University of Pittsburgh Stages Announces 2016-17 Season

PITTSBURGH—A diverse set of stories will be told this academic year in the University of Pittsburgh Stages lineup. The plays will showcase the performance and technical talents of students from more than 22 majors throughout Pitt, as well as those based in the Department of Theatre Arts within the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Art and Sciences.

Performances will take place in the Henry Heymann and Charity Randall Theatres, both located in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard, Oakland. Shows except Hair are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.; Hair does not have a Tuesday performance. Visit www.play.pitt.edu for ticket prices and more details.

“The lineup is a good fit for Pitt’s Year of Diversity,” says Theatre Arts Chair Annmarie Duggan. “Our goal is to engage the viewer in conversations that promote an understanding of diversity, inclusion, and principles of equal opportunity.”

The productions include:

Oct. 6-16
Intimate Apparel
By Lynn Nottage
Henry Heymann Theatre
Esther, a Black seamstress, makes delicate lingerie for both wealthy White society ladies and poor prostitutes. Can a woman trying to make ends meet in 1905 in New York City refashion her dreams? The story is based on the experiences of Nottage’s own great-grandmother. Directed by KJ Gilmer.

Nov. 10-20
Hair
By Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music and lyrics by Galt McDermot
Charity Randall Theatre
A trio of unlikely friends is swept up in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, but love and politics clash when one of them is drafted into the Vietnam War. Can their free spirits keep love alive in the Age of Aquarius? Find out in this iconic musical that defined a generation. Directed by Cynthia Croot. Musical direction by Rob Frankenberry.

Feb. 9-19
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Henry Heymann Theatre
There’s a quirky cast of characters on either side of the microphone as Putnam Valley Middle School hosts its 25th annual spelling bee. In this long one-act musical comedy, tensions run high as the words become multisyllabic and the pressure mounts. Directed by Rob Frankenberry.

March 30-April 9
Peter and the Starcatcher
By Rick Elice
Based on the novel by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson
Music and lyrics by Wayne Barker
Charity Randall Theatre
When starcatcher-in-training Molly meets an orphan boy longing for a home, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime. This play is a swashbuckling, grown-up prequel to Peter Pan with action and humor that will hook you from the beginning.

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
March 29-April 9
Baltimore
By Kirsten Greenidge
Henry Heymann Theatre
College student Shelby Wilson becomes a resident advisor on a campus that has pitted student against student, following a racially charged incident. With compassion and a deep understanding of the issues, Baltimore tackles the complexities of racism in America from the perspective of eight different college students. Admission is free to this production, which is being offered in conjunction with Pitt’s Year of Diversity. Directed by Ricardo Vila Roger.

In addition to the main-stage plays, there is a full slate of six student lab productions that launches Oct. 12. Visit www.play.pitt.edu/current-season/student-labs-0 for more information.

For the first time, Pitt faculty and staff are able to purchase a season pass for all plays for $50. Season passes for students are $40.

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