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39-632: King Hedley II premiered at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , on December 11, 1999, and played a number of other regional theaters, including Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington before its Broadway engagement. The play opened on Broadway at the Virginia Theatre on May 1, 2001 and closed on July 1, 2001, after 72 performances and 24 previews. Directed by Marion McClinton ,

78-452: A Salesman . In February 2017, The Public introduced new accessibility initiatives using new technology for hearing and sight impaired audiences. On March 9, 2017, Pappas declared his intent to step down as producing artistic director at the end of his contract in August 2018. After the retirement of longtime Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas, The Public began the 2018–2019 season with

117-492: A company which produced plays by writers such as Richard Nelson , Mac Wellman , and Eric Overmeyer , including the American premiere of Edward Albee 's Three Tall Women , a production that later moved to Off-Broadway. Also at River Arts, he wrote stage adaptations of the films Love Me or Leave Me and Casablanca . He directed Joanne Woodward in his adaptation of Henrik Ibsen 's Ghosts . His most recent work for

156-481: A new leadership team: Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Lou Castelli. To open its 49th season, Pittsburgh Public Theater staged the world premiere of a new musical by Kent Gash (artistic director of The Acting Company ) and Rob Zellers, Billy Strayhorn: Something To Live For , about the Pittsburgh-native jazz legend Billy Strayhorn , produced by Billy Porter . Shaunda McDill

195-547: A season. The Public’s first General Director Ben Shaktman resigned on June 30, 1982. Larry Arrick replaced Shaktman as the Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Public Theater from 1982 to 1984. Additionally, Dennis Babcock replaced Howard J. Millman in the position of Managing Director. In April 1984, William T. Gardner replaced Arrick as Producing Director at The Public. In the same year, the Hazlett Theater

234-454: A solo play about the life of Art Rooney Sr. played by Tom Atkins , written by Rob Zellers and Gene Collier and directed by Ted Pappas. Later, the play saw several revivals and a film adaptation due to its local popularity. Also in 2003, Stephen Klein stepped down after nine years as managing director. Ted Pappas became the company’s Producing Artistic Director. In 2005, movie star Haley Mills and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Franz appeared in

273-630: A subscription series that mixes classics, works from Broadway , and musicals. PPT has a rich production history . Pittsburgh Public Theater has been in continuous operation since 1975, first on Pittsburgh's North Side and since 1999 in the O'Reilly Theater , in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District . The Public has produced several new theatrical works. In addition to the world premiere of August Wilson 's King Hedley II , another of his masterworks, Jitney , received its professional premiere at Pittsburgh Public Theater. The pre-Broadway run of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn 's By Jeeves

312-601: A video store, as well as revisiting stories of other characters initially presented in Seven Guitars . Hedley’s wish, now that he has returned to Pittsburgh from prison, is to support himself by selling refrigerators and to start a family. Set during the Reagan Administration , the play comments critically on the supply-side economics theories of the day, examining whether their stated aim of providing trickle-down benefits to all Americans truly improved

351-575: A woman in South Carolina who killed her mother, fiancé and several people for whom she purportedly was caring. After a 15-year hiatus, Cristofer returned to his acting career, appearing in Romeo and Juliet ( New York Shakespeare Festival ), Trumpery by Peter Parnell , Three Sisters (Williamstown Theater), Body of Water (with Christine Lahti ), and the Broadway revival of A View from

390-610: Is the ninth play in August Wilson’s ten-play cycle that, decade by decade, examines African American life in the United States during the twentieth century. Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1985, it tells the story of an ex-con in Pittsburgh trying to rebuild his life. The play has been described as one of Wilson's darkest, telling the tale of a man trying to save $ 10,000 by selling stolen refrigerators so that he can buy

429-693: The American Century Cycle. In 2015 in The Wall Street Journal , Terry Teachout described Pittsburgh Public Theater as, “One of the most accomplished resident theaters on the East Coast.” In 2016, former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier starred in biographical one-man show The Play by Gene Collier about Bleier's life. In 2017, television and film actor Zach Grenier fulfilled his dream to play Willy Loman in Death of

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468-1033: The Bridge (starring Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson ). He recently appeared in The Other Woman (with Natalie Portman ), and created the role of Gus in Tony Kushner 's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures at the Public Theater . In 2010, Cristofer was a cast member on Rubicon , in which he played Truxton Spangler. In 2012, he played Jerry Rand on Smash . In 2013–2014, he played millionaire witch-hunter Harrison Renard in American Horror Story: Coven . In 2015, Cristofer made guest appearances in four episodes of season one of Mr. Robot as Phillip Price,

507-845: The Clarinet (starring Stockard Channing ), produced by the Mark Taper Forum, Long Wharf Theater , Off-Broadway and on the London Fringe; and Amazing Grace (1996; starring Marsha Mason ), which received the American Theater Critics Award as the best play produced in the United States during the 1996–1997 season. Cristofer's film work includes the screenplays for The Shadow Box , directed by Paul Newman ( Golden Globe Award , Emmy nomination); Falling in Love ; The Witches of Eastwick , adapted from

546-683: The O'Reilly Theater — in the heart of the Downtown Cultural District. On October 4, 1999, The Public announced that Ted Pappas, a director-choreographer who was president of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, would be leading The Public in its brand new facility. The 650-seat venue, designed by architect Michael Graves and built by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opened with the world premiere of August Wilson's  King Hedley II  in December 1999. The auditorium

585-699: The Public’s 15th season in 1989-1990, the theater had an all-time high subscription base of 16,185. 1990s In January 1990, Board President Joseph M. Wymard announced The Public's intention to move from the North Side into a new facility Downtown to be built by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Meanwhile, in 1990, the musical Eleanor was directed by Mel Shapiro and choreographed by Rob Marshall . In 1991, future Academy Award and Tony Award winner Mark Rylance graced The Public's stage in

624-705: The Public’s Education Department organized its first Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest for students. In 1995, Amazing Grace , by Michael Cristofer , was directed by Eddie Gilbert and starred Marsha Mason . In the same season, the Reduced Shakespeare Company made its first of several future appearances at the O'Reilly Theater. August Wilson was in residence at Pittsburgh Public Theater in 1996 to rework his play Jitney , one of his most famous masterworks. In 1997, The Public's previous box office records were broken by Over

663-691: The Tavern , a play by Tom Dudzick. Seven years after announcing its intent to move into a new Downtown facility, groundbreaking for Pittsburgh Public Theater’s future home began in April 1997. The theater was to be named the O’Reilly Theater for Dr. Anthony O'Reilly, H.J. Heinz Company’s board chairman. The organization launched the public phase of its $ 12.8 million capital campaign in September 1998. More than $ 8.5 million had already been raised during

702-464: The U.S. premiere of The Bird Sanctuary by Frank McGuinness . The following year, Pappas directed another U.S. premiere, Alan Ayckbourn ’s RolePlay . In 2006, Mark R. Power began as managing director for an 18-month tenure. The Glorious Ones , a new musical by Lynn Ahrens and Pittsburgh native Stephen Flaherty , premiered at Pittsburgh Public Theater in April 2007 before opening Off-Broadway with Lincoln Center Theater . In 2009, Pappas directed

741-497: The behind-the-scenes phase. $ 10 million was earmarked for an income-producing endowment. In December 1998, Artistic Director Eddie Gilbert announced that he would leave The Public in August, 2000. Management Consultant for the Arts, a Greenwich, Conn.-based recruitment firm, was hired to find his replacement. The O’Reilly Theater era (1999–present) After 24 years on the North Side, Pittsburgh Public Theater moved to its current home —

780-485: The cast featured Brian Stokes Mitchell (King), Leslie Uggams (Ruby), Charles Brown (Elmore), Viola Davis (Tonya), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Stool Pigeon), and Monté Russell (Mister). The play ran off-Broadway at the Peter Norton Space, New York City, in a Signature Theatre Company production, from March 11, 2007, through April 22, 2007, in a season that featured Wilson's work. King Hedley II

819-492: The lot of urban African Americans. King Hedley II draws "on characters established in Seven Guitars , King Hedley II shows the shadows of the past reaching into the present." Some of the characters presented earlier include King Hedley II, "the spiritual son of King Hedley from Seven Guitars and Stool Pigeon, a "sixty-five year old harmonica player...now a newspaper-collecting history carrier". The character of Ruby

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858-678: The novel by John Updike ; The Bonfire of the Vanities , adapted from the novel by Tom Wolfe and directed by Brian De Palma ; Breaking Up , and Casanova . His directing credits include Gia , starring Angelina Jolie , Mercedes Ruehl and Faye Dunaway , which was nominated for five Emmy Awards and for which he won a Directors Guild Award . He next directed Body Shots and Original Sin , released in 2001. For eight years, he worked as artistic advisor and finally co-artistic director of River Arts Repertory in Woodstock, New York,

897-555: The premiere of his play The Habitation of Dragons . In July 1989, Cloris Leachman appeared in a one-week engagement of Grandma Moses – An American Primitive presented by Pittsburgh Public Theater at the Fulton Theater. Also in the late 1980s, The Public presented its first benefit performance for the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. Then, Dan Fallon joined The Public as Managing Director in 1989. During

936-490: The show at The Public. In November of the same year, Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham and Marlo Thomas starred in the world premiere of Paper Doll written by Mark Hampton and Barbara J. Zitwer . The Public's production of Medea, also in 2001, began a run of classical tragedies at The Public directed by Pappas, who read them first in Greek. In 2003, The Public saw its biggest box-office success with The Chief ,

975-585: The state arts council, along with 934 individuals, funded the theater's $ 370,000 budget. With a grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and a design by Peter Wexler, a flexible stage and audience space with movable scaffold seating for 350 was created. Through strong outreach efforts, 7,100 subscriptions were sold before The Public’s first production opened in 1975. The first Public Theater production, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams , starred Carol Teitel and

1014-635: The television series Mr. Robot . Cristofer was born Michael Procaccino in Trenton, New Jersey , the son of Mary and Joseph Procaccino. He started his theatrical career as an actor, primarily on stage. He also started writing plays. He has also written numerous screenplays for film. Cristofer was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for the Broadway production of his play The Shadow Box (1977). Other plays include Breaking Up at Primary Stages ; Ice at Manhattan Theatre Club ; Black Angel at Circle Repertory Company ; The Lady and

1053-616: The theater's production of Sizwe Banzi is Dead by Athol Fugard in October 1976, even saw aspiring playwright August Wilson in attendance. Due to strong ticket sales and many sold-out performances, The Public expanded its season to five productions in 1977. 1980s In 1980, Howard J. Millman became  Executive Director . Meanwhile, the Allegheny Theater was renamed the Theodore L. Hazlett, Jr. Theater in honor of

1092-508: The theater, The Whore and Mr. Moore , premiered at Dorset Theatre Festival 's 2012 summer season. He collaborated with trumpeter Terence Blanchard , writing the libretto for Champion , a boxing opera in jazz music based on the life of prize fighter Emile Griffith . It premiered in June 2013 at Opera Theater of St. Louis . His work Execution of the Caregiver is based on the true story of

1131-622: The title role in William Shakespeare 's Hamlet . In the same year at The Public, Academy Award winner Kim Hunter starred in A. R. Gurney 's The Cocktail Hour . In January 1992, 25 Pittsburgh couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage were honored at a production of popular play I Do! I Do! . William T. Gardner, Producing Director for eight seasons, died unexpectedly of a heart attack in April 1992. In December, Edward Gilbert of  Toronto ,  Canada  was appointed Artistic Director.  Stephen Klein

1170-416: The visionary head of the  Mellon Trust . 1980 marked The Public's fifth season, which included a Shaktman-directed production of Macbeth with Tom Atkins in the titular role, Jean Smart as Lady Macbeth , and Keith Fowler as Macduff . After the fifth season, Pittsburgh Public Theater increased its lineup to include six productions in 1981, which is currently the typical quantity of productions in

1209-470: The world premiere of Harry’s Friendly Service by Rob Zellers, who was The Public’s director of education and outreach. Future SNL cast member Cecily Strong performed with The Second City in Second City for President , a politically-themed comedy show, for a three show tour stop at the O'Reilly Theater in the summer of 2012. A production of Our Town , previously performed in 1990 by The Public,

King Hedley II - Misplaced Pages Continue

1248-583: Was a "vivacious young newcomer to Pittsburgh" in Seven Guitars but in King Hedley II is "...overcome with worry and regret...". Mister is Red Carter's son. Pittsburgh Public Theater Pittsburgh Public Theater , or The Public for short, is a professional theater company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The Public celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024/2025, and is led by Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Shaunda McDill. Pittsburgh Public Theater annually produces

1287-548: Was directed by Ben Shaktman in September 1975. The following month, Tom Atkins made his first appearance as Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . The final show of The Public's inaugural three-show season was William Shakespeare 's Twelfth Night , which starred Leonard Nimoy as Malvolio . After a successful first season, The Public's second season saw similarly high sales and attendance figures;

1326-404: Was later appointed Managing Director, to share leadership in August 1994. The Public's 18th season in early 1993 was highlighted by Mad Forest , a play directed by Mark Wing Davey, and playwright Caryl Churchill attended the first preview. The following year, The Public’s future Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas began directing at The Public with the musical  Wings . Also in 1994,

1365-707: Was named Managing Director in February 2023, and The Public celebrates its 50th season in 2024/2025. Theatre in Pittsburgh Michael Cristofer Michael Cristofer (born January 22, 1945) is an American actor, playwright, and filmmaker. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play for The Shadow Box in 1977. From 2015 to 2019, he played the role of Phillip Price in

1404-429: Was named for Barry Rigg Sullivan and the rehearsal hall was named for Helen Wayne Rauh. Pappas kicked off his first season at The Public with You Can’t Take it With You by Pittsburgh playwright George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart . In February 2001, By Jeeves , an Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alan Ayckbourn production, played at the O'Reilly before its Broadway transfer. Ayckbourn directed and Lloyd Webber worked on

1443-625: Was renovated with a design by L.P. Perfido Associates to increase seating capacity to 471, increase technical capabilities, and enlarge lobby space. In September 1984, legendary actress Sylvia Sidney appeared in Marsha Norman 's 'night, Mother , directed by Peter Bennett. The following year, Helena Ruoti made her Public Theater debut in Becoming Memories , written by Arthur Giron and directed by Lee Sankowich. On Pittsburgh Public Theater's stage in 1988, Horton Foote directed

1482-604: Was revived in 2013 with a cast consisting entirely of Pittsburgh natives, including Tom Atkins . In March 2015, Todd Kreidler, a friend and frequent collaborator with August Wilson , directed Eugene Lee in How I Learned What I Learned , a play written by Wilson that explores his own days as a struggling writer in the Hill District . How I Learned What I Learned marked the Public's completion of 11 of Wilson's works, including

1521-842: Was staged at The Public before moving to New York's Helen Hayes Theatre . Other plays which received their world premieres on The Public's stage include Horton Foote 's The Habitation of Dragons ; Jonathon Bolt and Thomas Tierney's Eleanor ; Michael Cristofer 's Amazing Grace ; Mark Hampton and Barbara Zitwer 's Paper Doll ; Rob Zellers and Gene Collier's The Chief ; Naomi Wallace 's Things of Dry Hours ; Mark Hampton and Michael Sharp's The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn ; and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty 's musical, The Glorious Ones . 1970s In 1974, Joan Apt and Margaret Rieck created Pittsburgh Public Theater with Ben Shaktman as General Director.  The City of Pittsburgh offered the  Allegheny Theater  to The Public rent free.  Grants from 37 corporations, foundations and

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