Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company

Dear Patrons of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre,

The intimacy is back!  We've decided to mount our upcoming production of Gem Of The Ocean, our ninth August Wilson play out of his ten-play Pittsburgh Century Cycle, at our new home at 937 Liberty Avenue, 3rd floor.  It was a tough decision to move it from the gorgeous August Wilson Center.  However, our new home was begging for it, along with a large number of you, who felt a loss for our longer runs and intimate and inclusive settings.

I'm really excited to mount it in our new venue with great air conditioning and our newly upholstered seating.  I'm sure it will be a pleasurable journey for all.  Please help us to make this a very successful experience by purchasing your tickets early. (If you've already bought your tickets, thanks!  Naturally, we'll still honor them at our new location.)  And please spread the word.  Also, if you would like to make a tax deductible donation to assist us in this undertaking, it would be greatly appreciated.

We have a stellar cast and a knock-out design team, and we've already extended our run through June 24th.  The tradition continues!  I look forward to seeing you in the house!

Peace and much theatre love,

Mark Clayton Southers
Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre
Artistic Director, of Theatre Initiatives, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture

The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company
in association with the August Wilson Center
presents

GEM OF THE OCEAN

By August Wilson

Directed by Mark Clayton Southers

August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean features the potent power of Aunt Ester, Wilson’s gatekeeper to spiritual matters, and the hearts of the Hill residents she loves. When Aunt Ester opens her home to the troubled Citizen Barlow, a recent migrant from the rural South, a battle ensues not only within Citizen, who begs Aunt Ester to “wash his soul,” but also between Citizen and Caesar Wilkes, a stern man of the law, threatened by Citizen’s independence and defiance of his authority. As Solly Two Kings becomes a mentor for Citizen and a model of a man, bound by nothing but freedom, Citizen must choose a past steeped in fear, or a future made glorious with destiny and purpose.

Our ninth production of Mr. Wilson's ten play Pittsburgh Century Cycle.

June 1st - June 24th, 2012 (Extended!)
At Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater (New venue!)
937 Liberty Ave, 3rd Floor

Click for tickets

Featuring Eli - Kevin Brown Citizen - Jonathan Berry Aunt Ester - Chrystal Bates Black Mary - Kim El Solly Two Kings - Alan Bomar Jones * Selig - David Crawford * Caesar - Wali Jamal * This actor appears courtesy of Actor’s Equity

Tickets Now available online

Funding for this event was provided by Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh, an initiative of The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Heinz Endowments, and by the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).  Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. New York City.

Photos by Scott J. Kimmins from Dayton's Human Race Theatre Company production, directed by Mark Clayton Southers

Dear Patrons of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre,

I'm pleased to announce that Eric A. Smith has accepted the offer to become our new Managing Director here at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company. 

Eric has a great passion for theatre and the arts here in our city.   It's a major plus for our small company that he's taking on this position at a time when funding and support for theatre programs are at a critical stage.

Eric started with us as a volunteer seven years ago, and has done just about everything, from box office, ushering, house management, stage manager, running sound and lights, to designing lights and producing our most recent Theatre Festival in Black and White. 

In looking forward to our tenth anniversary season this coming fall, we are extremely excited about where we are and where we're headed, and so very glad that Eric Smith will be a major part of it.

Thank you,

Mark Clayton Southers
Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre
Artistic Director, of Theatre Initiatives, The August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Dear Friends of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre:

GREAT NEWS!  The wait is over.  We are happy to announce our next season of plays and that we are MOVING INTO A NEW HOME!  We have a new modern venue complete with air conditioning and heating!  Our new permanent home will be in the penthouse at 937 Liberty in Pittsburgh's Downtown Cultural District.  This new venue will allow us to continue to mount and present exciting works by Pittsburgh playwrights in an intimate atmosphere.

Thank you for your continued support,

Mark Clayton Southers
Founder & Producing Artistic Director
Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company

In November 2010, PPTCO founder Mark Clayton Southers was named artistic director for theater initiatives at Pittsburgh's August Wilson Center for African American Culture. We are very happy to announce that Mark will continue as PPTCO's Artistic Director, at the same time he takes on this new post.

More on Mark: Post-Gazette, Editorial, City Paper