'August in February'

Monday was an evening to sit back and let 'er rip at the Byham, as 26 actors pitched in to do eight robust scenes from six plays by August Wilson. Presiding was a smiling James Earl Jones, who clearly enjoyed his emcee duties and took pleasure in the scenes, where the all-star Pittsburgh cast seemed to exceed his expectations.

Produced by the Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre (though the latter, which pioneered this program, didn't show up on the program cover), and coordinated by the latter's Mark Clayton Southers, it was a full evening -- which is to say, just about as long as the average August Wilson play. Directing along with Southers were Eileen Morris, Vernell Lillie, Wali Jamal and Tre Garrett. At the end, as Wynton Marsalis had done at Wilson's funeral in October, trumpeter Ron Horton took the stage to play "Danny Boy," accompanied by projected photos of Wilson and plenty of tears. But the trumpet then segued into "The Saints Go Marching In," a triumphant ending for a celebratory evening.

Theater online

Not everyone realizes that Theater now has its own home page on www.post-gazette.com. Just click A&E, then Theater, or go direct to www.post-gazette.com/theater.

You'll find some pieces that don't show up in the paper itself. Today, for example, there's Philip Stephenson's review of "Warrior," an epic by Shirley Gee set in 1750, staged by the Playhouse Conservatory Company (Point Park students).

You'll also find Rosa Colucci's Performance Journal, in which she diarizes daily about her first ever professional stage job, in Pittsburgh Musical Theater's "Jesus Christ Superstar," now in rehearsal. There's a big link to it on the Theater page.

And you'll find my own On Stage journal, where I'm way behind in entering responses to Suzan-Lori Parks' recent appearance here and much else, including the Super Bowl salmon coming my way from Seattle theater critic Misha Berson and a fuller account of "August in February" ... plus photos.

'Forbidden Broadway'

"Forever Plaid" wound up its long run last weekend, clearing the CLO Cabaret decks for "Forbidden Broadway," which begins previews March 2. The cast charged with imitating all those Broadway greats and not-so's is Christiana Craig-Dukes (a regular in the CLO's "Musical Christmas Carol"), Joe Domencic (Smudge in "Forever Plaid"), Christine Laitta ("TV Tunes Sing-a-Long" at the CLO's Late Night Cabaret) and Marcus Stevens (Sparky in "Forever Plaid"). Understudies are J.D. Daw (Jinx in "Forever Plaid") and Carla Delaney (Gallery of Heroes show, "Young Washington").

The creative team includes director William Selby, who has acted in many a "Forbidden Broadway"; musical director Deana Muro; and designers Cletus Anderson and Andrew David Ostrowski.

Preview performances, March 2-12, sell for $31.50-$33.50, but there's a special 50 percent sale, today and Friday only, at 412-456-6666, www.pittsburghclo.org or The Box Office at Theater Square. Mention code 619.

The call board

"Wicked" (the po-mo "Wizard of Oz" musical) swirls into the Benedum next week amid hullabaloo and anticipation. Though largely sold out (a few tickets will dribble forth now and then), it will offer a daily day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25. Each day, 2¹/₂ hours before curtain, hopefuls can enter their names at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Ave., with the winners drawn 30 minutes later. The lottery is available only in person, with a limit of two tickets each, cash only.

Check out this classy new Web site, www.cmushowcase.com, to survey the graduating dramats of CMU who will present their talent showcase in NYC March 13-14 and in Burbank, Calif., May 8-9.

The Public Theater's Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, which took place Monday at the O'Reilly, can now be seen on TV at Comcast On Demand under Our Town.

The PG's annual list of high school musicals will appear (in print!) next week.

Last chance

Note that "The Importance of Being Earnest," which Ted Pappas reports has surpassed the August Wilson plays in ticket sales and is getting into the box office stratosphere reserved for musicals, closes this weekend.

So do the looong-running "Late Nite Catechism" (kudos to the ineffable Kimberly Richards who had to leave last week) and the ambitious new rock musical, "Hearts Are Wild," both at City Theatre.

The bottom line

Paid admissions at city's pro theaters for the week ending Feb. 12:

Earnest/Public (86%) ...........3,959

Hearts Wild/City (75%) ................ 1,785

Forever Plaid/CLO (85%) ............... 1,073

Catechism/City (91%) .................... 938