Pittsburgh dating scene inspires New Hazlett Theater’s ‘Local Singles’
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He heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend — and it inspired him to write a musical.
The playwright is Nick Navari of Pine, the musical is “Local Singles” and the story is about a support group for local singles.
“A friend of mine told me about a friend who was going through some things in a church singles group,” said Navari, 24. “Some of it was funny and some of it was really sad.”
Although the resulting work is “completely fictional,” he said, the friend’s story “got my wheels turning.”
The New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh’s North Side will stream a filmed version of “Local Singles” at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. Friday via Crowdcast.
The project was funded through the theater’s Community Supported Art Performance Series.
“‘Local Singles’ follows the five members of the last-surviving support group for lonely people in Pittsburgh,” Navari said. “When Penny’s boyfriend makes a rushed exit out of her life after learning of her pregnancy, she turns to the group for answers — and leaves with something unexpected.
“I was intrigued by the idea of characters seeking romantic love, only instead to realize their happiness in finding familial love outside of the typical family unit,” he said.
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“The idea started turning in my head well before I had the guts to write,” said Navari, 24, who started mulling over the idea for the musical in 2016.
“In 2019, I had exhausted all my excuses, and I was sick of not writing it down,” he said.
The final work, with a run time of about 110 minutes, has 17 original songs.
“The songs are mostly pop, and it leans into rock at some points and even into a little punk rock,” said Navari, who wrote the book, music and lyrics and also directed.
“Ben Folds, he’s my guy,” he said. “I know his music really well and you’ll hear a lot of it in the show.”
The cast includes Sarah Chelli as Penny, Sydnee Elder as Nancy, Emmanuel Elliot Key as Jack, Seth Laidlaw as Richard and Adam Marino as Wes.
Although Navari studied economics and law at Kenyon College in Ohio and now works as an investment research analyst, music has always been a big part of his life.
“I’ve been playing the piano for about 20 years,” he said.
Growing up in the North Hills, he said he was in a musical every year while attending Aquinas Academy in Gibsonia. He also played in a band.
At Kenyon, a friend urged Navari to audition to direct a musical, and he got the gig on the strength of playing a Ben Folds medley on piano.
That rekindled a love of theater, he said.
“Local Singles” was scheduled to premiere in October as part of season eight of the New Hazlett’s CSA program. Due to the pandemic, the season was delayed until this spring. Navari’s musical will kick it off.
The original cast remained intact despite the delay. Production design is by Johnmichael Bohach, lighting design is by Harbour Edney and technical design is by Michael Boone.
“The cast is really going to sell this show. I think you’re really going to believe in them,” he said. “I think I can get at least one song stuck in an audience member’s head.”
As for the future of the musical, Navari said, “If the show has legs, I’d like to see how far it can run.”
For tickets, visit newhazletttheater.com.