“If you want immediacy, you have to change,” says Artistic and Executive Director Alan Stanford.
Now the 19-year-old company moves from the University of Pittsburgh in Oakland to the Union Project in Highland Park, “a mile away is East Liberty, Stanford notes.
4 comments:
Hey! It is good to hear that Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre is apparently bouncing back from their financial difficulties around this time last year. I actually find it noteworthy that the article does not mention their recent organizational challenges at all and how their new venue partnership might have played into that. I remember some of my first outside gigs in Pittsburgh were working for a PICT show install down the street at UPitt. I am intrigued by the new presenting format, in “Alley” rather than “Proscenium”. The one photo of the new venue at the Union Project is… interesting. Does not particularly appear to be a theatrical venue, nor does it appear to contain the infrastructure necessary to put on a high production value show without significantly more resources. I wonder if the new “intimate” venue, is a way of cutting down on costs. Regardless, better that PICT is still in business and producing shows than not at all. Looking forward to potentially seeing something of theirs this season.
Having been given this theater as my first project from Susan Tsu, I loved reading this article. Not mention in this article however was their economic issues in the past that lead to this move.Back in 2015 the PICT had to cancel two shows because they could not afford to produce. Along with that they had to lay off a good number of the staff. After meeting with some people who work for PICT, I have learned that they are doing better financially and they hope to do there next season at the Union Project. The way they have set up their production seems very interesting. Its not a permanent structure, as in other people can come and rent out the space. The "Alley" set up could be a very cool experience if done correctly. Hopefully the shows are amazing like in the past seasons!
I like how when searching for a theater, instead of looking for a bigger space, Stanford looked for a more intimate space. Not only is the audience closer to the stage, but the actors can be more intimate because they do not need to play to the audience. I like that Stanford was willing to go in a different direction the a typical proscenium stage and that he wanted to give a new perspective to the audience. Often times people can feel put into a box and Stanford was able to break out. Instead of trying to compete with other theaters, Stanford wanted to find the theaters personally niche; alley style seating and a classical repertoire. Also the ability to add seats allows certain shows to be more intimate. I also find it interesting that the PICT picked a church instead of a theater but still wanted the church to have a similar feel to their previous theater.
It's great to hear that the PICT is able to make a comeback after the financial struggles of their last year. It's admirable that they sticked to their mission of producing classic shows instead of trying to be flashy or contemporary in an effort to make more money. I also love how the space complements their style and mission statement. I'm interested in set design, and the lone photo given of the space in the article was already inspiring. The windows, the hanging lights, and clerical atmosphere are perfect for what the theatre is trying to accomplish. As Stanford says, "the format is much more ancient". With the actors performing in the intimate space with an unexpected interior, easily the audience can be transported to an ancient venue, complementing PICTs mission. Its true that their setting is unique in the city as well, adding to the diversity of Pittsburgh's theatre scene.
Post a Comment