Barebones Black Box Theater in Braddock returns to stage with 'Misery'

As area theaters go back to producing live stage shows, fans of tightly produced, intimate plays can celebrate the return of Barebones Black Box in Braddock.

The brainchild of actor/director Patrick Jordan, barebones productions is bouncing back from a two-year hiatus in a big way with the opening of the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery.” The novel was adapted for the stage by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film.

“Misery” will open on May 13 in the Black Box, a theater space that holds 65 people.

Jordan said the company was leaning toward staging a comedy as its comeback show, but then decided to steer into the skid, as it were.

“A lot of people were pushing us to do a comedy for our first show coming out of covid,” he said. “And then it hit me, ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!’ ‘Misery’ is a cult classic and staring our feelings in the face is always what we’ve done at barebones.”

Jordan said a play like “Misery” will be cathartic and wildly entertaining.

“That’s what we’re after. ‘Misery’ is intense, funny, twisted and even, at times, touching,” he said.

“Misery” is the story of an acclaimed romance novelist named Paul Sheldon who is rescued from a wintry car crash and wakes up in the secluded home of his “Number One Fan,” a seemingly kind nurse named Annie Wilkes.

The situation evolves into a nightmare for Paul as he realizes the unhinged Annie has no intention of letting him leave.

The cast features acclaimed veteran Pittsburgh actors Sheila McKenna as Annie and David Whalen as Paul, with James Howard as Buster, the sheriff.

At least two other plays being mounted as part of barebones’ 2022 season will be announced at a later date.

As with many theaters, Barebones Productions was shut down by the pandemic two years ago this month but had hoped to be back in business in 2021. However, the building was forced to remain closed.

“We didn’t realize we’d be dealing with it two years later,” said Jordan.

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In the interim, he filled the time by doing a livestreaming talk show under the barebones banner for a-year-and-a-half that resulted in some 200 episodes.

So, now the theater is back, but its neighboring restaurant Superior Motors is gone, another casualty of the pandemic. Though the restaurant – helmed by mercurial chef Kevin Sousa – and the theater shared the same building, Jordan said he’s not overly concerned.

“We worked together very well and fed off each other,” he said. “But we did two shows before the restaurant opened and they sold very well.”

Jordan said he expects another restaurant or perhaps a pop-up bar to move into the space vacated by Superior Motors.

Tickets for “Misery” are available here.