Pittsburgh Opera’s world premiere Time to Act shows how the arts can be cathartic, unifying

Pittsburgh Opera’s next production, Time to Act, February 28-March 8, shows how the performing arts can bring people together and help process grief and trauma.

Time to Act is set in present-day America. A group of high school students prepares for a production of Sophocles’ Antigone, joined by a new student, Alona, who comes with a formidable secret that is revealed after being triggered by a school safety drill.

Time to Act asks to what extent someone is responsible for another person’s actions, and explores themes of self-forgiveness and acceptance. The show demonstrates how the arts can uplift and unify victims of trauma, empowering them to act, while giving voice to the young citizens who have been most impacted by an ongoing cycle of devastating school violence.

Time to Act is composed by Laura Kaminsky, whose acclaimed opera As One has become the most-produced modern opera in America. Emmy Award nominee Crystal Manich, the librettist, is a Pittsburgh Opera mainstay whose works for stage, film, and circus have been seen across the United States, Europe, Argentina, and Australia.

Time to Act, the company’s fifth world premiere in the past decade, again demonstrates Pittsburgh Opera’s commitment to creating innovative new works that showcase opera’s continued vibrancy as an art form.

Content warning: this opera contains a simulated safety drill, and discussions related to the topics of school shootings, school violence, and PTSD.

Performance Schedule

Saturday, February 28, 2026 * 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 * 7:00 PM (audio commentary available for patrons with visual impairments)
Friday, March 6, 2026 * 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 7, 2026 * 2:00 PM (newly added performance due to popular demand)
Sunday, March 8, 2026 * 2:00 PM

Other Details

Location: Bitz Opera Factory, Strip District
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes; one act, no intermission
Language: Sung in English, with supertitles projected above the stage
Tickets - most tickets for are $65-$70. Tickets for kids and teens ages 6–18 are half price. Group and other discounts are available. For tickets, call (412) 456-6666 or visit opera.culturaldistrict.org.

Synopsis, Cast, and Artistic Team

View our Time to Act webpage for a synopsis of the plot, and complete cast and artistic team listings

Related Events

Time to Act Preview Show on WQED-FM 89.3 and wqed.org/fm Saturday, February 21st at 12:30 PM & Friday, February 27th , at 7:00 PM
Meet the Creators of Time to Act (free) Saturday, February 21, 1:00 PM at the Bitz Opera Factory
Meet the Artists (free), after the Tuesday, March 3rd performance

To learn about becoming a sponsor, contact Pittsburgh Opera at 412-281-0912 x226 or development@pittsburghopera.org.

Time to Act is a Co-Commission by Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Montana and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, with additional funding by Opera Santa Barbara.

Comments

Sanctified Explores Through Music How Diverse Attitudes are Transformed into an Inspired Unity

Marissa Lily, Mils James, Manny Walker, Emir Hardy, Chuck Timbers, Cheryl El Walker, Katy Cotten & Brenda Marks Set by Mark Clayton Southers Credit all Photos: Kim El One of the many things live theater does well is taking its audience to different places, times and moods through the power of story-telling. While this is a fairly obvious observation, this thought became especially poignant when, over a period of less than 24 hours, when I found myself on board a battleship in late 18 th century Portsmouth, England, then, 17 hours later, walking into a small Black church in rural South Carolina in the present day. The vehicles for this geographic time travel to places and times worlds apart were Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, “H.M. S. Pinafore” and playwright Javon Johnson’s “Sanctified.” Both works, while musical comedies with morals to the story, came from diverse and rich cultural backgrounds. I’ve already published my review of Pinafore on my arts and enterta...

Exciting Things are Happening at PFO!

Dear Friends, I invite you to join me in experiencing the voice of opera legend Csilla Boross as she kicks off our Legends in the Limelight concert series on September 24 at the Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie! Csilla performed the title role of Adriana in PFO’s concert opera debut of Adriana Lecouvreur on September 8 at the Carnegie Music Hall. Please enjoy the below video of Csilla singing Poveri fiori aria Act 4 from our final dress rehearsal! It was truly and amazing performance! I am hopeful you can join us for this magical evening! As you know, at PFO it’s all about the VOICE!!! Much love, Click below for a sneak peak of Csilla Boross: Sneak Peek of Adriana Lecouvreur! - YouTube For More Information and Tickets CLICK HERE Calling all young professionals! Please join us for a PFO Happy Hour this Wednesday, September 18 at the Mansions on Fifth! Come meet our staff as well as other Pittsburgh area young professionals! You will also have the opport...

Mon Valley Fans of Live Theater Get a Sumptuous Taste of Future Possibilities

The Cast of "What Do I Wear, 2,500 Tears of Fashion in Theatre" Credit all Photos: Kelly Tunney The Mon Valley YMCA in Monongahela never looked so festive, so blatantly celebratory, as on the evening of April 13 when a troupe of 16 actors arrived with a trailer full of colorful costumes, many of which were quite elaborate. The audience barely understood the full depth of the dazzle that awaited them as they took their seats for an event exuberantly titled “What Do I Wear, 2,5000 Years of Fashion in Theatre.” The fundraiser for Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre was the brainchild of PICT’s artistic director, Elizabeth Elias Huffman. Elizabeth Huffman at the Podium Huffman conceived of an idea that called for choosing selections from plays that started with the era of the ancient Greeks, marched on through Elizabethan England and Shakespeare, popped in on Restoration England via an American playwright,...

Pittsburgh Owlscribe

Search This Blog