In a busy January of new and new-to-Pittsburgh shows, barebones productions is first out of the gate with "Jesus Hopped the A Train," a gritty prison-set drama that fits the mold artistic director Patrick Jordan has set for the company.
"It's visceral; it's in your face; it's all real," Mr. Jordan said of the play by Stephen Adly Guirgis, the Tony-nominated writer of the recent Broadway hit "The Mother F• • • • • With the Hat."
"The playwright worked in the prison system a long time, so the dialogue is natural; it's not pulling punches. It's shocking, but not the kind of shocking like [last year's] 'Killer Joe.' It's an emotional shocking, and it's a little rough around the edges, which I love. It does the best things that theater has the potential to do."
The story unfolds as Angel, jailed for shooting a cult leader who has brainwashed his friend, debates fellow convict Lucius, a serial killer who has found God in prison. Their intense encounters on themes of guilt and innocence, morality and spirituality, coming during their assigned exercise period, are sprinkled with a dose of humor. The language is streetwise and unyielding.
Mr. Jordan is particularly excited about the cast, including Obie Award winner Edwin Lee Gibson and Raul Castillo of LAByrinth Theater, which originated "Jesus Hopped the A Train." Philip Seymour Hoffman directed that inaugural production, which The New York Times called "a fire-breathing new drama." Rounding out the cast are Elena Passarello, Leandro Cano and Mr. Jordan.
The opportunity to have Mr. Castillo, who has worked with playwright Guirgis at LABrynth, was "kismet," as was the rest of the casting. He and Mr. Cano were able to take a break from steady work in film and television as Mr. Green, who had worked with director Derrick Sanders before, was available as well.
Mr. Gibson won his Obie (off-Broadway) Award for "The Seven," a retelling of the Oedipus story for the hip-hop generation that had The New York Times gushing: "Strutting and sliding in flashy pimp regalia ... Mr. Gibson's Oedipus is the show's presiding spirit: smooth of tongue, limber of leg and always in your face."
The cast and director Sanders, a University of Pittsburgh graduate and protege of August Wilson, have fulfilled Mr. Jordan's mission to get "Jesus Hopped the A Train" to a barebones stage. It follows the tradition of the company taking on works like Tracy Letts' gritty "Killer Joe."
"I've wanted to bring this play and playwright to Pittsburgh for six or seven years," he said of Mr. Guirgis. "It's like a lot of plays barebones does, with a playwright who has a very strong voice, and no one had produced him here yet, which is kind of a crime."
"Jesus Hopped the A Train" is at the New Hazlett Theater, North Side, Jan. 12-29, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door ($20/$25 on Sunday; limited student discounts at the door). Visit showclix.com or call 1-888-71TICKET.
Also showing in January and February
Jan. 14-Feb. 5: "Through the Night," City Theatre, Main Stage, South Side -- A one-man show by Obie-winning actor-singer Daniel Beaty tells six intersecting stories about what it means to be a black man in America today. citytheatrecompany.org.
Jan. 19-Feb. 19: "As You Like It," Pittsburgh Public Theater, O'Reilly Theater, Downtown -- Shakespeare's romantic comedy in which Rosalind and Orlando take a rocky path to true love. ppt.org.
Jan. 21: "The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs," co-presented by the Cultural Trust and The Andy Warhol Museum at the Byham Theater, Downtown -- The New York Times calls Mike Daisey "a master storyteller" for this solo show that illuminates how Apple's late CEO has shaped our lives, as Mr. Daisy shares stories on investigating Chinese factories where millions toil to create iPhones and iPods. pgharts.org.
Jan. 26-Feb. 5: "Spring Awakening," Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Byham Theater, Downtown -- The Tony-winning musical that mixes a banned 19th-century play on the sexual awakening and repression of teens and memorable music by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater. pittsburghmusicals.com.
Jan. 26-May 6: "Ruthless the Musical," CLO Cabaret, Cabaret at Theater Square, Downtown -- A campy charmer that answers the question: What would an ambitious schoolgirl do to get rid of the competition for the lead in a class play? pittsburghclo.org.
Jan. 31-Feb. 12: "Billy Elliot," PNC Broadway Across America, Benedum Center, Downtown -- The Elton John musical based on the moving film about a boy who just wants to dance and his macho miner father who comes to understand him. pgharts.org.
Feb. 3-19: "Mid-Strut" (world premiere) -- The Rep of Point Park University, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Oakland -- While dealing with her husband's affair, a woman hears from an admirer from her baton-twirling glory days three decades earlier. pittsburghplayhouse.com.
Feb. 24-March 4: "The Elephant Man," Prime Stage, New Hazlett Theater, North Side -- The poignant true story about the man who looked like our idea of a monster, but whose spirit captured the heart of a nation. primestage.com
Feb. 24-25: B.U.S. 7: Pittsburgh Urban Scrawl, Bricolage -- Six local playwrights go on a 90-minute ride on a city bus and each has 12 hours to write a 10-minute play inspired by the journey. Directors and actors then have the next 12 hours to stage the plays for audiences. webbricolage.com.
First Published: January 5, 2012, 10:00 a.m.
