off the WALL productions at Carnegie Stage A Pittsburgh Theater

To all of our fans, followers and donors, I thank you, on behalf of the entire Off The Wall team, for a wonderful year!  With your support, we were able to make the year 2013 the ‘Year of the Woman’ with 4 plays by and about women. We’re always striving to bring you plays that represent real life. Plays that will shape your future experiences by creating a more conscious and compassionate community. Plays whose memories will last well beyond the applause. So the next time you’re looking to enjoy an experience that’s a bit ‘Off The Wall’ – come join us at our local Pittsburgh Theater – Off The Wall Productions , just 6 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to in 2014: A Feminine Ending – by Sara Treem, playing February 28 – March 15, 2014 Inky – by Rinne Groff, playing May 2 – May 17, 2014 Wishing you a Happy New Year!

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...

Daina Michelle Griffith, Virginia Wall Gruenert Photo by Heather Mull Most of us say it at one time or another, “I don’t want to be like my mother (or father),” only to find out years later that’s exactly what we have become! WELL gives us insight into the life of playwright Lisa Kron, who worries that her mother’s chronic battle with “allergies” will likewise plague her own life. Kron presents “a play within a play,” portraying a unique and somewhat satirical look at chronic illness, human weakness and family ties that bind. “No one can be anything but pleased with the acting,” notes Christopher Rawson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, adding, “her (Kron’s) memories and the feisty characters keep rising up and commandeering the stage.” Read more of Rawson’s review . LAST WEEKEND TO SEE 'WELL' - December 26, 27 and 28:   Don’t miss it! Order your tickets today by selecting this link . Well, written by Lisa Kron, is a riotously funny play that acknowledges the heartbre...

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 ...

Daina Michelle Griffith & Virginia Wall Gruenert- Photo by Heather Mull What happens when a daughter, who has been impacted all her life by her mother’s undiagnosed illness, decides to write a play about her experiences? Well, an auto-biographical play, explores various life issues, such as wellness and illness, integration, and mother-daughter relationships.   Watching the main character Lisa (the daughter) deliver the dialogue on the play and run through its scenes is much like watching a Christmas present being unwrapped. Once unwrapped, a very nice gift is revealed. Like a present, Lisa must unwrap and shed layers of past experiences before she can get to the core issue with her mother – why can her mother, who healed a failing neighborhood, not heal herself? The empathy and understanding that ensues is the true gift of healing. December 19-28. Pittsburgh Theater Live:  WELL, written by Lisa Kron, plays this weekend before Christmas and the weekend after Chris...

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...