SHANTYTOWN. THE BALLAD OF FR. JAMES COX.
Book, music and lyrics by Ray Werner
Composer and Music Director: Dwayne Fulton
With arrangements by Mike Gallagher, Bruce Foley, Jerry McCarthy & Walter Woodward
Directed by Gregory Lehane
At Madison Arts Center, 3401 Milwaukee Street
Ran March 17th – 26th, 2023
A new musical about the amazing Pastor of Old St. Patrick’s in The Strip who fed over 3 million meals to the homeless during The Great Depression. Read more.
PYRAMID BUILDERS
By Karuna Das
Directed by Bianca LaVerne Jones
At Madison Arts Center, 3401 Milwaukee Street
April 14th – 23rd, 2023
World premiere!
Ancient myths. Modern agriculture.
Tribalism. War. Climate crisis. White supremacy.
The recent past. A potential future.
Change the story.
Believe.
In the summer of 2012, a chance encounter with homeless teenager Maya propels corporate executive Farrah on a journey into the depths of her soul. For them to help each other heal from parallel childhood traumas, the older woman will need to recognize what lies beneath her compulsion to rescue the youth.
Twenty-four years later, in the midst of a civil war and food and water shortages, orphaned teenager Satya reluctantly takes refuge with Black Lives activist Octavia and her ally Cassie. As white nationalists close in, can the women build bridges that will lead to freedom? Read more.
12:52 THE MIKE WEBSTER STORY
By Dr. Randall Benson and Ross Howard
Directed by Marcus Muzopappa
At Madison Arts Center, 3401 Milwaukee Street
June 16th – 25th, 2023
The story of “Iron Mike” Webster (1952-2002), the first NFL player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disorder linked to repeated head impacts, and a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers for a record-breaking fifteen seasons.
This production was also presented as part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival earlier in June.
JOE TURNER’S COME & GONE
By August Wilson
Directed by Mark Clayton Southers
Outdoors at August Wilson House
August 5th – September 9th, 2023 Extended!
August Wilson’s Tony-nominated drama set in a boarding house in Pittsburgh’s Hill District in 1911. The play explores the lives of African Americans at the start of the Great Migration to the North as they seek their own identities and contend with racism and discrimination.
THE BLUEGRASS MILE
By Mark Clayton Southers
Directed by Mark Clayton Southers
At Madison Arts Center, 3401 Milwaukee Street
October 6th – 29th, 2023
World premiere!
This world premiere drama about Black horse jockeys in the late 1800’s is the latest installment in Mark Clayton Southers’ 19th Century Collection of plays.
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company thanks the following for supporting our season of plays and special projects:
Mid Atlantic Arts Regional Resilience Fund
Hillman Foundation
Allegheny Regional Asset District
Bloomberg Philanthropies
The Heinz Endowments
Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh
The Opportunity Fund
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Richard King Mellon Foundation
Eden Hall Foundation