Theater & Arts

Stand-up comedian Matteo Lane is really excited to return to Pittsburgh. “My best friends — who I met through Fortnite — live in Pittsburgh. I’d like a quote in a Pittsburgh paper to say, Donnie and Simmer, we’re coming to Pittsburgh. We’re all going to go to Kennywood together,” Lane...

Audiences at the Greer Cabaret Theater will once again get to experience the immortal words of William Shakespeare spoken — or, rather, slurred — by one very wasted cast member. “Sh!tfaced Shakespeare” has been touring here since 2018 and returns from Oct. 2-13 with its hilarious version of the comedy...

In case you weren’t aware, there’s an election coming up. That can make the news tough to take some days, conversations with family and friends more tense and the barrage of campaign phone calls seemingly endless. So it’s a pretty good time to infuse politics some laughs. And City Theatre...

City Theatre Company has been telling contemporary stories on the stage for five decades. Now headquartered on the South Side of Pittsburgh, City Theatre was founded in 1975 as a touring company that performed plays in various locales. It set down roots on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus in 1979...

Franklin Regional Middle School teacher Christine Klemstine wanted to hear the frustration in student Brynn Lacey’s voice. “This woman called the cops on you,” Klemstine said. “You have to be a little louder — I know you can yell!” Klemstine and Lacey, 13, were in rehearsal for the middle school’s...

PICT Classic Theatre is back with a new name, an expanded mission and a history full of acclaimed productions, financial issues and turnover at the top. The company returned to the stage for the first time in more than two years Friday with its production of the Pittsburgh-set play “Andy...

What does it mean to be a best friend? To have someone built-in to traverse life with, someone who just gets you. A person with whom you can be vulnerable, and that vulnerability leads to growth and trust. Artists London Williams and Izsys Archer explore the intricacies and timeline of...

On Saturday, Pittsburgh CLO will honor Shirley Jones, Western Pennsylvania native and legend of stage and screen, with a Broadway star-studded gala celebration at the Byham Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh. Jones was born in Charleroi and grew up in Smithton — her family owned Jones Brewing Co., which made Stoney’s...

Considering the explosion of popularity in recent years of true crime podcasts, British detective shows and mystery media like “Knives Out,” the timing for a classic thriller to hit the stage is apt. “Dial M for Murder” started out as a 1952 play by Frederick Knott and was brought to...

The 2024-25 season for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh started off with a bang at the Benedum Center. “Hamilton” — the season’s first show — continues to earn its place as a cultural juggernaut with a stellar cast and impeccable production. Starting in 1776 and ending with...

The intricate, decorative details of The Palace Theatre ticket booth were lost to 10 decades and 15 coats of paint. But now that the layers have been scraped away as part of a large restoration project in preparation for the Greensburg theater’s 100th anniversary, the old-time grandeur is visible once...

The reality competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has enjoyed 16 regular seasons and a constellation of spin-offs since it premiered in 2009. Each season chronicles famous drag diva RuPaul’s search for “the next drag superstar.” If the regular seasons uplift one superstar, each season of “All Stars” produces supernovas. And...

“If music be the food of love, play on,” says Orsino in a famous line from Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night.” In Shakespeare in the Parks’ production of the play, they took him literally. Celebrating their 20th season, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks kicked off the month-long run of the play...

It’s a busy weekend in Pittsburgh! With three days off to bask in the last of summer and football season right around the corner, the city has plenty of excitement and relaxation to offer. If you want to avoid the insanity of the North Shore, there are definitely other happenings...

There’s a great crop of events happening all over Pittsburgh this weekend. From pretty performances to delicious food to maybe something a little weird, it’s a great time to try something fun or a little out there. Here are some ideas. Pittsburgh Ballet Under the Stars Hartwood Acres Middle Road...

Caitlyn Mendicino has been dancing since she was 4 years old. The Penn Township native took lessons from the Ballet Westmoreland Academy in Murrysville. This weekend, she will take the Hartwood Acres stage as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre kicks off its 55th season with a free performance Sunday that will...

August Wilson is a titan of modern theater and his legacy stands especially tall here in Pittsburgh, his hometown and the setting for most of his 10-play Century Cycle. “Radio Golf” represents both the final decade of that century — it’s set in 1997 — and Wilson’s final play. The...

Along with piping-hot swing music and dazzling choreography, the musical “Bandstand” offers an unflinching glimpse into the lives of United States military veterans coming home after World War II. Thanks to an incredible, multitalented cast and seamless direction, local company Front Porch Theatricals has crafted a production of which they...

After a long, rainy week, it’s time to relax and enjoy some downtime. From performances to parties, from celebrity appearances to festivals, Pittsburgh is jumping this weekend. Join in the fun with these events. Idina Menzel at the Benedum Center Broadway legend — and real-life Disney princess — Idina Menzel...

After driving through the peaceful Longue Vue Club in Verona and parking, audience members made their way to an array of chairs on risers in a clearing. Before them, with a copse of trees whispering in the breeze behind it, sat the cross-section of a simple shanty. Ushered into silence...

Many Sewickley Academy alums may spot a familiar name in the playbill at Front Porch Theatricals’ production of “Bandstand,” running Aug. 16-25 at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side. Joe Jackson, who served as dance teacher and theatre arts director at the academy, returned to the region from...

Rounding out its 2024 summer season, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s “Seussical” opened Tuesday night at the Byham Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh. With its bright colors and whimsical songs, the show will undoubtedly be a hit with the next generation of theater lovers who are just being introduced to live performances....

On Tuesday night, popular podcast “Comedy Bang! Bang!” will bring its live show to the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks. The host of the show — which also spawned a five-season-long TV show on IFC and a bestselling book — is actor-writer-producer Scott Aukerman. “’Comedy Bang! Bang!’ is essentially a...

If you’re looking to fill your weekend with all things arts and culture, there is no shortage of events happening in and around the city this weekend. From performances that reflect the beauty of the African diaspora to the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh’s Summer Picnic, start planning out your...