It says something about human nature and the state of the world that howls of laughter accompanied outrage piled upon outrage in “Ulster American,” the savagely funny play at barebones productions Braddock Black Box Theater and featuring the terrific trio of David Whalen, Simon Bradbury and Christine Weber.
“These three, it’s like a powder keg going off.” — Patrick Jordan
Starring David Whalen, Simon Bradbury and Christine Weber, a and directed by Patrick Jordan, the dark comedy “ULSTER AMERICAN” is at barebones productions’ Braddock Black Box Theater October 9-25, 2026. A collision of Hollywood, theater and The Troubles, “It’s provocative, profane, unapologetically abrasive, and very, very funny.”
In Braddock, Midnight Radio has Bricolage following it’s own Die Hard holiday parody with A Christmas Vacatyinz, lampooning the Lampooners at barebones’ Braddock Black Box. And in the Hill District, you can find the sketch comedy group Mr. Goodbird USA — once a staple at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company’s venue in Garfield — back in action with The Chuck Dickens Annual Christmas and/or Holiday Spectacular!
The just-opened barebones production of The Shark Is Broken, in the intimate Braddock black box theater, provides a fly-on-the-wall view of men not at work. It is a bitingly funny nostalgia trip, just right for the 50th anniversary of Jaws, and an emotional feast for three local actors to sink their teeth into.
By SHARON EBERSON Head to Google, and you will find tens of thousands of folks asking the burning question, “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” Bricolage Productions, back in the Midnight Radio business after a five-year hiatus, has this to… Read More ›
By SHARON EBERSON The Animal Kingdom by Ruby Thomas comes to its first production outside of London and New York through the grapevine. “I reached out to a friend who was in that [off-off-Broadway] production and I was like, ‘Hey,… Read More ›
By SHARON EBERSON Even as hell breaks loose in the Mamet masterwork American Buffalo, it is funny as hell, and full of heart. How perfect, then, that Patrick Jordan’s barebones productions ends its 20th year with this actor’s actor piece,… Read More ›
By SHARON EBERSON At a lanky 6 feet, 4 inches, Brenden Peifer is hard to miss, whether offstage or on. And this year, it has seemed he is always on. So far in 2023, Peifer could be seen in productions… Read More ›
