Pittsburgh Public Theater Announces 2013-14 'Masterpiece' Season

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents "The Masterpiece Season"

2013/14 includes five plays and one musical specially chosen by Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas plus two special events.

America's most beautiful play. A drama that demolishes the stage. The musical heartbeat of Manhattan. An intimate encounter with an epic tale. Wit as dazzling as diamonds. The funniest farce of the last 50 years. Welcome to "The Masterpiece Season," six essential and lasting theatrical works specially chosen by Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas to create a unique year of theatergoing in Pittsburgh Public Theater's 2013-14 season.

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Pittsburgh Public Theater's 2013/14 Lineup

September 26 - October 27, 2013
OUR TOWN by Thornton Wilder, directed by Ted Pappas

A story that is simple yet profound. A work of unparalleled imagination and heart. A stunning theatrical achievement that captures the experience of living in the moment. These are just a few reasons why Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning OUR TOWN is America's most acclaimed play. An iconic play deserves an iconic star so we are thrilled that our town's remarkable Tom Atkins will lead a cast of 24 actors all with Pittsburgh connections.

November 7 - December 8, 2013
TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard, directed by Pamela Berlin

Two estranged brothers find themselves together in a house near the desert. One is a writer and a family man. The other is a drifter and a thief. Their epic rivalry has made this Sam Shepard's most famous play. Full of twists, action, insight and gritty humor, TRUE WEST has been a magnet for charismatic actors since its debut in 1980 and New York Magazine hailed Shepard as "the greatest American playwright of his generation." Staged by CLYBOURNE PARK director Pamela Berlin.

December 12 - 14, 2013
SPECIAL EVENT: The Second City's NUT-CRACKING HOLDAY REVUE
A seasonal blend of hilarious scenes, songs, and the comedy troupe's trademark improvisation, the Second City's NUT-CRACKING HOLIDAY REVUE is the perfect alternative to the same old holiday shows. Thurs. Dec. 12 at 8pm, Fri. Dec. 13 at 8pm & Sat. Dec. 14 at 8pm.

January 2 - 5, 2014
SPECIAL EVENT: Tom Atkins is THE CHIEF
By Rob Zellers & Gene Collier, directed by Ted Pappas

Tom Atkins returns in the performance of a lifetime as Steelers' founder Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. in The Public's all-time biggest hit.

January 23 - February 23, 2014
COMPANY, with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth; directed & choreographed by Ted Pappas

When COMPANY opened in 1970 it swept the Tony Awards and propelled the Broadway musical into a new era. Set in Manhattan, COMPANY features five married couples, three single gals ­- and Bobby, the only eligible bachelor in the group. Through scenes and songs they celebrate and scrutinize married life and its alternatives. These hilarious neurotic New Yorkers are ambiguous about their relationships, but the emotional impact of Sondheim's songs - such as "Being Alive," "The Ladies Who Lunch," and "Another Hundred People" - is crystal clear. Time Magazine called COMPANY "a landmark musical."

March 6 - April 6, 2014
AN ILIAD, adapted from Homer by Lisa Peterson & Denis O'Hare; translation by Robert Fagles; directed by Jesse Berger

Combining the majestic language of Homer with the informal way we speak today, AN ILIAD unleashes the thrilling tales of the Trojan War and delves into the psychology of passion and rage, both ancient and modern. In this tour-de-force one actor plays the Greek classic's famous characters: Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon and the beautiful Helen of Troy, while gods such as Athena and Hermes come and go. Colorful and emotionally charged, these accounts look at the impulses that drive people into battle, and ultimately reveal that human nature hasn't changed much in 2,000 years. Variety described AN ILIAD as "a transformative act of theatrical magic."

April 17 - May 18, 2014
CANDIDA by George Bernard Shaw, directed by Ted Pappas

CANDIDA was a smash when it premiered in 1903 and is still a triumph of sophistication. In this sparkling comedy, Candida is in the middle of a romantic tug of war between husband James Morell, the practical parson, and Eugene Marchbanks, the passionate poet. They are surrounded by her uproarious provincial father and Morell's eccentric staff, but love and marriage are the main targets of Shaw's celebrated wit. Gretchen Egolf, the radiant Rosalind of AS YOU LIKE IT, returns to The Public to dazzle audiences in the role of Candida.

May 29 - June 29, 2014
NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn, directed by Don Stephenson

When the brilliant NOISES OFF begins, a troupe of English actors is rehearsing the sex comedy NOTHING ON. As we eavesdrop, the director explains his theatrical philosophy: "Bang you're on. Bang you've said it. Bang you're off." If only things would go that smoothly. But with these thespians, including the dim-witted starlet, the method actor without motivation, and the leading lady on her last legs, it's total chaos and non-stop laughter. According to the New York Post, NOISES OFF is "the funniest farce ever written."

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Six-play packages ($138 to $325) are currently available at the Pittsburgh Public Theater Box Office, by calling 412.316.1600, or online at ppt.org/subscribe. Also currently available are single tickets for The Second City's HAPPILY EVER LAUGHTER. Single tickets for the rest of the season go on sale Sept. 3. Pittsburgh Public Theater's home is the O'Reilly Theater at 621 Penn Avenue in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.