May 7–31, 2009
Turn of the Century Pittsburgh Comes Alive in
Speak American
Buy tickets online or call 412.431.CITY (2489), or visit the Box Office at 1300 Bingham Street.
Pittsburgh (March 3, 2009) City Theatre is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Speak American, written and directed by Eric Simonson, performing on the 252 seat mainstage from May 7 - 31, 2009. City Theatre commissioned Speak American in honor of the Pittsburgh 250.
Speak American is set in 1904 Pittsburgh where a group of newly immigrated Slovak, Bulgarian, and Polish steelworkers are enrolled in an English class taught by a plucky beginner. Through the teacher's dealings with the class and their boss, we are caught up in their indomitable will and dreams of a better life. Daina Michelle Griffith (Metamorphoses at Pittsburgh Public Theatre) will play the role of Rebecca Eastman, David Whalen (Opus at City Theatre) will play Tom O'Reilly, Chase Newell (Heart of a Dog at CMU) will play Jakub Nicolella, John Shepard (Work Song at City Theatre) will play Ignak Wesnak, Mark Staley (Work Song at City Theatre) will play Vlad Batyi, Nick Ducassi (One Flea Spare at CMU) will play Janusz Warczynski, and Christopher McLinden (The Last of the Boys at Steppenwolf Theatre) will play Yasen Dimitrov.
Eric Simonson is an American writer and director in theatre, film and opera. He is the writer (with Jeffrey Hatcher) of Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright, which performed at City Theatre in 2004. His film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin won the 2005 Academy Award for short subject documentary. He received a B.A. in Theatre from Lawrence University. He moved to Chicago in 1983, where he helped found Lifeline Theatre. He now lives in Los Angeles
The design team for Speak American includes Tony Ferrieri (Scenic), Andrew David Ostrowski (Lighting), Michael Krass (Costumes), and Elizabeth Atkinson (Sound Design) and Don Wadsworth (Dialect).
CITY THEATRE PRESENTS
What: Speak American by Eric Simonson
When: May 7 - 31, 2009
Preview Week Performance Schedule
Thurs. & Fri., May 7 & 8 at 8 pm; Sat., May 9 at 5:30 pm;
Sun., May 10 and Tues., May 12 at 7 pm
PRESS/OPENING NIGHT
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 8 pm
Regular Run Schedule
Tues. at 7 pm; Wed. thru Fri. at 8 pm; Sat. at 5:30 & 9 pm; Sun. at 2 pm
Where: City Theatre, one block off Carson at Bingham and 13th Streets, South Side.
Tickets
$17 to $60
Students and age 25 and younger may reserve $17 tickets in advance or may purchase rush tickets for $10 cash or $17 with a credit card at the Box Office beginning two hours before showtime.
Seniors (age 60 and older) may purchase $17 rush tickets at the Box Office beginning two hours before showtime.
Groups of 10 or more receive significant discounts. Call Mike McLaughlin at 412.431.4400 ext. 286 or email: mmclaughlin@citytheatrecompany.org
Tickets are available at 412.431.CITY (2489) or CityTheatreCompany.org
Location
City Theatre, 1300 Bingham and 13th Streets, on Pittsburgh’s South Side (map)
Parking ($5) is available across from the theatre.
Call 412.431.CITY (2489), or visit the Box Office at 1300 Bingham Street.