PPT's 'Masterpiece Season' Begins with OUR TOWN, 9/26-10/27
By: Alexandra Strycula Sep. 10, 2013
Pittsburgh Public Theater's 'Masterpiece Season' begins with OUR TOWN, the beloved American classic by Thornton Wilder, featuring an all-Pittsburgh cast. Directed by Ted Pappas, OUR TOWN runs Sept. 26 - Oct. 27 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.
Replacing traditional props and scenery with gesture and movement, early 20th century Grover's Corners, New Hampshire bursts to life in OUR TOWN. The audience's guide to this community is the Stage Manager, played by Tom Atkins, who comments on the townspeople as they go about their daily lives. He moves us forward and backwards through time to observe their fates.
The population of Grover's Corners includes George Gibbs and Emily Webb (Patrick Cannon and Erin Lindsey Krom), the doctor and his wife (John Shepard and Bridget Connors), the newspaper editor and his wife (Marc Epstein and Cary Anne Spear), her nephew (Tony Bingham), a neighbor (Terry Wickline), the milkman (Wali Jamal), the choirmaster (Daniel Krell), the professor (Ken Bolden), the policeman (Weston Blakesley), and the undertaker (Larry John Meyers). The citizens of the town are James FitzGerald, Linda Haston, Andy Kirtland, Karen Merritt, and Andrew Swackhamer. The children will be played by local students Charlotte Bush, Julia Coblin, Edgar O'Connell, Elliot Pullen, and Ryan Showalter.
OUR TOWN is celebrating its 75th birthday this year, having premiered in 1938. With its unconventional staging and breadth of focus, from the commonplace to the cosmic, OUR TOWN still inspires wonder.
The design team for Pittsburgh Public Theater's production is Ted Pappas (Scenic), Gabriel Berry (Costumes), Kirk Bookman (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Casting is by McCorkle Casting. Ruth E. Kramer is the Production Stage Manager; Fredric H. Orner is the Assistant Stage Manager.
About the Playwright
Thornton Wilder (1897 - 1975) is best known as the author of seven novels and four major plays. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin and attended Yale and Princeton Universities. He received three Pulitzer Prizes - for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927) and his plays OUR TOWN (1938) and THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH (1943) among numerous other awards. Other popular works by Wilder include the screenplay for the Alfred Hitchcock film Shadow of a Doubt and the play THE MATCHMAKER, which was adapted into the musical HELLO, DOLLY!
Performance Schedule
Tues. at 7 pm; Wed. thru Sat. at 8 pm (except Wed., Oct. 9)
Sat. at 2 pm (except Sept. 28 & Oct. 5) also 2 pm on Thurs., Oct. 24
Sun. at 2 & 7 pm (except Sun., Oct. 27 when then final performance is at 2 pm)
Press Night is Thursday, Oct. 3. Opening Night is Friday, Oct. 4.
Ticket Prices: $29 to $60. Students and age 26 and younger $15.75 with valid ID.
For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. OUR TOWN is presented by PNC. The engagement of Tom Atkins in the role of the Stage Manage in OUR TOWN has been generously supported by Richard W. Moriarty, M.D. The engagements of Patrick Cannon and Erin Lindsey Krom in the roles of George Gibbs and Emily Webb have been generously supported by Jim and Electra Agras.
The Cast of Pittsburgh Public Theater's OUR TOWN
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