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Historic photo captured Pittsburgh's impact on Broadway

Historic photo captured Pittsburgh's impact on Broadway

Ten years ago hundreds of theatrical Pittsburghers were captured on film in Times Square
Ed Quinn
205 Pittsburghers who work in theater in New York City gathered in Times Square with Post-Gazette drama critic Christopher Rawson on Nov. 16, 1994.
Click photo for larger image.

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View an Adobe Acrobat version that includes a large version of the original photo, a numbered outline to identify the participants and a key to connect names with the faces.

Read the 1994 stories

Pittsburgh stars on Broadway

The word spread fast, but a few were no-shows for famous photo

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"Pittsburgh stars on Broadway" read the headline -- and "stars" was a verb, not a noun. Pittsburgh was the star.

It was Wednesday, Nov. 16, 1994, 10 years ago today, when 205 Pittsburghers who then worked in the New York theater answered the Post-Gazette's invitation to gather at noon in Times Square to have their picture taken and celebrate their roots.

Nov. 16 was chosen because it was the 105th birthday (making today the 115th) of famed playwright/director George S. Kaufman, Pittsburgh's greatest gift to theater. Wednesday was chosen because a mid-week matinee day is when the greatest number of working theater people are in the Broadway area.

It took a lot of networking to set it up. As a bonus, the Post-Gazette contributed $10 per person to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (led by Tom Viola of Zelienople) and the Celebrate Broadway Theater Preservation Fund (then under the purview of Susan Lee of Wexford).

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The 205 who showed up that day came from 80 different Western Pennsylvania hometowns and neighborhoods, led by Mt. Lebanon with 11. Point Park claimed 62 alumni; Carnegie Mellon, 51; the CLO, 45; and the College of Hard Knocks, a k a Don Brockett Productions, 47.

As the photographer was changing his film, a sweet sound started in the middle of the crowd and spread -- they were singing Mister Roger's "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."

There was a follow-up reception at Sardi's, full of excited reminiscence and complete with Clark bars, Heinz pickle pins and banners, pennants, pompoms, posters and brochures from Pittsburgh sports teams, colleges, theaters and businesses. Pittsburgh Brewing even sent what must have been the first cases of Iron City that Sardi's had ever seen.

Those who showed up ranged from featured Broadway players to others struggling to find an apartment. Among the then-Broadway shows represented were "Grease," "Tommy," "Les Mis," "Carousel," "Cats, "Crazy for You," "Passion" and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show (dance captain and three Rockettes).

Among those in the picture are Ron Wisniski, David Butler, John Henry Redwood (since deceased), Billy Porter, Tom Rocco, Kim Cea, Jim Stanek, Niki Harris, Paul Greeno, Betty Aberlin, Leland Gantt, Melissa Bell, Stephen Flaherty and Eleanor Glockner.

Others had to send their regrets that day: Rob and Kathleen Marshall were stuck in rehearsal with Harold Prince, Norman Rene was directing Mia Farrow in a film, Barbara Feldon had voice-over work, Colleen Dunn was opening the next day in "Sunset Boulevard" and Cindy Klinger was on vacation back in Pittsburgh. Among those working out of town were David Brunetti, Tom Toner, Rob Ashford, Karen Prunczik and George Dvorsky. Anne Kaufman Schneider was in London, thus also unable to help Pittsburgh celebrate her father's birthday.

How different would such a picture be today? The Post-Gazette hopes to convene a similar Times Square gathering the next time Nov. 16 falls on a Wednesday -- which it does in 2005. Save that date.

First Published: November 16, 2004, 5:00 a.m.

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