I recently had the honor to attend the world premiere of “Art of Wise” by Mark Clayton Southers at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater. This is a brilliant play, written at a level of the very best playwrights.
This experience reminded me that we have highly talented playwrights, directors, technicians and actors working in the theater here who are not fully appreciated. Indeed, we have great theater companies bringing us great plays. This letter is a call to my fellow Pittsburghers to open your eyes to what we have.
Theater has an immediacy and impact that you can’t get from any screen, even in a movie theater, or even by reading a book. Theater draws you in. If you don’t attend theater, try it out. If you think it expensive, start with the student productions at CMU, Point Park and Pitt. If you attend occasionally, consider taking a full season.
I have been attending Pittsburgh theater for 52 years. I don’t even pay attention to what they are doing, I just send my money, and get to be surprised. If I researched the plays and then pick something I think I might like, I’d waste a lot of time, miss something good and probably never go. In 52 years I have been 98% happy!
Finally, if you subscribe to one theater, try another one, in Pittsburgh we have so many good choices.
Charles J. Vukotich Jr.
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