off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

Erika Cuenca  and Daina Michelle Griffith - Photo by Heather Mull Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli and Lonnie the Theatre Lady ran into each other at the opening night performance of The Zero Hour.  They got together and ‘dished’ it out on ' BURGH VIVANT , Pittsburgh's Cultural Talk Magazine. They could not say enough about the theater, its mission, the actors, the set or the director. Here’s a what they had to say about each: The Theater: “Something special about that theater…not a bad seat in the house.”   Off The Wall Theater mission:   “Enlivening, educating & entertaining audiences in the Pittsburgh Region …dedicated to women: playwrights, directors, actors.” The actors:   “Beautiful women, their talent is just great!” The Play: “Thought-provoking!”  The play makes you talk afterwards about schoolbooks, the Holocaust, and what it must have been like during the time period. The Set:   “The set was great.”  Mike and Lonnie credite...

John Steffenauer & Erika Cuenca - Photo by Heather Mull What would a play about two lesbians in an almost-love relationship be without a good looking man?  In comes Doug.  Is Rebecca, who is not ready to come out of the closet, not even to please her lover O, really a lesbian? Is Doug the man who commands an answer?  Although Doug’s entrance occurs near the end of the play and only for a single scene, it is a scene you won’t soon forget. In a review by Dave Zuchowski  via his Owlscribe blog , Dave focuses in on Doug’s character, stating  “John Steffenauer as Doug, Rebecca’s bar encounter, is also a strong presence in a diminutive role…”  Dave also gives credit to the sound designer, Ryan McMasters, for doing a “great job incorporating Hitler speeches in the sound tract that evokes the mood of Nazi Germany along with snippets of beautiful singing from Mozart’s opera, "The Magic Flute," as well as some captivating music in the bar scene I’d like to ...

Robyne Parrish on her way to rehearsal What does any director hate more than an actor being late for rehearsal? Being late herself!!  It looks like Robyne Parrish, the Director of The Zero Hour, might be late for our final rehearsal. Can the production team and actors handle the final rehearsal themselves? Come find out. The Zero Hour starts playing this Friday, October 25th.   Tickets on sale now . About Robyne Parrish (Director):  This is Ms. Parrish's sixth directing assignment with Off The Wall, following The Mercy Seat, The House of Yes, Shaken & Stirred, Stop Kiss, and Looking for the Pony. She is currently Artistic Director of the Gilbert Theatre in NC where she directed The Fantasticks, Naked, and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.  Parrish mounted Quilters at Children’s Theatre Charlotte in 2012 and spent years in SC, NC and NYC directing at venues like NCSA, Act One Theatre, The Sande Shurin Theatre, Sonnet Repertory Theatre (...

Erika Cuenca & John Steffenauer - Photo by Heather Mull Honesty…  Self-Identity…  Authentic-Self… These themes weave their way throughout this dramatic comedy. The Zero Hour explores the intimate relationship between two women almost in love.  What happens when one woman is not honest?  What happens when honesty is told?  Can their relationship survive the truth?   Rebecca, brilliantly played by Erika Cuenca , represents the serious side of the relationship. Rebecca writes for an academic publishing company and is writing a textbook for seventh graders about the Holocaust.  But her self-examination and inner struggles are causing unintended consequences.  As the challenges with honesty in her relationship deepen, she also begins to question what is appropriate for the textbook.  Every way she turns, she begins to wonder: What is the truth?  What is authentic?  If you've ever asked yourself these questions, you’ll appr...

Daina Michelle Griffith & Erika Cuenca - Photo by Heather Mull "A lucid drama. Appealingly brainy and messy, George's play never settles for an easy metaphor or emotion. It cross-examines our pat notions of history and love."  — The New Yorker This is a play you don’t want to miss!  Share the intimacies of two women in love, one in the closet and one not.  What happens to the mind when the honest truth might hurt those you love most?   The Zero Hour opens in Pittsburgh this Friday, October 25th.  Runs through November 9th.   Learn more/purchase tickets .

Kim Crawford - General Manager Kim loves Off the Wall Theater because the plays challenge the audience’s perspective on life.  If you’re looking for Pollyanna, this might not be the theater for you.  But if you want to explore life, embrace its challenges, and gain new perspectives, then you won’t be disappointed.  Each play focuses on a different life obstacle, ranging from a family member with Alzheimer’s to a woman making it in a man’s world to the challenges within a Lesbian relationship. In the upcoming production, The Zero Hour , which runs from October 25th to November 9th, the playwright explores the impact to a lesbian relationship when one partner wants to continue to hide the relationship. As General Manager, Kim will be using her expertise to coordinate her team to ensure all the nuances of lighting, sound and stage presence are seamlessly controlled before and during the production so you can immerse yourself in the surroundings and forget about your da...

Daina Michelle Griffith & Erika Cuenca - Photo by Heather Mull Lucid!  Comedic!  Unsettling!  Riveting! Provocative!   The Zero Hour , written by Madeleine George and directed by Robyne Parrish, will fascinate you to the end.  Rebecca, a writer, and her chronically unemployed girlfriend O, struggle to overcome the building tension in their lesbian relationship.  Rebecca wants to remain closeted while O is Out .  You won’t be able to help but to become emotionally involved with the characters as these two actors seamlessly transition from one role to another, right before your very eyes. A thoughtful play that is perfect for an intimate Pittsburgh theater experience.   Tickets on sale now . About Erika Cuenca (Rebecca): Erika is so very happy to be back at Off The Wall, working with such an awesome group of people.  Locally, she has also worked with The Pittsburgh Playhouse Repertory Co., City Theatre, Quantum Theatre, Pittsburgh...

 ”Bold, thoughtful, and incredibly beautiful.” – CurtainUp The play of an award-winning playwright comes to town!  Madeleine George, a resident playwright at New Dramatists and a founding member of the Obie-winning playwrights’ collective 13P, has written plays that have been produced at theaters across the county.   Beginning October 25th, you can enjoy her play “The Zero Hour” at a local theater in Carnegie, just 6 miles from downtown Pittsburgh . The Zero Hour , her contribution to 13P, will run from October 25, 2013 through November 9, 2013.  The Zero Hour is a drama about Rebecca and her chronically unemployed girlfriend, and how domestic bliss can start to slip away when unexamined emotions come into play.  Charming Nazis, family ghosts, you just don’t know what to expect when you’re hiding truth that just might devastate the people you love. Click here for tickets . About Madeleine George (Playwright):  Madeleine George has been a member ...

Robyne Parrish, known for thinking WAY outside of the box, contemplates the day’s rehearsal.  What is she thinking? I can’t give that away, but given her creative & tenacious energy, you can be sure that the actors will find out at tomorrow’s rehearsal as Robyne pushes the actors to dig deeper than ever as they portray the almost-love story between two women in New York. Come see The Zero Hour at our intimate theater in Carnegie. Tickets available now for shows starting October 25, 2013.  Only 6 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. About Robyne Parrish (Director):  This is Ms. Parrish's sixth directing assignment with Off The Wall, following The Mercy Seat, The House of Yes, Shaken & Stirred, Stop Kiss, and Looking for the Pony. She is currently Artistic Director of the Gilbert Theatre in NC where she directed The Fantasticks, Naked, and The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.  Parrish mounted Quilters at Children’s Theatre Charlotte in 2012 an...

Be prepared to be riveted to your seats from the very first line of this bold and provocative tale!  This play is the story of the challenges faced by two women, when one woman wants to stop hiding the relationship, and about the lies one must tell to live in the closet. The Zero Hour , written by Madeleine George and directed by Robyne Parrish, explores an almost-love story and the relationship between honesty and cruelty.   How do you tell the truth about yourself when that truth might devastate the people you love?  The ongoing mix of realism and fantasy will leave you fascinated and questioning the depths that secrets can play on the mind.   Learn more and order tickets

We are ever grateful to you, our dedicated fans and supporters, for your continued support.   Your generosity during last Thursday’s Day of Giving was unprecedented.   It is for you that we dedicate our livelihoods, passion and sentiments.  Your support at both our shows and through donations is what keeps Off The Wall Productions thriving.  We are the heart and soul of Pittsburgh Theater, and you are the heart and soul of our success .  Our plays and actors are on par with those in the best theaters around the globe.  Because of your generosity, we can continue to bring these productions to town, help artists to fulfill their dreams, and to explore new ideas and develop new works.

Today is the official Day of Giving .   Pittsburgh Foundation will match donations of $25 to $1,000 on a prorated basis during this 24-hour drive.  Read on to see the impact of your donations and support. Since the fall of 2012, during Off The Wall’s first year in Carnegie, our organization has helped dozens of artists fulfill a dream - to showcase their talents on a professional stage.  Our own production company has artistically flourished in the new environment, cooperating with visionary directors and designers who in turn brought out the best in our immensely talented pool of local actors. Our play selection, celebrating the great tradition and value of women’s contribution to the theatrical canon, has been extended from four to six plays, and we are happy to continue to shine the light on today’s female playwrights. Our Theater is unique.   Nowhere else in Pittsburgh will you find a theater so dedicated to nurturing, challenging, inspiring and empowering ...

Get Ready. Get Set. Go!  Our new exciting theater season is upon us.  Our reputation speaks for itself.  You can expect to experience “First class professional actors in high quality performances… ”  That’s what the Pittsburgh City Paper had to say about last year’s programs.  This year, be prepared to embark on a journey by and about women. If you’re a woman, have a woman in your life, or have women friends, you’ll be fascinated by this season’s line-up.  Let us introduce our 4 acclaimed playwrights:  Madeleine George, Lisa Kron, Sarah Treem, and Rinne Groff.   Be sure to stay posted for audacious, intriguing and bold posts about our playwrights, directors, actors, production team, story lines and all the fun behind the scenes.  You won’t want to miss what’s going on behind the scenes at our theater!