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

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?”