One year ago, COVID-19 shut down an industry so incredibly close to all of our hearts—across the nation, theater doors were locked. box offices were closed, stages were cleared, and ghostlights were lit.
Like many other theater companies and performing art organizations in our local community, we here at Front Porch Theatricals, too, sent out the heartbreaking news to our patrons and friends that we had decided to postpone our entire 2020 season. The last 12 months were nothing short of challenging. But at the same time, we also witnessed the entire Pittsburgh theater community coming together and supporting each other tremendously through so many inspiring ways in countless heartwarming moments. We were reminded over and over again how essential the arts truly are to every single one of us, and the reasons behind our love, passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment for making live theater.
This IS only the intermission. We WILL be back. And when the curtain finally rises, we KNOW that it will be joined by our wonderful audiences and artist communities, with thunderous applause and deafening cheers.
"The clouds are rolling, rolling on by. The sun is gonna shine again. The sun is gonna shine again."
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE
A tender and timely story of family, friendship, and acceptance that teaches us that it really is a wonderful thing to "love who you love", A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE combines the depth and drama of a play with the lyricism and comedy of a musical. A tender and beautifully woven tale of love, and friendship set in 1960s in Dublin, Ireland, and the winner of the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE is another successful collaboration by the team of Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Pittsburgh native Stephen Flaherty, all of whom won Tony Awards for Ragtime and Once on This Island.
The cast of a man of no importance
Robyne Parrish
Director
Allan Snyder*
Alfie Byrne
Darrel R. Whitney
Carney
Eva Rainforth
Mrs. Grace
David Toole*
Robbie
Matthew J. Rush
Baldy
David Ieong
Father Kenny
Becki Toth
Lily
Jason Schmidt
Breton Beret
Christy Rodibaugh
Miss Crowe
Clementine Wurzbach
Adele Rice
Corwin Stoddard
Peter/Oscar/Carson
Kristin Conrad
Mrs. Patrick
Ashley Harmon
Mrs. Curtin
Andrew Steven Zabetakis
Ernie Lally/Policeman
Joe York
Rasher Flynn
Delana Flowers
Kitty/Anne
*Members of the Actors' Equity Association
GRAND HOTEL
It is 1928. 1920s extravagance and opulence sweep across the stage of Berlin's Grand Hotel. The world is between wars, the stock market is booming, Berlin is the center of high life and optimism rules the day. However, underneath it all, much is happening with the Grand Hotel's illustrious clients. Inspired by Vicki Baum's period novel, issues of life and death, financial ruin, love and murder converge as people come and go through the lobby of the Grand Hotel. From esteemed book writer, Luther Davis and distinguished composer-lyricist team of Robert Wright and George Forrest, this seamless musical won multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards in 1990 and ran for over 1000 performances on Broadway.
Scott P. Calhoon
Director
The cast of Grand hotel
Daniel Krell*
General Director Preysing
Kelley Krepin DeFade
Elizaveta Grushinskaya
Christy Rodibaugh
Madam Pee Pee
Laughton Berry
Jimmy 1
Josh Galloway
Bellhops
Ian Dominguez Ball
Bolero Dancer
Ashley Harmon
Telephone Operators
Joe Jackson*
Baron Felix von Gaigern
Kristin Conrad
Raffaela
Will Burke
Erik
Darrin Moseley, Jr.
Jimmy 2
Mario Williams
Bellhops
Liana Monaco
Bolero Dancer
Marnie Quick
Flaemmchen
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Brady Patsy
Rohna
Darrel R. Whitney
Colonel Dr. Ottemschlig
Gavin Carnahan
Skullery Worker
Alex Manalo
Bellhops
Mandie Russak
Telephone Operators
*Members of the Actors' Equity Association
Jason Swauger
Otto Kringelein
David Ieong
Zinnowitz/Witt
Chris Morriss
Sandor/Chauffer
Jeremy Spoljarik
Skullery Worker
Leah Prestogeorge
Bellhops
Alysa Finnegan
Telephone Operators
Our 10th Anniversary Season "Hindsight 2020" is Dedicated to the Memories and Legacies of
Our Beloved Founding Producer and Friend Leon Zionts
L'Chaim, To Life, To Leon
It is with extreme sadness that we report that our dear friend and one of the founding producers of Front Porch Theatricals, Leon S. Zionts lost his battle with pancreatic cancer and passed away on November 10th, 2019. We will find many opportunities, we hope, to honor him and his commitment to musical theater and the musical theater community.
"Leon S. Zionts was a man with a song in his heart, a joke at the ready and a helping hand for all in the theater community that he called his second family. The 61-year-old lawyer, performer and producer died midday on Sunday from pancreatic cancer. He spent his final days in his Point Breeze home, receiving friends and surrounded by his family and with his beloved dog, Fiyero, who always got a program credit. When he died, the show tune "Corner of the Sky' was playing on repeat."
- Sharon Eberson, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
"Zionts began producing musicals with Bruce E.G. Smith in 2008, forming the boutique musical theater production company Front Porch Theatricals. Nancy joined the company in 2014. 'We became producers,' Smith said. 'We always joked about the musical The Producers. He wanted to be in the image of Max Bialystock and I was Leo Bloom.' They staged productions of popular, well-known shows like In the Heights, Parade and Big Fish. 'The heart and soul of the company is Leon and that will never be replaced,' Smith said."
- David Rullo, Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
