A major perk of having a star factory like Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama in Pittsburgh is how game its alumni are to visit their old stomping grounds.
Take Renée Elise Goldsberry, a 1993 CMU graduate, Broadway veteran who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in “Hamilton,” and small-screen star in shows like Disney+’s “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” and Peacock’s “Girls5Eva.” Her love for Western Pennsylvania runs so deep that she didn’t hesitate when fellow CMU alumnus Billy Porter asked her to play the lead character’s mother in “Anything’s Possible,” his Pittsburgh-filmed feature directorial debut.
This weekend, Goldsberry will be back in the Steel City for three nights of concerts at Heinz Hall backed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s shows are $22-$99 at pittsburghsymphony.org. Goldsberry told the Post-Gazette last week that she’s overjoyed to be performing in Pittsburgh, which is where she began working professionally as an artist during her undergraduate days.
“[T]here’s so much art going on in the city and they really understand the homegrown talent,” she said. “They gave me a shot at that age, and coming back feels like an honor and a great opportunity to celebrate a city that’s given me so much.”
The last time the Post-Gazette caught up with Goldsberry was shortly after she made her Marvel debut last year in “She-Hulk” as no-nonsense lawyer Mallory Book. She’s always down to be in projects spearheaded by women — in this case, fellow CMU alumnus Kat Coiro — and said her experience working on “She-Hulk” was “so wonderful that I don’t want it to be over.”
“You could catch me at my house wearing a Mallory outfit in case someone calls,” she joked.
Goldsberry was calling in from the set of “Girls5Eva,” which was scooped up by Netflix last fall after two seasons on Peacock. She was apparently in full costume, which consisted of a neon jumpsuit, biker blazer and “the most amazing platform shoes.” Production on season three of “Girls5Eva” wrapped two days later, but during that final Monday of filming, Goldsberry was just “trying to savor every moment” left with friends and co-stars Paula Pell, Busy Philipps and Sara Bareilles.
She said her plan was to hang out with family for a couple days before heading to Pittsburgh. Goldsberry usually tries to do concerts when she’s not shooting anything, but Netflix’s acquisition of “Girls5Eva” pushed production back and conflicted with her live-performance schedule. That didn’t stop her from filming on weekdays and traveling the country to do shows on the weekends, though.
In Pittsburgh, Goldsberry will finally have a chance to relax as she prepares for her three PSO shows. She’ll be in town during CMU’s graduation weekend and said that it’s her dream to speak at a commencement ceremony like “Hamilton” co-star Leslie Odom Jr. did in 2019 and Porter did last year. Expect Heinz Hall to be packed with CMU alumni this weekend, including a few of Goldsberry’s former professors and Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters.
“It feels like I’m coming to my college reunion a bit,” she said.
A typical evening with Goldsberry finds her putting that Tony Award-worthy voice on display accompanied by a seven-piece band featuring a guitarist, bassist, drummer, piano player and three vocalists. This time, though, she’ll have the full melodic might of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra supporting her forays into jazz, blues, pop and Broadway show tunes.
“If you’ve never heard a great symphony play blues, you’re missing something,” she said. “They can play everything, and Pittsburgh should enjoy it.”
Concert-goers can look forward to hearing songs from Broadway shows in which Goldsberry has performed like “Rent,” “The Lion King” and, of course, “Hamilton.” She also tends to break out hits from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Nancy Wilson, and Simon & Garfunkel. Her aim is to ensure that everyone in attendance leaves her concerts feeling “as in love with enjoying live music as we are.”
Goldsberry knows that yinzers don’t need anyone swooping in and telling them how vibrant Pittsburgh’s entertainment landscape is and how unique the Steel City is “is in terms of its ability to foster the arts.” These PSO concerts are her way of returning the favor to a region that was so good to a young, aspiring creative like her.
“I think it’s important for them to enjoy what they’ve invested so much in, which is all the people who have come through Pittsburgh and all the people who have taken so much from here,” she said. “When we come back, you deserve to be celebrated.”
Joshua Axelrod: jaxelrod@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jaxelburgh.
First Published: May 9, 2023, 9:30 a.m.