Opening April 4th: world premiere Paradox of Education

 

Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company Our City. Our Voices.

Opening April 4th! Paradox of Education By Ty Greenwood Directed by Maurice Redwood April 4th – April 20th 2026 Carter Woodson Redwood Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center World Premiere Ty Greenwood’s Paradox of Education is a bold and unflinching look at the cost of ambition and the pursuit of belonging within America’s higher education system. First developed through ASOLO Repertory Theatre’s Ground Floor Playwright Commission, this gripping play unfolds at a prestigious PWI, where a group of Black scholars fight to hold space in a world that was never built for them. What begins as shared laughter and solidarity soon unravels into a relentless exploration of identity, expectation, and survival within an institution that celebrates diversity but resists change. As friendships are tested and dreams collide with reality, Paradox of Education asks the urgent question, “Where do I belong?” Subscriptions and individual tickets available now! Subscribe Now! Info and Tickets A Madison Arts and Entertainment Center event Draft End PITY PARTY “Panel discussion and performances by ARTISTIC VOICES that have kept me going!” – Neicy Southers 🩷 Walk in changing yourself, walk out changing the world…. Sunday, April 26, 2026 3:00 p.m. Carter Woodson Redwood Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center Performer added: Sierra Cruz – 18-year-old senior at Allderdice High School, softball player and violist. Guest Panelists: Kim El – playwright, actress, director Leila Wright – 17-year-old model, poet, visual artist, literary writer, docent Lisa Ann Goldsmith – actress, director, dialect coach, SAG/AFTRA representative Rickia Davenport – dancer, choreographer, chef, playwright Phat Man Dee – songstress, lyricist, composer, activist Tressa Glover DiGiulio – actress, director, podcaster Guest Speaker: Tamara Green – motivational speaker, mental health specialist and minister Some topics covered: How YOU would handle being Rose in Fences How LOSS has made you stronger What ADVERSITY has taught you COMPETITIVENESS in the workplace AGING: You now vs. you 20 years ago Helping the DEFENSELESS Not being “DRAFT PICKED” Live Performances by: Candace Walker – pantomime Phat Man Dee – original composition “Save You, Save Me” Leila Wright – original poem recitation Sierra Cruz – violist, musical selection $31.50 general admission. Light fare buffet included. Info and Tickets Our 2026 Season Our 2026 season is curated by Monteze Freeland. Subscriptions Now Available! Paradox of Education By Ty Greenwood Directed by Maurice Redwood April 4th – April 20th 2026 Carter Woodson Redwood Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center World Premiere Ty Greenwood’s Paradox of Education is a bold and unflinching look at the cost of ambition and the pursuit of belonging within America’s higher education system. First developed through ASOLO Repertory Theatre’s Ground Floor Playwright Commission, this gripping play unfolds at a prestigious PWI, where a group of Black scholars fight to hold space in a world that was never built for them. What begins as shared laughter and solidarity soon unravels into a relentless exploration of identity, expectation, and survival within an institution that celebrates diversity but resists change. As friendships are tested and dreams collide with reality, Paradox of Education asks the urgent question, “Where do I belong?” Subscriptions and individual tickets available now! Subscribe Now! Info and Tickets August Wilson’s Jitney, in Italian By August Wilson Directed by Renzo Carbonera May 8th – May 10th 2026 Carter Woodson Redwood Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center An Italian-language production of August Wilson’s classic drama Jitney, with projected English supertitles. We're teaming up with August Wilson House to co-host this touring production from Sardegna Teatro and La Piccionaia, performed by an African-Italian ensemble. Not part of our season subscription. Tickets now available! Info and Tickets 10,000 Rides By Cynthia Dallas June 6th – June 22nd 2026 Pittsburgh Playwrights Cabaret Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center World Premiere Three local actors work as ride share drivers while chasing dreams of stardom, but with the introduction of driverless vehicles to Pittsburgh, their long-time survival gig is threatened. A hilarious, thought-provoking story of man versus machine, these thespians must prove why AI can never replace the warmth, heart, and soul of human beings...or can it? Subscriptions available now, single tickets coming soon! Subscribe Now! BURNBABYBURN: an american dream By a.k. payne August 19th – September 20th 2026 Outdoors at August Wilson House World Premiere Set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District and Homewood neighborhoods, BURNBABYBURN: an american dream moves fluidly through time as a young woman, Sky II, embarks on a journey to heal herself and the generations who came before her. Through photographs that flicker with memory and meaning, she reaches across decades to touch the lives of her ancestors. Four generations of women draw nearer to one another as they confront the truths of motherhood, love, loss, and a city that both holds and haunts their dreams. In this tender, time—bending story, a.k. payne reminds us that memory is fragile, history is human, and as she writes, “cameras tells lots of lies i cannot make any promises of fact.” A coproduction with August Wilson House. Subscriptions available now, single tickets coming soon! Subscribe Now! Fishy Woo Woo, Part 2 By Monteze Freeland October 16th – October 31st Carter Woodson Redwood Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center World Premiere In 2024, Fishy Woo Woo introduced audiences to a lovable, slightly chaotic crew of elder millennial friends who proved that no matter how messy life gets, the bond is mighty real. Two years later, the gang has fled Atlanta and settled into a quiet Delaware life, or at least they try to. But when Halloween rolls around, what starts as a night of laughs, costumes, and cocktails quickly turns into a scandalous showdown. Char is the focus of this iteration as she is pregnant but keeping a tight lip about the father…until someone unexpected shows up ready to stir the cauldron. It is tricks, treats, and total mayhem as this crew faces the ghosts of their past. This is a jaw dropping night they will never forget, even if they wish they could. Subscriptions available now, single tickets coming soon! Subscribe Now! A Dinah Washington Christmas at Jimmy Hyde’s Sugartop Lounge Featuring Delana Flowers as Dinah Washington By Ernest McCarty December 10-21 2026 Pittsburgh Playwrights Cabaret Theater Madison Arts and Entertainment Center Our hit 2025 world premiere returns! It’s December 1963, and “Queen of the Blues” Dinah Washington is appearing at a renowned Pittsburgh jazz club for a night of holiday-themed songs, backed with a chorus and blues ensemble. Delana Flowers portrays Dinah, reprising her role from our hit 2024 production Dinah: A Musical Revue, accompanied by some of Pittsburgh’s top musicians. Delana Flowers as Dinah Washington Not part of our season subscription. Tickets coming soon! More Info