NOW ON STAGE
Peter & The Starcatcher. Peter Pan prequel that’s a recent Broadway hit play with music, through Fri., May 20 (Stage 62).
Sive. Irish playwright Johh B. Keane’s 1959 drama about a village girl who’s sold to an old man, through Fri., May 20 (PICT Classic Theatre).
Always Patsy Cline. Ted Swindley’s revue-style show about the country singer’s relationship with a female fan, featuring 27 of her songs, through Sat., May 21 (Apple Hill Playhouse).
Anything Goes. Classic musical set on an ocean liner and featuring the music of Cole Porter, through Sat., May 21 (McKeesport Little Theatre).
Death of a Salesman. Arthur Miller’s classic, starring noted screen actor Zach Grenier, through Sun., May 21 (Pittsburgh Public Theater).
Hercules Didn’t Wade in the Water. Michael A. Jones’ drama centers on two men trapped on a rooftop during a hurricane, through Sun., May 21 (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Co.).
Ironbound. Martyna Majok’s new drama about a Polish-immigrant cleaning woman struggling to make a life in contemporary Newark, N.J., through June 4 (City Theatre).
May
The Philadelphia Story. Philip Barry’s classic 1939 comedy about a socialite’s madcap wedding, May 18-June 3 (Little Lake Theatre Co.).
Tea for Three. A one-woman 2013 show depicting First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford, by Eric H. Weinberger and Elaine Bromka, May 18-June 3 (South Park Theater Co.).
The Pink Unicorn. Playwright Elise Forier Edie’s one-woman show about a recent widow in a small, conservative Texas town whose daughter comes out as gender-queer, May 18-21 and Aug. 3-6 (Off the Wall Theater Co.).
Violet. Award-winning 1997 musical about a young woman, scarred by an accident in her youth, traveling across the Deep South in 1964 to find the TV evangelist she believes can make her beautiful, May 19-28 (Front Porch Theatricals).
Dirty Dancing. Touring live stage version of the crowd-pleasing movie romance about a dreamy dance instructor and the irrepressible Baby, May 23-28 (PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh).
La Rondine. Puccini’s romantic opera about a dissatisfied mistress, May 25-28, at Carlow University’s Antonian Theatre (Undercroft Opera).
An American in Paris. Acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is behind this new Tony-winning musical based on the classic film, with songs by George and Ira Gershwin, May 30-June 11 (PNC Broadway).
June
Thom Pain (based on nothing). Will Eno’s critically acclaimed 2004 monologue, produced around the world, at the University of Pittsburgh Studio Theatre, June 1-18 (Twelve Peers).
Lotto: Experience the Dream. A middle-aged water-department worker wins $99 million and things change, in Bryan Roquemore’s 1992 comedy, June 2-11 (New Horizon Theater).
Proof. David Auburn’s Pulitzer-winning 2000 drama about a mathematical genius dealing with the aftermath of her mentally ill father’s demise, June 8-24 (Little Lake).
Alone Together. Three adult sons come home to empty-nester parents in Lawrence Roman’s 1984 comedy, June 8-24 (South Park Theatre).
An Act of God. The Supreme Being and archangels Michael and Gabriel are the protagonists of this satiric comedy by former Daily Show writer David Javerbaum, starring Pittsburgh favorite Marcus Stevens, June 1-July 2 (Pittsburgh Public).
Mixed Emotions. A widower courts a widow in Richard Baer’s comedy, June 8-17 (Apple Hill).
Charlotte’s Web. Adaptation of the E.B. White classic set in a barnyard, June 9-18 (McKeesport Little Theater).
The Little Mermaid. Popular musical based on the hit animated Disney movie, June 14-25 (Pittsburgh CLO).
Clue: The Musical. The 1997 musical based on the board game, June 15-25 (Summer Company).
A Gathering of Sons. World premiere of an opera about police shootings, with a book by Tameka Cage Conley and composer Dwayne Fulton, June 15-29 (Pittsburgh Festival Opera).
In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play. Sarah Ruhl’s 2010 comedy about the, er, coming of the vibrator in the 19th century, June 16-24 (Throughline Theatre Co.).
One Man, Two Governors. A bumbling fellow must keep each of his two bosses from learning he’s employed by the other in Richard Bean’s 2011 farce, June 29-July 15 (Little Lake).
A Second Helping: The Church Basement Ladies Sequel. The edition of the franchise about church-basement ladies in small-town Minnesota that’s set in 1969, June 29-July 15 (South Park).
July
Hansel and Gretel. Engelbert Humperdinck’s short 1893 opera based on the fairy tale, July 1, 8 and 15 (Pittsburgh Festival Opera).
Seussical — The Musical. The Ahrens-Flaherty musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss, July 6-22 (Apple Hill).
In the Heights. Before he wrote Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda created this acclaimed hit musical about chasing the American Dream in one New York City neighborhod, July 7-16 (CLO).
Sweeney Todd. Stephen Sondheim’s modern-classic musical about the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, July 7-22 (Pittsburgh Festival Opera).
Pippin. A young prince finds his way in the world in Stephen Schwartz’s 1973 musical, July 7-23 (Theater Factory).
Xerxes. Handel’s opera set in the Persian royal court, July 14, 16 and 22 (Pittsburgh Festival Opera).
Disney’s Newsies. Turn-of-the-last-century New York newsboys go on strike in this Tony-winning 2011 musical, July 18-23 (Benedum Center).
Spamalot. The hit musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, July 20-30 (Stage 62).
Wonder of the World. David Lindsay-Abaire’s madcap 2000 comedy about a woman on an adventure and the characters she meets, July 20-Aug. 5 (Little Lake).
Trumbo. 2003 drama by Christopher Trumbo, based on the letters of his father, famed Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was blacklisted in the 1950s, July 20-Aug. 5 (South Park).
Intermezzo. Strauss’ romantic opera, July 21 and 23 (Pittsburgh Festival Opera).
Rumors. The Neil Simon farce, July 27-Aug. 5 (Apple Hill).
Mamma Mia. Hit musical scored to ABBA tunes, July 28-Aug. 6 (CLO).
August
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play. Anne Washburn’s dark comedy imagines a post-apocalyptic future where today’s entertainments (including The Simpsons) have become the building blocks of a fledgling culture, Aug. 3-20 at Pitt’s Studio Theatre (Twelve Peers).
Million Dollar Quartet. Early rock ’n’ roll hits score this 2006 musical inspired by the real-life 1956 meeting of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, Aug. 8-13 (CLO).
The Audience. Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years of secret weekly meetings with her prime ministers is the subject of Peter Morgan’s 2013 drama, Aug. 10-26 (Little Lake).
Cahoots. An accidental murder among neighbors is the subject of this 1990 dark comedy by Rick Johnston, Aug. 10-26 (South Park).
Cloud 9. Colonialism, racism, sexual oppression and more are on the table in Caryl Churchill’s 1979 play set in 1880s Africa and 1979 London, at the Henry Heymann Theatre, in Oakland, Aug. 11-19 (Throughline).
Billy Elliot. It’s the first local production of the hit Elton John/Lee Hall musical about a British coal-miner’s kid who turns to ballet, Aug. 11-18 (Keystone State Music Theater).
Go Back for Murder. A 1960 mystery by Agatha Christie, Aug. 17-27 (Summer Company).
Big Fish. A skeptical son seeks the truth behind his traveling-salesman father’s outrageous tall tales in Andrew Lippa’s 2013 musical, Aug. 18-27 (Front Porch).
Red Hills. An African and an American meet in Rwanda 20 years after war threw them together in this world-premiere drama by Sean Lewis, Aug. 17-Sept. 10 (Quantum Theatre).
The Dixie Swim Club. Five women, old college classmates, meet and discuss life over a 30-year period in this comedic drama, Aug. 24-Sept. 2 (Apple Hill).
Living on Love. Joe DiPietro’s 2016 comedy about a jealous diva getting back at her husband, Aug. 31-Sept. 16 (South Park).
A Masterpiece of Comic Timing. Robert Caisley’s 2016 backstage comedy, set in the ’60s, about a producer who needs a hit comedy from a young playwright stuck on tragedy, Aug. 31-Sept. 16 (Little Lake).
Children’s Theatre
ONGOING
Pinkalicious The Musical. Stage version of the popular book series about a little girl who turns pink from eating pink cupcakes, through Sun., May 21 (Playhouse Jr.).
The Adventures of Nate the Great. The kid detective from Marjorie Weinman Sharmat’s books takes the stage, through Sun., May 21 (Playhouse Jr.).
May
EQT Children’s Theater Festival. Four-day Downtown festival, including hands-on activities, featuring troupes from around the world, May 18-21 (Pittsburgh Cultural Trust).
June
Rapunzel. Sunny Disney Fitchett’s comic adaptation of the fairy tale, June 14-July 1 (Looking Glass Theatre).
The Princess King. Jeff Fluharty’s comedy about a princess who disguises herself as a prince to enter contest to become king, June 19-28 (South Park Theatre Children’s Theatre).
A Winnie The Pooh Birthday Tale. A.A. Milne’s characters search for Tigger’s missing tail, June 20-23 (Johnny Appleseed).
July
The Ever After. Cinderella, Jiminy Cricket and more are characters in this fairy-tale spoof set on a modern-day talk show, July 3, and July 5-12 (South Park).
Fantastic Mr. Fox. Adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s book about a clever fox targeted by some greedy farmers, July 5-22 (Looking Glass).
Beauty and the Beast. The classic fairy tale. July 17-26 (South Park).
Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. Get your adverbs here as those short, catchy, educational musical cartoons from the ’70s form the basis for this show, July 26- Aug. 12 (Looking Glass).
The Emperor’s New Clothes. Musical version of the classic tale, July 31-Aug. 9 (South Park).
August
Cinderella. Sally Netzel’s contemporary adaptation, Aug. 8-11 (Johnny Appleseed).
Rapunzel. Aug. 15-16 (South Park).
DANCE
Attack Theatre. Longstanding Pittsburgh troupe teams with internationally known choreographers Helen Simoneau and Norbert De La Cruz III for a show titled Next Stop, May 19 and 20.
Bodiography Center for Movement. Spring Concert (Bodiography dance students), June 10 (Byham Theater).
Carnegie Performing Arts Center. Annual student recital, June 3 and 4. Carnegie, 412-279-8887
The Ellipses Condition. Pearlann Porter and John Lambert present the three-hour, immersive public performance-art installations they call Thought Pockets, June 2 and 9 (Downtown locations TBA). www.thoughtpockets.com
An Evening of Bellydance with Michelle Sorenson. The internationally touring dancer performs July 1 (Carnegie Stage).
fireWALL dance theater. EFF.UL.GENTS (Elisa-Marie Alaio’s work set to music by Reni Monteverde), July 7-16 (Off the Wall Productions).
Heinz Hall. Lifetime TV’s Bring It! LIVE, Aug. 2.
Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. Infinity: A Dance Showcase (KG Dynasty features 20-plus dancers performing a combination of hip hop, contemporary, jazz-funk and burlesque), May 26 and 27.
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The troupe’s annual Ballet Under the Stars performance at Hartwood Acres, Aug. 20. www.pbt.org
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. The spring dance performance including classical and contemporary works performed by students from both student and pre-professional divisions, May 26 and 27 (Byham).
STAYCEE PEARL dance project. Premiere of ABBEY: In The Red, Staycee Pearl’s work exploring historic and contemporary civil-rights issues through the music of jazz vocalist and composer Abbey Lincoln and her partner, percussionist Max Roach, May 25-27 (August Wilson Center).
Texture Contemporary Ballet. Resounding Sound, July 20-23 (New Hazlett Theater, North Side). www.textureballet.org
COMEDY
Arcade Comedy Theater. The Playlist: Music-Inspired Improv, Thu., May 18. Improv Pop-Up Night, Thu., May 18, June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17. Comedy Royale (short-form improv competition), Fri., May 19, June 17, July 15 and Aug. 19. Vidiots!: Old Videos, New Comedy, Fri., May 19. Beta Stage (improv), Sat., May 20, and May 27. Arcade Upgrade: HouseTeam MegaMix (improv), Sat., May 20. Grammelot, Sat., May 20. Technically Sunday Comedy Show, Sat., May 20. Bonus Stage (improv), Sun., May 21, Thu., May 25 and May 28. The Line Up: Stand Up Showcase, May 26. Stand-Up Get Down: Comedy Gameshow, May 26. Penny Arcade (kid-friendly comedy), May 27, June 10 and 17, July 8 and 22, and Aug. 12 and 26. The Death Show, Sat., May 27. Knights of the Arcade: Epic D&D Comedy, May 27. Dinner with the Nolens (long-form improv), June 2, July 1 and Aug. 5. Your Life: The Musical, June 3. What Ever Happened to babyGRAND? A Musical Feud! (improv musical), June 8. Comedy Queens!, June 9. ArGAYde Improv Show, June 9. Pride After Hours, June 9. PRIDE: Arcade Hootenanny!, June 10. ArGAYde Stand-Up Show, June 10. 24 Hours in Sketchville (timed sketch-comedy showcase), July 22. Downtown, 412-339-0608
Byham Theater. #ImomSoHard (web stars Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley on parenting), July 13.
Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead. Jim Breuer, May 27. Sinbad, June 2. Munhall. www.librarymusichall.com
Club Café. DA Funny Team Presents Lillian Cannon, David “The Frog” Bey and more, May 27. Race to the Coffin Comedy Presents Comedy Roulette: Roast Battle with Jeff Scheen and Ryan Donahue. Hosted by John Dick Winters, June 2. South Side. 412-431-4950
Comedy Sauce Showcase. Hosted by Aaron Kleiber every Monday; local comics and out-of-town guests, at the Pleasure Bar, Bloomfield. 412-682-9603
DVE Comedy Festival. Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show host comics including Colin Quinn, Robert Kelly, Kevin Brennan, Rachel Feinstein and Bill Crawford, June 23 (Byham).
Heinz Hall. Sebastian Maniscalco, May 18.
Mr. Smalls. The Vagical Mystery Tour (comedy and reproductive rights) with Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead, Joyelle Johnson, Leah Bonnema, Jill Sobule, Buzz Off, and Lucille, July 19. Millvale. www.mrsmalls.com
Pittsburgh Improv. Ed Bailey: Still Standing, Wed., May 17. Jacqueline Ziemanski Presents: Comedy for a Cause, Thu., May 18. Bruce Bruce, Fri., May 19-21. Stand Up Pittsburgh Open Mic, Wed., May 24. ATU Night Out, Thu., May 25. Rod Man, May 26-28. Theo Von, June 1-4. Bash in the Burgh, June 7, 14, 28, July 5. Marlon Wayans, June 9-11. The Pump and Dump, June 15. Jim Florentine, June 16-18. Ryan David, June 21. Jake Johannsen, June 22-25. The Honky Tonk Man, June 29. Doug Stanhope, June 28. John Witherspoon, July 7-9. Guy Torry, July 13-16. Bert Kreischer, July 20-22. Deray Davis, July 28-30. West Homestead. 412-462-5233
Pittsburgh Improv Jam. Thursdays at Cabaret at Theater Square, Downtown. 412-281-3973
Pittsburgh Public Theater. Famed Chicago-based sketch and improv troupe The Second City visits with its new show Summer Blockbuster, Aug. 25 and 26.
Slapsticks Comedy Club. Monessen Elks Lodge No. 773 Funny Fundraiser: Colin Chamberlin, Herbie Gill, Blair Parker, Sat., May 20. Slapsticks Comedy Club at The Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites Pittsburgh South: John Evans, Matt Light, David Kaye, Sat., May 20; David Kaye emcees, June 17. Slapsticks Comedy Club at Rose Bar and Grille (White Oak), June 3. TriCounty Active Adult Center Funny Fundraiser!: Jeremy Hall, David Kaye, Missy G, June 16. John Evans, Colin Chamberlin, David Kaye at the Rough Cut Cavern, June 24. www.slapsticksproductions.com
Unplanned Comedy. Mondo! with Heather Shurina, Fri., May 19. Sit Down and Laugh, with host Alex Stypula, Sat., May 20. Asperger’s Are Us, Aug. 1. Lawrenceville. 412-212-7061
OTHER PERFORMANCE
Cirque Du Soleil. The famed troupe’s new touring show, Ovo, makes its Pittsburgh debut, May 24-28. www.cirquedusoleil.com
Multiple Choice. Costumed performers act out a fantasy-monster scenario in Kaiju Big Battel, the centerpiece of the latest edition of this Pittsburgh Cultural Trust series, June 24. Downtown.
Restless Soul Syndrome. A new comedy cabaret by Pittsburgh native Tom Rocco, June 3 (Carnegie Stage).
Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque. Touring troupe described by Vice as “comic-con meets burlesque nerd orgy,” May 27. Rex Theater, South Side. www.blackheartburlesque.com
LITERARY and TALK
3 Rivers Comicon. Comics convention hosted by New Dimension Comics, May 20 and 21, Century III Mall, West Mifflin. www.3riverscomicon.com
Alphabet City. Nigerian author Unoma Azuah (Blessed Body: Secret Lives of LGBT Nigerians), May 23. Young Steel Teen Poetry Championships, June 4. Indian writer and journalist Aatish Taseer (Stranger to History: A Son’s Journey Through Islamic Lands), June 13. Cave Canem poets (Major Jackson, Robin Coste Lewis and Haki Madhubuti), June 15. Steel City Grand Slam (winners compete at 2017 National Poetry Slam), June 17. North Side. www.alphabetcity.org
Autumn House Press. Bantam Night poetry reading by Amie Whittemore and Judith Vollmer, Mon., May 22 (Wigle Whiskey, North Side). www.autumnhouse.org
Battle of Homestead Foundation. “Willa Cather in Pittsburgh” talk, Sun., May 21. Pump House, Munhall. 412-478-5907
Brew House. Book launch for poet Judith Robinson’s Carousel, May 20. South Side. www.judithrobinson.com
Brillobox. Book launch for Scott Silsbee’s Muskrat Friday Dinner, May 27. The Bridge Series: Brian Broome, Cheryl Hall-Russell, Yona Harvey (benefits Alumni Theater Company), May 31. Bloomfield. www.brilloboxpgh.com
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. 17th Annual Summer Reading Extravaganza (free family activities and entertainment), June 11. Oakland. 412-622-3151
City Books. Katie Fallon (Vulture), June 10. North Side. 412-321-7323
Confluence-SFF. Literary conference with a focus on science fiction, fantasy and horrors, Aug. 4-6 (Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel). www.parsec-sff.org
Creative Nonfiction. Creative Nonfiction Writers Conference (workshops and discussions), May 26-27. www.creativenonfiction.org
Hemingway’s Summer Poetry Series. Barry Governor, Roberta Hatcher, Joe Kaldon, Don Krieger, Kathy McGregor, Aaron Novick, Stuart Sheppard and Alyssa Sineni, May 23. Squirrel Hill Poetry Workshop (M. Soledad Caballero, Ann Curran, Erin Garstka, Joseph Karasek, Christine Doreian Michaels, Randy Minnich, Pam O’Brien, Joanne Samraney and Shirley Stevens), May 30. Barbara Edelman, Robert Gibb, Mike Schneider and Fred Shaw, June 6. Nikki Allen, Jennifer Jackson Berry, Bradley J. Fest, Jason Irwin, Sharon Fagan McDermott and Kayla Sargeson, June 13. Michele Battiste, Jimmy Cvetic, Daniela Buccilli, Gene Hirsch, Leslie Anne Mcilroy and Adam Matcho, June 20. Ziggy Edwards, Timons Esais, Jay Carson, Judith Robinson and Michael Wurster, June 27. Joan E. Bauer, Sheila Carter-Jones, Karla Lamb, Justin Vicari, Arlene Weiner and Robert Yune, July 11. Michael Albright, Jen Ashburn, Liane Ellison Norman, John Stupp and Bob Walicki, July 18. Grand Finale: Jason Baldinger, Stephanie Brea, Kristofer Collins, Angele Ellis, John Korn, Bart Solarczyk, Adriana Ramirez and Meghan Tutolo, July 25. Hemingway’s Café, Oakland. jbauer103w@aol.com
Irma Freeman Center. Reinventing You Launch Party (with author Tiffany Huff), June 10. Feminist Zine Fest, June 17. www.irmafreeman.org
A Midsummer Night’s Solstice Poetry Reading. With Eva Diodati D-pa, Andy Goldbert, Amanda Oaks, Jay Bachelder and more, June 20. Black Forge Coffee House, Allentown. www.blackforgecoffee.com
The Moth StorySLAM. Themed storytelling nights: “Celebration,” June 6. “Beauty,” July 7. Rex Theater, South Side. www.themoth.org
Mystery Lovers Bookshop. Coffee & Crime: Kristen Lepionka, Sat., June 17. Oakmont. www.mystery.lovers.com
Nasty Slam. Head-to-head poetry slam, May 24. Spirit Lounge, Lawrenceville. www.facebook.com (“nasty slam pittsburgh”)
The Next Generation of Black Poets: Cave Canem Fellows & Friends. Aziza Barnes, Tyree Daye, Aricka Foreman, Adjua Gargi Nzinga Greaves, Kamden Ishmael Hilliard and Jayson Smith, June 17. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, East Liberty. www.kelly-strayhorn.org
Penguin Bookshop. Nathaniel Philbrick, May 18. Kate Moore (Radium Girls) in conversation with Heather Terrell, May 30. Book launch for J.D. Barker’s The Fourth Monkey, June 29. Sewickley. www.penguinbookshop.com
Public Source. White House correspondent April Ryan, Wed., May 24. www.publicsource.org
Steel City Slam. Spoken-word poetry competition, Tuesday nights. Capri Pizza, East Liberty. www.pghpoetry.org
Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures. Jonathan Safran Foer, June 9. Baseball-book authors Pete Peterson and Douglas Branson, June 15. Irish novelist Colm Toíbín, June 20. Bill Steigerwald (author of 30 Days a Black Man, about pioneering Pittsburgh investigative journalist Ray Spriegel), July 6. Novelist Daniel Lowe (All That’s Left to Tell), July 20. Marissa Landrigan (The Vegetarian’s Guide to Eating Meat), Aug. 3. Journalist Niki Kapsambelis (author of a book on Alzheimer’s), Aug. 10. All at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Oakland. 412-622-8866
Sen. John Heinz History Center. Books in the ’Burgh: Stories of Ethnic Identity & Military Service (panel discussion), Wed., May 24. Andrew Porwancher (The Devil Himself), June 14; Gabby Means (The Decade, about the legendary Pittsburgh rock club), July 19. Paul Hertneky (Rust Belt Boy), Aug. 23. www.heinzhistorycenter.org
TEDx Pittsburgh. Local speakers and performers tackle technology, entertainment and design issues (Byham), June 4. www.tedxpittsburgh.org
Versify. Poetry reading series. Meghan Tutolo, Heather McNaugher, Alison Taverna and Noah Stetzer, Sat., May 20. White Whale, Bloomfield. www.whitewhalebookstore.com
White Whale Bookstore. Toby Altman reads from Arcadia, Indiana, with Brian Broome, Dakota R. Garilli and Candace Opper, Wed., May 24. Bloomfield. www.whitewhalebookstore.com
WordPlay. Quarterly Bricolage Productions series blending true stories with live DJ, hosted by comic Alan Olifson; Pride Month edition, June 2 and 3. Downtown. www.bricolagepgh.org
This article appears in May 17-23, 2017 and Summer Guide (2017).
