Steelers great and Vietnam War veteran Rocky Bleier will play a judge in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s season-opening production of “A Few Good Men,” Aaron Sorkin’s “You can’t handle the truth!” court-martial drama.
Bleier and KDKA’s Larry Richert will play the role of Judge Julius Alexander Randolph at select performances, and the ensemble will include members of the military. In 2016, Bleier brought his solo show about his life, “The Play,” to the Public’s O’Reilly Theater. It includes his time in Vietnam and the combat injuries that came close to ending his career.
“A Few Good Men,” Sept. 12-Oct. 13 at the O’Reilly, was a Broadway hit that was adapted into the Oscar-nominated movie starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. In the play, military lawyers defend two U.S. Marines accused of murder.
“I am honored, and really inspired, to have the chance to work with members of Pittsburgh’s veteran community alongside powerhouse regional performers to ignite the themes of this play,” said Public artistic director Marya Sea Kaminski, who directs a cast of 20.
Actors include Ryan Bergman, Ken Bolden, Monteze Freeland, Kyle Haden, Doug Harris, Ryan Patrick Kearney, Tom Kolos, Jason McCune, Jaron J. McLain, George Montgomery, Burke Moses, J. Alex Noble, Alison Weisgall, Brandon Saturley, Cotter Smith, Michael Patrick Trimm, Adam Wainwright and Malic Williams.
Tickets for “A Few Good Men” go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.; $30-$80 or $16.50 for ages 26 and younger and full-time students; ppt.org or 412-316-1600. On Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Public will host the Veterans Breakfast Club — an organization for service men and women who share stories and meals. Open to ticket holders for the 2 p.m. performance that day; RSVP or more info: Shaun Hall, shall@ppt.org.
Looking ahead …
The Public’s new “Yinzer Yuletide” holiday experience, Dec. 12-22, continues to take shape. Plans include decorating the O’Reilly’s windows “with nostalgic holiday tableaus inspired by the department store displays of yesteryear.”
Also on tap:
- “Breakfast with Santa & Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (10 a.m., Dec. 14-15 and 21-22).
- “Pittsburgh Lights & Legends Variety Shows” hosted by Rick Sebak (Dec. 12-15 and 19-22 (7:30 p.m.).
- 30th anniversary screening of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Dec. 13-14 and 20-21 at 9 p.m.).
Tickets and details: ppt.org or 412-316-1600.
Sharon Eberson: seberson@post-gazette.com or on Twitter: @SEberson_pg.
First Published: August 1, 2019, 6:04 p.m.
