Richard III at Steel City Shakespeare Center

Jeffrey Chips sees a link between Pittsburghs past, the present day, and . . . Shakespeare. The Artistic Director of Steel City Shakespeare Center is directing a production of Richard III by William Shakespeare, to be performed in Troy Hill and Fineview.

He sees the play as being as relevant to todays Pittsburghers as it was to Shakespeares audiences in his day. In many ways, SCSC is bringing local history to life with Shakespeare. In the play, Richard's brother Clarence describes his dream with a haunting image: "O, then began the tempest to my soul, Who pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood, With that grim ferryman which poets write of, Unto the kingdom of perpetual night." Act 1 Scene 4. Chips connects this image not only the three rivers of Pittsburgh, but the rivers of molten steel forged by the souls of our past, who beckon us to tell their stories. Or, as Chips says, We are remembering our past when our ancestors came here, arriving to a town on three rivers and building a city with a gritty blue-collar work ethic that has carried down to future generations.

Keeping true to its mission of engaging and inspiring communities, Steel City Shakespeare Center invites members of the Troy Hill and Fineview communities to share in the collective experience of bringing this story to life.While Richard III displays some of the more darker aspects of humanity -- greed and the corruption of power -- it is also a story of the love of family and community, the bonds they share, and their ability to rise up together to face major challenges. Troy Hill Citizens Park and the Fineview Overlook are unique and beautiful locations, offering a wide-open space for this epic story to unfold, providing intimacy and plenty of interaction from a talented cast of five actors, providing a wide array of characters and effects that spark our imaginations and invite us all to be an active part of telling the story. The title role will be played by SCSC veteran and distinguished local actor Ryan Bergman, supported by Kaitlin Cliber, Rachelmae Pulliam, Sebastian Midence, and Sandee L. Rollins.Richard III is directed by Jeffrey Chips with Assistant Director Jessica Schiermeister and Stage Manager Sophia Marshall. May 4, 5, 11, and 12 at Troy Hill Citizens Park and May 18 and 19 at the Fineview Overlook, corner of Catoma and Lanark Streets. All performances at 3:00 pm. Suggested donation $15. Please visit steelcityshakespeare.org for more information. Steel City Shakespeare Center is a fiscally sponsored project of New Sun Rising.
Ages: All ages welcome