Pittsburgh Playwrights

March is here, more lamb than lion so far, as Punxsutawney Phil promised. And with March comes the new Staged Reading Series produced by Mark Southers' Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, offering a different play (or collection of short plays) every day all month. The menu is remarkable, including both new plays and old. Today, I'm printing the schedule just through next weekend, then I'll do the same each week. Of especial note are the late great Rob Penny's "Good Black Don't Crack" (to be directed by Kuntu's Vernell Lillie) and Ted Hoover's "Welcome Home."

Future weeks will include works by James McManus, Jeanne Drennan, Denise Pullen, Amy Hartman, Tammy Ryan and Southers. The theater is on the mezzanine level at 542 Penn Ave., around the corner from Heinz Hall. Performances are at 8 p.m. unless noted and are free, though a donation of $3-$5 is suggested. For info, call 412-288-0358.

Week One

March 1: John Reoli, "Same Time Tomorrow." March 2: Lawrence Graves, "Before the Wedding." March 3: Rosa DeFerrari, "A Shade Darker," and Aaron Jefferson Tindall, "Euphoria/Ataraxia." March 4 (7 p.m.): Ernest McCarty, "A Window to Home."

Week Two

March 5: Rob Penny, "Good Black Don't Crack." March 6: Robert Isenberg, "Break Room." March 7: Erick Irvis, "Burning Wood." March 8: Christiane Leach, TBA (date may change). March 9: Carlana Rhoten, "The Magic Room." March 10: Ted Hoover, "Welcome Home." March 11 (3 p.m.): Kim Zelonis, "Typist."

' ... and Pittsburgh'?

You could imagine the buzz of speculation rising above Pittsburgh Sunday, as those of us who supplement the Post-Gazette with The New York Times read this headline on a big Times survey of significant play openings in the months ahead: "This just in, via London, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh." Did it refer to the two August Wilson plays coming up in New York, "King Hedley II" and "Radio Golf"? (Probably not.) What about City Theatre's upcoming new plays, Michele Lowe's "Mezzulah, 1946," and Keith Reddin's "The Missionary Position"? (Assuredly not -- they weren't even listed.)

No, it must have been because of the Public Theater's high-profile spring premiere of the new Stephen Flaherty-Lynn Ahrens musical, "The Glorious Ones," to be directed by Broadway darling Graciela Danielle.

On the other hand, there's still the question of why Pittsburgh was picked to fill out the headline. Don't you suppose it was because someone thought that had an ironic (if not funny) sound: "London, L.A., Pittsburgh"? Like, say, "N.Y., Chicago, Kokomo"? I tried that out on a friend who demurred: it'd be more like "N.Y., L.A., Tallahassee," he said.

We're just guessing.

Ready, set, GO!

This is the weekend the high school musical season opens with a rush -- 16 shows of the 112 on the latest edition of the PG master list. (Check the latest version of the chronological list at www.post-gazette.com/theater/hsmusicals.asp, along with alphabetical lists by show and by school). Only two weeks show more high school musicals: March 5-11 with 19 and March 26-April 1 with 20.

This week's 16 schools offer 14 different shows (only "Fiddler" and "Beauty & the Beast" appear twice). In fact, in the overall list of 112, there are 58 different shows -- lots of variety to enjoy. (If your school is not listed, send school, title and dates to crawson@post-gazette.com.)

The Call Board

Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts offers its first Make-A-Wish benefit, "When You Wish," Sunday at 7 p.m., Rockwell Theater, Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Ave., Oakland. Students and staff will sing, dance and act. Tickets ($10 advance, $15 at door) at 412-353-1062.

As a New American Trio event, City Theatre offers a glimpse of a technical rehearsal of "Mezzulah, 1946" Sunday: Doors open at 6 p.m., the designers make a presentation at 6:30 and the rehearsal is open 7-7:30, free to the public.

In keeping with this column's interest in the history of black Pittsburgh that looms so large in August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle, I want to tell you about "East of Liberty: A Story of Good Intentions," a film documentary by Chris Ivey that deals with the urban "renewal" that paralyzed East Liberty and the Hill. Tonight's showing ($5) at 6:30 p.m. at Hill House Kaufmann Auditorium, 1835 Centre Ave. is sponsored by Kim Ellis' "Raise Your Hand! No Games Film Series." For info, www.eastofliberty.com or www.drgoddess.com/save-the-hill.php.

The bottom line

Paid admissions at city's pro theaters, week ending Feb. 25:

LightPiazza/Bene. (57%) ... 12,797

Footloose/PMT (84%) ................ 5,257

Cabaret/Public (99%) ............... 4,501

Forb.BwaySVU (37%) ................... 683

RedShoes/Quantum (77%) ............ ...481

Asparagus/OpenStage (70%) .............137