Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre Presents RACE 9/8-10/1

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre presents Race, a thought-provoking, no-holds-barred play, featuring John DeMita, Alan Bomar Jones, Michael Fuller and Casiha Felt, September 8th through October 1st in the intimate Henry Heymann Theatre. Two lawyers - one black, one white - must decide whether they should represent a white man accused of raping a young black woman in David Mamet's latest Broadway hit, Race.

Race may be the central theme, but the issues are more than skin deep as the debate delves into questions of sex, gender, and class. 

PICT co-founder and producing artistic director Andrew S. Paul directs Race. Under his leadership, PICT has produced more than sixty main-stage productions, festivals devoted to the plays of Samuel Beckett, John Millington Synge and Harold Pinter, and two successful international tours. His recent directing credits for PICT include House, Othello, No Man's Land, Hobson's Choice, and the 2009 productions of The History Boys and Rock ‘n' Roll. In 2008, Paul directed and collaborated with playwright David Hare on the non-English language premiere of Stuff Happens at the Slaski Theatre in Katowice, Poland. Last fall, Andrew was a speaker at the World Theatre Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

L.A.-based actor John DeMita makes his PICT debut as lawyer Jack Lawson in Race. His recent credits include Andak Stage Company's world premiere of Liberty Inn, for which he won a Garland Award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical, King Lear with Antaeus, and South Pacific at The Hollywood Bowl. John has performed with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in their Portland venue, and has also performed with Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Intiman, and the American Conservatory Theatre. His many television credits include four seasons in the role of Col. Clifford Blakely on JAG, and guest-starring roles on Medium, Dirt, Without a Trace, and CSI.

Alan Bomar Jones plays lawyer Henry Brown. Based in Dayton, Ohio, Jones returns to Pittsburgh where he received Onyx Awards for his performances in Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater Company productions of August Wilson's Seven Guitars and The Piano Lesson. His many other stage credits include productions with the Human Race Theatre, CATCO, Dayton Playhouse, California Theatre Center, American Stage, and Stirling Festival Theatre (Ontario), as well as extensive voice-over and audio book credits.

Carnegie Mellon University graduate Michael Fuller returns to PICT to play the accused rapist Charles Strickland. His previous PICT credits include House & Garden (Barry Love), Beautiful Dreamers (various roles), and Pride & Prejudice (Mr. Bingley). Other recent credits include Hunter Gatherers (Bricolage); Death of a Salesman (The Rep), Glengarry Glen Ross (barebones productions), and Is He Dead (St. Vincent Summer Theatre).

Casiha Felt makes her Pittsburgh debut as Susan. Her credits include Bye Bye Birdie with California's Redlands Theatre Company, for which she received the Inland Theater Award for Best Actress, multiple productions with Monomoy Theater, and new play workshops at the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens in Chicago. She has an MFA from Ohio University.

The set is designed by PICT resident scenic designer Gianni Downs. His previous credits include House & Garden, Pinter Celebration, Crime & Punishment, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The costumes are by Rachel S. Parent, lighting design is by Allen Hahn, sound design by Erik T. Lawson (The Importance of Being Earnest, Hobson's Choice), and properties by Cory F. Goddard (Hobson's Choice, The Importance of Being Earnest). Race plays September 8th through October 1st in the Henry Heymann Theatre.

The Henry Heymann Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland
4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cast: John DeMita, Casiha Felt, Michael Fuller, Alan Bomar Jones

Design Team: Gianni Downs (scenic design); Allen Hahn (lighting design); Rachel S. Parent (costume design); Erik T. Lawson (sound design), Cory F. Goddard (properties)

Performance Dates and Times:

First Week:
Thursday -- Friday, September 8, 9; 8 p.m. previews
Saturday, September 10; 8 p.m. opening night, followed by reception
Sunday, September 11; 2 p.m. matinee

Second Week:
Tuesday, September 13; 7 p.m. Professional Tuesday performance
Wednesday - Saturday, September 14 - 17; 8 p.m. performances*
Sunday, September 18; 2 p.m. matinee
*pre-performance discussion at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday

Third Week:
Wednesday - Saturday, September 21 - 24; 8 p.m. performances
Sunday, September 25; 2 p.m. performance

Fourth Week:
Tuesday, September 27: 7 p.m. performance
Wednesday - Friday, September 28- 30: 8 p.m. performance
Saturday, October 1; 2 p.m. AND 8 p.m. performances

Special Student Matinee - Tuesday, September 20 at 10 a.m. Contact Gale McGloin at 412.561.6000 x204 or gmcgloin@picttheatre.org for more information

Ticket Prices:

Fri. and Sat. nights: $50; Seniors $48
Tues., Wed., Thurs. nights, and Sat. & Sun. matinees $46, Seniors $44
Preview Thurs. and Fri.: $40 for all seats
$20 tickets available for youth under 25, with valid ID

Call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org

Need more Pittsburgh Theatre News in your life? Sign up for all the news on the Winter season, discounts & more...