off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

It’s no secret off the WALL Productions is a huge advocate for women playwrights. It’s a busy world we live in, and sometimes we fail to question the obvious as we go about our day-to-day lives. We accept ‘things’ for what they are. ‘Things’ become so ingrained within a culture that few bother to think about them, let alone ponder or question the reasoning behind the current status or possible solutions for change. And we get that. If you’ve been to our theater, you know we like to select productions that tell a meaningful story, productions they may in their own small way allow you to see life through the eyes of another. Another perspective per say. So when it comes to hearing the voices of women, we 100% support parity in theater. Parity as applied to playwrights would mean that 50% of the time, the audience is hearing the voice of a female playwright, and 50% of the time that of a male playwright. As it is, just one in five plays currently produced around the country are written ...

Daina Michelle Griffith & Virginia Wall Gruenert - Photo by Heather Mull This weekend is your last chance to catch the Pittsburgh Premiere of ‘WELL’ – a hilarious, heartfelt seriocomedy. Come join us for our last weekend of performances.  How often do you have the opportunity to enjoy a play in a theater so intimate that you’re not only almost sitting on the stage, but where the actors are blatantly aware of you? Well, by Lisa Kron, is written in a unique autobiographical style, where Lisa, the daughter, has brought her mother to our stage to ‘make an exploration of universal issues’.  What does that mean?  That means that Lisa, always thinking of herself, is perhaps using her mother a bit as she tells the story of her own life through a play.  But the fun is just beginning!  Ann, the mother, has some different recollections of Lisa’s childhood and early adult years, and she doesn’t hesitate to point those differences out to Lisa. The play gets funni...

Virginia Wall Gruenert, Linda Haston, Susie McGregor-Laine - Photo by Heather Mull If you have never attended an Off The Wall Theater production, WELL is the one! Unique and interactive, this autobiographical sketch of playwright Lisa Kron turns audience members into cast members and uses the theater itself as its stage. According to Pittsburgh Owl Scribe’s review by David Zuchowski,“You’ll probably find yourself on the edge of your chair trying to keep up with the shenanigans of the six character cast and the author’s playful penchant for violating all the rules of chronology, place and dimension.” Join the laughter as we poke fun at the idiosyncrasies of the Ann Kron household, where allergies seem to rule. WELL’s effective portrayal of family relationships, conflicts and unmet expectations will be sure to resonate with you. Don’t miss it! Order your tickets today by selecting this link . December 26, 27 and 28 - Pittsburgh Theater Live Spend some with us this holiday ...

Alan Bomar Jones, Virginia Wall Gruenert, Susie McGregor-Laine, Tony Bingham - Photo by Heather Mull “It was a great theatrical experience!” - Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli of Burgh Vivant “It was enthralling, from start to finish.” – Lonnie the Theater Lady of Burgh Vivant Buzz & Lonnie’s review of Well seems to follow the old adage, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything. And let me tell you, they had PLENTY to say, and all of it good . Here’s a compilation of bits and pieces from their podcast.   Click here to listen to entire podcast. I enjoyed the way the play was written. I thought it was very unique and creative. The talent was amazing. It was enthralling, from start to finish. Every bit of it. The set, the actors, the play itself, the direction, everything.  I liked the way the set looked so phenomenal when you come in. Daina Michelle Griffith (Lisa): Daina impresses me every time I see her. She just does everything so naturally. Virgin...

Virginia Wall Gruenert - Photo by Heather Mull Looking for a personal gift for someone close to you this holiday season? What could be better than spending time and having a good laugh with someone you love?  Our production this holiday season is perfect for a mother-daughter outing, any close relationship, or two friends wishing to spend some time together. WELL, written by Lisa Kron, is about a mother-daughter bond and the need for empathy for those you love most. It is also about how a mother heals a failing neighborhood when she can’t heal herself and what constitutes wellness versus illness. But the best part is that although the messages in the play are meaningful, you and your loved one will laugh your way through the entire play. You will be glad you spent this time together. WELL, a 2006 Tony Award-nominated play,  runs the weekend before and after Christmas. So take a break from the hectic holiday and spend some time with a loved one in our cozy theater. Co...

Daina Michelle Griffith & Virginia Wall Gruenert - Photo by Heather Mull From the moment you walk into the theater, you might sense that this play is going to be different. What you won’t sense prior to the start, is just how funny this play will be. Well is not your typical play where the actors stay in character the entire time. Well is a production where the actors portray their characters, have an awareness of audience, and play themselves…the actors. Well is a play about a mother who heals a neighborhood through racial integration, but who is not able to heal herself.  It is also about the impact the mother’s illness has on this mother-daughter relationship as the daughter struggles to understand why her mother cannot get well. Virginia Wall Gruenert, artistic director of Off The Wall Productions, and who plays the mother in the play, selected the play.  When asked why this play, Ginny commented that this play is funny and it’s hard to find good comedy. ...

Virginia Wall Gruenert & Daina Michelle Griffith. Photo by Heather Mull. Well is a seriously funny play! Autobiographical in nature, it is the story of a mother-daughter relationship. Ann, played by Virginia Wall Gruenert, has galvanized the community by spearheading the racial integration of a Lansing, Michigan neighborhood, but is not able to cure her own mysterious illness, which she attributes to unidentifiable allergies. Lisa, played by Daina Michelle Griffith, struggles with her mother’s inability to heal herself.  Lisa not only blames her mother for the impact her health has on her own life, but also assumes that she has the same life altering ‘allergies’ as her mother. If you’re looking for a unique experience in a Pittsburgh theater , join us for this play.  You’ll laugh as you, the audience, are not only entertained by both sides of the story, but become part of the play as the actors and characters voice their awareness of you. December 13-28. Pittsbu...

Have you ever noticed that the holidays tend to magnify family idiosyncrasies?  When emotions are put aside, you might be able to see that these same day-to-day family interactions can be a great source humor.  Our production this month has nothing to do with the holidays, but everything to do with family dynamics and humor. Daina Michelle Griffth, Alan Bomar Jones, Tony Bingham, Virginia Wall Gruenert, Linda Haston, Susie McGregor-Laine Photo by Heather Mull Well, a seriocomedy brilliantly written by Lisa Kron, will have you laughing as this mother-daughter pair explore why the mother is able to bring life to a failing community, but not able to heal herself. The mother, riddled with pain and fatigue, is convinced she has allergies. As the daughter tries to understand how her mother can heal a sick neighborhood, the mother is critical and relays the ‘true’ story to the audience.  This frustrates the daughter, who at the same time, attempts to bring the audienc...

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to enjoy a theater production at a small, friendly theater?  Well wonder no more. Click here to ‘stroll’ through our intimate Pittsburgh theater. Be sure to enter the theater stage area by ‘walking’ through the red curtains.  Come early and enjoy offerings from the Carnegie Coffee Company before the show. After strolling through our theater, you will understand why our next production, Well , is perfect for a theater like ours.  The play’s unique structure, both narrative and interactive at the same time, lends itself to our playhouse. Off The Wall Theater not only becomes the play’s setting, but you will feel like you are part of the play, as the cast and characters interact both with each other and with you. Well, a 2006 Tony Award-nominated play written by Lisa Kron, is a hilariously funny production that you don’t want to miss. Well is a story about a mother’s ability to heal others, but not herself, and the challenges that...