And this latest effort from a talented new-generation contributor to the American stage, David Lindsay-Abaire ("Kimberly Akimbo," "Fuddy Meers"), is the eleventh winner of the Pulitzer Prize to make its Western Pennsylvania debut at the Public.

Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" opened at the old North Side space in 1980, just a year after it won the Pulitzer, and, later, Public Theater became the first Pittsburgh company to stage Marsha Norman's" 'night, Mother" (1984), August Wilson's "Fences" (1980) and "The Piano Lesson" (2003), Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women" (1996), Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive" (1999), Margaret Edson's "Wit" (2000), Donald Margulies' "Dinner With Friends" (2002), Nilo Cruz's "Anna in the Tropics" (2004) and Doug Wright's "I Am My Own Wife" (2006).

Here's a "mea culpa" in advance if I missed a title or two and, especially, in case I'm wrong about "The Piano Lesson."

Bill Gardner lost the rights to that play during his final season as artistic director, and 12 years went by before Pappas could finally get the green light to produce a version in the Public's new downtown space. Thanks to premature "seniormomentitis," I don't remember if one of the area's smaller companies (like Kuntu Repertory Theatre or Penn Avenue Theater) beat the Public to "The Piano Lesson" and delivered its own version at some point between 1991 and 2003.

With a cast formed by Jo Twiss, Erika Rolfsrud, Joey Parsons, Alec Silberblatt and Dylan Chalfy, "Rabbit Hole" runs through May 18. It closes to make room for a Neil Simon classic, "The Odd Couple," which finishes season number 33 at the Public.

Party on

As co-chair of "The World's Greatest Cast Party" at Little Lake Theatre, Carol Lauck came through with a few more tempting tidbits about the May 4 event. Such as:

n Dave Disney, the company's longtime historian and its reliable go-to guy for information everyone else has forgotten, dusted off 59 bulging scrapbooks representing each season since 1949. His treasured albums will share space with assorted memorabilia and vintage photos taken from the Disney family collection.

n Posters paying tribute to all of the actors who have ever stepped foot on Little Lake's mainstage (1,287 names) will decorate the lobby, where guests can also find the honorary "Wall of Fame" in polished-up condition.

n Handy helper Linda VanNewkirk volunteered to oversee a display of costumes from "back in the day."

n And David Newell, better known to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" fans as mailman Mr. McFeely, agreed to serve as honorary chairman. Newell, who grew up in O'Hara Township, was an apprentice and actor at Little Lake before he moved to television.

n Troupers are busy rehearsing songs and sketches, but Carol, co-chair Charita Nemec, Linda, the two Daves, artistic director Sunny Disney Fitchett, managing director Rob Fitchett and others getting ready to throw "the world's greatest cast party" don't want me spilling the whole pot of beans. Read more at LittleLake.org.

A special evening

Oscar nominee and four-time Emmy winner Alfre Woodard will reminisce about her career and her association with August Wilson (she starred in the TV version of "The Piano Lesson") when the August Wilson Center for African American Culture presents "An Evening With Alfre Woodard" this Saturday night at Byham Theater.

For tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visit pgharts.org.

Home