WESA – How about a little good news from the local theater scene?
While it’s too soon to call it a trend, several local troupes staged concurrent hits this fall, defying a national pattern that’s seen audiences stagnate and companies shut their doors.
In mid-October, the Pittsburgh CLO opened its new production of “The Rocky Horror Show” at Downtown’s Greer Cabaret Theater. Two weeks later, “due to overwhelming demand,” the troupe added two performances of this musical, the source material for the cult-classic 1975 movie.
On Oct. 30, Quantum Theatre opened “Enron.” Lucy Prebble’s wildly theatrical take on the landmark corporate scandal sold out its run, including an added performance.
A week later, barebones productions opened its new staging of Yasmina Reza’s acclaimed dark comedy “God of Carnage,” and added three performances to its usual 11-show run.
“We never had an empty seat,” says barebones founder and artistic director Patrick Jordan.
And just last week, City Theatre extended its run of “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” by four performances. Demand was so high that City actually announced the extension before opening night — the first time the company has extended the run of a show since the pandemic.
“It’s clear evidence that there is demand, excitement for theater in Pittsburgh,” says City artistic director Clare Drobot.
Nationally as in Pittsburgh, most news about theaters lately has been discouraging. Audiences have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, and some observers doubt they ever will. Meanwhile, long-term trends like rising costs and declining subscriptions continue.
