Pittsburgh?
by guest columnist Ann Miner

I suppose some of you may be surprised to hear that there is a theatre scene in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The truth is, there is quite a bit of good local theatre (professional, community, and campus) as well as a steady stream of wonderful national tours. This feature will vary from time to time, but I'm hoping to keep the structure of providing information about the past, present, and near future of theatre in Pittsburgh.

Concluding a two-week run at the Byham Theater last Sunday was Christopher Plummer in Barrymore. This show brought Mr. Plummer back to Pittsburgh for the first time since he played in a production of Macbeth with Glenda Jackson nine years ago. Barrymore is one of at least three portrayals of the legendary John Barrymore in this country within the last year.

This production, written by William Luce and directed by Gene Saks (Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues) is set in the year 1942 as Barrymore is trying to "have another go at Richard III before he dies." I guess Barrymore should be considered a two-man play because there is a prompter in the wings to bounce off Plummer's character. According to Plummer, "... it takes a slight curse off the one-man piece and makes it more of a play." Plummer has a diverse acting history, from films (The Sound of Music, which Plummer refuses to discuss,X and The Man Who Would Be King as Rudyard Kipling) to TV (A Doll's House, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Hamlet) to Broadway (often in Shakespeare productions including playing Iago to James Earl Jones' Othello on in 1982).

Plummer's next project is a book; he hesitates to call it an autobiography but as he was charmed by David Niven's A Moon's a Balloon, perhaps we can expect a similar telling of life's stories.

If you still question the theatre credentials of Pittsburgh, just pick up a Playbill. Chances are you will see at least one cast or crew member who graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University (yes, it's in Pittsburgh!). The drama and music departments at CMU must be the most prolific of suppliers of Broadway talent. Currently at the St. James Theatre in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are CMU graduates Rob Marshall (Choreographer), Jim Stanek (Hero), and Kena Tangi Dorsey (Gymnasia).

For a top price of $17, we are lucky to be able to see a high quality show at CMU with performers you can see on Broadway in the future at much higher prices. In the future, I will be spotlighting Broadway and tour performers who have a Pittsburgh history. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an interview with the above-mentioned Jim Stanek who is a native of a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, an award winning performer of Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera, and a very, very nice man.

The problem for musical lovers in Pittsburgh this year is how to decide what to see. Our choices for the Spring through Summer season include: How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying (with Ralph Macchio), A Chorus Line, Gypsy, Chess, Miss Saigon (in the process of selling out as I write), La Cage Aux Folles and Cinderella. Now, which should I see...?

Ann is a theatre lover and a resident of Pittsburgh. She is a home-based computer consultant and the mother of two budding theatre lovers. Visit Ann's Nathan Lane Page.