Off the Record VI

Oct. 5 is the date for the new "Off the Record," the annual spoof of Pittsburgh news and newsmakers sponsored by the Newspaper Guild and AFTRA to benefit the Food Bank. This year's subtitle is "Place Your Bets!" and the show lampoons the big statewide races and the rush for the Pittsburgh slots license, with such delicious scenes as Ed Rendell visiting his shrink and the Santorums wandering through Penn Hills hunting for their house.

Leading the list of more than two dozen performers are Chuck Aber, Lenora Nemetz, Tim Hartman, Billy Hartung, Dennis Roddy, Karen Prunczik, Michael Fuller, Nancy Mimless, David Early, etc., etc., with casting still under way. Among the many writers are Gary Rotstein, Dan Kamin, Sally Kalson, Mackenzie Carpenter, Samantha Bennett, Cindi Lash and I could go on and on. I'm the producer. Ken Rice will emcee.

In other words, save that date, Oct. 5! Tickets ($20-$60) are now on sale at 412-456-6666.

Loss for Pittsburgh

Eileen J. Morris is moving back to Houston. She came here seven years ago to be managing director of Pitt's Kuntu Repertory Theatre, and it was assumed she was successor-designate to the legendary Vernell Lillie, Kuntu founder and producing artistic director. But Lillie, who has just retired from teaching at Pitt, is continuing to run Kuntu, and Morris is returning to her previous job as artistic director of Houston's Ensemble Theatre, now grown into a $1.5 million operation.

"It's where I received my on-the-job training [and] spent 18 years under founder George Hawkins," she says. She also has strong family ties to Houston, including her mother, son and grandson, so perhaps this move was fated. While in Pittsburgh she also directed or acted for New Horizon, Pittsburgh Playwrights, City Theatre and the East Liberty extravaganza at the Kelly-Strayhorn, and she leaves behind her signature piece, "Christmas Is Comin' Uptown." She says she is "eternally grateful for the support, the love, and the opportunities. Kuntu will always have a place in my heart."

Pittsburgh is losing a valuable professional director and actor. I especially regret not seeing her as Berneice in Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre's "Piano Lesson," just opening. Doubtless Pittsburgh artists will now start to get opportunities in Houston -- and let's hope for Morris that highway runs two ways.

Musical notes

Joe Negri was recently in NYC to record 15 tracks with cabaret artist Michael Feinstein at the Nola Studios. The project is being handled by Concord Records, with no release plans yet. "Needless to say, it was a special and musically rewarding experience," Joe reports.

Stephanie Riso, founder of Cabaret Pittsburgh, has been accepted as a lyricist into the famed BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in NYC. First up is a series of assignments in which they pair her with a composer. Jason Coll, head of the CLO Cabaret, is already a member of the workshop, well advanced.

Auditions

Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre needs men and women of all ethnicities for its Theatre Festival in Black & White auditions. Sept. 17, 6-10 p.m.; call 412-288-0358.

Chicagoland

Point Park University plans to keep better track of its grads, many of whom are in show biz. To start, there are free dinner get-togethers in Chicago on Monday (at Nacional 27, 325 West Huron St.) and Tuesday (at Gioco, 1312 South Wabash). All Point Park grads in the Chicago area should contact the alumni office at 412-392-4204 or alumni@pointpark.edu. And does this mean I should some day do a Pittsburghers-in-Chicago picture?

BeckettFest

Andrew Paul reports the festival "played to about 90 percent of capacity and exceeded $100,000 in ticket sales." He considers it a PICT artistic achievement "ranking with 'Copenhagen' and 'Faith Healer,' which is saying something."

The bottom line

Paid admissions at city's pro theaters for week ending Sept. 10:

Words & Happy/PICT (82%) ... 908

Real Thing/PH Rep (50%) ...... 628

Forb.Bway/CLO (41%) ............ 536

Endgame/PICT (100%) ........... 451

Make Sense/PICT (?) ............. 335

Catechism2/City (38%) .......... 230