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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love
Walking into the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side on Saturday night was like walking into a supersized, candy-colored building block structure in a sunny nursery. It was a sight that was both intriguing and comforting, a perfect introduction to Front Porch Theatricals’ season opener musical, “Baby.” The show...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: May 16-18
It’s the middle of May with nice, toasty temperatures on tap for the weekend. There are great chances to hang outside — or inside, if you prefer — at these events around town. Pierogi festival Pittsburgh loves pierogis, so why wouldn’t we have a whole festival dedicated to these delicious...
Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s ‘Waitress’ is a sweet treat for audiences
Creating a good musical is a lot like baking a pie. There are some crucial ingredients — a strong cast, plenty of great numbers, a little bit of humor (and maybe a hint of spice) and a lot of heart. Then, it all gets mixed together and put out under...
Luigi Mangione musical set to debut in San Francisco
Most are familiar with the name Luigi Mangione by now — the 26-year-old charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York in December. Well, his case is now being made into a musical. Titled “Luigi: The Musical,” the show will debut June 13 in San Francisco at the...
Carnegie Mellon University alumni score big with 13 Tony Award nominations
Nominations for the 78th Tony Awards — the highest honors in American theater — have been announced, and five of the nominees are graduates of Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. The alumni received a total of 13 nominations between them. The American Theatre Wing’s 78th Tony Awards will be held on...
Prime Stage Theatre’s ’12 Angry Men’ is a gripping production of a classic
Considering how eager most people are to avoid a jury summons, it’s a little surprising that one of the most enduring stories of the 20th century takes place entirely within the confines of a locked jury room. “12 Angry Men” began in 1954 as a teleplay for CBS anthology series...
‘Come From Away’ at the Benedum Center is completely cathartic and Canadian
Everyone who can remember Sept. 11, 2001, has a story that they’ve probably recited a thousand times by now. Where they were and what they were doing that Tuesday morning. How they found out what happened. And how it felt. In the opening song of the musical “Come From Away,”...
Tony Award nominations: ‘Buena Vista Social Club,’ ‘Death Becomes Her’ and ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ lead the way
NEW YORK — Three Broadway shows — “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her” and “Maybe Happy Ending” — each earned a leading 10 Tony Award nominations Thursday, as nominators spread out the joy and gave nods to George Clooney, Sarah Snook and Bob Odenkirk in their debuts. Twenty-nine shows...
City Theatre’s ‘King James’ is a slam-dunk season finale
Finally, theater for sports fans. City Theatre is wrapping up their 50th anniversary season with this gripping two-man play that explores the unique loyalty of hometown sports fans — and the loyalty of friendships that spring from that fanaticism. “King James” has a structure reminiscent of a platonic version of...
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Woman with Eyes Closed’ is an enigmatic world premiere with 3 possible endings
Pittsburgh Opera is closing its season with an enigmatic world premiere — with three distinct endings. “To be performing something that has never hit a stage before is always super exhilarating,” said tenor Fran Daniel Laucerica, who plays Thomas the thief in “Woman With Eyes Closed.” The new opera from...
Penn Middle students bring cult classic film turned musical ‘Mean Girls Jr.’ to stage
Penn Middle School student Felice Hutchison has learned there is more to the movie-turned-musical “Mean Girls” than the title may imply. Hutchison is one of dozens of Penn Middle students who have rehearsed since November for their performance of “Mean Girls Jr.,” slated for April 25 to 27 in the...
Franklin Regional Thespian Club prepares for ‘Little Women’ production
Franklin Regional Thespian Club adviser Richard Sunny didn’t need to give most of his cast much background on “Little Women,” the club’s spring production. “Most of them have been asking me to do this since they were freshmen,” he said with a laugh. Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of the...
Carnegie Mellon Drama’s ‘Titanic’ sets sail with alum guest director
The ocean liner RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, killing more than 1,500 passengers on its maiden voyage from Ireland to New York. Looking back at the tragedy during this anniversary week, Carnegie Mellon University’s spring musical is the 1997 show “Titanic, The Musical,” which runs through April 23...
‘Some Like It Hot’ is the jazziest, funniest show of the year so far
Since the turn of the century, the deluge of movies-turned-musicals has left many theatergoers — myself included — a little wary. We don’t need a stage show of every cult classic film or romantic comedy with a few famous jokes that can be set to a tune. But sometimes, this...
Pittsburgh Playwrights’ ‘Art of Wise’ is a true work of art
Adding another excellent play to his 19th Century Collection of works about the American Black experience, playwright and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre founder/producing director Mark Clayton Southers has painted a beautiful and moving portrait with the world premiere of “Art of Wise,” running through May 4 at the Madison Arts Center...
Shaler man to head jury of ‘Twelve Angry Men’
When Mark Spondike isn’t providing music education to students at Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts school, he’s appearing onstage in the region, incluing with the Pittsburgh Opera. Next month, he’ll have a man’s fate in his hands, as the foreman of the jury in Prime Stage Theatre’s upcoming production of...
‘Wicked’ on stage as part of PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh 2025-26 season
Lovers of musicals can start 2026 with “Wicked.” The popular show takes center stage from Jan. 14 to Feb. 15 at the Benedum Center, as part of the 2025-26 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season announced Monday by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Presented in partnership with Broadway Across America, the series...
‘Wicked’ leads PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh 2025-26 season
Lovers of musicals can start 2026 with “Wicked.” The popular show takes center stage from Jan. 14 to Feb. 15 at the Benedum Center, as part of the 2025-26 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season announced Monday by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Presented in partnership with Broadway Across America, the series...
Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ rocks with a passion
First and foremost, a quick history lesson: on July 13, 1971, 13,000 people filled Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena. Those excited concertgoers were the first ones to see an authorized performance of what was then only a concept album, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. That concept...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild to perform ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ musical
Penn-Trafford High School’s upcoming performance of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has taken senior Isaiah Cordera back to his childhood. Having grown up watching the film, Cordera is excited to bring the character Charlie to the stage during the show’s debut weekend, April 4 to 6. “It’s a really fun...
‘Peter Pan’ at the Benedum Center has a magical cast
Many are familiar with the story of perpetual youngster Peter Pan, the boy adventurer created by J.M. Barrie in the early 20th century. He’s been the subject of numerous plays, musical adaptations, novelizations, movies and reimaginings (despite its shockingly low Rotten Tomatoes score, I’m still partial to Steven Spielberg’s 1991...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 21-23
Spring is officially here, but the weather is still fickle. So, while we’re waiting for March to go out like a lamb, here are some fun (and mostly indoor) events to pass the weekend around the Pittsburgh region. NatureFest On Saturday, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Oakland will...
Review: Spend a beautiful hour and a half with City Theatre’s ‘Birthday Candles’
“I wish for you so many beautiful hours.” At the beginning of City Theatre’s production of “Birthday Candles” — and on protagonist Ernestine Ashworth’s 17th birthday — this is the wish that her mother gives to her, as they bake a birthday cake together. For the next 90 minutes —...
‘Annie’ offers a little cheese and a lot of sunshine at the Benedum Center
About a century ago, a comic strip called “Little Orphan Annie” began its decades-long run in newspapers. It was followed by radio programs, movies, and eventually a massively successful Broadway musical that has (thus far) spawned a trio of film adaptations of its own. All of this to say that...
Here are 5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: March 7-9
Time to spring forward! It’s tough to lose that hour just for the sake of daylight savings, but you can have just as much fun this weekend as any other with what’s happening around town. The Thaw This new three-weekend festival from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership will (hopefully) take us...


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Front Porch Theatricals’ musical ‘Baby’ is a labor of love

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