BroadwayWorld.com Pittsburgh Stories

Pittsburgh Symphony Renews Manfred Honeck's Contract Through 32/33

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:44:28 PST

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has extended Music Director Manfred Honeck's contract through the 2032/2033 season, amounting to a 25-year partnership that will make him the longest-serving Music Director in the Orchestra's 131-year history.

Throughout his artistic leadership since 2008, Manfred Honeck has elevated the international status of the Pittsburgh Symphony through a renewed interest in recordings and international touring, as well as lauded performances renowned for their distinctive and revelatory interpretations. He has shaped the orchestra's artistic identity with a deep sense of purpose and passion, and under his leadership, the orchestra continues to flourish both artistically and as a cultural ambassador for the city of Pittsburgh.

With Honeck, the Orchestra launched its critically acclaimed Pittsburgh Live! recording series with Reference Recordings, earning twelve GRAMMY Award nominations and three wins, including Best Orchestral Performance for the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5/Barber Adagio for Strings album. Honeck has also led the PSO on regular European tours during his tenure, including four appearances at the prestigious Salzburg Festival as the only American orchestra—again a stop in August 2026 on their next European tour—as well as visits to the Lucerne Festival and season-opening performances at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, and Vienna's Konzerthaus. Most recently, the orchestra received rave reviews upon its return to Carnegie Hall in December 2025.

Honeck's PSO legacy also includes a distinctive body of creative projects, from new commissions and premieres by composers including Carlos Simon, Mason Bates, Lera Auerbach, James MacMillan, Samy Moussa, and Jessie Montgomery, to his own symphonic suites and semi-staged choral works. His tenure has brought the PSO into collaboration with leading artists across disciplines, including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, John Williams, and F. Murray Abraham while also fostering a new generation of performers.

For his work in championing the music of Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, he was awarded the Medal of Honor from the Bruckner Society of America in February 2026.

Beyond the concert hall, Honeck has built deep connections throughout the region's educational, cultural, and faith communities. His contributions have been recognized with honorary degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Catholic University of America, and Saint Vincent College, where the orchestra regularly performs.

In 2018, he led the orchestra and city in the Concert for Peace and Unity in honor of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims, and in 2013 he led The Singing City, a landmark concert that brought thousands of singers from the region together with the Symphony. Honeck has regularly partnered with Pittsburgh arts organizations, performing semi-staged productions of Handel's Messiah, Bach's St. John Passion, and Haydn's Creation with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and caps his 2025/2026 season with Appalachian Spring alongside Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Review: FUN HOME Autopsies a Family at Theatre Factory

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:27:23 PST

I've always been a comics guy, ever since I was five years old and discovered my dad's shipping crate full of seventies and eighties cult titles like Howard the Duck and Doctor Strange. With an origin story like that, I have plenty of semi-educated opinions on the comics and graphic novel world: Marvel vs DC (DC all the way), Eastern vs Western style (I appreciate the starkness and minimalism of manga, but prefer the more literary, author-oriented world of indie comics these days), even artists or writers to avoid like the plague (anything from the Rob Liefeld "shoulder pads and straps and tiny feet" era of extreEEEEEEEEEeeeme action comics in the nineties). But the one comic opinion I was sure would never be shaken was that Alison Bechdel's Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic trilogy could not POSSIBLY be adapted into another medium. It was so intrinsically linked to the artistic strengths and limitations of comic panels that it would not translate without losing its essence.

I was wrong. I was SO wrong. The first time I listened to the Fun Home cast recording (technically, I was listening to an untracked full-show bootleg with post-show audience talkback), I felt as though I had stared into the face of God: humbled, artistically emasculated in a way that felt good instead of demeaning. A masterpiece had been adapted into ANOTHER masterpiece. As an artist, there's a strange twinge of "I could never do that" when you encounter something like that. I felt it the first time I listened to Sweeney Todd, and again when I saw Hamilton. But it doesn't feel bad, despite that hint of melancholy. You don't mourn for what you can't make, you rejoice for the existence of someone who could. (Lest you think this little tangent is completely self-indulgent, hear me out: much of this show is about a frustrated artist pushing against their own limitations and the limitations of their form, and I wanted to draw that personal parallel.) No one else has said it yet, so I will: Fun Home is the Glass Menagerie or Death of a Salesman of musical theatre.

The plot unfolds in nonlinear chunks, following forty years in the lives of complicated individuals: Alison Bechdel (Katie Kerr, with Kacie Capanna and Elli Anna Vallow as her preteen and college eras), a legendary cartoonist with a nasty cocktail of writer's block, OCD and PTSD; and her father Bruce Bechdel (Ben Wren), an English teacher, funeral director and home-restoration enthusiast with his own tightly wound mix of neuroses and diagnoses. Both are frustrated artists. Both are queer. But Alison came out in college, while Bruce never did, and he died in a suspicious incident assumed to be a suicide shortly after Alison came out. Now that she is the same age as her father was when he died, she attempts to exorcise her difficult family history by making it into a graphic novel.

This is difficult material, and requires a cast willing to take risks. Director Laura Wurzell has united a cast of performers strongly tied to Pittsburgh's famous bridge between community and professional theatre, plus a trio of fearless and subtle child performers who know when to go big and when to pull way back. Katie Kerr's grown Alison is a complex creature, clearly attempting to maintain artistic detachment while being slowly overcome by waves of emotion resonating from her relationship with her father and with her younger selves. She is the irresistible force, probing ever deeper "until now gives way to then," but she perpetually runs aground at Ben Wren's Bruce Bechdel, the immovable object. If Fun Home is the musical Death of a Salesman, Bruce is its Willy Loman, a perpetually defeated little man attempting to stay afloat in a life he does not fit in. Unfortunately for the Bechdels, Bruce expresses this in a tyrannical, order-obsessed temper and an obsessive cruising for gay sex, some of which is with his own current or former high school students. Yes, the tragic antihero of our musical is an emotionally abusive groomer at best, pedophile at worst, but the story isn't about his crimes, it's about the family unit. Bruce could be a monster, but there were moments of tenderness, moments of happiness and investment in the family. The story is about the place where these contradictions overlap. Ben Wren plays the line carefully, giving us just as many reasons to understand Alison's love for her dad as her resentment of him.

In between the two is Missy Newell as wife and mother Helen Bechdel, who attempts to maintain order by pretending she does not see and hear what is happening in the home around her. Newell plays the matriarch's bursting-at-the-seams repression like a ticking time bomb, until a monologue and a song in the play's second half finally let the lid off the steamer. Her volatile chemistry with Wren and the kids threads bits of comedy and tragedy into the story at large. And then there's the kids, both of whom are saddled with some of the most demanding material ever given to a child or teen role: Kacie Capanna slays the queer-awakening anthem "Ring of Keys," in which she sees and identifies with a butch lesbian but doesn't have the language to express it, while Elli Anna Vallow's college-freshman Alison conquers the mountain of emotion, passion and joyful cringe comedy that is "Changing My Major to Joan." Joan herself, Maria Perez, is a warm and winning presence, providing that touch of lightness and functionality that Alison clearly relies on as an oasis from the Bechdel ecosystem; when she is introduced to the family late in the second half, it almost feels like two different realities overlapping.

Tucked away behind the set, Chis McAllister's four-piece band moves gamely through Jeanine Tesori's challenging score, which blends pop, folk, contemporary musical theatre and Sondheimian artfulness. It's a difficult show, and doubly difficult for its requirements of young actors. Hell, it's sometimes a difficult show to watch, with how incisively raw the emotions onstage can get. But there's something rewarding for going there, making yourself stare down your demons, or the demons of some family you may know. Even more, it's rewarding to know there's still a company in this small town willing to tackle material this incisive, this controversial, and this REAL.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre To Offer Weekly Dance Fitness Classes Downtown

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:53:24 PST

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) will collaborate with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to offer free weekly PBT Dance & Fitness classes downtown at Arts Landing throughout the summer and a “Dance the Story” program for children during Family Fest in September.

The Dance & Fitness classes will include a variety of exercise styles, from ballet, Pilates and barre to hip-hop and contemporary dance. The classes will take place weekly on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Dollar Bank Stage in Arts Landing, located at 803 Penn Avenue. PBT welcomes all people ages 14+ with all levels of experience.

The schedule of classes includes:

Attendees should register for the free classes here. They should wear comfortable clothing and sneakers for the classes. Additionally, for Pilates and barre classes, they should bring an exercise mat. Additional information about the Arts Landing classes is available here.

PBT’s Dance & Fitness was voted #1 dance studio for adults in both 2023 and 2025 by Pittsburgh City Paper. PBT’s Dance & Fitness division holds regular weekly classes at the PBT studios in the Strip District. These classes include ballet (beginner, intermediate and advanced), pointe, contemporary/jazz, barre, Pilates mat and Pilates equipment classes in their Pilates Studio.

On September 19 at 10:00 a.m., PBT’s Education and Community Engagement division will participate in Family Fest at Arts Landing. At this event, PBT will present an interactive “Dance the Story " program based on Alice in Wonderland, which PBT will perform in February 2027. The event features a ballet story and an introduction to ballet technique and costumes from the ballet, helping bring the story to life for children. It is appropriate for children ages 1-13 and their families.

“I am so excited to share PBT’s amazing Dance & Fitness and Education and Community Engagement classes with the Greater Pittsburgh community,” said Nicholas Dragga, PBT Executive Director. “Pittsburghers will love having the opportunity to try our classes for free in the new, beautiful outdoor space that Arts Landing is providing.”

On the evening of Thursday, September 24, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre will join the Pittsburgh Opera and Pittsburgh CLO for joint season previews at Arts Landing, offering a sneak peek at upcoming Fall performances.

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Sets City Theatre Box Office Records

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:01:38 PST

City Theatre’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask has surpassed a revenue record set just five months ago with Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Hedwig continues for five more performances through Sunday, June 14.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, directed by Robert Ramirez, is the final show of City Theatre’s record-breaking 2025/2026 season and marked its first revival and foray into the Cultural District, performing at the Greer Cabaret Theater. The production has already crested $257,000 in total revenue and is on pace to issue nearly 7,000 tickets, the second most tickets for a City Theatre show in at least 20 years, behind only The Good Body by Eve Ensler in 2006, over 38 performances in the 196-seat venue. Once the run is completed, Hedwig is expected to have been sold at over 90% capacity, exceeding national averages.

City Theatre first produced Hedwig in 2003, with Anthony Rapp in the titular role. When celebrating the organization’s 50th anniversary last year, that 2003 production was often shared as an all-time favorite by patrons. When exploring potential titles for this first-time producing partnership with the Cultural Trust, a remount of the show — on the 25th anniversary of the cult movie adaptation — felt like the right one for the unique cabaret setting.

In addition to the economic impact — restaurants, parking, etc. — generated by the performances, the production offered opportunities to over 20 artists and technicians, almost all of whom call Pittsburgh home, and provided nearly $200,000 of direct employment and contractual investment to professional theatre-makers.

Performances continue this week: Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30pm; Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30pm; Friday, June 12 at 7:30pm; Saturday, June 13 at 5:30pm; and Sunday, June 14 at 2:00pm. There is no show on Thursday, June 11.

Tickets start at $44.50, inclusive of fees, and can be purchased at CityTheatreCompany.org or by calling (412) 431-2489.

Around The BroadwayWorld: Top News, Reviews, Interviews & More from May 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:03:21 PST

Around the BroadwayWorld is our monthly snapshot of the biggest stories making waves across the global theatre community. In this May 2026 edition, we're bringing you a fresh batch of standout reviews from regional stages across the country - from Brigadoon at Pasadena Playhouse in Los Angeles to The Phantom of the Opera at Seattle's Paramount Theatre and Pippin at Signature Theatre in DC.

Diane Paulus directs an immersive, David Bowie-inspired Life on Mars at American Repertory Theater, the producers of Japan's Gypsy revival walk back a planned title change, and we go behind the scenes with interviews spanning Adam Fields of the Beetlejuice national tour, The Muny's casting director Michael Baxter, Richard Kind on finally taking on Edna in Hairspray, and BWW's Kid Reporters chatting with the touring Von Trapp kids of The Sound of Music. Plus, get a first look at exciting new productions through performance videos and photos, including Anastasia at La Mirada Theatre, Dear Evan Hansen at Arden Theatre, Pippin at Signature Theatre, and the Manila cast of Jesus Christ Superstar - and so much more from across the BroadwayWorld.

Diane Paulus Will Direct Immersive David Bowie Inspired LIFE ON MARS at American Repertory Theater

Joshua Wright | Boston

Diane Paulus will direct Life on Mars, an immersive theatrical production set to David Bowie's music, as the inaugural production at the Goel Center for Creativity & Performance in May.

GYPSY in Japan: Producers Walk Back Title Change Ahead of 2026 Revival

Joshua Wright | Japan

The Japanese revival of GYPSY will retain its original title when it returns to the stage in 2026, reversing an earlier decision to present the production under the name 'Rose.'

Interviews

Interview: Adam Fields of BEETLEJUICE National Tour

Brock Mills | Jacksonville

For Adam Fields, returning to Jacksonville with the national tour of Beetlejuice the Musical isn’t just another stop, it’s a full-circle moment. The production will play in Jacksonville from May 12–17 at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

Interview: BWW’s 'Kid Reporters' Chat With THE SOUND OF MUSIC’s Touring Von Trapp Kids

Melissa Heckscher | Los Angeles

BroadwayWorld Los Angeles' kid reporters talk with the young touring cast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC to find out what it's like to be part of one of Broadway’s most iconic shows and what actually happens behind the curtain.

Interview: Chatting with The Muny's Casting Director Michael Baxter

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

Michael Baxter’s work will shine on The Muny stage during all 50 performances this summer. He led the efforts and had a hand in hiring every one of the 194 actors who will fill the principal and ensemble roles.

Interview: Richard Kind Talks Finally Taking on Edna in The Muny's HAIRSPRAY

James Lindhorst | St. Louis

When The Muny opens their production of Hairspray on June 15, 2026, the legendary Richard Kind will don Edna Turnblad’s housecoat and step into her fuzzy house slippers. Kind, star of stage, screen and film, calls it bucket list moments to get to perform at The Muny and play Edna all at the same time.

Reviews

Review: BRIGADOON at Pasadena Playhouse

Andrew Child | Los Angeles

Brava to Alexandra Silber for capturing all the heart and humor of Lerner’s original book with her thoughtful new adaptation and brava to Katie Spelman for dreaming up a Brigadoon that is as ebullient and spirited as it is deeply human.

Review: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Paramount Theatre

Shelley Dean | Seattle

It’s almost unbelievable for me to admit that this was my first time seeing The Phantom of the Opera. Of course, I knew the iconic songs and had seen countless clips over the years, but experiencing the production live on stage for the first time was entirely different, haunting, and spine-chilling in the best way possible. From the chandelier drop to the monumental set pieces, the show truly lives up to its legendary reputation. The 2026 tour, directed by Harold Prince, serves as a revitalized version of the original production, featuring Maria Björnson’s iconic designs, musical staging, and choreography by Gillian Lynne. It is absolutely ravishing, and Seattle audiences are lining up hours early to witness the spectacle for themselves.

Review: PIPPIN at Signature Theatre

Aidan O'Connor | Washington, DC

Certain facets of the human condition are foundational to our very existence – change, connection, desire. One such particularly toxic universal truth is a constant need to be something more than we currently are. To search for happiness in external achievement rather than within ourselves, in our simple joys. Pippin at Signature Theatre breathes within that precise virulence, relatively orchestrated by a troupe of impeccably costumed and choreographed players. A feast for the eyes in all senses, Matthew Gardiner’s production surpasses even the highest of expectations.

Videos

Video: Watch La Mirada Theatre's ANASTASIA Star Lena Ceja Perform 'Journey to the Past'

Michael Major | Los Angeles

La Mirada Theatre has released new video footage of Lena Ceja rehearsing 'Journey to the Past' from their upcoming production of Anastasia. The production features Dillon Klena as Dmitry, a role first played on Broadway by his brother Derek Klena.

Photos/Video: DEAR EVAN HANSEN At Arden Theatre

A.A. Cristi | Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company is now presenting DEAR EVAN HANSEN as the final production of its 2025/26 season, with performances continuing through July 5. New production photos and video have been released from the Philadelphia production, including footage of Evan A. Kaushesh performing “Waving Through a Window.”

Video: Watch 'Corner of the Sky' From Signature Theatre's PIPPIN

Michael Major | Washington, DC

Watch a video of Brayden Bambino performing 'Corner of the Sky' in Signature Theatre's production of Pippin. The in-the-round production is now running through July 26 with tickets available now.

Photos

Photos: Get a First Look at JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in Manila

Oliver Oliveros | Philippines

The 2017 Olivier Award winner for Best Musical Revival, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' has officially opened at The Theatre at Solaire.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and U. S. Steel to Launch Mon Valley Community Partnership

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:59:19 PST

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and U. S. Steel has announced a new partnership focused on expanding access to music education and community programming in the Mon Valley, particularly in Braddock, home to the Mon Valley Works – Edgar Thomson Plant and the first Carnegie Library in the United States.

The partnership reflects a shared legacy that traces back to Andrew Carnegie, who opened his first steel mill in Braddock in 1875, established the Braddock Carnegie Library in 1889, and served as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's first Board Chair following the Orchestra's founding in 1896.

Through this new agreement, U. S. Steel will serve as Presenting Sponsor of several community-centered initiatives, including:

Fiddlesticks in Your Neighborhood, with a free family concert at Woodland Hills High School July 12, 2026
Discovery & Drinks at Carnegie One in Braddock, featuring chamber music, artist discussions, and collaboration with local partners
Support for the PSO's Schooltime bus fund, helping Mon Valley students attend free educational concerts at Heinz Hall
Chamber concerts and speaking engagements at Carnegie One

The partnership begins immediately; the first events are Fiddlesticks in Your Neighborhood at Woodland Hills High School and a performance on PSO's Discovery & Drinks series at Carnegie One on July 17, An American Canon, which explores the significant contributions of African American artists to classical music.

“This partnership represents the best of Pittsburgh's story: industry and culture work hand in hand to serve our community,” said Melia Tourangeau, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. “Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic legacy connects our two organizations, and through this collaboration with U. S. Steel we are continuing that legacy in Braddock and across the Mon Valley, ensuring that students, families, and neighbors have access to transformative musical experiences close to home.”

“We are excited to open doors of opportunity so members of the communities where we live and work can experience the world class musical talent the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra brings to our region,” said Kurt Barshick, Vice President, U. S. Steel Mon Valley Works. “Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic legacy lives on through our continued support of local schools and cultural institutions like Carnegie One and the PSO.”

In the 2024-2025 school year alone, the PSO's Schooltime program reached more than 22,000 students across Southwestern Pennsylvania, with participation from schools in the U. S. Steel footprint including West Mifflin and Woodland Hills. Support for transportation through the bus fund helps remove financial barriers for schools serving students with significant low-income populations.

The Carnegie Library of Braddock (Carnegie One) remains a symbol of access to knowledge and opportunity. Through concerts, conversations, and educational initiatives hosted in the historic space, the PSO and U. S. Steel aim to celebrate the region's shared heritage while investing in its future.

ADRENALIZE to Kick Off Ohio Summer Concert Season with Def Leppard Tribute Shows

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 18:33:27 PST

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is bringing the music of one of rock's most iconic bands to outdoor audiences across Ohio and beyond.

The nationally recognized tribute act will launch its summer outdoor concert schedule this weekend with two highly anticipated Ohio appearances. On Friday, June 5, Adrenalize will headline the season-opening concert of Wilmington's Friday Night Summer Concert Series, a popular downtown tradition that brings music fans together throughout the summer for free outdoor concerts in the heart of the city. As the featured performer launching the 2026 season, Adrenalize is proud to help begin another summer of live music and community celebration in Wilmington.

The following evening, Saturday, June 6, the band travels to LA-Z Acres Campground in Nashport, Ohio, one of the Midwest's most unique outdoor concert destinations.

Known for its impressive concert grounds, massive video wall, professional production, and enthusiastic crowds, LA-Z Acres Campground has become one of Ohio's most distinctive outdoor concert destinations. Throughout the season, campers from across the property make their way to the concert grounds - many arriving by golf cart - to experience the evening's entertainment. With its state-of-the-art presentation, community atmosphere, and passionate audience, the venue provides the perfect setting for Adrenalize's arena-sized tribute to Def Leppard.

Widely regarded as the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, Adrenalize recreates the sound, energy, and excitement of a classic Def Leppard concert with remarkable attention to detail. More than simply performing the songs, the band is committed to honoring the music, legacy, and spirit of one of rock's most influential and enduring acts. From the soaring harmonies and dual-guitar attack to the authentic visual presentation, Adrenalize delivers the music with the same passion, respect, and integrity that have made Def Leppard a global arena rock phenomenon for more than four decades.

Fans can expect performances featuring favorites such as "Photograph," "Rock of Ages," "Hysteria," "Animal," "Foolin'," "Rocket," "Bringin' On The Heartbreak," and, of course, "Pour Some Sugar On Me," presented with the power and precision that have earned Adrenalize a growing reputation among theaters, festivals, casinos, and concert venues nationwide.

The Ohio performances are just the beginning of a busy summer schedule that includes both outdoor festivals and headline theater appearances.

Upcoming Adrenalize Dates:

June 5 - Friday Night Concert Series - Wilmington, OH

June 6 - LA-Z Acres Campground - Nashport, OH

June 13 - Appalachian Harley-Davidson's 25th Birthday Bash - Mechanicsburg, PA

June 26 - Penn Theater - Butler, PA

June 27 - Pennsylvania Roundhouse Rally - Altoona, PA

Additional dates continue throughout the summer and fall.

For tickets, show information, and a complete tour schedule, visit AdrenalizeBand.com.

About Adrenalize

Adrenalize - The Ultimate Def Leppard Experience is dedicated to celebrating the music and legacy of Def Leppard through authentic live performances that capture the excitement of the band's legendary arena tours. Performing for audiences across the United States, Adrenalize has become the country's leading Def Leppard tribute experience, earning praise for its musicianship, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering a first-class concert experience.

BroadwayWorld Launches Producer Fantasy Game

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:05 PST

Ever watched the weekly Broadway grosses roll in and thought you could pick the winners? Now you can put it to the test. BroadwayWorld has launched the Producer Fantasy Game, a free, season-long competition that lets theatre fans build a roster of Broadway shows and earn points based on how those productions actually perform at the box office. The draft window is open now.

How It Works

The setup is simple. During the draft window, you pick any six Broadway productions that opened this season. Drafting is non-exclusive, so there is no need to race a rival for a hot title. Any number of players can roster the same show.

From there, your shows go to work for you. Every week, each production on your roster earns fantasy points based on its reported box office grosses and capacity percentages. When Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle nominations and wins are announced, your shows bank bonus points on top of that. And each week you can answer our Fantasy Forecast prediction questions for up to five bonus points per correct call.

Weekly Scoring

Each week, a show earns one base point for every $50,000 it grosses, so a $1 million week is worth 20 base points. On top of that, shows can earn bonuses: up to five points for filling seats (based on how close to full capacity the house ran), six points for grossing $2 million or more (or three points for grossing between $1 million and $2 million), and eight points if its gross jumped at least 15 percent from the week before. A show loses four points if its gross dropped at least 15 percent. If a show goes dark and reports no gross for a week, it scores zero for that week with no penalty.

The Fantasy Forecast

The Producer Fantasy Game is really two games in one. The first is the box office game: drafting shows and earning points from their weekly grosses and awards. The second is the Fantasy Forecast, a weekly set of prediction questions about what's happening on Broadway, where each correct answer is worth up to five points. You can play one or both.

We track them separately so you can shine at either. Your Producer score covers the box office game, your Forecast score covers your prediction results, and your Combined score adds the two together for the overall championship ranking. The leaderboard lets you toggle between Overall, Producers, and Forecasters, so a sharp predictor can top the Forecasters board even during a rough season for their roster, and a roster powerhouse can lead the Producers board without answering a single question.

Managing Your Roster

Your lineup stays at six shows all season, and you have plenty of room to maneuver. You get one free drop every week, three additional season drops to use anytime before the trade deadline, and free replacements whenever a show on your roster closes. New productions open throughout the season and become available the moment they start reporting grosses, so it pays to keep a transaction in your pocket for that buzzy new opening.

Join the Game

The Producer Fantasy Game is free for all BroadwayWorld users, and you can join any time the draft window is open. Draft within the first two weeks of the season and your roster is scored from opening week, so the earlier you get in, the more weeks you bank. Build your roster, make your predictions, and start climbing the leaderboard today.

Riverfront Theater Company to Host Second Annual Pride Drag Bingo in Pittsburgh

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:27:33 PST

Celebrate the end of Pride Month in style at Riverfront Theater Company's Second Annual Pride Drag Bingo! Join un on Sunday, June 28, from 4:00-8:00 PM at Spirit Hall in Pittsburgh for an unforgettable afternoon of entertainment, community, and fun.

This year's event is bigger and bolder than ever, featuring 15 spectacular drag performances, exciting bingo rounds, a jackpot game, new vendors, raffle opportunities, prizes, and more.

Your $35 ticket includes five rounds of bingo, access to vendors and games, a pizza buffet, jackpot bingo, and a full lineup of incredible drag entertainers, including Theocracy, Andi Whorehol, Sir Cretion, Kelly Kooter, Ezhora Decomer, Sue-Flay Munroe, Twinkerbell, and Gingersnap. A cash bar will be available for guests 21+ with valid ID. Come dressed in your most fabulous, glittering Pride attire and help us send Pride Month out with a bang!

Kyra Kennedy and More to Star in BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at Pittsburgh CLO

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:39:25 PST

Pittsburgh CLO has revealed the cast and creative team of BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical, running June 23-28 at the Benedum Center as part of Pittsburgh CLO's 2026 Summer of Musicals.

Tickets are on sale now at PITTSBURGHCLO.ORG or by calling 412-456-6666.

"There's no better way to begin our 2026 PNC Summer of Musicals than with the uplifting story and unforgettable music of BEAUTIFUL," said Mark Fleischer, Pittsburgh CLO Executive Producer. "This production showcases the extraordinary depth of talent that defines Pittsburgh CLO, with Academy students, emerging professionals, accomplished local artists, and Broadway veterans sharing the stage together. Created right here in Pittsburgh for our community, BEAUTIFUL celebrates the power of music, mentorship, and storytelling to bring people together."

This summer marks Pittsburgh CLO's milestone 80th Anniversary, celebrated in honor of Carol Hefren Tillotson, a devoted supporter and advocate for the arts in our community. For eight decades, Pittsburgh CLO has brought the magic of live musical theater to Pittsburgh audiences while helping launch the careers of countless performers who have gone on to Broadway, national tours, television, and film.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Offer Three-Ballet Family Fairy Tale Package For The 2026-27 Season

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:20:37 PST

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is welcoming families to join them for a season of adventure with three magical fairy tale ballets. The Family Fairy Tale package includes well-known, family-friendly storybook ballets featuring favorite characters and imaginative stories. Audiences of all ages will delight in experiencing these performances together at the Benedum Center. The Family Fairy Tales package for the 2026-27 season includes:

The Nutcracker, December 4-27, 2026
Alice in Wonderland, February 12 - Feb 21, 2027
The Sleeping Beauty with the PBT Orchestra, May 7-9, 2027

“I am thrilled for PBT to offer a Family Fairy Tale package again this year,” said Adam W. McKinney, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artistic director. “This is a wonderful way to introduce young people to ballet and demonstrate that ballet is for everyone. I love watching children's faces light up with joy as they watch their favorite fairy tales come to life onstage.”

More Information about the Family Fairy Tale Package:

THE NUTCRACKER

December 4-27, 2026
Benedum Center

Concept & Choreography: Terrence S. Orr I Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky

Terrence S. Orr's beloved version of The Nutcracker returns for its final year, inviting Pittsburgh audiences to gather one last time around this treasured holiday tradition. The Nutcracker overflows with warmth, nostalgia and theatrical magic. As we prepare for an all-new production in 2027, this fond farewell honors a sparkling world that has lived in the city's heart for more than twenty years.

Set in turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh, Orr's The Nutcracker whisks audiences into an unforgettable adventure with Marie and the Nutcracker Prince as they journey through swirling snow and into the Land of Enchantment. There, they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and hundreds of colorful characters, all brought to life with amazing dancing and the iconic Tchaikovsky score.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

February 12-21, 2027
Benedum Center
Choreography: André Santos I Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky

Don't be late! Pittsburgh audiences are invited to join Alice as she falls into a whimsical wonderland where the unexpected awaits around every corner. Based on the beloved Lewis Carroll books, Alice in Wonderland comes to life as an extraordinary adventure featuring visually dazzling sets, curious characters, vivid costumes and magical moments. The ballet features new choreography by André Santos and includes familiar characters, such as the eccentric Mad Hatter, the evil Queen of Hearts and the mysterious White Rabbit. Alice in Wonderland will entertain the whole family with an unforgettable escape into a world where imagination knows no bounds.

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY with the PBT ORCHESTRA

May 7-9, 2027
Benedum Center

Original choreography: Marius Petipa; New staging by Adam W. McKinney I Music: P.I. Tchaikovsky

Enter a radiant kingdom where destiny gracefully unfolds and true love triumphs with a single kiss. The Sleeping Beauty enchants with immaculate choreography and fairytale charm. Audiences will delight in the lavish staging, gorgeous costumes, exquisite dancing and Tchaikovsky's glorious score, performed live by the PBT Orchestra. The ballet unfolds with delightful dances by Princess Aurora and Prince Désiré, six good fairies, the vengeful Carabosse and storybook characters including Puss ‘n Boots, the White Cat, Bluebird and Princess Florine. PBT invites audiences to step into this storybook classic that's a dream for audiences of every age.

Family Fairy Tale Package Subscription Information

Tickets for the three-ballet Family Fairy Tale package start at $82.50 for adults. Packages for children (ages 3 - 17) start at $50.25. Subscriptions for the Family Fairy Tale package are available at pbt.org/fairytale or by calling 412-454-9107.

Chatham Baroque Reveals 2026–2027 Season Lineup

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:17:04 PST

Chatham Baroque has announced its 2026/2027 concert season, marking the organization's 35th anniversary. Founded in 1990, Chatham Baroque has built a national reputation for historically informed performance, innovative programming, and meaningful collaborations with guest artists from around the world.

Over more than three decades, the ensemble has evolved while remaining rooted in its core artistic vision. Following a pivotal transition in the early 2000s, Chatham Baroque took its current form as a trio consisting of Andrew Fouts (violin), Patricia Halverson (viola da gamba), and Scott Pauley (theorbo). Since merging with the Renaissance & Baroque concert series in 2018, the organization has expanded its reach, presenting both its own performances and distinguished international and national touring artists as part of a vibrant and wide-ranging season.

The 2026/2027 season reflects both legacy and forward looking programming the organization has built its reputation on, featuring the return of acclaimed guest artists Chris Norman and Pascale Beaudin in Confluence, a program celebrating America's 250th anniversary, A Vivaldi Christmas, a festive holiday performance at Carnegie Music Hall anchored by Vivaldi's Winter, and the ensemble's annual Bach program featuring the Actus Tragicus cantata and the Chaconne from the D Minor Partita. Visiting artists continuing the Renaissance & Baroque tradition include The Wanderer with Benjamin Bagby and Robert Rodenkirchen, Ron McFarlane's Ayreheart, and a vibrant program of 17th-century Mexican villancicos performed by an international ensemble of 12 musicians.

"The 2026/2027 season marks an important milestone for us as we celebrate 35 years of making music in Pittsburgh," said Scott Pauley, co-artistic director of Chatham Baroque. "It is a moment to reflect on how the ensemble has grown and evolved, but also to look ahead. The programming this season reflects that spirit, Andrew, Patricia, and me in programs as an ensemble and joined by exceptional Baroque music specialists, favorite composers and those less familiar, bringing returning and introducing new touring artists, traditional performances and innovative new collaborations, and music that continues to connect with area audiences in moving and meaningful ways."

Confluence: A Pittsburgh America 250 Concert

October 2, 2026 | 7:30 PM | St. Nicholas Church
October 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Hicks Memorial Chapel
October 4, 2026 | 2:30 PM | Original Pittsburgh Winery

Guest artists Chris Norman (flutes and pipes) and Pascale Beaudin (soprano) join Chatham Baroque in a program celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Exploring music from the era of the founding fathers, the program traces the meeting of European traditions in the early American landscape, including Baroque works and folk tunes from English, Irish, Scottish, and French sources, evoking the musical crossroads at the birth of a nation.

The Wanderer

October 25, 2026 | 2:30 PM | Levy Hall

The Wanderer explores journeys of exile, pilgrimage, and fate through vivid musical narratives drawn from Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon elegies of loss. Interwoven with instrumental works rooted in early melodic traditions, this evocative program brings to life a world of perilous travel, memory, and longing. Performed by the renowned medieval ensemble Sequentia, led by Benjamin Bagby and Norbert Rodenkirchen. A Renaissance & Baroque Legacy Concert.

Ayreheart: Ayres of Albion

November 22, 2026 | 2:30 PM | Levy Hall

Ayreheart, founded by Grammy-nominated lutenist and composer Ronn McFarlane, presents a lively program of Renaissance and traditional music from the British Isles. Works by John Dowland and William Byrd appear alongside anonymous ballads and folk songs from England, Scotland, and Wales. The program highlights connections between courtly art music and folk traditions alongside new works inspired by the past. A Renaissance & Baroque Legacy Concert.

A Vivaldi Christmas

December 20, 2026 | 2:30 PM | Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland

Experience a festive and joyful celebration of the season with Chatham Baroque and a gathering of virtuoso instrumentalists from Pittsburgh and beyond. Vivaldi's sparkling "Winter" from The Four Seasons anchors a program of imaginative and expressive works, including Biber's radiant Annunciation Sonata and Farina's playful Capriccio Stravagante.

Singing in the City of the Angels: Villancicos in Puebla by Gaspar Fernández

February 14, 2027 | 2:30 PM | Calvary Episcopal Church

La Boz Galana and Concerto Scirocco present lively villancicos from 17th-century Puebla, Mexico. Featuring music by Gaspar Fernández, these spirited works are full of rhythmic energy, vivid storytelling, and a blend of cultural influences. Performed by 12 singers and instrumentalists, this program offers rarely heard musical traditions from the early Americas. A Renaissance & Baroque Legacy Concert.

Art of the Trio, 35th Anniversary Edition

Emily Norman Davidson Memorial Concert
March 12, 2027 | 7:30 PM | Teutonia Männerchor
March 13, 2027 | 7:30 PM | Levy Hall
March 14, 2027 | 2:30 PM | St. Nicholas Church

Dazzling virtuosity. Intimate ensemble playing. Joyful music making. Andrew Fouts, Patricia Halverson, and Scott Pauley celebrate the ensemble's 35th anniversary with a dynamic program of the trio's favorite composers, including Bach, Corelli, Castello, Matteis, and Marais.

Bach in Motion

April 2, 2027 | 7:30 PM | Calvary Episcopal Church
April 3, 2027 | 2:30 PM | Calvary Episcopal Church

Chatham Baroque's annual J.S. Bach program explores music, movement, and meditation. Featuring the motet Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (BWV 230), the cantata Actus Tragicus (BWV 106), and the D Minor Partita (BWV 1004) for solo violin and dancer, this program brings together sound and movement in a deeply expressive experience featuring Andrew Fouts on violin and international ballerina and Baroque dance specialist, Julia Bengtsson.

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS to Return for 12th Year With 39-City National Tour

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:57:07 PST

“A Drag Queen Christmas” will return for its 12th year, launching a 39-city national tour this November - December. The 2026 edition is hosted by returning fan favorite and theatre star Nina West, and features an all-new merry lineup of drag superstars from the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race franchise.

Artist pre-sale begins Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. (local time) with the code “TWELVE,” and general on sale begins Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m. (local time) at dragfans.com.

This year's cast includes:

Myki Meeks, Winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Nini Coco, Runner-up, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Darlene Mitchell, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Juicy Love Dion, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Discord Addams, Drag Race Season 18 (2026)
Crystal Methyd, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026) & Drag Race Season 12 (2020)
Silky Ganache, Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (2026), Drag Race All Stars Season 6 (2021), Drag Race Season 11 (2019)

“A Drag Queen Christmas” is the world's premiere holiday drag showcase and a sensational theatrical experience that delivers high camp, over-the-top lip-sync performances, side-splitting comedy, elaborate costumes, Broadway-style staging, and a whole lot of heart—something we all seek during the chaos of the holiday season. With plenty of spectacular surprises in store, the show offers audiences a chance to see drag queens at the top of their game perform showstopping numbers of epic holiday proportions on revered theater stages across America. Each year, “A Drag Queen Christmas” provides an annual tradition for folks from all walks of life to come together and connect, find community, and celebrate the season with joy and laughter.

This dazzling, 18+ holiday extravaganza runs two hours and offers fans the chance to add-on a VIP Meet & Greet Experience—including early access to the venue, photos with the queens on stage, autographs, and exclusive tour merchandise.

A Drag Queen Christmas 2026 Tour Dates:

November 11 - Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre)

November 12 - Rochester, NY (Kodak Center)

November 13 - Rutland, VT (Paramount Theatre)

November 14 - Portland, ME (Merrill Auditorium)

November 15 - Boston, MA (Emerson Colonial Theatre)

November 17 - Red Bank, NJ (Count Basie Center for the Arts)

November 18 - Morristown, NJ (Mayo Performing Arts Center)

November 19 - Washington, DC (Warner Theatre)

November 20 - Durham, NC (Durham Performing Arts Center)

November 21 - Wilmington, NC (Wilson Center - Cape Fear Community College)

November 22 - Philadelphia, PA (Fillmore)

November 24 - Pittsburgh, PA (Byham Theater)

November 25 - Columbus, OH (Palace Theatre)

November 27 - Chicago, IL (Riviera Theatre)

November 28 - Appleton, WI (Fox Cities Performing Arts Center)

November 29 - Omaha, NE (Orpheum Theater)

November 30 - Oklahoma City, OK (The Criterion)

December 1 - Des Moines, IA (Hoyt Sherman Place)

December 2 - Kansas City, MO (Uptown Theater)

December 4 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 5 - Salt Lake City, UT (Kingsbury Hall)

December 7 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 9 - Sacramento, CA (Channel 24)

December 10 - San Francisco, CA (Golden Gate Theatre)

December 11 - Stockton, CA (Bob Hope Theatre)

December 12 - Los Angeles, CA (The Wiltern)

December 13 - Santa Rosa, CA (Luther Burbank Center)

December 15 - Mesa, AZ (Mesa Arts Center)

December 16 - Tucson, AZ (Fox Tucson Theatre)

December 17 - El Paso, TX (Plaza Theatre)

December 19 - Austin, TX (ACL Live at The Moody Theater)

December 20 - Dallas, TX (Winspear Opera House)

December 21 - Wichita, KS (Orpheum Theatre)

December 22 - St.Louis, MO (The Factory)

December 23 - Knoxville, TN (Tennessee Theatre)

December 26 - Tampa Bay, FL (Straz Center for the Performing Arts)

December 27 - Fort Myers, FL (Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall)

December 28 - West Palm Beach, FL (Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

December 29 - Jacksonville, FL (Florida Theatre)

Lalah Hathaway, Lady Blackbird and More Join PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:40:11 PST

August Wilson African American Cultural Center will present the 16th edition of the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival, Co-presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield with support from the Joyce & George Wein Foundation, September 17 - 20, 2026, featuring the city's own iconic history along with legendary and contemporary jazz, soul, blues and more. Most performances are FREE on Liberty Avenue in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh with food trucks, a beer garden and Game Zone, plus ticketed concerts at AWAACC and partner venues.

PIJF will host two B.U.I.L.D. artist residencies, made possible with support from the Joyce and George Wein Foundation. Festival artists-in-residence are producer/vocalist/ composer Eric Roberson and the original master of mixtapes New York DJ Kid Capri. Both artists will perform their own music, as well as commissions related to jazz and the artist residency, inspired by the festival theme, Our America250.

Jazz innovators Terri Lyne Carrington, Orrin Evans, Sean Jones and more also headline the festival. PIJF honors the architects of bebop with a tribute to Thelonious Monk directed by Orrin Evans, who will also direct The Jazz Train, a trademark event for the PIJF since 2022. Pittsburgh-based drummer, Dennis Garner leads us on a journey through the music of the late D'Angelo with special guest vocalist Cam Chambers. Hold your hats and brace yourselves for the Slang Spirituals of the torch singer extraordinaire, psych-soul artist Lady BlackBird and disco soul with a gospel vibe of Mississippi's Annie & The Caldwells. Pittsburgh-based vocalist, Anyah Nancy, New York's Hip/Hop/Jazz ensemble The Rakiem Walker Project, Cleveland's soul songstress, T. Marie & Friends, and Akron music scene standout, Nathan Paul Davis & the Admirables, show us what we can look forward to in the future of American culture-shaping music.

Beat makers Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice founder, Terri Lyne Carrington; Nate Smith, who was recently named Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival; and Pittsburgh-native and Hampton, VA, media personality and founder of the Hampton Road Jazz Festival, Jae Sinnett, brings a funky, rock inspired, jazz set called The Blur the Lines Project, featuring music by Jimi Hendrix, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Miles and more.

A Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the American treasure, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, known for his signature, “Purdie Shuffle,” and his contributions and back beat to thousands of American classics, from Steely Dan to Aretha Franklin to James Brown. “He is the one that MUSICIANS are excited to see on stage” says Janis Burley. Mr. Purdie's legacy spans country, blues, jazz, R&B and funk music. He has played on over 4,000 albums and worked with over 2,500 artists. Mr. Purdie will perform some of his hit songs with a band created by Dwayne Dolphin, veteran Pittsburgh-based bassist and member of Fred Wesley/James Brown's band, The New JB's.

For the fourth straight year, pianist/bandleader/composer Orrin Evans will host THE JAZZ TRAIN, in partnership with AWAACC and Amtrak. The travel package includes round-trip train tickets from New York, Newark or Philadelphia, live jazz music during the trip, light refreshments and exciting jazz-related games and activities followed by four days of live music at the Festival. Passengers are responsible for securing the hotel and festival events of their choice.

In the month and weeks leading up to the Festival, the PIJF will collaborate with numerous community partners, including the Pittsburgh International Airport, Carnegie Libraries of Pittsburgh, Afro-American Music Institute, schools, universities and more. Free concerts, student jam sessions, and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival Poster Contest sponsored by Duolingo will keep the region engaged before, during, and after the big festival weekend in September.

Festival attendees can purchase single-day or full weekend VIP Passes separately or as a bundle with The Jazz Train tickets. VIP access includes priority seating for outdoor stages, access to a lounge area inside the AWAACC building, VIP-only bars and more. VIP Passes are limited, and advance booking is recommended.

Lalah Hathaway, Lady Blackbird and More Join PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:40:11 PST

IN TIME OF WAR and More Set for The Mendelssohn Choir Of Pittsburgh 26-27 Season

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:54:11 PST

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh has unveiled its 2026-2027 season under Music Director Daniel Singer and newly appointed Executive Director Cameron Gunsbury-Massey. The season reflects a renewed direction for the organization, one grounded in connection, shared experience, and the belief that choral music can help people make sense of the world around them.

Now in its 118th season, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh continues to build on its tradition of artistic excellence while expanding its focus to programming that speaks directly to lived experience. The 2026-2027 season emphasizes music as a space for reflection by exploring three interwoven themes: conflict, community, and grief. Each program approaches these ideas through a different lens, bringing together works that ask challenging questions while holding space for hope.

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh 2026-2027 Season

In Time of War

October 11, 2026 | East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh
MCP opens its season with a program of composers from three different centuries each offering their response to violence. Arvo Pärt's Da pacem Domine, written in 2004 in commemoration of those lost to acts of terrorism, starts the program with a meditation for peace. Next, Florence Price's 1939 setting of Vachel Lindsay's poem Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight imagines Lincoln's restless ghost observing the start of World War I and questioning why we continue to rage against one another. Franz Joseph Haydn closes the program with the Mass in Time of War. Written in 1796 as Austria struggled against the advance of French armies, Haydn uses trumpets and timpani to color the text of the Catholic Mass with the imminent threat of approaching warfare. The program ends as it began, with a prayer for peace, leaving listeners with the hope that through shared experience and mutual understanding, we can put an end to violence.

CrosSING Bridges - Community Singing Workshop

February 20, 2027
Now in its third season, MCP's CrosSING Bridges initiative returns in the form of a participatory singing workshop. All are invited for a morning of community music-making led by Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones, founder and director of the Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh. As one of the nation's foremost experts on Gospel music, Dr. Jones will guide attendees in learning about the history and significance of this fundamental genre through group singing and conversation. No prior experience with Gospel music is required - all those who love singing are welcome to delve into this rich American tradition together.

The Sacred Veil

May 21 & 23, 2027 | Westminster Presbyterian Church & East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh
MCP closes its season with Eric Whitacre's The Sacred Veil, a deeply personal work exploring love and loss. Written with poet Charles Anthony Silvestri, this 12-movement work tells the true story of Silvestri's wife, Julie, who passed away from ovarian cancer at 36. The Sacred Veil allows listeners the space to grieve and acknowledge that it is okay to do so. Silvestri notes, "We all have pain. We all have experienced loss. We all long for catharsis and closure, even as we grieve." Presented alongside works by Renaissance master Tomás Luis de Victoria and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, the program invites reflection both during the performance and beyond it.

Alongside its self-produced season, MCP continues its longstanding partnership with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, appearing throughout the year to perform major choral works that are central to the orchestral cannon. These include Beethoven's Mass in C Major, Handel's Messiah, and Orff's Carmina Burana. For the widely beloved PSO Holiday Pops, MCP will once again take the stage alongside members of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, MCP's pre-professional training ensemble for High School singers, a program that is celebrating its 40th anniversary next season.

The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh 2026-2027 Season with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

December 4 & 6, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Beethoven: Mass in C Major
December 5, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Handel: Messiah
December 11-13 & 18-20, 2026 | Heinz Hall; Highmark Holiday Pops
February 12-14, 2027 | Heinz Hall; Orff: Carmina Burana
March 11, 2027 | St. Vincent College; Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge
April 17, 2027 | Heinz Hall; Mozart et al.: Amadeus
June 25-27, 2027 | Heinz Hall; The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

LIVING NEWS FEST '26 to Return to Carnegie Stage

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:38:04 PST

Throughline Theatre is producing its third Living News Festival at Carnegie Stage June 11-14. Based on the 1930's Federal Theatre Project, Throughline's former Artistic Director, J. Cody Spellman, began the process of gathering some of the region's top playwrights to present new 10 minute plays ripped from the headlines of local Pittsburgh news. For the 2026 season, Eddie Kunz is at the helm, producing the company's third offering of new works.

The festival brings together a wealth of Pittsburgh talent to collaborate on these new plays. Playwrights Michael A. Buzzelli, Dan J. Kirk, Brian Knavish, Eddie Kunz, Arabelle Pollock, and A.J. Wittman have written scripts that will be brought to the stage by directors Jason Burke, Tal Kroser, Jillian Lovelace, Apryl Peroney, Tom Protulipac, and Stephanie Swift.

Featured ensemble for the plays will include Amy Baschnagel, Carly Chotiner, Dewayne Curry, Terri Davis, Andrea Disch, Rick Dutrow, Chris Duvall, Elizabeth Glyptis, Adam Hawkins, Matt Henderson, Jeffrey Johnson, Brian Kadelcik, Erika Krenn, Dannette Pemberton, Tom Sarpi, Brian Schumaker, Timothy Syciarz, and Kayla Williams.

Peroney, Protulipac, and Swift will be acting as well as directing, and the entire show will be emceed by Jennifer Welch.

Tickets can be purchased online and will be available at the door at a price of $15 for General Admission. Performances on June 11th, 12th, and 13th will begin at 7:30 PM, with matinees at 2:30 PM on June 13th and 14th. Attendance on Opening Night, Thursday June 11th, will include admission to our Opening Night Party with refreshments and an opportunity to mingle with the cast, and tickets priced at $30. A limited number of Pay What You Can tickets are available at each performance. All performances will be at Carnegie Stage, 25 W Main St, Carnegie, PA 15106.

Nia Sioux, Abigail Isom, Cecilia Petrush and More Join MEAN GIRLS at Pittsburgh CLO

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:00:51 PST

Pittsburgh CLO has revealed the cast and creative team of Mean Girls, the Broadway musical based on Tina Fey's iconic film, running July 7-12 at the Benedum Center as part of Pittsburgh CLO's 2026 Summer of Musicals.

The cast of Mean Girls featuring a mix of Pittsburgh CLO alumni and performers making their PCLO debuts.

Adding to the excitement, Nia Sioux joins the cast as a featured ensemble member. Sioux is coming back to the 'burgh, where she rose to prominence as one of the original young dancers of the television reality series Dance Moms. Sioux made her Off-Broadway debut in 2016's Trip of Love. and is currently starring in 11 to Midnight. Along with a recording career and publishing a book, her stage and screen credits have included Imperfect High, Dance With Nia, and, appropriately, a cameo appearance as herself in the screen version of the Mean Girls musical.

The cast features Abigail Isom as Cady Heron, Cecilia Petrush as Regina George, Sydni Moon as Gretchen Wieners, Kaley Bender as Karen Smith, Lyda Jade Harlan as Janis Sarkisian, Jack Haroutunian as Damian Hubbard, Quincy Hampton as Aaron Samuels, Jennifer Lybarger as Ms. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George, Brady D. Patsy as Mr. Duvall, and Rayhan Khimji as Kevin Gnapoor.

The ensemble features Brett Barthelemy, Bella Bilandzija, Ben Allen Carter, Lydia Holland, Emmy J. Lane, Paris Martino, Maile Oravitz, Brittany Pent Rohm, Kai Sachon, Austin Schulte, Nia Sioux, Alejandro Tinnell, Lyla Tsiokos, and Rodrigo Varandas.

Anti-Burn Book Crafting Event

In Partnership with War Streets Art Salon
Wednesday, July 8 | 6pm
Benedum Center Multipurpose Room
REGISTER

MEAN GIRLS Dance Masterclass (Ages 8-18)

Thursday, July 9 | 4pm
Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater
($) Class Registration: $40 - includes masterclass and one complimentary ticket to the performance.

Talkback with Cast of MEAN GIRLS

Thursday, July 9 | Immediately Following Performance
Benedum Center Orchestra Level
REGISTER

MEAN GIRLS Spring Fling (18+)

Saturday, July 11 | Immediately Following Evening Performance
Benedum Center Multipurpose Room
REGISTER

Must pre-register for events and have valid ticket to the associated performance to enter the Benedum Center.

Joe Scalissi & Friends To Bring Headlining Tribute To Hometown Celebration

Sun, 31 May 2026 15:04:19 PST

It's inevitable when driving west from Pittsburgh, someone in the car starts to sing "...when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amoré!" once the sign for Dean Martin Boulevard in Steubenville appears.

The Rat Pack crooner is celebrated every year during a weekend of events around his hometown, with 2026 marking the 30th anniversary of the Dean Martin Hometown Festival. A hallmark event to commemorate the occasion will take place on Saturday June 20 in neighboring Weirton, with a matinee performance of "Joe Scalissi Sings Dean Martin" at Undo's inside the Holiday Inn on Three Springs Drive. Doors will open at 11:30a, with lunch service prior to showtime at 1p.

Headlining the show is Joe Scalissi who you will forget he is an impersonator at all." He has enjoyed acclaim from audiences worldwide and received high praise for his performance by Dean Martin's family, professional collaborators and fan group leaders, including Neil Daniels (President of the Dean Martin Fan Center & former NBC TV executive). The audience can expect Scalissi to deliver the beloved songs, tongue-in-cheek laughs, and legendary charm of "Dino" recreated in one truly celebratory performance.

Scalissi has assembled a top-caliber team to support his performance, including full production design of professional sound, lighting and staging by Wild Cherry ("Play That Funky Music") member Bobby Pizzoferrato. Master of Ceremonies duties will be handled by special guest and festival favorite Lou Martini Jr. ("The Godfather", "The Sopranos", and Off-Broadway's Tony 'n Tina's Wedding). Pre-show coverage will take place with a livestream event hosted by Hannah Timm (Rocktopia on Broadway, QVC, ShopHQ), where Facebook followers of the Dean Martin Hometown Festival page will see exclusive interviews and get a glimpse of the buzz before the show begins. Additionally, Scalissi is known for a surprise guest performer or two during many of his shows, so you never know who may also take the stage with him at Undo's on Saturday afternoon.

To make the afternoon a full fan-service experience, ticket holders will have access to the exclusive "Dino & Friends" display, which will feature artifacts and relics like Dean Martin's personally worn tuxedo, and sheet music he sang from in the recording studio, along with other pieces from the collections of Sammy Davis, Jr. and Jerry Lewis.

Pittsburgh CLO to Host 80th Anniversary Gala Concert Honoring Carol Hefren Tillotson

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:08:30 PST

Pittsburgh CLO will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a gala on June 12 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The event will honor Carol Hefren Tillotson and serve as a fundraiser supporting Pittsburgh CLO's education and community engagement programs.

The evening will include a cocktail reception, a concert featuring Pittsburgh CLO alumni, Academy students, Mini Stars, and 2026 Gene Kelly Award nominees, followed by a seated dinner and post-show Broadway karaoke. The anniversary concert will highlight eight decades of Pittsburgh CLO history through musical performances, stories, tributes, and reflections on the organization's impact on musical theater in the region.

"For 80 years, Pittsburgh CLO has brought generations of audiences together through the magic of live musical theater, and this gala is both a celebration of that extraordinary legacy and an investment in its future," said Mark Fleischer, Executive Producer of Pittsburgh CLO. "We are thrilled to honor Carol Hefren Tillotson for her remarkable leadership and lifelong dedication to the arts, while also recognizing hometown talent Stephen Flaherty, whose journey from Pittsburgh CLO music intern to Tony Award-winning composer perfectly reflects the impact and spirit of our organization."

The concert will feature selections from THE PRODUCERS, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, CATS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, SPAMALOT, CURTAINS, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and THE COLOR PURPLE. The program will also include a memorial tribute to members of the Pittsburgh CLO family and special anniversary recognitions.

Stephen Flaherty to Receive Richard Rodgers Award

During the gala, Pittsburgh CLO will present the 2026 Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theater to Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Flaherty. Established in 1988 in partnership with the families of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II and The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, the award recognizes lifetime achievement in musical theater. Previous recipients include Julie Andrews, Harold Prince, Cameron Mackintosh, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bernadette Peters, Kathleen Marshall, Rob Marshall, and Stephen Schwartz.

Flaherty is best known for creating RAGTIME, ANASTASIA, SEUSSICAL, and ONCE ON THIS ISLAND with lyricist Lynn Ahrens. A Pittsburgh native, he began his theatrical career as a music intern with Pittsburgh CLO before becoming one of musical theater's most celebrated composers.

Ticket Information

All-inclusive gala tickets include a pre-show cocktail hour, premium seating for the anniversary concert, a seated dinner, and post-performance show tune karaoke. Sponsorship opportunities, all-inclusive gala tickets, and concert-only tickets are on sale now.

Pittsburgh CLO to Host 80th Anniversary Gala Concert Honoring Carol Hefren Tillotson

Thu, 28 May 2026 21:08:30 PST

Stephen Flaherty to Receive Richard Rodgers Award

Ticket Information

SONIC LIVE IN CONCERT to Launch Global Tour With US and UK Premieres

Wed, 27 May 2026 20:59:39 PST

As Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates 35 years as one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time, Senbla and SEGA today announced Sonic Live In Concert (www.sonicliveinconcert.com). This new concert experience brings the music and moments of the beloved video games to the stage.

Featuring iconic moments and music from the very first game in 1991 through today, the production will debut in the U.S. at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on September 26, 2026, before making its European premiere at London's Eventim Apollo on September 30. The U.S. tour will visit more than 30 cities nationwide, and a UK tour will follow in February 2027. More European dates will be announced at a later time. Tickets will go on sale May 29, 2026, with pre-sale tickets going on sale on May 28, 2026.

As part of a global rollout celebrating the franchise's milestone anniversary, Sonic Live In Concert features the most recognizable music from the Sonic universe, performed by a live ensemble alongside rock musicians, vocalists, and electronic elements. The setlist includes fan-favorite tracks and an incredible array of music from the very first game through to today accompanied by synchronized HD footage of iconic levels, moments and boss battles from the franchise. Audiences can expect musical Easter eggs woven into the arrangements, adding an extra layer of discovery that brings Sonic's world vividly to life on stage.

The concert also highlights the creative legacy behind Sonic's music from legendary composers Jun Senoue and Tomoya Ohtani, whose work has helped define Sonic's sound across generations.

"Sonic has some of the most distinct and celebrated music in gaming," says Ollie Rosenblatt, CEO of Senbla. "We wanted to create a live show that stays true to what the fans love about Sonic's music, from the electronic and melodic themes to high-energy rock."

“Music has always been a core part of Sonic's identity, shaping how fans experience this world across generations," said Ivo Gerscovich, Chief Business & Brand Officer at SEGA of America, Inc. "With this concert, we're looking forward to celebrating that legacy in a live setting; bringing together the energy, emotion, and creativity of Sonic's music in a way that both longtime fans and new audiences can enjoy together.”

Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has become a global entertainment icon spanning video games, film, television, and consumer products. With renewed momentum driven by recent film releases, new game titles, and a global brand campaign tied to the 35th anniversary, the franchise continues to reach new generations of fans worldwide.

The performance schedule includes:

September 20, 2026 – Spokane, Washington – First Interstate Center for the Arts
September 22, 2026 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre (preview)
September 23, 2026 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium (preview)
September 25, 2026 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Civic Theatre (preview)
September 26, 2026 – Hollywood, CA – Dolby Theatre
September 27, 2026 – Riverside, CA – Fox Performing Arts Center
September 29, 2026 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater
September 30, 2026 – London, U.K. – London Eventim Apollo
October 1, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV – Resorts World Theatre
October 2, 2026 – Fresno, CA – Saroyan Theatre
October 3, 2026 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
October 4, 2026 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
October 6, 2026 – Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
October 8, 2026 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
October 9, 2026 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center
October 10, 2026 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
October 11, 2026 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
October 13, 2026 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre
October 15, 2026 – Omaha, NE – Orpheum Theater
October 16, 2026 – Peoria, IL – Prairie Home Alliance Theater
October 17, 2026 – Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace Theatre
October 18, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory
October 19, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
October 20, 2026 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre
October 22, 2026 – Brandon, MS – City Hall Live
October 23, 2026 – Huntsville, AL – VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
October 24, 2026 – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
October 25, 2026 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts
October 27, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium
October 28, 2026 – North Charleston, SC – North Charleston Performing Arts Center
October 29, 2026 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
October 30, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL – Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater
October 31, 2026 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Au Rene Theater
November 1, 2026 – Orlando, FL – Walt Disney Theater at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
February 17, 2027 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
February 18, 2027 – Edinburgh, UK – Usher Hall
February 19, 2027 – Manchester, UK – Bridgewater Hall
February 20, 2027 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall

For more information, tour dates, and tickets, visit www.sonicliveinconcert.com.

35th Annual Gene Kelly Awards Announces Winners

Sun, 24 May 2026 12:30:03 PST

An enthusiastic sold-out crowd filled the Benedum Center as Pittsburgh CLO celebrated Allegheny County’s finest high school musical theater performers at the 35th Annual Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Established in 1991, and named for legendary performer and Pittsburgh native Gene Kelly, the awards celebrate the extraordinary talent, creativity, and collaboration taking place on high school stages throughout Allegheny County each year.

The event featured live performances from eight schools nominated for Outstanding Musical and highlighted 12 student finalists nominated for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress. Gene Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, was a special guest presenter, bringing an even deeper connection to the ceremony’s namesake.

The Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater does more than honor performance, they elevate the role of arts education and provide opportunities for growth, leadership, and lifelong confidence. Through the discipline of rehearsals and the teamwork required on and off stage, students gain skills that translate directly to college, careers, and leadership roles in any field. These experiences foster communication, adaptability, and a strong work ethic – all qualities that prepare students for success far beyond graduation.

"What makes the Gene Kelly Awards so special isn’t just the talent, it’s the teamwork and support these students show for one another," said Jim Scriven, Director of Education at Pittsburgh CLO. "Whether they’re on stage, backstage, or cheering from the audience, they are building a community rooted in creativity, respect, and shared passion."

Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards presented over $70,000 in scholarships, including the following college-bound seniors: Point Park University presented Theodor Mertz & Oliver Moore with a scholarship renewable for four years, to attend Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts. Seton Hill University presented Anya Bakaturski with scholarships to attend Seton Hill University. Slippery Rock University presented Madison Williams-Powell with a scholarship to attend Slippery Rock University.

Gene Kelly Cash Scholarships were awarded to three high school seniors who have applied and were accepted to a school for the performing or technical arts: Mariana Mangual, Eamonn McElfresh, & Linnea Polen.

The Pittsburgh CLO Ambassadors awarded scholarships to college-bound students who will be pursuing a major outside of the arts: Ashlyn Casale, Zoe Kaczmarek, Ava Isasky, Autumn Miller, & Isaac Reitzell.

The Charles Gray Award for Special Achievement in Arts Education was presented to St. Benedict the Moor School in recognition of its arts education program. The school has made an enduring commitment to use the arts as a way to build community, develop empathy, and promote leadership skills. The school was presented with an award and a cash prize.

Now in its 23rd year, The Kelly Critics program is a joint partnership between Pittsburgh CLO, Dr. Christopher Rawson, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Katelynn Burger from Baldwin High School was presented with the Christopher Rawson Kelly Critics Award and a cash prize.

The judging panel, comprised of performing arts educators, arts administrators, entertainment professionals, and performers have spent the past three months attending performances at the following Allegheny County Schools: Avonworth High School, Baldwin High School, Bishop Canevin High School, Carlynton Jr./Sr. High School, Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools, Chartiers Valley High School, Cornell School District, Deer Lakes High School, Eden Christian Academy, Elizabeth Forward High School, Gateway High School, Hampton High School, Keystone Oaks High School, McKeesport Area High School, Montour High School, North Hills High School, Northgate High School, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, Penn Hills High School, Pine-Richland High School, Pittsburgh Allderdice High School, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12, Plum Senior High School, Quaker Valley High School, Redeemer Lutheran School, Riverview Jr./Sr. High School, Saint Joseph High School, Serra Catholic High School, Seton LaSallle Catholic High School, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy Senior School, Springdale Jr./Sr. High School, Steel Valley Senior High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, West Allegheny High School, Westinghouse Arts Academy, and Woodland Hills High School.

The Recipients of the 2026 Gene Kelly Awards are:

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Budget Level I
Saint Joseph High School – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical

Budget Level III
Penn Hills High School – Once on this Island

Budget Level IV
Riverview Jr./Sr. High School – The Addams Family Musical

OUTSTANDING CREW/TECHNICAL EXECUTION

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical

Budget Level III
Shady Side Academy Senior School – Anything Goes (2022 Revision)

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

OUTSTANDING DANCE ENSEMBLE

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
Plum Senior High School – Seussical

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical

Budget Level III
North Hills High School – Mamma Mia!

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
McKeesport Area High School – Fiddler on the Roof

Budget Level III
Shady Side Academy Senior School – Anything Goes (2022 Revision)

Budget Level IV
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5

OUTSTANDING VOCAL ENSEMBLE

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
Plum Senior High School – Seussical

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ORCHESTRA

Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

OUTSTANDING STUDENT ARTIST

Andrew Horvath
Student Sound Technician; Lead Student Carpenter
Thomas Jefferson High School – 9 to 5

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sonny Davis
"Igor" – Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Livia Rocco
"Elizabeth Benning" - Young Frankenstein
Woodland Hills High School

OUTSTANDING ACTOR

Paxon Masters
"The Phantom" - The Phantom of the Opera
Avonworth High School

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS

Loren Prisuta
"Velma Kelly" - Chicago: Teen Edition
Pine-Richland High School

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL

Budget Level I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School – Hadestown: Teen Edition

Budget Level II
Central & Oakland Catholic High Schools – The Addams Family Musical

Budget Level III
Elizabeth Forward High School – The Prince of Egypt

Budget Level IV
Pine-Richland High School – Chicago: Teen Edition

The winners for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress will represent Pittsburgh CLO’s Gene Kelly Awards in the Jimmy Awards® National High School Musical Theatre Awards® in New York City on Monday, June 22.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Terminates Staff Ahead of Merger With Pittsburgh CLO

Thu, 21 May 2026 06:26:02 PST

Pittsburgh Public Theater has terminated all of its staff as the merger with Pittsburgh CLO proceeds, WTAE News has reported. On Tuesday, between 9 and 12 staff members were told that their positions have been eliminated and they were to prepare to leave the same day.

This comes after a statement was recently made about Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO being in the process of coming together to form a "unified organization."

The staff members were previously on an eight-week temporary furlough, after they were ordered to take a 20% pay cut during the winter. Staff returned from the first four weeks of that temporary furlough Tuesday, which is when they were told their jobs were eliminated.

A letter from board chair Krysia Kubiak was given to the staff members to announced their termination. The letter stated, "With the Pittsburgh Public Theater facing ongoing financial constraints and foregoing a traditional fall season as it prepares to create an entirely new, unified organization with Pittsburgh CLO, it is with sincere regret that we inform you that your position has been eliminated. Your final day of employment with the Public will be today, May 19, 2026."

Read the original story on WTAE News.

About Pittsburgh Public Theater

Founded in 1974 by Margaret Rieck, Ben Shaktman, and Joan Apt, Pittsburgh Public Theater opened in 1975 with a mission to provide artistically diverse theatrical experiences of the highest quality while serving and engaging the community. The company was established during a time when Pittsburgh’s once-thriving theater scene had declined following the loss of major venues such as the Nixon Theatre and the closure of the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Pittsburgh Public Theater launched with more than 7,000 subscribers and an acclaimed inaugural season that included The Glass Menagerie, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Twelfth Night, featuring Leonard Nimoy as Malvolio.

After 24 years on the North Side, the theater moved in 1999 to its current home, the O’Reilly Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, opening the venue with the world premiere of August Wilson’s King Hedley II. Over the years, Pittsburgh Public Theater has built a strong legacy of developing new work, including the professional premiere of Wilson’s Jitney and world premieres by writers such as Horton Foote, Naomi Wallace, Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty.

RealTime Arts Will Host 'Equitable Dinners' Series in Pittsburgh This Summer

Wed, 20 May 2026 05:48:10 PST

As the United States reaches its 250th anniversary this summer, the question of what it means to be American is perhaps more fraught than ever. Rather than shying away from that tension, Pittsburgh's RealTime Arts is laying it all on the table — along with a meal. The theater company will host a series of “Equitable Dinners” in July, inviting strangers from diverse backgrounds to gather in living rooms over a meal, a play, and a conversation around the theme “We Hold These Truths: American Potluck.”

Founded in 2015, RealTime Arts is a community-fueled theater company that creates unique works celebrating real people and places. Every project is created by a diverse constellation of individuals with knowledge and experience reaching well beyond the arts, from their first show, The Saints Tour: Greater Braddock, in which they partnered with another theater company, local non-profits and almost 20 artists and musicians to create a borough-wide traveling theater work; to their theatrical/culinary project “Khuraki,” developed with a group of female Afghan refugees and partner organizations, resulting in a new Pittsburgh Afghan food business.

For its “Equitable Dinners” series, RealTime Arts will deploy an award-winning community theater model created in 2019 by Out of Hand Theater in Atlanta and subsequently adopted by Mixed Blood Theater in Minneapolis. A typical Equitable Dinner begins with a professionally performed ten-minute play based on real-life experiences gathered in community listening sessions. Then, participants break into groups of five to ten to share a meal. This act serves as a "social equalizer," breaking down barriers to discussion. Finally, trained facilitators guide guests in conversation, using the play as a springboard.

RealTime Arts held listening sessions with the public on food, health, and American identity in April, which playwright Molly Rice will use to shape an original, short play. In July, guests will gather to experience the work and resulting discussions at dinners held in the homes of community members and one larger community hub. The dinners will be potluck-style, with specific guests (chosen by the host) invited to bring dishes that reflect their American identities.

“We feel that the tension around politics and current events has caused neighbors to stop talking to each other as much as they used to,” says Molly Rice, co-artistic director and lead playwright of RealTime Arts. “We wanted to create events where neighbors could gather, eat together, and express what it means to be an American through food and conversation.”

Co-artistic director Rusty Thelin adds, “As a performance company, our specialty is creating intimate theatrical works that promote a sense of connectedness. And what more welcoming gesture is there than a person opening their home to friends and strangers alike, to discuss what they have in common as well as how they're different?”

RealTime Arts Will Host 'Equitable Dinners' Series in Pittsburgh This Summer

Wed, 20 May 2026 05:48:10 PST

Review: WORKING Mixes Humor and Dignity at Front Porch Theatricals

Tue, 19 May 2026 17:14:11 PST

Front Porch seasons follow a predictable pattern: a lesser-known and rarely-produced show first in the season, often a revue or anthology format, and then a better-known and larger show later in the summer. Even with this framework in place, it's never easy to guess what their next shows will be. When they announced Working, directed by Daina Michelle Griffith, I assumed I was probably the only person in the room who had ever seen or performed in a live production. It's a deep cut among deep cuts, whose only major revival was in London, but it boasts a murderer's row of Broadway and non-Broadway songwriters. Craig Carnelia, Stephen Schwartz, Mary Rodgers, (new material by) Lin-Manuel Miranda, and then the reason the show has acquired such a cult reputation: additional music by James Taylor. With talent like Front Porch, and composers like that, who needs plot?

What little plot there is is established in direct-to-the-audience exposition: in the 1970s, journalist Studs Terkel interviewed everyday Americans about their lives, their work, and how the two intertwined. He updated this a few times over the years in his doorstopper of a book, "Working," which was soon adapted into a musical. Like the book, the musical is a series of mostly unconnected scenes, songs and monologues about America at work, but though the original production took a New-York centric presentational style, the Front Porch Working is made somewhat site-specific, doing as much as it can to suggest that the city being portrayed is not NYC, but Pittsburgh. Local color abounds: the millworkers and steel men have Yinzer accents, the Uber Eats man is working at Primanti's instead of a generic fast food place, and so on.

Griffith, a Front Porch regular as performer and director alike, stages these scenes to move fluidly in and out and interact physically if not textually, creating something that feels much more like a book musical than the cabaret piece it seems designed to be. Six central performers (Cadee Valesquez, Melessie Clark, Vanessa Reseland, Matty Thornton, Dylan Pal and Stefan Lingenfelter) shift between roles with aplomb, creating wildly different physical and vocal characterizations of their diverse roles. Each has a time to shine, both in monologue and musical number. Matty Thornton bounces, with his big Zillennial working-man's beard, gets laughs as a rowdy, horny, pill-popping trucker, but his Yinzer steel worker, who is smarter than people give him credit for because of his accent and his job, catches you off guard right from the start. Cadee Velasquez wrings gentle, resigned pain from the show's best known song, James Taylor's "Millworker," then later duets with Dylan Pal on Lin-Manuel Miranda's "A Very Good Day," as two underpaid immigrant care-workers who send their money back to their families while caring for other people's families here. Pal has a natural aplomb for accents, which enables him to move with great fluidity through the show's designated "man of color" track in a natural way; trust me, in the hands of a less skilled dialect and accent performer, this track could be extremely cringeworthy. Pal's dry, droll wit (familiar to anyone who saw him as a jazz musician with OCD in Bandstand) lends itself well to the role of an introspective call-center worker, but late in the show, Pal lets loose to chew some scenery in the role of a sociopathic Gen Z intern.

Yes, the show has a few bad guys, in monologues that seem less rooted in documentary and more in satire. Stefan Lingenfelter plays a few of these, including a wonderfully sleazy venture capitalist, but he also plays the show's most idealistic figure, a community organizer who fought Big Oil and actually won. In one of the show's biggest chameleonic shifts, Lingenfelter later plays a retiree in the early stages of dementia, who shuffles through his days and only comes alive when he retreats into fading memories, and must be cared for by Dylan Pal's previously mentioned care-worker. This tragicomic figure shares much DNA with the stay-at-home mom played by Melessie Clark, who loves her small life but wishes the world understood her choice not to be a career woman. Clark plays a number of other colorful characters, from an overworked and under-appreciated office manager to a cleaning woman in what may well be the same office building. She also shares the show's most famous book scene with Vanessa Reseland, Clark as a teenage hustler and sex worker and Reseland as a wealthy socialite. The two characters explain their lives to the audience in rapid juxtaposition, with Clark's matter-of-fact hustler clearly coming across as more virtuous and less self-deluded than Reseland's parasitic social climber.

Reseland excels at the more complex characters in the piece. In one moment, they play a frustrated school teacher who has been let down by the increasing class numbers and lack of resources at her public school. Audience sympathy is instantly on this teacher's side... but then she starts revealing a racist, anti-Hispanic sentiment at the heart of her grievances. She's still a victim of the system, yet our sympathy is instantly drawn into question. Later in the show, they play a waitress whose pride in her job and her skills borders on self-delusion; as the waitress dances around the room, bragging about her skill and the passion she holds for service, the ensemble play the restaurant's patrons, who are very clearly NOT being well-served by this self-proclaimed queen of waitresses. Reseland disappears physically and vocally into these characters, and when she goes full sketch-comedy with the waitress, her wide eyes and freewheeling physical comedy instantly call to mind Kate McKinnon's character work.

Music director Douglas Levine and his quartet make the show's score sing, even stripped of the string section, tin whistles and funky disco horns of the original. Less is more sometimes, and the stripped-back presentational style lets the show's unvarnished honesty shine through. Working often feels contemporary, but more often it feels like a slightly varnished relic of a time that no longer exists: there's a fair amount of 1970s New Yorkism baked into the dialogue, as well as casual uses of Yinglish ("you oughtta see the nice aroma," for one) that plant many of these characters in a firmly pre-digital age. Then again, many of these characters work in jobs on the verge of disappearing, whether to AI, to technological upgrades, or simply as victims of the economic downturn. The world of work is changing, but for one night, we get to hear these stories without a screen, a screed or a talking head to intercede for us. Pray it's not the last time that Working, or even working, remains relevant in Pittsburgh.

THE NOTEBOOK North American Tour Adds 26 Cities to 2026-27 Route

Tue, 19 May 2026 08:13:15 PST

The North American Tour of THE NOTEBOOK hasannounced engagements for the 2026-27 season, adding 26 cites to the previously announced route, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Houston. The tour began performances on September 6, 2025, at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, and has welcomed over 500,000 patrons to date.

Read the reviews for the touring production of The Notebook.

Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart in a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love. Based on the book that has sold millions of copies worldwide and a film that is one of the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all-time, the musical adaptation of THE NOTEBOOK played Broadway at the Schoenfeld Theatre from March 2024 to December 2024 following a critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the fall of 2022.

THE NOTEBOOK features music and lyrics by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson and a book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (writer and producer on NBC's “This Is Us,” The Cake). The production is directed by Michael Greif (Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, RENT) and Schele Williams (Aida, The Wiz), with choreography by Katie Spelman (Associate Choreographer on Moulin Rouge! The Musical).

The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Paloma Young, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Mia Neal, and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon. The production's music supervisor is Carmel Dean, who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy, and the music director is Tina Faye. Casting by The Telsey Office, Patrick Goodwin, CSA.

The production was recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical.

2026-2027 Tour Dates:

Detroit, MI — Fisher Theatre
September 22 – October 4, 2026

Dayton, OH — Schuster Center
October 6 – 11, 2026

Grand Rapids, MI — DeVos Performance Hall
October 13 – 18, 2026

East Lansing, MI — Wharton Center
October 27 – November 1, 2026

Richmond, VA — Altria Theater
November 3 – 8, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA — Benedum Center
November 10 – 15, 2026

Schenectady, NY — Proctors
December 1 – 6, 2026

Boston, MA — Emerson Colonial Theatre
December 8 – 20, 2026

Oklahoma City, OK — Civic Center Music Hall
December 29, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Houston, TX — Hobby Center
January 5 – 10, 2027

Dallas, TX — Winspear Opera House
January 12 – 24, 2027

New Orleans, LA — Saenger Theatre
January 26 – 31, 2027

Hershey, PA — Hershey Theatre
February 3 – 7, 2027

Providence, RI — PPAC
February 9 – 14, 2027

Rochester, NY — Auditorium Theatre
February 16 – 21, 2027

Fayetteville, AR — Walton Arts Center
February 24 – 28, 2027

Huntsville, AL — Von Braun Center
March 2 – 7, 2027

Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Broward Center
March 9 – 14, 2027

Ft. Myers, FL — Barbara B. Mann Hall
March 16 – 21, 2027

Naples, FL — Artis—Naples
March 23 – 28, 2027

North Charleston, SC — North Charleston PAC
March 30 – April 4, 2027

Birmingham, AL — BJCC Concert Hall
April 6 – 11, 2027

Atlanta, GA — Fox Theatre
April 13 – 18, 2027

Tucson, AZ — Centennial Hall
April 27 – May 2, 2027

San Jose, CA — Center for the Performing Arts
May 4 – 9, 2027

Sacramento, CA — SAFE Credit Union PAC
May 11 – 16, 2027

DEATH BECOMES HER Sets Closing Date

Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:20 PST

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the Tony Award winning and Grammy Award nominated musical, and the most nominated production of the 2024/2025 Broadway season, DEATH BECOMES HER, will conclude its Broadway run on Sunday, June 28, 2026 after 20 months, over 650 performances and 900,000 tickets sold at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Lowe Cunningham, SVP, Head of Creative & Strategy, Universal Theatrical Group said today on behalf of the producers, “Bringing Death Becomes Her to Broadway has been an incredible joy, and we are immensely proud of every artist, musician, crew member, and individual who helped make this show what it is. Night after night, it has been a thrill to watch audiences come together to laugh, celebrate, and embrace the wildly entertaining spirit of this production. We are deeply proud of what this show has brought into the world, and we are excited for its life to continue as it tours across the U.S. and beyond in the years ahead.”

DEATH BECOMES HER will launch a multi-year North American tour this September at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH.

DEATH BECOMES HER North American tour schedule:

CLEVELAND, OH 9/12/2026 10/3/2026 Playhouse Square
COLUMBUS, OH 10/6/2026 10/11/2026 Ohio Theatre
ST. LOUIS, MO 10/13/2026 10/25/2026 The Fabulous Fox
OMAHA, NE 10/27/2026 11/1/2026 Orpheum Theatre
NASHVILLE, TN 11/3/2026 11/8/2026 TPAC
DURHAM, NC 11/10/2026 11/15/2026 DPAC
ATLANTA, GA 11/17/2026 11/22/2026 The Fox Theatre
KNOXVILLE, TN 11/24/2026 11/29/2026 Tennessee Theatre
ORLANDO, FL 12/1/2026 12/6/2026 Dr. Phillips Center
TAMPA, FL 12/8/2026 12/13/2026 Straz
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 12/15/2026 12/27/2026 Broward Center for the Performing Arts
NAPLES, FL 12/29/2026 1/3/2027 Artis-Naples
GREENSBORO, NC 1/5/2027 1/10/2027 The Tanger Center
BOSTON, MA 1/12/2027 1/24/2027 Citizens Bank Opera House
PROVIDENCE, RI 1/26/2027 1/31/2027 Providence Performing Arts Center
BALTIMORE, MD 2/2/2027 2/7/2027 The Hippodrome Theatre
CHARLOTTE, NC 2/9/2027 2/14/2027 Blumenthal | Belk Theater
BUFFALO, NY 2/16/2027 2/21/2027 Shea's Performing Arts Center
PITTSBURGH, PA 2/23/2027 2/28/2027 Benedum Center
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 3/2/2027 3/7/2027 DeVos Performance Hall
LOUISVILLE, KY 3/9/2027 3/14/2027 Overture Center
MADISON, WI 3/16/2027 3/21/2027 Overture Hall
DETROIT, MI 3/23/2027 4/4/2027 Detroit Opera House
TULSA, OK 4/6/2027 4/11/2027 Tulsa Performing Arts Center
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 4/13/2027 4/18/2027 Civic Center Music Hall
HOUSTON, TX 4/20/2027 4/25/2027 The Hobby Center
AUSTIN, TX 4/27/2027 5/2/2027 Bass Concert Hall
SAN ANTONIO, TX 5/4/2027 5/9/2027 Majestic Theatre
DALLAS, TX 5/11/2027 5/23/2027 Music Hall at Fair Park
DENVER, CO 5/25/2027 6/6/2027 Buell Theatre
SAN FRANCSISCO, CA 6/9/2027 6/27/2027 Orpheum Theatre
LOS ANGELES, CA 7/6/2027 7/25/2027 Hollywood Pantages Theatre
COSTA MESA, CA 7/27/2027 8/8/2027 Segerstrom Center for the Arts
SAN DIEGO, CA 8/10/2027 8/15/2027 San Diego Civic Theatre
TEMPE, AZ 8/24/2027 8/29/2027 ASU Gammage
SACRAMENTO, CA 9/1/2027 9/5/2027 SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center

For more information on the tour, visit https://deathbecomesher.com/tour/.

Death Becomes her opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 21, 2025. Check out what the critics had to say.

Death Becomes Her at the box office.

DEATH BECOMES HER was the most nominated show of the 2024-2025 Season with 34 total nominations, including: 12 Outer Critics’ Circle Award Nominations, Five Drama Desk Award Nominations, Four Drama Leage Award Nominations, Two Chita Rivera Award Nominations, 10 Tony Award Nominations, and One GRAMMY Award Nomination for “Best Musical Theater Album.”

DEATH BECOMES HER became a viral sensation on social media following the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording, which has been streamed over 34 million times in North America and 16 million times elsewhere worldwide. A clip of Tony Nominee Jennifer Simard performing the album’s 16th track, “Hit Me,” went viral on TikTok—peaking at #2 on the TikTok Viral Chart and #13 on the TikTok 50 Chart—with 491,000 creator uses and over 2.7 billion total views to date. The track “Let’s Run Away Together” has also gained traction on the platform, inspiring over 10,000 videos using its audio.

The cast and creative team of DEATH BECOMES HER made over 30 national television appearances during the Broadway run, completing interviews and musical performances on such programs as NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS’s Tony Awards, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, NBC’s TODAY (Four musical performances and multiple interview segments), CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live, ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, Fox’s SHERRI, Bravo TV’s Watch What Happens Live, ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, and more.

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DEATH BECOMES HER features direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli, a book by Tony Award Nominee Marco Pennette, and an original score by Tony Award Nominees Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, and stars Tony Award nominees Betsy Wolfe (Madeline Ashton), Tony Award Nominee Jennifer Simard (Helen Sharp), Tony Award Nominee Christopher Sieber (Ernest Menville), and Grammy® Award winner Michelle Williams (Violet Van Horn) with Taurean Everett (Chagall) and Josh Lamon (Stefan). The cast also features Marija Abney, Kate Bailey, Sarita Colón, Alexa DeBaar, Brayden Newby, Ximone Rose, Jonalyn Saxer, Bethany Ann Tesarck, Mitch Tobin, Sir Brock Warren, Bud Weber, Ryan Worsing, David Wright Jr., Warren Yang, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Kristine Covillo, Alex Hartman, Lakota Knuckle, McKinley Knuckle, Justin O’Brien, Preston Perez, Amy Quanbeck, and Dee Roscioli.

DEATH BECOMES HER features scenic design by two-time Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Tony Award winner Justin Townsend, sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski, hair and wig design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner Charles G. LaPointe, make-up design by Joe Dulude II, fight direction by Drama Desk Award winner Cha Ramos, with music supervision by Drama Desk Award winner Mary-Mitchell Campbell, orchestrations by three-time Tony Award winner Doug Besterman, music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, dance & music arrangements by Tony Award nominee Sam Davis, vocal arrangements by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Julia Mattison & Noel Carey, music coordination by Kristy Norter, casting by Tara Rubin Casting, production stage management by Rachel Sterner, and general management by 321 Theatrical Management. Marcia Goldberg serves as Executive Producer.

Madeline Ashton is the most beautiful actress (just ask her) ever to grace the stage and screen. Helen Sharp is the long suffering author (just ask her) who lives in her shadow. They have always been the best of frenemies… until Madeline steals Helen’s fiancé away. As Helen plots revenge and Madeline clings to her rapidly fading star, their world is suddenly turned upside down by Viola Van Horn, a mysterious woman with a secret that’s to die for. After one sip of Viola’s magical potion, Madeline and Helen begin a new era of life (and death) with their youth and beauty restored…and a grudge to last eternity. Life’s a bitch and then you die. Or not!

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Promotes Three Artists to Corps de Ballet

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:15:51 PST

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre has announced the promotion of three PBT company artists. The artists were all promoted live onstage after the evening performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream on Saturday, May 16. The changes will take effect for the upcoming season, which runs from August 2026 to May 2027.

PBT Artists Promotions include Amelia McGravey, Isak Sorenson, and Michael Stadtherr, all promoted to Corps de Ballet.

“I am thrilled to promote Amelia, Isak and Michael to the Corps de Ballet,” said Adam W. McKinney, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's artistic director. “ They are dedicated artists who have incredible talent, skill and athleticism. I look forward to continuing to work with them in their new roles.”

About PBT's Promoted Artists

AMELIA McGRAVEY has been promoted to the Corps de Ballet for the 2026-27 season. Amelia grew up in Mickleton, NJ, and trained at The Rock School for Dance Education before joining Houston Ballet Academy as a Professional Level 2 student. In 2022, she was promoted to Houston Ballet II. Amelia attended summer programs at Chautauqua Institution, Boston Ballet School and Houston Ballet Academy. She also toured with Houston Ballet to Tokyo, Japan in 2022 and with Houston Ballet II to Chautauqua, NY in 2023. She joined PBT as an apprentice artist in 2024. Some of the ballets Amelia has performed in include Stars and Stripes, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Swan Lake, Allegro Brillante, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Play, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, A Time to Dance, The Wizard of Oz and Emeralds.

ISAK SORENSON has been promoted to the Corps de Ballet for the 2026-27 season. Isak, originally from Duluth, Minnesota, trained at Stacey's Studio of Dance Education and the Minnesota Ballet School before he was offered a full scholarship to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School's high school program. He spent the following two years in the PBT School Graduate Program. In 2025, Isak was selected as a candidate for the Prix de Lausanne. Isak joined PBT as an apprentice artist in 2025. His repertoire includes Serenade (“Waltz Boy”), Le Corsaire, Giselle, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Steel City Elegies, Strum and Beauty and the Beast.

MICHAEL STADTHERR has been promoted to the Corps de Ballet for the 2026-27 season. Michael, from Novi, Michigan, began his classical ballet training at age 11 at Planko Classical Ballet Academy. In 2018, he was accepted into Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto, where he continued his training for the next four years. After graduating in 2022, he joined the Boston Ballet's Graduate Program for a year before heading to Tulsa Ballet's Second Company for two years. He joined PBT as an apprentice artist in 2025. Michael has performed in numerous ballets, including Alice in Wonderland, Don Quixote, Dracula, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Something to Remember You By, Strictly Gershwin and The Sun Sleeps.

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