City Theatre Presents the Pittsburgh Premiere of THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY

City Theatre's 2017-18 season continues with the uplifting one-man drama The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Academy Award-Winner James Lecesne. Keith Randolph Smith (Sunset Baby, November 2015) stars as Chuck DeSantis, a small-town detective recounting the disappearance of a gay teenager named Leonard Pelkey, and the community who helped him uncover the truth. Directed by Laura Savia, Associate Artistic Director of internationally renowned Williamstown Theatre Festival, the play runs January 20 - February 18, 2018, in the Lester Hamburg Studio Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

City Theatre continues its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement with partnerships and outreach specific to the issues addressed in The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey.

Led by an all-female and transgender design team, City Theatre is collaborating with Dreams of Hope to include LGBTQA youth in the creative process and behind the scenes. Students are working closely with the scenic designer Britton Mauk and the City Theatre staff to curate, design, and produce the props and photography seen in the production. Dreams of Hope provides the region's lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and allied (LGBTQA) youth a welcoming environment to grow in confidence, express themselves, and develop as leaders. Their creative contributions educate audiences, build awareness, and increase acceptance.

City Theatre will host and donate a benefit evening for the Dakota James Foundation on Friday, January 19, at 5:30 p.m. Tickets include a reception with food, cash bar, and silent auction in the Gordon Lounge, followed by a private invitation to the final dress rehearsal of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey at 7:00 p.m. See www.dakotajamesfoundation.com for event tickets and more information. The Dakota James Foundation encourages collaboration to ensure public safety through improved surveillance, police procedures and cooperation, raising awareness, and supporting families of a missing person. All proceeds benefit the foundation.

Representatives of the Dakota James Foundation will host a post-show talkback forum following the Pay-What-You-Want performance on Saturday, February 3 at 1:00 p.m.

About The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey:
Leonard Pelkey is a fourteen-year-old intent on living life out loud while marooned in a sleepy Jersey shore town. When Leonard suddenly vanishes, a hardboiled detective takes the case, unraveling the mystery with the help of a colorful band of locals. Written by Academy Award-winner James Lecesne, this hilarious and heartwarming one-man show celebrates the power of a single person to uplift an entire community.

Laura Savia is director. The design and production team includes Britton Mauk (scenic design), Madison Hack (costume design), Isabella Byrd (lighting design), Elizabeth Atkinson (sound design), and Taylor Meszaros as stage manager. Dreams of Hope student artists Grey Buchanan and Red Goblet are specialty props coordinators.

THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
January 20-February 18, 2018

Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and/or 7:00 p.m.

Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and/or 9:00 p.m.

Sundays at 2:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.

For a complete listing of show times, please visit CityTheatreCompany.org or call 412-431-2489.