Pittsburgh theater shifts to new artistic direction

Pittsburgh theatergoers are facing a new era at Quantum Theatre. The company is currently running a world premiere that doubles as a preview of its next artistic director’s vision. Katie Brook is directing the production, which runs through Nov. 15 at Rockwell Park in North Point Breeze.

Brook was named the successor to founder Karla Boos in September. Boos is stepping down in January. This move marks a leadership transition for a company that has operated for more than three decades. The current production, titled “radio island,” was written by Liza Birkenmeier.

The play opens with a 911 dispatcher reporting an incident at a rural Missouri home. The narrative then jumps back several weeks to show the same house. Ellen, a hostage negotiator, brings her adoptive mother Paula home to recover from a fall. The staging uses a partial wall set designed by Chelsea M. Warren to hide characters from the audience.

Lighting designer C. Todd Brown creates long shadows and blinding spots to obscure the view. This technical choice mirrors the emotional disconnect between the mother and daughter. Ellen is portrayed by Siovhan Christensen, while Helena Ruoti plays Paula. The performance runs for one hour and 40 minutes.

Ellen takes on a case to free a massive oil tanker from pirates. She negotiates with an oil executive voiced by Brett Kennedy and a contact voiced by Wali Jamal. As days pass, a sheriff played by Jamal visits the house to ask about a mysterious car and nearby gunshots. A Reverend, also played by Kennedy, and Ellen’s girlfriend Rory, played by Melinda Nanovsky, also visit.

The house physically rotates onstage during a tense scene. This staging choice forces the audience to confront the characters from a new angle. The play reveals that Ellen’s career as a negotiator is a trauma response to her adoptive father’s past behavior. Paula’s accident is linked to this hidden history.

The production ends with the 911 dispatcher returning to the start of the story. The audience then walks through the house set on the way out. This final movement breaks the barrier between the stage and the seats. Quantum Theatre is known for its place-based, immersive work. Brook studied directing at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.