Quantum Theatre

Cymbeline

Recent Press

On Stage: Cymbeline

By Michelle Pikecki, Pittsburgh City Paper, August 7, 2008
Pack a rain poncho so you don't risk missing any of Quantum Theatre's outdoor production of Cymbeline. Read more...

Stage Review: Quantum’s Take on Cymbeline Lively and Elegant

By Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 6, 2008
"Who knew Cymbeline had so many references to the heavens? On opening night, every one seemed to allude to the skies above Mellon Park, which entered the action on cue..." Read more...

Shakespeare’s Cymbeline is a Machine of Sorts—Or so Proposes Quantum Theatre

By Paul Ruggiero, Pittsburgh City Paper, July 31, 2008
"Cymbeline, one of Shakespeare's last plays, can be a tough nut to crack. It's comedic, but not as explicitly as, say, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream." Read more...

Quantum Clicks Gears with Robot 250

By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 2008
"William Shakespeare's plays have been reinterpreted in countless ways. But until now, robots have been rare players on the Shakespearean stage." Read more...

Quantum Mechanics: ‘Cymbeline,’ Shakespeare’s Tale of Comedy, Tragedy, Love and … Robots?

By Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 2008
"For 18 years, Karla Boos has chosen what plays to stage because of some inner chemistry, whetehr in them or her. But her latest venture, Shakespeare's 'Cymbeline,' has the director-actor-visionary of Quantum Theatre feeling 'loose and light-hearted.'" Read more...

Complex Classic Meets Robotic Complexity

By Alice T. Carter, Tribune Review, July 27, 2008
"Robotics and a rose garden are two disparate elements that Quantum Theatre will use to bring William Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" to life." Read more...

The Invasion of the BigBots

By Debra Smit, PopCity, June 25, 2008
"This summer Pittsburgh asks itself, what is a robot?" Read more...

Cast

Mikelle Johnson

Mikelle Johnson has most recently performed in Houston, TX for Stages Repertory Theatre and The Catastrophic Theatre. Pittsburgh credits include the role of Kattrin in Mother Courage at the Pittsburgh Playhouse Repertory Company, barebones productions' BUG and Quantum's The Collected Works of Billy the Kid, After Mrs Rochester and Splendour. Miki received her BA in creative writing from the University of Pittsburgh, and in 2005 earned her MFA in acting from Yale University.

Patrick Jordan

Patrick Jordan is a founding member and the artistic director of barebones productions. He recently performed in Barebones' wildly successful run of Take Me Out in June. Other recent barebones credits include BUG, The Grey Zone, Frozen, and last summer’s month long run of the world premiere of Cherry Smoke at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This is his second show with Quantum.

Rick Kemp

Rick Kemp is originally from London and has received numerous awards in Europe and the U.S. for his work as an actor and director. Work in England includes The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Oxford Playhouse, The Almeida Theatre, Theatre de Complicite, and his own company, Commotion. In America he has co-written and directed three shows for Squonk Opera, and directed for both The Pittsburgh Playhouse and Unseam'd Shakespeare. This is his seventh show with Quantum, having performed most recently in Le Grand Meaulnes and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid at Madrid’s Festival de Otoño.

Joel Ripka

Joel Ripka happily returns to Quantum, having recently performed as Francois in last year’s summer production of Le Grande Meaulnes. Recently Joel finished work as the understudy to Mozart in Amadeus, at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. A graduate of Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts, Joel has performed with a number of other theatres in Pittsburgh, including The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, The REP, City Theatre, The Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh, Prime Stage, and the Unseam'd Shakespeare Company.

Mark D. Staley

Mark D. Staley returns to Quantum for his second encounter with the Bard this year – the first as Cornwall in PICT’s King Lear. He has performed many Shakespearean roles in the US, Europe and Japan, among them: Oberon, Brutus, Pericles, Benedict, Bottom, Kent and many more. Local credits include Therese Raquin, After Mrs Rochester, I.D. & Richard II with Quantum, The Greyzone with barebones, and several productions with the Rep at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

Sam Turich

Sam Turich recently directed the short film Mombies. He co-wrote the stage comedy Crush the Infamous Thing (world premiere at Coconut Grove Playhouse, workshop at Williamstown Theatre Festival). Recent theatre credits include the world premieres of David Turkel’s Key to the Field with Bricolage and Amy Hartman’s The Chicken Snake at Pittsburgh Playhouse. This is his third production with Quantum and his second year as a teaching artist with Quantum’s education program.

David Whalen

David Whalen is thrilled to be working with Quantum. He recently played Jokanaan in Salome for PICT, where he has performed numerous roles. He was named the 2007 Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. In New York, he has performed at The Roundabout Theatre and others, and has appeared at some of the nation’s finest theatres including South Coast Repertory, Houston’s Alley Theatre, Coconut Grove Playhouse, and the Arden Theatre. This June, he directed Take Me Out for barebones productions.

Special Events

Book Club Night
Wednesday August 6
Read the play prior to attending the Quantum production, and then bring your book club for a discount. Come at 6:30 pm for a pre-show talk with Marianne Novy, Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh, author of books on gender and family relations in Shakespeare, lecturer on Cymbeline – the talk is free and includes food and drink.

Marianne has prepared a “Book Club Kit” for Cymbeline, available for download (here).

Pre-show reception and discussion at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm
For tickets for your book club call ProArts at 412.394.3353

Point Breeze Nights
Thursday July 31
Tuesday August 19
Quantum Theatre invites the residents of Point Breeze to join City Councilman William Peduto for one of two special Point Breeze Nights. Councilman Peduto will host pre-show receptions at 6:30, in the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Gordon Pavilion, followed by performances of the play at 8:00. Members of the Point Breeze community will receive a special discount on these nights.

Pre-show reception at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm
For tickets call ProArts at 412.394.3353

Locations & Directions

Outdoors in Mellon Park
Corner of Fifth and Shady Avenues, Shadyside

Parking is available at the Ellis School lot, 6425 Fifth Avenue

On-steet parking is also available on Beechwood Boulevard

Download directions here (PDF).

Visit Google Maps to plot your route.

Use Google SMS to get directions sent to your phone:
Text: “Directions Mellon Park, PA from [your zip code]” to 466453.
Example: Directions Mellon Park, PA from 15234
Note: Normal text messaging rates apply. No additional charges added.

Port Authority buses serve the Mellon Park area. Current schedules, fares and routes for public transit are available from the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

You can also plan a trip by visiting Google Transit.

Age Appropriateness

Suitable for high school aged students and older.

Accessibility

Please call Quantum at 412.697.2929 for more information.

Nearby Dinner Options

To order a box dinner from Enrico Biscotti Cafe, call 412.697.2929.

Dinner orders need to be placed by 5:00 pm the day prior to desired delivery. Sunday orders must be made no later than 5:00 pm on the prior Friday. Dinners will be delivered to the park at 6:30 pm.

Menu Options:

Option 1:
Chicken, Artichoke & Rosemary Sandwich
Summer Side Salad
Big Fat Chocolate Radical for dessert

Option 2:
Rasberry, Blueberry & Goat Cheese Croustade
Mushroom Tortellini with Lemon & Parsley
Big Fat Chocolate Radical for dessert

Option 3:
Beet, Onion & Grapefruit Salad with Manouri Cheese
Mushroom Pie
Big Fat Chocolate Radical for dessert

All dinners are $20. Enrico Biscotti will donate $5 from each purchase to Quantum Theatre.

Buy tickets online or call 412.394.3353.

Performances

Point Breeze Night
Thursday July 31
Pre-show reception at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm

Press/Opening Night
Friday August 1 at 8pm with post-show champagne reception

Roundtable Review
Sunday August 3 at 8pm with post-show discussion

Book Club Night
Wednesday August 6
Pre-show reception and discussion at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm

Point Breeze Night
Tuesday August 19
Pre-show reception at 6:30pm
Performance at 8pm

Regular Run Schedule
Wednesdays thru Sundays at 8pm

There is an additional performance on Tuesday August 19 at 8pm

There is no performance on Saturday August 23

Please note that there is NO LATE SEATING for this performance

Tickets

$35 on Opening Night
$25 on Wednesday and Sunday
$28 on Thursday and Friday
$30 on Saturday

There are a limited number of $15 student tickets available for select performances (with valid ID).

Members of TIX for Teachers, the Mattress Factory, and WYEP are eligible for discounted tickets. Receive $2 off with a valid ID—be sure to mention when ordering.

Please note: these offers are not valid in combination with other discounts.