Pittsburgh’s Theater: The Pittsburgh Public Theater
Written By Ellie Schroeder
Pittsburgh has a long history of arts and culture, from Oakland, where the original cultural district was, to the very heart of downtown which it now calls home. The Pittsburgh Public Theater (PPT) has been a vital part of Pittsburgh’s arts scene. This year, it turns 50.
“This year is our 50th Anniversary, which is a big milestone,” Marya Sea Kaminski, the artistic director shared, “We have some exciting events planned this year like our gala on April 8th and a wide variety in our program. The Pittsburgh Public Theater closed its inaugural season with Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, and we are closing the 50th season with Twelfth Night as well.”
Managing Director Shaunda McDill and Artistic Director Mayra Sea Kaminski have many plans for PPT’s future and role in downtown Pittsburgh.
“We want people to know we are here!” Shaunda McDill, managing director, exclaimed, “We don’t want to be an afterthought. If you are walking downtown, we want people to think ‘I am going to stop by the Public.’ We are working to find new ways to engage with the community even outside of productions to give people opportunities to connect with the Public.”
The Public is working constantly to find new ways to connect people through stories, shared emotional experiences, and even shared resources. They want to open the doors to the Public and “see downtown as a neighborhood.” To do so, the Public is working to become financially stable to have the freedom to take measured risks and be a pillar in the community.
“Every day we ask ourselves what it means to be a true public theater, to be a true civic resource and a lighthouse for arts and culture,” Marya Sea Kaminski explained, “Pittsburgh is an exciting place to have this mission. We have figures like August Wilson and Mr. Rogers who cared so much about the neighborhood and community.”
The Pittsburgh Public Theater is unique for a variety of reasons. PPT is committed to being Pittsburgh’s theater by investing in the workforce, the people, the community, and Pittsburgh-based artists. In support of a Pittsburgh artist, the Pittsburgh Public Theater will have the world premiere of Coffin Maker, a brand-new play by Mark Clayton Southers. The Public is also unique by having two females leading it. Shaunda McDill is an innovative thinker who loves her work. She is constantly finding a new path for the arts to help them continue to succeed. Marya Sea Kaminski is the first female artistic director in the theater’s history, bringing a new perspective to the position. The two shared that there are not many regional theaters with female leaders, especially two. They try to live out in their work what they want the world to be. To do this, they are figuring out how to make art together and imagine what the “true public theater” will become.
In creating a truly public theater, and Pittsburgh’s theater, Shauda McDill and Marya Sea Kaminski hope that they can aid in the revitalization of downtown Pittsburgh. With the many universities, the advancement in tech, and the increasing diversity, they see the importance of offering a varied program. They choose shows that will appeal to both the aging population and attract new and younger audiences. This year will feature a classic Hitchcock, Dial M For Murder, followed by The Hobbit, and many more exciting shows. Their goal is to make downtown Pittsburgh a neighborhood and bring together the community will help make the area a better place to live, work and play. Here’s to 50 years!
