off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

Think about the great composers across time. Mozart, Sebastian Bach, Handel, Strauss, Beethoven, Chopin, Verdi, Haydn, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gershwin… and the list goes on. What do each of these composers have in common? Is it the way they use harmony in their symphonies, their use of phrasing, the way they interweave melodic lines, the use of syncopated rhythms, their use of instrumentation? No. The single common factor is simply this: They are all men! So you can see why young Amanda, played by Erika Cuenca, is struggling to make it in a man’s world. She dreams of being a famous composer, but in her master’s level classes, not only is she the only woman in class, she is treated with a definitive lack of respect for her talents. Add to this her diminished role as the fiancé of an almost-famous musician and you can understand why the music in her head is a cacophony of irregular rhythms and dissonant half-steps. “Nothing makes sense t...

Andrew Wind & Erika Cuenca - Photo by Heather Mull Come join the fun that young love has to offer. In A Feminine Ending, Jack, the soon to be famous musician, struggles to understand the rules of the game! As Jack is courted by record deals, fancy meals, and directed in major life decisions by his new manager, he just doesn't seem to ‘get’ the nuances of his relationship with his fiancé, Amanda. Whether it’s all the attention Jack gets, his immaturity, self-centeredness or perhaps a mixture of all these ingredients, he is flustered by the rules of relationships. At the same time, Amanda is struggling with her own role in the relationship and choices she must make. These mingled complexities of young love set the stage for a fast paced comedy that will spark your imagination as to what could be, or perhaps what could have been. When one door shuts, as if often the case on this set with over 64 doors, will another open? A Feminine Ending: Plays February 28 to March 15,...

Weston Blakesley and Erika Cuenca  - Photo by Heather Mull A Feminine Ending is a play about a young woman, Amanda, who knows what she wants, but just isn’t sure how to go about getting it.  She finds herself torn between dreams.  Dreams of being in love with her almost-famous fiancé Jack, dreams of living a simple life with her high school sweetheart Billy, and dreams of becoming a famous composer. While Amanda struggles with those decisions common for many young women, her mother and father struggle with their own challenges in their long-term marriage.  Amanda begins to see her potential future, as her father, David, ruminates about the paradox of existence as it relates to aging.  We can’t avoid aging, yet as the years go by the aging process seems to sneak up on us.  Are we to act the age we feel or must we adapt to act the age that others perceive us to be? So whether you consider yourself young, old or somewhere in between, you'll be able ...

Ingrid Sonnichsen and Erika Cuenca - Photo by Heather Mull Amanda (Erika Cuenca), a 25-year-old woman trying to make it in a man’s world, finds herself giving up on her own dreams to support the dreams of her almost-famous fiancé Jack (Andrew Wind), while also dealing with the troubles in her parents’ marriage.  Though she may feel alone with her troubles, not only are her challenges similar to those of many women of her own generation, Amanda finds out that her struggles at this stage of her life are the same struggles that her mother dealt with at a similar age.  They are, no doubt, the challenges of womanhood. Amanda’s mother (Ingrid Sonnichsen), struggling with her own loss from neglecting her lifelong dreams, does not want to see Amanda suffer the same consequences.  She wants Amanda to be happy and fulfilled, and fears that if Amanda goes through with her marriage to the almost-famous Jack, Amanda will be in the same situation as herself in 25-30 years. ...

Photo by Peter Bellamy Here are some fascinating highlights about a female playwright.  See how far you need to read before you can guess who she is and why it matters. She’s  currently working on a new HBO comedy called HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA She is a writer/producer on the HBO drama IN TREATMENT She is working on a romantic-comedy screenplay for Miramax She’s a winner of the Reva Shiner Playwriting award She is working on two pilots for HBO  She was nominated for a Humanitas award She won a WGA award for her work on the HBO drama IN TREATMENT She has taught playwriting at Yale, where she also earned her B.A. and M.F.A. Her plays include HUMAN VOICES, EMPTY SKY, MIRROR MIRROR, AGAINST THE WALL, VIENNA’S AMAZING and ORPHAN ISLAND She loves country music From a teaching perspective, she recommends studying “who ever moves you and makes you want to write plays” If she were forbidden to write plays, she would want to win Top Chef So who is she and why...

This month is all about love! If you caught our cabaret show this Valentine’s weekend, you know the songs, humor, dances and poetry were all about love. Who knew a martini could make such a great date? If you missed it, you can catch an all-new cabaret show at our theater the weekend of April 18th ( cabaret tickets ). In the meantime, up next, is the Off The Wall Productions play “ A Feminine Ending ” by Sarah Treem. In this bittersweet comedy, a young woman is trying to make it in a profession largely dominated by men. She is living with her fiancé when her first love reappears into her life. Although she dreams of being a composer, the noise in her head is anything but sweet music. Will love prevail?   Click here to purchase tickets or to learn more. "Appealingly outlandish humor." - The New York Times A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem February 28 to March 15, 201 4. Click here to learn more or to purchase tickets. Off The Wall | Pittsburgh Theater ...

Would you like to meet the Cabaret performers in person?   Then join us this Valentine’s weekend for our 7:00 PM show on the 14 th or our 8:00 PM show on the 15 th .   Click here to purchase your tickets today!  Enjoy a special Valentine's Dance! Members of our newest addition to the Off The Wall family, fireWALL dance theater, will perform a special dance in the spirit of Valentine's Day.  Elisa Alaio and Darren McArthur will show  the true, genuine love between a man and a woman, in their performance to ' Everything I Do ' by Bryan Adams.  Throughout our lives, we encounter several different relationships and types of love.  We hope that this dance helps you recognize and appreciate the love for those in your lives.   We expect that this Valentine's Dance will make you smile, but if not, one of the other performers below is sure to make you and yours smile, as you enjoy not only the dancing, but also the comedy, magic, poetry and mime!...

Brian Edward - 'Burgh Vivant The one and only Brian Edward of ‘Burgh Vivant will emcee our first Off The Wall Cabaret Show!  If you’re already familiar with Brian of ‘Burgh Vivant, you know you’re in for a hilarious, fun time.  If you’re not familiar with Brian, then join us this Valentine’s weekend and see what all the fuss is about. Come alone, bring a date, or join a group of friends. You'll be amazed at the talent we've brought together all under one roof and in one show!  Featured performers include Mr. Brian Edward (MC), Derek Minto (Comedy), Rebecca Covert (Vocalist), Hotep the Artist (Mime&Poetry), Off The Wall's own fireWALL Dance Theater (Dance). OFF THE WALL CABARET!! SHOWING VALENTINE'S WEEKEND:  February 14 at 7:00 & February 15 at 8:00.   Click here to learn more or to purchase tickets. Brian Edward is the host and executive producer of ‘Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh’s cultural talk magazine. Learn more about Brian. Off The Wall ...

Looking for a great experience on Valentine’s Day without feeling like you’re participating in a Hallmark commercial? Then whether you’re planning a date or a night out with friends, our Off The Wall Cabaret is just what the doctor ordered. Funny! Entertaining! Magical! Comedic! Join us February 14th or 15th for our Cabaret Show. We’ve not only lined up an all-star group of local Pittsburgh talent who will entertain you and yours, but we’ll steal your heart with the introduction of the newest addition to our Off The Wall family, fireWALL Dance Theater! Off the Wall Cabaret – February 14 at 7:00 & February 15 at 8:00.  Click here to learn more or to purchase tickets. Featured entertainers: MC: Mr. Brian Edward  | Comedy: Derek Minto | Vocalist: Rebecca Covert |  Mime&Poetry: Hotep the Artist  | Off The Wall's own: fireWALL Dance Theater Off The Wall | Pittsburgh Theater - Broadway Magic Only 6 miles from downtown.  Parking is free....

Come spend part of your Valentine’s Day weekend with us and enjoy the kick-off of our new Off the Wall Cabaret series . Whether you’re in a relatively new relationship, a tried and true relationship, or looking to enjoy an evening out with a friend or two or with a group of your friends, we've got the show for you! Friday, February 14th is the opening night for our very first Cabaret show!  You’ll be amazed at the talent and will leave yearning for more.  We’ve lined up some of the best local entertainers.  You’ll enjoy first-rate comedy, magic, poetry, spectacular singing, mime and you’ll also get to preview a HOT new dance company, fireWALL Dance Theater.  MC Mr. Brian Edward will tie it all together with his own special blend of entertainment. Our small, intimate theater, where you’re only a few feet from the stage, is the perfect venue to enjoy this fabulous group of entertainers. Off the Wall Cabaret – February 14 at 7:00 & February 15 at 8:00. ...

Our first run of Straightening Combs by Kim El was this past weekend and was a BIG HIT with the audience.  If you missed this hit, don’t worry!  We have a great line up of new productions.  Here’s a look at what you can look forward to in the next few months: Off the Wall Cabaret – February 14 & 15 .  Come enjoy first-rate comedy, spectacular singing, and a HOT new dance company, all under one roof.  Tickets . A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem – February 28 – March 15 .  A gentle, bittersweet comedy about a young woman who knows what she wants but not quite how to get it. Tickets . Dorothy in Oz by James Michael Shoberg – performed by Rage on the Stage – playing at our theater March 20 – 29 .  This play will feature a brand-new opening, many never-before-seen jokes and bits, and NINE new actors! Straightening Combs by Kim El –April 4 – 6 .  Second run of this great repertory play about coming to age in The Pittsburgh Hill District...