The University of Pittsburgh Stages will present four shows during the 2023-24 academic year, starting with “John Proctor is the Villain,” from Oct. 20 to 29.
The Department of Theatre Arts and Pitt Stages are committed to producing stories from multiple cultural perspectives, of diverse styles and structures, from many different time periods and global locales. The plays are open to the Pitt community and the general public.
For more information about the University of Pittsburgh Stages, visit www.play.pitt.edu.
The 2023-24 season:
“John Proctor is the Villain,” by Kimberly Belflower; directed by Kelly Trumbull, visiting lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Oct. 20-29, Charity Randall Theatre, Stephen Foster Memorial. Tickets are available here. The play is set at a rural high school in Georgia, where a group of lively teens are studying “The Crucible” while navigating young love, sex ed, and a few school scandals. Holding a contemporary lens to the American classic, they begin to question who is really the hero and what is the truth, discovering their own power in the process.
“Corsicana,” by Will Arbery; directed by Alison Mahoney, a Ph.D. student in theatre and performance studies, Nov. 10-17, Henry Heymann Theatre. The play is a restless quartet about caretaking and caregiving, set in Corsicana, a small city in the heart of Texas. A woman with Down syndrome and her half-brother find themselves unmoored in the wake of their mother’s death. Their close family friend, Justice, introduces them to a local artist named Lot, a recluse and outsider, hoping that he and Ginny can make a song together.
“Cheating Fate,” written by Karim Chebli and Sra Abdo; directed by Chebli, a master of fine arts student; Feb. 16-25, 2024, Henry Heymann Theatre. “Cheating Fate” is a play composed of four interrelated short plays that take place in a single building in Beirut, Lebanon. The play highlights the devastating effects of corruption as local authorities manipulate the fate of the capital's inhabitants.
“Spring Awakening,” book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, based on the play by Frank Weekend; directed by Ricardo Villa-Roger, teaching assistant professor and head of performance; April 6-14, 2024, Charity Randall Theatre. The winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with a poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. This landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock and roll.