-wives or the Founding Fathers, Suffs takes us to early 1900s America to explore the political drama surrounding… Read More ›
Review: There’s Magic in the Air for ‘The Tempest,’ Karla Boos’ Quantum Swan Song
“THE TEMPEST” DELIVERS QUANTUM MAGIC TO CARRIE FURNACES
An event delayed, and delayed, and delayed again serves to build anticipation, so it was with an exhale of relief and exhilaration that Quantum Theatre was able to realize Karla Boos’ magical vision for The Tempest at Carrie Blast Furnaces.
REVIEW: Two Outstanding Performances to Savor in South Park’s Theatre’s ‘Emilie’
By HANNAH WING-BONICA If you are into physics, you might be familiar with Gottfried Leibniz’s concept of Force Vive, the squaring of velocity, which opposes Newton’s theory, in which force stops. In the late 1600s, Leibniz’s equation of Force Vive… Read More ›
Review: Donovan and Trimm Deliver a Powerful and Passionate Performance in ‘Danny and the Deep Blue Sea’
ELECTRIFYING “DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA”
As Roberta and Danny, Shannon Donovan and Michael Patrick Trimm provide enough sustained, electrifying performances and raw passion provide enough energy to light the Cathedral of Learning, from basement to tower and back, where the John Patrick Shanley drama is currently in residence.
Review: “Life is Company” and Connection with Stage 62’s Production of ‘Company’
By JESSICA NEU Debuting on Broadway in 1970, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, is one of several musicals that underwent a reimagined revival in the 2010s & 20s. The 2021 reimagining brought a new audience and perspective, most notably by gender-swapping the lead role from… Read More ›
Review: A Maze of Manipulation in Kinetic Theatre’s ‘Henry Johnson’
Kinetic Theatre’s production of David Mamet’s Henry Johnson marks the play’s Pittsburgh debut. It is also only the third production of the work, following its premiere in Los Angeles in 2023 and a staging in Chicago in 2025. Henry Johnson has Mamet’s classic flair, with its downward-spiraling plot, coercion, ulterior motives, and the rhythmic, staccato, naturalistic Mamet-speak. It’s a play that makes you wonder: What is the truth? Who should I believe? Am I, as an audience member, just as susceptible as Henry Johnson? The play is less of a moral lesson and more of a question of morality. It leaves us grappling with the ambiguity of where the truth and manipulation begin and end.
Review: Don’t Hesitate to Dive Into Searing, Sensual ‘Danny and the Deep Blue Sea’
ELECTRIFYING “DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA”
As Roberta and Danny, Shannon Donovan and Michael Patrick Trimm provide enough sustained, electrifying performances and raw passion provide enough energy to light the Cathedral of Learning, from basement to tower and back, where the John Patrick Shanley drama is currently in residence.
Review: Sated and Hungry For More of RealTime Arts’ Equitable Dinners
My experience of RealTime Arts’ Equitable Dinner will not be yours. Yet, I can wholeheartedly recommend that you snatch up whatever slots are left for the trifecta of a short play based on community listening sessions, a potluck-style meal provided by the host, and conversations sparked by what you’ve seen and heard, facilitated by leader, but driven by what you bring to the table.