Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces plans for expansion and update to Greer Cabaret Theater
This show intermission will last about a year.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced an extensive remodel and expansion of the Greer Cabaret Theater and Backstage Bar in Downtown’s Cultural District on Monday. It’s expected to take about 12 months.
For almost 20 years, the venue has been known as being tucked away off its Penn Avenue entrance. The latest plan is focused on changing that. It’s being described as the “street-to-seat experience.”
“The theater will transform from the black box you see now into an intimate cabaret on par with New York venues like Joe’s Pub and 54 Below,” said Nick Gigante, senior vice-president of development and real estate for the Cultural Trust. “The Backstage Bar will be expanded, and the lobbies for the box office and restaurant will become one grand space, streamlining and elevating the patron experience.”
Funding for the project is roughly $6 million and is coming from the Eden Hall Foundation. Foundation chairman and president George C. Greer’s name graces the theater. He has been a long-time trustee of the Cultural Trust.
The foundation’s executive director Sylvia V. Fields shared a video message during a media presentation about how it is essential to invest in the arts “because when the arts flourish, cities shine.”
Fields said this is a perfect time for a refresh with people returning to the city for events after not being Downtown for two years because of the pandemic.
“This is one way to show people why the Cultural District should be a must-visit,” Fields said.
In a normal year, the Trust operates more than 30 venues, hosts 2,000 performances and welcomes two million guests a year throughout the Cultural District.
“The Greer Cabaret Theater holds a special place here,” said Scott Shiller, senior vice-president of artistic planning and theater utilization for the Cultural Trust. “It’s important to look at the future of the Cultural District and to do things to stay relevant.”
That means utilizing the space in a new way by designing a “street to seat experience.” Doing that elevates the show experience, Shiller said. It is about what happens before and after the curtain goes up and down, Shiller said.
Shows will be held at the theater through July. The other theater location for performances during the renovation will be announced this week.
The plan is to begin demolition in September with the required permits, said Brooks Robinson, real estate consultant for the Cultural Trust and project manager.
Shiller said a tentative grand opening – with a major headliner — is expected for May 2023. When guests return, they will notice a new configuration that will be able to accommodate two events happening at the same time, a musical act in the bar and a show in the theater, Shiller said.
The Trust is working with Moss Architects and DLR Group on the design.
The theater will also have streamlined access from the street, Theater Square parking garage and Katz Plaza according to Marta R. Johns, senior interior designer for DLR Group.
At the entrance on Penn Avenue will be an expansive lobby with a decorative chandelier. The bar area will double in size and there will be plush banquette seating, integrated lighting and ornamental sconces, Johns said.
In order to offer seating flexibility, the capacity will go from 250 to 200. That will allow for a more intimate setting and for the accommodations to have parties seated together as well as have smaller table arrangements such as those of two for date night.
Supporters of the venue had a celebratory toast to the 250-seat black box theater that opened almost 20 years ago.
Pittsburgh Broadway performer Lori Eve Marinacci gave guests a musical performance inside the space that by this time next year should have updated seating, an expanded bar, new restrooms, box office and lobby spaces. An expanded kitchen will also be added.
Shiller said they are committed to the design of the interior spaces inside the late renowned Michael Graves-designed building.
It’s about easily bringing guests through the lobby, into the bar area, and then on to the auditorium.
“Our goal is to elevate the experience of seeing a show at the Greer — to wow, amaze and thrill guests through both the venue design and a new culinary experience with food and bar service before the show, during the show, and after the show,” Shiller said.
He said if they’ve done the job right when the house lights go down and the stage lights go up, the audience is ready to go on the artistic journey with the storytellers on the stage, Shiller said.
“Art is not just when the curtain goes up and down,” Shiller said. “It’s about the entire visit to the city from parking to dining to having a drink to entering the theater. It’s about engaging guests. Pittsburgh has great theater audiences and they love the Greer Cabaret Theater and often bring out-of-town guests here. It is really a hidden gem.”
Although these most recent plans are for it not to be “hidden” any longer.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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