off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

Moriah Ella Mason THE YEAR IN DANCE EIGHT STANDOUT LOCAL PERFORMANCES By Steve Sucato, City Paper Moriah Ella Mason in Sex Werque (Carnegie Stage, July 27). Candidly based on Mason’s real-life experiences as a stripper, Sex Werque explored attitudes and misconceptions about the sex industry, and her and fellow strippers’ feelings about the profession. Mason was resplendent in the groundbreaking one-woman dance-theater show. TICKETS

Photo courtesy of  PinzonART Moriah Ella Mason is an interdisciplinary artist, bodyworker, and educator. Mason has performed throughout Pittsburgh with the Pillow Project/the Ellipses Condition, Maree ReMalia | merrygogo, and Mark C. Thompson. Her original movement and performance works have been presented at a variety of venues in Pittsburgh, Tucson, and NYC. Mason is a professional massage therapist with a private practice specializing in treating chronic pain, injury recovery, and trauma. You can follow her work at www.moriahellamason.com

A New Work July 7-9 & 14-16 & 8:00 pm Beauty. Sex. Power.  Three scenes. Dynamic. Provocative. Effulgent. Choreographed by  Elisa-Marie Alaio                 Original Music by  Reni Monteverde The struggle of feeling comfortable in your skin, wanting to explore your sexual desires and finally being who you are and owning every bit of it. With  Elisa-Marie Alaio, Alexis Bomer, Glenna Clark, Vicki Lynn Mcwilliams, Cammi Nevarez, Jenna Rae Smith. TICKETS - click here

A New Work July 7-9 & 14-16 & 8:00 pm Beauty. Sex. Power.  Three scenes. Dynamic. Provocative. Effulgent. Choreographed by  Elisa-Marie Alaio                 Original Music by  Reni Monteverde The struggle of feeling comfortable in your skin, wanting to explore your sexual desires and finally being who you are and owning every bit of it. With  Elisa-Marie Alaio, Alexis Bomer, Glenna Clark, Vicki Lynn Mcwilliams, Cammi Nevarez, Jenna Rae Smith.

Guest blogger: Elizabeth Beck (Senior, RMU)           Let me just say this: I am not a dancer. My dance abilities top off at the chicken dance. I have almost zero coordination when it comes to choreographed movement. Needless to say, activities like ballet are not in the cards for me.             That said, I am absolutely enthralled by those who can dance, and even more by those who dance professionally. To me, it’s amazing that people can do things with their bodies to convey stories. I love to watch any kind of professional dance and movement, because it is so beyond my scope of ability. I think my obsession with dance performances is what truly led me to enjoy Off the Wall’s latest production, Kimono. Moriah Ella Mason - Mark Thompson - Photo by Heather Mull             Kimono is a powerful story told through bodily movement, miming and da...

What some may consider a risky move, others state is long overdue. Theater and artistic theatrical performances have long been considered a medium for engaging the community in social discourse, but even so, some may feel the upcoming production of KIMONO at CARNEGIE STAGE pushes the envelope. Mark C. Thompson - Kimono It’s important to ask ourselves why this is the case. In what some consider to be an ‘almost anything goes’ society, why is speaking out on behalf of victims potentially seen as pushing the envelope? Why? KIMONO, developed and choreographed by Mark C. Thompson of Pittsburgh, calls out predators for what they are. As noted on the playbill, “ Kimono deals with the subject of predation and victimization in a form that resembles a parable. It aspires to recount a horrible story in an eerily beautiful way, juxtaposing scenes of ugliness with very beautiful ones. ” We think Pittsburgh is ready for this type of social justice. It is our hope that through the bravenes...

Are you looking for something both new and exciting in Pittsburgh Theater? Then the upcoming production KIMONO at CARNEGIE STAGE is one that needs to be on your short list of things to do in Pittsburgh this March. Not only is this production something new to Pittsburgh, it truly is new.  It is a new work developed and choreographed by Mark C. Thompson. Produced by fireWALL dance theater, a division of off the WALL productions , producing a new work is something they not only love to do, it’s right in line with their mission – to bring new works and developments to fruition and to support new artists. In this case, it just so happens all of the artists involved are native to and/or living in Pittsburgh. Exciting. Intense. Stimulating. Moving. Stirring. Yes, KIMONO is all of these. This unique production is the result of a particularly gratifying collaboration between all involved. The three artists on stage are just that…artists. Through movement, they convey a story, a stor...

Have you ever noticed the variety of designs on kimonos? They’re often very bold and embellished and each kimono seems unique. It’s as if each kimono tells a story. In fact, that’s exactly what they do. A kimono can have many designs, and each design can be significant to the person’s life. Even the color is part of the story. Some kimonos are very complex, reflecting the person’s status, wealth and their tastes. The symbolism on kimonos is as varied as the wearers, and may even allude to virtues or specific emotions that individual associates with. Like a kimono that one wears, the upcoming fireWALL Dance production Kimono also tells a story. But not all kimonos are bright and bold. It depends on the story being told. Mark C. Thompson's new production new work, Kimono , is a dark and disturbing movement in parable form. It tells the story of a man who has been victimized. But it also tells the story of transformation. In Kimono , the traumatized man (an artist), begins to rec...

Live theater.  To those of us who love it so, live theater is a comfortable visit with people we know, or who we are about to know. The ticket we exchange for entry is our invitation to a special time, a time of laughter, smiles, tears and sighs, the same emotions we share with family and friends. The experience of small live theater , in particular, holds a special allure. Instead of watching the story unfold from the front door, we are invited into the living room, invited to share the moment, rather than watch it only. Those who frequent Off the Wall Center for Performing Arts enjoy the intimacy unique to small theater. You are our guests, and we invite you in to be a part of the special stories we have to share. We're one of the few theaters in the Pittsburgh area where professional actors take the stage. lease consider our schedule for the upcoming 2015-16 theater season. We can't wait to spend some time with you. So consider this your invitation to come on in! H...

Fact:Across the world, women remain underrepresented in theatre. A recap of a previous blog tells us that, as recent as 2014, women represent only 17% of all playwrights. As with most ingrained cultural practices, change doesn’t come easily. Achieving true gender parity will require a concerted effort across the entire theatre universe. Rita Anderson, an award-winning Texas playwright, in a recent article posted on tcgcircle.com recommends a push from the theatre world to achieve “50/50 by 2020.” Martha Richards, in an article for American Theater, shared a series of steps that she believes will help to eliminate the “parody of gender parity,” that poor imitation of equality. She outlines the following: Build alliances with other social justice groups. Work with women in other art forms. Teach and produce plays by women. Work with the unions to help prevent unfair labor practices. Educate political candidates about the need to increase arts funding. off the WALL Theater is ...

Wondering what we do after our theater season officially ends? You might think that we sit back, relax, and enjoy some time off. Although that sounds delightful, it’s certainly not reality. Not when we’re committed to bringing some of the best that theater has to offer to Pittsburgh Theater and to the Carnegie community. Where better to find out first-hand the latest happenings in the world of theater? Why New York of course! That’s why we scour the streets, read the reviews, talk with the artists, and learn about the new and upcoming playwrights, directors and plays. We’re always searching for the next great production to bring to you! So you can be sure that we’re working our way through the Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway circuits. We’re excited about all the options to consider, and look forward to sharing some of our finds on our stage in the future. off the WALL Performing Arts Center | a Pittsburgh Theater 25 West Main, Carnegie, PA 15106 | 6 miles from downtown Pitts...

It’s been a wonderful run! Admission, the most recent fireWALL production on our stage, not only was an amazingly powerful dance performance, it exemplified the very existence of off the WALL (Carnegie Stage) Performing Arts Center! A central theme of our mission is to nurture, challenge, inspire and empower women theater artists, and this production did just that! TO NURTURE, CHALLENGE, INSPIRE AND EMPOWER WOMEN THEATER ARTISTS Promote women in theater and the arts: Six vibrant young women were the stars of Admission. Four were local artists, and two joined us from New York City. Provide a fair wage to working artists: An often unknown, and in some cases overlooked fact, is that theater and dance artists too often work for very low wages or no wages at all. Off the WALL believes that artists are entitled to earn a living wage. Promote empowerment: Female empowerment was the theme of Admission. The act of coming to recognize the frustrations, to overcome inhibitions as one st...

fireWALL dance theater fireWALL dance theater is taking our stage by storm with their current production of Admission! Admission is the story of six women as they work through their self-doubts, fears and worries on their journey to self-acceptance and female empowerment. Steve Sucato, of the Pittsburgh City Paper, published his review earlier today. You can read his full review here, but we thought we’d share a bit of what he had to say. To start, we’ve displayed a mix of words from his review that we always like to hear, followed by the selected highlights from the Sucato’s review. ENERGETIC     STRONG     FULL OF POWER     EXHILARATING     VISUAL METAPHORS     BOLD CHOREOGRAPHY     DRAMA     WHIRLWIND SOLOS     WONDERFUL     FABULOUS   “ADMISSION’S REAL STRENGTH CAME IN AN ONSLAUGHT OF FULL-THROTTLE, ENERGETIC AND ATHLETIC DANCE SEQUENCES” DANCERS IN SILHOUETTE BEHIND A R...

fireWALL dance theater FIREWALL DANCE THEATER PRESENTS ADMISSION A WORLD PREMIERE REMAINING PERFORMANCES: JUNE 4-6 @ 8:00 PM Choreography by Elisa-Marie Alaio Original Music by: Ryan McMasters our fireWALL dancers: Elisa-Marie Alaio, Glenna Clark, Grace Cohen, Sara Cohen, Cammi Nevarez, Jenna Rae Smith Have you recently had one of those days where you just want to scream? As hard as you try to work around problems, your hands are tied and you just can’t do what you to do. No matter what you do, you run into a brick wall. Sometimes it may even feel a bit hopeless. It’s not fun feeling stifled, whether from your own perceptions or from boundaries placed by others. Often, various segments of society have barriers placed upon them. Invisible as they are, these cultural barriers are stronger than steel. This has been, and continues to be, in varying degrees, the case for women. Imagine how you feel when you just want people to hear you, to acknowledge you, to understa...

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...

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...

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,...