off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

Admission, currently on stage, is fireWALL dance theater’ fireWALL dance theater s powerful expression of empowerment through movement… and music. It’s natural to focus on the dance performance, awed by both the athleticism and the gracefulness of the dancers; moved by the power of the story. But what would happen if you watched the performance in a vacuum of space, where no sound can travel? Would you still ‘feel’ the performance, or would it lose something? Chances are you would still appreciate the skill of the dancers, but that much would be lost in ‘feeling’ the power of the story. Why is this? This is because the dance movements and the musical score are married into one, inseparable performance. The music not only supports the story, the music is an integral part of the story. We took some time and talked with the mastermind behind the original musical score for Admission, Ryan McMasters. Ryan is our Resident Music Director and Sound Designer. Ryan is a true musical genius...

What does it mean to be a woman? Is it all about being sexy? Is it about being intelligent? Is it about fireWALL dance being sensual? Maybe it’s none of these, yet all of these. Admission, written and choreographed by Elisa-Marie Alaio, explores the art of being a woman. That’s right, the ‘art’ of being a woman. What does female empowerment mean? How is it achieved? At times, women may seem to be bent on comparing themselves with other women, and perhaps even at odds with one another. So how can women simultaneously lift each other up, even through the hardest of times? How can a woman be true to herself, yet be a part of a larger sisterhood? How can admitting individual weaknesses lead to a stronger bond with other women? How? This is part of the mysteriousness of women, the art of creating a bond through all the differences and challenges in life. It is also a force behind female empowerment. Admission is the creative, energetic exploration of this empowerment as presented by th...

Summertime! We’ve waited all winter for it, and now it’s finally here. Before we know it, we’ll be donning our fall layers and preparing for holidays. So what will you do this summer? Relax, maybe take a vacation, kick back, go picnics, the usual… How about learning? Summertime is a great time to learn a new skill or to expand your existing skills in something you love, or have wanted to do for a long time. That’s why we’re offering summer school at our off the WALL Annex in downtown Carnegie, just 6 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. If you’ve always wanted to write a play or have had writer’s block and/or need a boost for taking your writing to the next level, this is your chance. We are offering both a beginning and advanced playwriting class this summer. But hurry! Classes begin Monday, June 1st!! BEGINNING PLAYWRITING YOU CAN WRITE A PLAY LEARN ALL ABOUT IT ADVANCED PLAYWRITING HONING YOUR PLAYWRITING SKILLS LEARN ALL ABOUT IT ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: In 2012 Writers...

Be sure to catch the world premiere of the newest production at our theater. Admission , it’s is all about the sisterhood! Every woman is unique, but every woman is part of something larger – the sisterhood. Through creative choreographing and movement, Elisa-Marie Alaio and the fireWALL dancers emote the power to behold when women come together and support each other; the power of literally lifting each other up. Then, and only then, can women truly meet their full potential.  These creative work of art is sure to resonate with you. “SISTERHOOD” Grace & Sara Cohen There is space within sisterhood for likeness and difference, for the subtle differences that challenge and delight… Christine Downing Fun Tidbit: Within this sisterhood is a real ‘sister act’ – Grace and Sara Cohen are visiting artists from New York. Be sure to visit their profiles along those of all our dancers below. We are thrilled to have Grace & Sara join us for the world premiere of this dan...

A World Premiere May 29 – 30 @ 8:00 pm, May 31 @ 3:00 pm, June 4 – 6 @ 8:00 pm The dynamic fireWALL dance theater returns with Admission, a celebration of female empowerment. In a world full of all-boys’ clubs, glass ceilings, and disproportionate salaries, six women embark on separate journeys to overcome their obstacles, and ultimately discover that there is strength to be had in the sisterhood. our fireWALL dancers: Elisa-Marie Alaio Glenna Clark Grace Cohen Sara Cohen Cammi Nevarez Jenna Rae Smith Choreography by Elisa-Marie Alaio Original music by Ryan McMasters

Admission (\əd-ˈmi-shən, ad-\) – the act of admitting or allowing something; a statement or action by which someone admits a weakness or fault; the right or permission to enter a place. This is the Merriam-Webster definition of admission. Elisa-Marie Alaio’s newest dance show Admission portrays these meanings, and so much more. fireWALL dance theater - Photo by Grace Cohen Admission is an energetic dance production that explores the various facets of womanhood. Interpreting aspects ranging from the mysteriousness to the emotional to the chaotic ‘order’ that at times permeates our lives, along with the need to both challenge and support one another, Elisa-Marie brings a depth of thoughtful representation to the myriads of women. Only when we admit our flaws and weaknesses to ourselves, are we truly able to accept the helping hand of others, to allow others to support us through our ups and downs. Through dance, Admission demonstrates the intense power of lifting each other up. A...

Are you a seasoned writer looking to hone your writing skills? Join F.J. Hartland for the Advanced Playwriting Workshop series this summer. With F.J. as your mentor, you will learn how to better develop your plots, study various ways to layout the structure of your plays, and take your character development to new levels. If you’ve been struggling with writer’s block, F.J.’s collaborative spirit will help you regain your voice. Classes/EducationBe sure to take advantage of this workshop series, where you can discuss your questions, practice with exercises that will help you grow, and look at your writing with a fresh outlook.  Class input and direction by F.J. is just another added benefit! Don’t delay. This workshop begins June 1st. Learn More!    Register Now! ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: In 2012 Writers News Weekly named F. J. Hartland one of the top playwrights in Pittsburgh. He has made a record setting thirteen appearances in the Pittsburgh New Works Festival,...

Admission, our current dance production conceived and choreographed by Elisa-Marie Alaio, promises to be another success for our talented fireWALL dance troupe. Based on the theme of women empowerment, Admission explores the battles that women face, the spirit of women lifting one another up, and both the similarities and the uniqueness of women. fireWALL dance theater- Photo by Grace Cohen But success doesn’t come easy. The dancers have been hard at work for months. So how does “My Journey of Four Counts of Eight” come into play? Having sat in various rehearsals, these few words sum up the dancers’ dedication to perfection. For every small segment, the dancers will work, rework, collaborate and rework that segment again until it perfectly represents their vision. My Journey of Four Counts of Eight During one particular rehearsal, the dancers worked 32 counts (four counts of eight) over and over to get it ‘just right’ – so “My Journey of Four Counts of Eight” represents One,...

YOU CAN WRITE A PLAY! Whether you realize it or not, you have a story lurking inside you, waiting for your creative genius to release it from the depths of your unconscious mind. Or perhaps you already have a story idea in mind, but just don’t know where to start. That’s where we come in. Join us this summer and learn from an expert. Playwriting Workshop at Pittsburgh TheaterF.J. Hartland will be leading an adult workshop series for beginning playwrights. Through these sessions, you will learn how to tap into your own unique voice. The best part, your 10 minute play will be brought to life via a reading of it at our stage at off the WALL Theater. Having written your play under the leadership and expertise of F.J.; if you so desire, you’ll even be able to submit your play to short play contests throughout the country. ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: In 2012 Writers News Weekly named F. J. Hartland one of the top playwrights in Pittsburgh. He has made a record setting thirteen appearances...

fireWALL Dance Theater will once again be performing a world premiere under the direction of Elisa-Marie Alaio.  We took a few moments to learn about Elisa-Marie’s newest work, Admission.  This is Elisa-Marie’s second original show which she personally conceived and produced. Her first was the well received On The Rox, performed in May of 2014. She also produced the dance production Uproar, which loosely paralleled and ran simultaneously to our off the WALL Production OR,. Elisa-Marie Alaio - Photo:by Grace Cohen ELISA-MARIE ALAIO SHARES HER PERSPECTIVE ON “ADMISSION”   Admission is about 6 strong, fierce and intense women facing individual self battles. Together these women unite and become one powerful force ready to take over any challenge thrown their way. We are constantly being compared to one another but in reality, we are more alike than we realize. All the dancers are dressed in simplistic black business suits keeping our look very clean and sharp with...

If you’ve been meaning to make it to the theater to see our current production, The Whale, or even F.J. Hartland - The Whale Photo by Heather Mull just to see ‘a’ show this season, this is your last chance! Off the WALL’s season officially ends this weekend. Ironically, The Whale is about a man’s last chance. A six-hundred pound man contemplates his past, his present and the future of his daughter’s life. Having left his wife and then two-year old child fifteen years ago, he desires nothing more than to reconcile with his teenage daughter, whom he barely knows. Powerful. Funny. Emotionally Stirring. This is a show you don’t want to miss. Though there will be performances on our stage over the summer, including that of our FireWall Dance Theater, this truly is the final curtain call for the 2014-15 season of off the WALL Productions. Every show and every season brings about a bittersweet closure, all the more so when theatergoers and critics alike fully embrace the show. I hope y...