Pittsburgh's Prime Stage Theatre connects with patrons through Facebook

Prime Stage Theatre is bringing the performances to you.

The Pittsburgh-based arts and education company, which presents productions based on classic and contemporary literature, has launched an online storytelling series.

Prime Stage Shares is available on the company’s Facebook page, free of charge. New segments appear three times a week via Matt Henderson, the theatre’s social media director.

“Matt is at the heart of how we continue to serve and reach people through his social media and Prime Stage Shares postings throughout each week,” said Wayne Brinda, artistic producing director. He and his wife, Connie Brinda, are Prime Stage’s co-founders.

On Meaningful Mondays, board members share inspirational quotes and mindfulness activities. On Wacky Wednesdays, there are theater activities, games and more to keep people of all ages entertained while at home. And Storytime Fridays feature weekly videos of Prime Stage friends reading from favorite novels, children’s books, poems and other forms of literature.

This project is a group effort, said Wayne Brinda.

The series fits with Prime Stage’s mission, said Wayne Brinda. “We hope these stories brighten everyone’s day and help them find their own stories to tell,” he said in a statement. “We wanted to find a way to keep in contact with our patrons. We wanted a way to keep people together and find some hope and some positivity during this stressful time in our world.”

He said other arts organizations are doing virtual performances so they wanted to offer something a little different.

Two Meaningful Monday quotes include “take some time to find some peace” and “with spring, comes rejuvenation.”

One Wacky Wednesday featured how to make a cloud in a jar. They try to use items and materials people would already have at home.

Storytime Fridays include guest readers of books for children and adults.

They plan to continue the programs after the theatre reopens, Wayne Brinda said. He said he misses producing live events.

“It definitely is frustrating, to put it mildly,” he said. “But we are all in this together. We can’t wait to be able to entertain in front of a live audience. We want that immediate feedback. We miss that. There’s no replacing that.”