Dreamweaver Marketing News, PICT Classic Theatre Present Oedipus Rex

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3.13.17

CONTACT:

Brian Edward

Marketing & Communications Manager           

PICT Classic Theatre                           

412-561-6000  x 203

BEdward@picttheatre.org

OEDIPUS REX promotional poster art.

WHAT:              OEDIPUS REX, PICT Classic Theatre 2016-2017 season.

                        World premiere adaptation by Alan Stanford.

WHO:               PICT Classic Theatre, Union Project, Alan Stanford, Justin Wilson.

WHERE:           Union Project, 801 North Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15206.

WHEN:             March 23^rd through April 8^th, 2017.  Opening night celebration March 25^th. 

TICKETS:         $15 - $50, www.picttheatre.org, 412-561-6000.

PICT sets OEDIPUS REX in Mediterranean Africa for world premiere adaptation

On March 23^rd, PICT Classic Theatre will continue its 2016-2017 Season at Union Project with Sophocles’ classic Greek tragedy, OEDIPUS REX.

Thought to have been first performed in 429 BC, OEDIPUS REX takes place in the plague-ridden city of Thebes. King Oedipus sends for a prophet who determines that an unsolved murder is the cause of the gods’ displeasure— and Oedipus is the killer. What follows is an unsettling investigation of the past, which begins at a three-way crossroad and ends in a moment of horrifying self-discovery. It is an age-old tale of the dangers of hubris, told by one of history’s original playwrights, and its themes continue to resonate with audiences today.

PICT Classic Theatre’s production of OEDIPUS REX is a world premiere adaptation by PICT’s Artistic and Executive Director Alan Stanford, who has set the play in the Mediterranean region of northern Africa.  “What the audience will experience will be similar to what the Greeks first presented as theatre,” said Stanford.  “Theatre then was performed very much as a ritual.  What the audience will see is a group of exceptional actors allowing a timeless story to unfold before their eyes.”  The play will star Justin Wilson as King Oedipus, Johnny Lee Davenport as Creon, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2015 Performer of the Year, James FitzGerald as Teiresias.

As King Oedipus 

In pursuit of a diverse cast to best present the story of Oedipus within his concept, Stanford looked to Pittsburgh and beyond, casting Wilson from Chicago, and Davenport from Boston.

OEDIPUS REX is the fourth of five plays to be produced by PICT in its 2016-2017 season at Union Project, located at 801 Negley Avenue in Highland Park.  PICT Classic Theatre has partnered with Union Project in support of the organization’s mission of bridging gaps between communities through art.  The season has included critically acclaimed productions of SHIRLEY VALENTINE, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE LION IN WINTER, and will feature SIVE by John B. Keane in May, taking place upon a stage especially crafted for a theatrical experience within Union Project.

OEDIPUS REX performs March 23^rd through April 8^th 2017 with tickets and season flex subscriptions available at www.picttheatre.org or by calling the PICT Ticket Office at 412-561-6000.  Student and senior discounts available.  An opening night celebration will be held at Union Project following the March 25^th performance.

The Cast

Justin Wilson                            Oedipus

Lamar K. Cheston                    Theban/Polybus

Kevin H. Moore                        Laius/Corinthian

Tyler Jetter                              Telemon

Linda Haston                           Leader of the Chorus

Alexis Cash                              Merope/Ismene

Dominique Brock                     Young Jocasta/Antigone

Johnny Lee Davenport             Creon

Sharon McCune                      Jocasta

James FitzGerald                     Teiresias

Karen Baum                            The Sphinx

About Justin Wilson

Justin Wade Wilson is thrilled to be making his Pittsburgh debut with PICT. He was last seen as Jeff in Collaboraction's production of The Mars Assignment and Tim in Aston Rep's production of The Black Slot. He would like to thank PICT for this opportunity, Dana Dancho. and his family for the tremendous support. He dedicates this performance to the memory of Freeman Coffey.

About Alan Stanford

Alan Stanford (Artistic & Executive Director) is in his ninth season at PICT. He was, for more than thirty years, a principal and leading actor with the renowned Gate Theatre, Dublin, where he recently directed a box office record breaking production of The Constant Wife, and previously Pride and Prejudice, which was taken to the Hong Kong Arts Festival in February 2015. He founded Ireland’s Second Age Theatre Company.  PICT credits: Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, For the Tree to Drop, Great Expectations, Macbeth, Woman and Scarecrow, Macbeth, Pozzo in Waiting for Godot, Blithe Spirit, Don Juan Comes Back from the War, Lady Windermere’s Fan, and The Kreutzer Sonata. Other credits: The School for Scandal (Point Park Conservatory), works by Shakespeare, Molière, Noël Coward, Oscar Wilde, Shaw, Beckett, and Brecht.

About Union Project

Union Project is a historic space that community restored maintained; the space was transformed as a creative solution to provide a safe and open space for the community. Union Project has come a long way since 2001, but its work still centers on the transformative power of the arts. Union Project believes that art can create change, and help to build a more inclusive, empathetic, and just community.

About PICT Classic Theatre

PICT Classic Theatre is committed to the creation of high-quality, professional thought-provoking theatre of substance.  PICT accomplishes its mission by investing in and promoting the greater Pittsburgh community.  PICT is the only professional company within the Pittsburgh region dedicated solely to presenting classics and the “modern” classics of Irish and world theater. 

_____________________________________________________________________________

PRESS NIGHT

Saturday, March 25^th  8:00pm

Contact Brian Edward to confirm tickets: bedward@picttheatre.org

PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS ATTACHED

OEDIPUS REX promotional poster art.

Justin Wilson headshot.  

About this Blog:  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates provides this blog as a service to the community, friends, clients and business associates.  Feel free to use this blog as a resource and also to send in your press releases.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is a full service marketing company that specializes in online and digital branding.  Run exclusively by Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny and specializing in organic search content, like blogs, video and audio podcasts and searchable social media.  For additional information you can contact the host of this blog, Joanne Quinn-Smith at 412-444-5197.Podcasts that come under the umbrella of Dreamweaver Marketing are PositivelyPittsburghLive, TheTechnoGrannyShow ,MondayMorningMarketeer

Hangin' Up My Heart Reading Cancelled

Media Contacts:


Melissa Hill Grande – 412.561.6000 x203 or mgrande@picttheatre.org

Josh Storey – 412.624.0933 or jstorey@pitt.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

___________________________________________________________________________


New Classics March reading cancelled

Pittsburgh, PA -- March 7, 2011. The New Classics reading of Michael Schwartz’ play Hangin’ Up My Heart scheduled for Sunday, March 27th, has been cancelled.

On Saturday, February 27, the University of Pittsburgh Theatre Arts Department sustained some damage to its scene shop. Unfortunately, this has left the Henry Heymann Theatre unavailable for performances during the reconstruction period. “This will not change the opening of As You Like It, our final show of the season,” says Bruce McConachie, Chair of Theatre Arts. “Shakespeare’s comedy will open on April 1 – April Fools’ Day – and run through the 10th.”

New Classics is a cooperative program presented by the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Theatre Arts and Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. The series is intended to highlight new works and showcase up-and-coming playwrights.

For more information contact Josh Storey at jstorey@pitt.edu, 412.624.0933.
# # #

The University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Theatre Arts (founded in 1982) offers the BA, MA, MFA and PhD degrees in Theatre Arts. All faculty members are active in both teaching and artistic / research activities. The department shares a philosophy of theatre education, the chief feature of which is the firm conviction that theory and practice, academic and creative work, and educational and professional theatre must be integrated for a successful program of theatre education. The University of Pittsburgh Repertory Theatre is the department’s flagship theatre company with performance spaces in the landmark Stephen Foster Memorial and the Cathedral of Learning. www.play.pitt.edu.

Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production. PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. PICT is the Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at the Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.

PICT Invites Local Schools to Antony and Cleopatra Project

Media Contact:

Gale McGloin
412.561.6000 x204
gmcgloin@picttheatre.org




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local schools invited to participate

in Antony and Cleopatra project

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre one of forty companies to

receive grants to bring Shakespeare to students nationwide

Pittsburgh, PA -- February 7, 2011. Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre (PICT) is seeking a minimum of ten schools in the region to participate in a theatre education initiative accompanying its May production of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. Teachers at participating schools will receive extensive educational materials related to the works of Shakespeare and specific to PICT’s production of Antony and Cleopatra. Prior to attending the student matinee performance, teaching artists will visit the schools to prepare students for the play. PICT’s Producing Artistic Director, Andrew S. Paul will also visit the schools in April.

PICT’s production of Antony and Cleopatra is helmed by Barrymore Award-winning director James J. Christy (PICT’s 2009 King Lear), and stars nationally-known Shakespearean actor Sam Tsoutsouvas as Antony and the incomparable Helena Ruoti as Cleopatra. Participating students will have the opportunity to work with artists and educators affiliated with the production before and after attending a performance.

PICT is one of 40 nonprofit, professional theater companies that received a grant of $25,000 to participate in Shakespeare for a New Generation from June 1, 2010-May 31, 2011. Part of the NEA’s Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, Shakespeare for a New Generation introduces middle- and high-school students to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare. Managed by Arts Midwest, the program has benefited more than 1.5 million students and their teachers with live performances and educational activities since the program began in 2003.

“We are proud to support bringing Shakespeare to America’s students,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “I have seen firsthand how the productions supported through Shakespeare for a New Generation have connected youth with Shakespeare – sometimes for the first time – inspiring them and creating the next generation of audiences. At the same time, this funding increases work opportunities for our theater artists.”

For more information about how your school can participate in this exciting project, contact Gale McGloin at 412.561.6000 x204 or gmcgloin@picttheatre.org.
# # #


Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production. PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. PICT is the Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at the Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.

Victorian Comedy Hobson's Choice at Stephen Foster

Media Contact: Melissa Hill Grande

Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
mgrande@picttheatre.org
412.561.6000 x203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PICT presents “Comic King Lear” for the holidays

Canadian legend Michael Ball makes his PICT debut alongside former Shaw Festival colleague Simon Bradbury, Derdriu Ring and first-rate ensemble in hilarious Victorian comedy Hobson’s Choice

Pittsburgh, PA – November 1, 2010. Henry Horatio Hobson’s three bossy daughters are driving him to drink, and the end result is comedy in the PICT production of Harold Brighouse’s 1914 classic, Hobson’s Choice. The production runs December 2nd through the 18th in the Charity Randall Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland, and is sponsored by The Charity Randall Foundation and WDUQ-FM. First Niagara is the Opening Night Sponsor.

Under the direction of PICT Artistic Director Andrew Paul, Hobson’s Choice features Michael Ball, Simon Bradbury and Derdriu Ring, with scenic design by Gianni Downs, lighting design by Christopher Popowich and costume design by Joan Markert. Erik T. Lawson designs sound.

Set in 1880, the comedy is set in the industrial town of Salford, in the North of England. Hobson (Michael Ball) is a widowed boot-shop proprietor who is at his wit’s end raising three girls and keeping his business going. When he makes the mistake of telling his eldest daughter Maggie (Derdriu Ring) that she’s past marrying age, Maggie promptly retaliates by marrying Willie Mossop (Simon Bradbury), Hobson’s best boot-maker. A powerhouse of a woman, Maggie turns the shy, illiterate Mossop into a substantial business rival to Hobson and brokers marriages for her two younger sisters in the bargain. Hobson disowns the entire gaggle, but finds that living without them may be harder than living with them.

Harold Brighouse was a Salford native, born in 1882 to a manager of a cotton-spinning firm and a headmistress. He was a successful playwright and novelist, and wrote Hobson’s Choice in his spare time during World War I, as he served in the Royal Air Force’s Air Ministry Intelligence Staff. Although his other plays are relatively unknown, Brighouse was a leading member of the Manchester School, a literary movement of social realism that put the working class of Northern England on stage in central roles.

A film version of Hobson’s Choice directed by David Lean and starring Charles Laughton was released in 1954, and a 1983 made-for-television adaptation featured Richard Thomas, Jack Warden, Sharon Gless and (in her final role) the legendary Lillian Gish.

A long-time company member at the Shaw Festival, Michael Ball makes his PICT debut in Hobson’s Choice. Jamie Portman of CanWest News Service declared Ball “A national treasure,” and he has been hailed as one of the most experienced Shavian actors of the English-speaking theatre. His credits include more than forty productions for the Shaw Festival since 1976, including playing the role of Hobson alongside Bradbury in Shaw’s 1996 and 1997 productions of Hobson’s Choice. Other credits include productions at Canadian Stage Company, Tarragon Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, and Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Simon Bradbury returns to PICT to reprise the role of Willie Mossop. Bradbury won Canada’s Stage Door Award for Best Actor in a Comedy for his portrayal of Mossop in the Shaw’s 1996 production of Hobson’s Choice. His previous PICT credits include Chaplin (also playwright), multiple productions in BeckettFest including Endgame, The Shaughraun, King Lear, and Rock ‘n’ Roll. He directed last season’s smash-hit production of What the Butler Saw. He was a long-standing member of the Shaw Festival Ensemble and spent four seasons at Stratford.

Returning to PICT for her seventh season is Derdriu Ring. Her previous PICT credits include The Cripple of Inishmaan, Major Barbara, Portia Coughlan, Boston Marriage, James Joyce’s The Dead, Playboy of the Western World and other plays in the Synge Cycle. She is a graduate of Joe Dowling’s Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin and University College Cork.

Also featured in Hobson’s Choice are Kiley Caughey, Joe Domencic, Jon Farris (Synge Cycle), Kathleen Huber (An Ideal Husband), Roger Jerome (Faith Healer, The School for Scandal), Mary Liz Meyer, Laurel Schroeder (Jane Eyre), David Tabish, and John Wascavage (The History Boys).

Scenery is designed by Gianni Downs (Othello, Crime & Punishment, The History Boys, and Boston Marriage, among others.), lighting by Christopher Popowich (BeckettFest, Julius Caesar, among others), and costumes by Joan Markert (The School for Scandal, An Ideal Husband, Othello). Sound designer Erik T. Lawson makes his PICT debut.

Hobson’s Choice is sponsored by the Charity Randall Foundation, with additional sponsorship by WDUQ 90.5 FM and First Niagara. The production plays December 2nd through the 18th in the Charity Randall Theatre, located at the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Avenue on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. Tickets are $20 to $50 and are available by calling ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or online at www.proartstickets.org.

Special student matinee performances are scheduled for December 1st and 7th at 10 a.m. Teachers who are interested in bringing student groups can call Michelle Belan at 412.561.6000 x208 or email mbelan@picttheatre.org.

Free preshow discussions are scheduled for Wednesday December 8th and Thursday December 9th at 7 p.m., and a post-show talk-back with the company is scheduled for Sunday, December 5th.

For more information, visit the PICT website at www.picttheatre.org.

The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production. PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. PICT is the Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at the Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.

Hobson’s Choice FACT SHEET

Hobson’s Choice by Harold Brighouse

Directed by Andrew S. Paul

The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland

4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cast: Michael Ball, Simon Bradbury, Kiley Caughey, Joe Domencic, Jon Farris, Roger Jerome, Susan McGregor-Laine, Mary Liz Meyer, Derdriu Ring, Laurel Schroeder, David Tabish, and John Wascavage.

Design Team: Gianni Downs (scenic design); Christopher Popowich (lighting design); Joan Markert costume design); Erik T. Lawson (sound design), Cory Goddard(properties)

Performance Dates and Times:

First Week:

Thursday and Friday, December 2 and 3 – 8 p.m. previews

Saturday, December 4 – 8 p.m. opening night, followed by reception

Sunday, December 5 – 2 p.m. matinee, followed by talk-back

Second Week:

Wednesday – Saturday, December 8 - 11 – 8 p.m. performances*

Sunday, December 12 – 2 p.m. matinee

*pre-performance discussion at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday

Third Week:

Tuesday, December 14 – 7 p.m. Professional Tuesday performance

Wednesday – Friday, December 15 – 17 – 8 p.m. performances

Saturday, December 18 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances

Student Matinees:

Wednesday, December 1 – 10 a.m.

Tuesday, December 7 – 10 a.m.

Ticket Prices:

Saturday nights: $50, Seniors $47

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday nights: $46, Seniors $43

Professional Tuesdays, Saturday & Sunday matinees: $42, Seniors $40

Preview Thursday and Friday: $34 for all seats

$20 tickets available for youth under 25, with valid ID



Call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. Great Stories. Well Told.

Melissa Hill Grande
Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre
PO Box 23607
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.561.6000 x203

Salome Pre Show Discussion Location Changed

Media Contact:

Melissa Hill Grande

Director of Marketing

412.561.6000 x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


PICT discussion series moves to Schenley Park for Salome


Pittsburgh, PA – June 12, 2008. Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre will hold free pre-show discussions for Salome on Wednesday and Thursday, June 18th and 19th, at 7 p.m. under the Schenley Plaza Oval Tent, across from the Stephen Foster Memorial.


The discussions are part of a regular series, featuring “Artistically Speaking” (sponsored by UPMC) on Wednesdays and “Behind the Scenes” on Thursdays in the week following the opening of each main-stage production. The discussions are hosted by PICT artistic director Andrew S. Paul, and the special guest for the Salome discussions will be Roger Doyle, composer and pianist for Salome.


Doyle studied composition at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the Institute of Sonology at the University of Utrecht and the Finnish Radio Experimental Music Studio. He has worked extensively in theatre, film and dance, in particular with the music-theatre company Operating Theatre, which he co-founded with actress Olwen Fouere. Awards include the Program Music Prize at the 1997 Bourges International Electro-Acoustic Music Competition, France, and the Marten Toonder Award (2000) in recognition of his innovative work as a composer. Doyle is a member of Aosdána, Ireland’s state-sponsored academy of creative artists.


Oscar Wilde’s masterful poetic drama Salome is directed by Alan Stanford, with original music composed and performed by Doyle. The production runs June 12th through 28th in the Charity Randall Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. DUQ-FM is the media sponsor for Salome.


Corruption, sensuality and self-indulgent hedonism reign in Herod’s kingdom; at the other extreme is Jokanaan – a vain, self-absorbed prophet. Salome is trapped between the fanaticism of Jokanaan and the decadence of society. When her advances are rebuffed by Jokanaan, Salome reacts by succumbing to her step-father Herod’s request that she dance for him. Herod offers her the world on a plate as payment, but she has something else in mind.


For more information, contact Melissa Grande at 412-561-6000 x203. Tickets for Salome are available by contacting ProArtsTickets at 412.394-3353 or online at www.proartstickets.org.


Melissa Hill Grande

Marketing Director

Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre

PO Box 23607

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-561-6000, x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

Visit our website: www.picttheatre.org!

Press Release--Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde

For immediate release:

Contact: Melissa Hill Grande

Director of Marketing

(412) 561-6000 x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

http://www.picttheatre.org


An Ideal Husband launches PICT’s “Wilde Affairs”

Scandalous behavior and political intrigue give Oscar Wilde’s

social comedy a contemporary relevance

Pittsburgh, PA – April 25, 2008. A politician embroiled in a moral dilemma takes center stage in Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre’s upcoming production of An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde. The show runs May 8th through May 31st in the Henry Heymann Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial on Forbes Avenue in Oakland.

The notoriously straight-laced politician Robert Chiltern is on the verge of obtaining cabinet rank, when a mysterious woman from his past emerges and threatens to reveal his darkest secret. Unbeknownst to his adoring wife and admiring friends, Chiltern launched his career by less-than-honorable means. Mrs. Cheveley – the woman who holds his fate in her hands – is willing to keep his secret safe for a price. To save himself from discovery, he must tarnish his honor once again. His neer-do-well friend Lord Goring holds both the key to Chiltern’s salvation and to Chiltern’s sister Mabel’s heart.

An Ideal Husband is directed by Andrew S. Paul, with scenery by Gianni Downs, lighting by Erick Leininger, costumes by Joan Markert, and sound design by Zachary Brown. The production stars David Whalen, Nike Doukas, Paul Todaro, and Beth Hylton.

Playwright Oscar Wilde was born October 16, 1854 in Dublin to William and Jane Francesca Wilde. Wilde studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford, then moved to London where he began his literary career. In addition to poetry, his published works include the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), a series of stories for children, and a number of dramatic works, including Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892), An Ideal Husband (1895), The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), A Woman of No Importance (1893), and Salome (written in 1891 but banned by the censor; first produced in Paris in 1896). He married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and his sons Cyril and Vyvyan were born in 1885 and 1886, respectively. He gained celebrity status in his own time, first as a notorious wit and member of the aesthetic movement, and later for his conviction on a charge of gross indecency (homosexuality) for which he served time in prison. He died in Paris in 1900, three years after his release from Reading Prison.

Director Andrew S. Paul is the founder and artistic director of Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. Last season for PICT he directed Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and David Hare’s Stuff Happens and Via Dolorosa. He recently traveled to Poland, where he directed and collaborated with Hare on the non-English language premiere of Stuff Happens at the Slaski Teatr in Katowice.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2007 Performer of the Year David Whalen plays Sir Robert Chiltern. Whalen played Edgar in the recent PICT production of King Lear, and was seen last season as George W. Bush in Stuff Happens, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, Padraic Osbourne in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. A Pittsburgh native, Whalen is a graduate of Point Park University and the North Carolina School for the Arts. He played Joe Pitt in the American regional premiere of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America at Houston’s Alley Theatre and toured Europe with the production. He also appeared in the Arden/City Theatre co-production of Michael Hollinger’s Opus.

Nike Doukas makes her PICT debut as the seductive and deceitful Mrs. Cheveley. An MFA graduate of the American Conservatory Theatre program, Doukas has performed at many of America’s most respected regional theatres. Her credits include Major Barbara, Much Ado About Nothing, and Blythe Spirit at South Coast Repertory; The Wood Demon and Henceforward at the Mark Taper Forum; Sea of Tranquility and Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Globe; and The Importance of Being Earnest at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Her recent television and film credits include Shark, Women’s Murder Club, Numbers, Boston Legal, and Desperate Housewives (recurring.).

Paul Todaro, who recently played Edmund in PICT’s production of King Lear, plays Lord Goring, resident man-about-town and confidante to Sir Robert. Last season for PICT, he played Lövborg in Hedda Gabler, and Elyot in Private Lives, and he was Gabriel in PICT’s 2004 production of James Joyce’s The Dead. Todaro spent ten years in New York with Independent Theatre Company where his acting credits included the title roles in Hamlet, MacBeth, and his directing credits included the plays of Beckett, Brecht, and Ionesco.

Beth Hylton returns to PICT after playing Amanda in the 2007 production of Private Lives. Her most recent performances include Catharine in Suddenly Last Summer at the Hippodrome State Theatre, Sonia in Life x 3 at Gulfshore Playhouse, and Helen in And a Nightingale Sang at Everyman Theatre. She has an MFA in acting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s professional actor training program.

The cast of An Ideal Husband also includes Anwen Darcy, James FitzGerald, E. Bruce Hill, Kathleen Huber, Dek Ingraham, Jay Keenan, Catherine Moore, and Mary Rawson

Scenic designer Gianni Downs designed the 2007 PICT productions Pride and Prejudice, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Private Lives, Nine Parts of Desire, and Stuff Happens, as well as the 2006 PICT production of Boston Marriage. Costumes are designed by Joan Markert (School for Scandal), lighting by Erick Leininger (Boston Marriage), and sound by Zachary Brown (Pride and Prejudice, Private Lives).

An Ideal Husband is the first in a series of three plays in the PICT season that showcase Wilde’s diverse artistry as a writer. Wilde’s beautiful children’s tales are brought to life through spoken word, song, and dance in the world premiere of Wilde Tales, a musical by Bruce Dow adapted from Wilde’s stories “The Happy Prince” and “The Selfish Giant,” and directed by Sheila McKenna. In “The Happy Prince,” the prince’s statue sits high on a pedestal from whence he sees the misery of the people he once ruled. Desperate and forlorn, he enlists the help of a friendly swallow to distribute his jewels and gold leaf among the poor…but to what end? “The Selfish Giant” tells the touching story of a giant who prohibits children from playing in his garden. It is always winter inside his walls… until his heart is softened by a very special boy.

The first half of Wilde Tales, “The Happy Prince,” is this year’s recipient of the Stanier Arts Award and will be presented as part of the International Children’s Festival from May 14 to May 18 at Bellefield Hall. PICT will then present Wilde Tales in its entirety from May 22 to May 31 at the Charity Randall Theatre.

Wilde’s talent as a writer in verse is showcased in Salome, running June 12th through the 28th in the Charity Randall Theatre and directed by Alan Stanford. Salome is not a woman who takes rejection lightly! When Jokanaan rebuffs her advances, she reacts by succumbing to her step-father Herod’s request that she dance for him. Herod offers her the world on a plate, but she has something else in mind. PICT presents Oscar Wilde’s retelling of the Biblical story of Salome and John the Baptist, reimagined by director Alan Stanford, and with an original score composed and performed live by Roger Doyle.

An Ideal Husband runs May 8th through May 31st in the intimate Henry Heymann Theatre, located in the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland. The Wednesday night preshow discussion on May 14th is sponsored by UPMC. A special student matinee is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets for public performances are $47 to $17 and are available by calling ProArts Tickets at 412-394-3353 or visiting www.picttheatre.org. To schedule students into the matinee performance, contact PICT education director Michele McClendon at 412-561-6000 x208, or email mmcclendon@picttheatre.org.

An Ideal Husband Fact Sheet

An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde
Directed by Andrew S. Paul

Henry Heymann Theatre, Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland

Cast: Anwen Darcy, Nike Doukas, James FitzGerald, E. Bruce Hill, Kathleen Huber, Beth Hylton, Dek Ingraham, Jay Keenan, Catherine Moore, Mary Rawson, Paul Todaro and David Whalen

Design Team: Zachary Brown (Sound), Gianni Downs (Scenic), Erick Leininger (Lighting), Joan Markert (Costumes)

Performance Dates and Times:

First Week: Thursday – Friday, May 8 - 9, Previews, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 10, Opening Night, 8 p.m. (followed by reception)

Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m. (followed by Mother’s Day treats with the cast!)

Second Week: Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m.

Wednesday – Saturday, May 14 - 17, 8 p.m.

*Artistically Speaking – Wednesday, May 14 (Sponsored by UPMC) at 7p.m.

*Behind the Scenes – Thursday, May 15 at 7p.m.

Sunday, May 18, 2 p.m.
Third Week: Wednesday – Friday, May 21 – 23, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 24, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 25, 2 p.m.

Fourth Week: Tuesday – Friday, May 27 – 30, 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 31, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

*Audio-Descriptive performance Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m.


Ticket Prices: Wednesday and Thursday Nights, and Matinees: $41 Adults, $37 Seniors

Friday and Saturday Nights: $45 Adults, $40 Seniors

Opening Night: $47 Adults, $42 Seniors

Previews: $33 (all seats, no Senior discounts)

Youth, 25 and Under: $17 all performances



For Tickets, call ProArts at (412) 394-3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org

Unique Twist on Tragedy of King Lear--presented by Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre

The Grandfather of all Shakespearean tragedies was portrayed by the Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre cast more like a tragic old uncle’s family tale. Despite the fact that this is a classic Shakespearean tragedy, there are so many comedic forays in the play that the star, Dakin Matthews adroitly exhibits that at times you find yourself chuckling out loud. Take heart though you will cry also at this exquisitely executed Shakespearean tragedy.

The sparse set is wonderful and the drum for sounds affects very effective in allowing the dialogue to shine. My favorite characters personally in addition to Lear are Edmund and Edgar and the Fool. Edmund is the perfect cad with a lascivious look that can best be enjoyed in the intimacy of The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland. Likewise Edgar bounces between his disguise as Tom the beggar and a gentleman heir to Gloucester with regal ease. And The Fool could not have been more aptly cast in Simon Bradbury whose antics truly mimic what you would expect of a court jester with just a hint of modernization.

The acoustics in the theatre are amazing and the story telling undiminished by editing of this lengthy play. From start to finish the rending of the play is wrought with genius from the directing of James Christy to the scenery by David Gordon.

A story of deception and valor at odds with each other, of good versus evil, of triumph and the twist of tragedy, King Lear has always been for centuries a favorite of the masses and now the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre cast, director and artists have truly earned the banner of a production that is Positively Pittsburgh Live.

If you haven’t yet seen King Lear it is worth the ticket price at twice the price.
Performances are Tuesday, April 15 at 7 PM
Wednesday to Saturday, April 16 to 19 at 8 PM.
Wednesday to Friday, April 23-25 at 8 PM
Saturday, April 26 at 2 PM and Saturday, April 26 at 8 PM
For Tickets call Pro Arts at 412-394-3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org.

King Lear presented by Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre

For immediate release:

Contact: Melissa Hill Grande

Director of Marketing

(412) 561-6000 x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

http://www.picttheatre.org





Family betrayal, sibling rivalry take center stage in PICT‘s King Lear

starring Dakin Matthews



Pittsburgh, PA – March 24, 2008. Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre kicks off the 2008 season, Family Affairs, with the grandfather of all Shakespearean tragedies, King Lear, in a bold, visceral new production directed by James J. Christy and generously sponsored by BNY Mellon. Previews begin April 9th, with an opening on April 12th and performances through April 26th at The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland.

The aging king divides his kingdom among his three daughters, basing each one’s share upon a public declaration of love to her father. Goneril and Regan make eloquent and hypocritical speeches, but the youngest daughter, Cordelia, refuses to participate and is disinherited. Meanwhile, the Earl of Gloucester is falsely persuaded by his bastard son, Edmund, that his other son, Edgar, is conspiring against him. It is only after these stubbornly misguided fathers have endured terrible physical and mental suffering that they realize it is the offspring they have so bitterly renounced, not those to whose flattery they have succumbed, who truly love them.

King Lear is directed by James J. Christy, with scenery by David P. Gordon, lighting by Andrew David Ostrowski, costumes by Pei-Chi Su, and sound design by Nicholas Crano. The production stars Dakin Matthews, Simon Bradbury, Larry John Meyers, and David Whalen; with Helena Ruoti, Robin Walsh, and Karen Baum as the three sisters.

Philadelphia-area director James J. Christy makes his PICT debut with King Lear. Local audiences may remember Christy from his work with the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival in the 1990’s, where he directed As You Like It and The Comedy of Errors. He has directed over twenty Shakespeare productions at theatres like the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, the Virginia Shakespeare Festival and at Villanova University where he taught theatre for thirty-nine years. He has garnered seven nominations for directing by the Philadelphia Theatre Alliance Barrymore Awards, winning two Barrymore Awards for directing and a special Barrymore for Lifetime Achievement.

Lear is played by Dakin Matthews, a renowned actor, dramaturg, and writer. Matthews is an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre, a founding member of the Acting Company, and the former Artistic Director of California Actors Theatre, Berkeley Shakespeare Festival, and the Antaeus Company. As an actor for such companies as ACT in San Francisco, the Old Globe, The Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Repertory Theatre, and numerous summer Festivals, he has specialized in Shakespearean roles, including Falstaff, Julius Caesar, Capulet, Brutus, MacBeth, Shylock, and many others. On Broadway, he appeared in his own adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV (directed by Jack O’Brien), winning the Bayfield Award for acting and a Drama Desk Award for adaptation. No stranger to contemporary plays, his many recent roles include Dick Cheney in Stuff Happens and Hector in The History Boys at the Mark Taper and Alfred Hitchcock in Hitchcock Blonde at South Coast Rep. His 20 films include Thirteen Days, Nuts, and Clean and Sober. He has also appeared in over 200 television shows, including, most recently, recurring roles on Desperate Housewives, The King of Queens, and Gilmore Girls.

Simon Bradbury returns to PICT to play Lear’s Fool. Recent credits in Vancouver include Charlie Chaplin Goes to War, Oliver and the upcoming Stargate movie. Bradbury spent sixteen years as a company member at the Shaw Festival, and was PICT's 2006 actor-in-residence, performing in The Pillowman (Ariel), Endgame (Clov), and The Shaughraun (Conn).

The Earl of Gloucester is played by Pittsburgh-based actor Larry John Meyers. Meyers has performed in more than a dozen PICT shows over the past seven seasons, including the acclaimed 2006 production of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame (Hamm), and last season’s Julius Caesar (Caesar) and Stuff Happens (Dick Cheney).

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2007 Performer of the Year David Whalen returns to play Edgar. Last season, Whalen was seen as George W. Bush in Stuff Happens, Mark Antony in Julius Caesar, Padraic Osbourne in The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. A Pittsburgh native, Whalen is a graduate of Point Park University and the North Carolina School for the Arts. He played Joe Pitt in the American regional premiere of Tony Kushner’s Angels in America at Houston’s Alley Theatre and toured Europe with the production. He also appeared in the Arden/City Theatre co-production of Michael Hollinger’s Opus.

Lear’s three daughters are played by Pittsburgh residents Helena Ruoti (Goneril), Robin Walsh (Regan) and Karen Baum (Cordelia). Helena Ruoti was last seen in PICT’s Heartbreak House. Previously for PICT, Walsh played the title role in Hedda Gabler, as well as appearing in The False Servant and Henry. Karen Baum returns to PICT after playing Moya in The Shaughraun and Catherine in Boston Marriage. The King Lear ensemble includes David Cabot, Matt DeCaro (Kent), Jarrod DiGiorgi, Kevin Koch, Randy Kovitz, Christopher Maxwell, Maurice Redwood, Mark Staley, Paul Todaro (Edmund), Evan Walker, and Dereck Walton.

Scenic designer David P. Gordon makes his PICT debut with King Lear. A recipient of three Barrymore Awards and ten nominations for Outstanding Set Design for his work in the Philadelphia area, Gordon currently serves on the faculty of Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School for the Arts. The costumes are designed by Pei-Chi Su, whose previous PICT credits include Pride & Prejudice, Private Lives, and BeckettFest. Andrew David Ostrowski (Hedda Gabler, Private Lives) designs lights, and Nicholas Crano (Shakespeare’s Henry IV) sound.

This production runs April 9th through the 26th in the stately Charity Randall Theatre, located in the Stephen Foster Memorial on Forbes Avenue in Oakland. Student matinees are scheduled for school groups on April 9th, 15th and 22nd at 10 a.m. Tickets for public performances are available by calling ProArts Tickets at 412-394-3353, or through the PICT website at www.picttheatre.org. To schedule students into a matinee performance, contact PICT Education Director Michele McClendon at 412-561-6000 x208, or email mmcclendon@picttheatre.org.



King Lear Fact Sheet



King Lear by William Shakespeare

Directed by James J. Christy

The Charity Randall Theatre, Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland



Cast: Karen Baum, Simon Bradbury, David Cabot, Matt DeCaro, Jarrod DiGiorgi, Kevin Koch, Randy Kovitz, Dakin Matthews, Christopher Maxwell, Larry John Meyers, Maurice Redwood, Helena Ruoti, Mark Staley, Paul Todaro, Evan Walker, Robin Walsh, Dereck Walton, and David Whalen.



Design Team: Nicholas Crano (Sound), David Gordon (Scenic), Andrew David Ostrowski (Lighting), and Pei-Chi Su (Costumes)



Dates and Times:

First Week: Thursday – Friday, April 10 - 11, Previews, 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 12, Opening Night, 8 p.m. (followed by reception)

Sunday, April 13, 2 p.m. (followed by a talk-back with actors)



Second Week: Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m.

Wednesday – Saturday, April 16 -- 19, 8 p.m.

· Artistically Speaking -- Wednesday, April 16 (sponsored by UPMC)

· Behind the Scenes -- Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m.



Third Week: Wednesday – Friday, April 23 - 25, 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 26, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

· Saturday, April 26, 2 p.m. – Audio descriptive performance

· Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. – Shakespeare’s (Belated) Birthday Party

(a post-show celebration)



Student Matinees for School Groups: April 9, 15 & 22 – 10 a.m.

To schedule student matinees, call Michele McClendon at 412-561-6000 x208 or email mmcclendon@picttheatre.org



Ticket Prices:

Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday Nights and Matinees: $41 Adults, $37 Seniors

Friday and Saturday Nights: $45 Adults, $40 Seniors

Opening Night: $47 adults, $42 Seniors

Previews: $33 (all seats, no senior discounts)

Student Tickets: $17 (All Performances)

For Tickets call ProArts at (412) 394-3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org



Visit PICT online at www.picttheatre.org



The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production. PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance. PICT is Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at the Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.





Melissa Hill Grande

Marketing Director

Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre

PO Box 23607

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-561-6000, x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

Visit our website: www.picttheatre.org!