Pittsburgh Playhouse’s 550-seat PNC Theatre at Point Park University (Photo by John Altdorfer)
PITTSBURGH, PA – After 28 months of construction, the meticulous deconstruction and reconstruction of three historic-facades, and the unprecedented restoration of a 22 stained-glass-paneled ceiling from Pittsburgh’s historic Stock Exchange Building, the gleaming new Pittsburgh Playhouse is ready for its close-up.
Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University officially opens its doors on Thursday, October 11 with a dedication ceremony for University trustees, civic and community leaders. On Saturday, October 13, the Pittsburgh Playhouse hosts a ticketed gala event that will include an elegant reception, performance, dinner and dancing.
“We are thrilled to finally pull back the curtain on this amazing new entertainment center in Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Point Park University president Paul Hennigan. “For those of us who have been a part of seeing this building come to life, it’s a very special moment.”
A 90,411 square-foot theater complex, the Playhouse features a total of 91 rooms including a magnificent lobby with a three story wide-open space with a grand staircase and tucked-in spaces for students to gather; 550-seat PNC Theatre whose backstage is visible from the street, offering a glimpse into performing arts classes; main floor which includes a paint shop, 2,738-square-foot soundstage three stories high, 15-foot-high catwalk and 24-foot-high ceilings to provide professional-level learning opportunities to students in multiple disciplines, including cinematography, audio work, lighting work and aesthetics.
The new Playhouse will become a staging ground for innovative plays and musicals in collaboration with national entertainment production companies, bringing top-notch talent to Pittsburgh. As the Playhouse fuels further cultural development of downtown Pittsburgh, a greater number of professional performances will be lured to the city.
Designed to be a learning laboratory for all Point Park students, the new Playhouse will serve more than just those enrolled in the University’s prestigious Conservatory for the Performing Arts. Students from across the academic community will have experiential learning opportunities that include aspects of producing, marketing, management, ticketing and programming. In addition, the Playhouse will collaborate with the University’s Rowland School of Business and Center for Media Innovation on events, lectures and related programming.
“This is a unique component of the new Playhouse and was a key driver in its design and mission. We believe the cross-disciplinary opportunities it will provide students will be unrivaled in our region,” said Hennigan.
For Pittsburgh’s Downtown economy and community, having another exceptional cultural attraction in the Central Business District will continue to help drive visitors to the area.
The new Playhouse’s first season runs from October 26, 2018, through April 14, 2019 and features the award-winning musicals Cabaret and Sunday in the Park with George as well as the Broadway smash, History Boys.
For more information on Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University, visit www.pointpark.edu/PghPlayhouse/index
