Point Park University Presents the Final Conservatory Production in Oakland, UNCLE VANYA

Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company presents the final Conservatory production at the Oakland location of the Pittsburgh Playhouse before opening the new facility downtown. The final piece of the student company to take the Rauh stage is Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov's admired and passionate play about love, sacrifice, and the damaging effects of time.

Directed by Philip Winters, Uncle Vanya runs from April 6 - 15, 2018, in the Rauh Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Ave. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Adult tickets are $20-24, students and seniors are $10, and can be purchased by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-392-8000 or visiting www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

Professor Serebriakov and his young, beautiful, second wife arrive at their country estate with news of their plan to sell it to subsidize their lifestyle. The complex inner workings of family and unrequited love serve as a backdrop for the drama that unfolds within the estate. Elisaveta Fen beautifully translates Chekhov's tragicomedy from 1899 into a masterpiece that the talented students of Point Park University will bring to life this spring.

"It is such an honor to be directing the students in this final Conservatory production at the old Pittsburgh Playhouse," said director, Philip Winters. "Uncle Vanya is a show that I have loved for many years, and it's been really exciting to see how relevant the play remains to contemporary audiences. The issues and concerns expressed by the characters could be 'ripped from today's headlines!' I think our audiences will be excited to see a beautiful, funny, heartfelt production by a group of smart, talented actors that I am more impressed with each day."

This production features scenic design by Britton Mauk, costume design by Joan Markert, lighting design by Jeff Sherman, and sound design by Steve Shapiro.

Don't miss the special lecture series, Freud on Forbes. Following the Saturday, April 7th performance of Uncle Vanya at 8 p.m., members of the Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Center will analyze the script in order to help the audience get inside the mind of the playwright.

Philip Winters is an actor and director, active in the Pittsburgh and regional theater communities for over 35 years. He is also an Associate Professor of Theater in Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts. His credits include recent work in The REP's A Devil Inside, with the Pittsburgh Public Theatre in Equus, and multiple appearances as Pittsburgh legend Art Rooney in Gene Collier and Rob Zellers' play The Chief. Philip's credits also include appearances with Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, and St. Vincent Summer Theatre. Philip recently portrayed Tom in WGN's series Outsiders, and he is featured in the film Aftermath, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Philip holds a degree in English from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Point Park University. He lives near Pittsburgh with his wife and two daughters.