Pittsburgh boasts a vibrant theater community with a rich tradition. Our city is home to large, small, semi-professional, community and children's theater companies that target different audiences and have different missions.

Prime Stage Theatre's main mission is to encourage students to read literary classics. The company is dedicated to "bringing literature to life" by producing plays based on well-known literary works. This season includes "Inherit the Wind," "Of Mice and Men" and "The Outsiders."

Prime Stage purposely involves teenagers. The Prime Stage Teen Advisory Board is committed to enhancing the company's success by assisting in the development of productions that will attract teens to the theater.

The Teen Advisory Board has its own separate service project called Teen Night. Monday, the board hosts its second annual Prime Stage Teen Night, which will feature three one-act plays written by local high school students. The plays are produced, directed and performed by the dozen members of the advisory board. Additional entertainment will be provided by a local band, The Violet Imperative.

Teen Night is a fund-raiser designed to support the Homeless Children's Initiative, which provides clothing and school supplies for homeless children in Allegheny County. The teen advisory board has supported this effort for the past nine years.

Teen Night is Monday at 7 p.m. in the New Hazlett Theater, North Side. Tickets are $5 each and can only be purchased at the theater box office the day of the performance.