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November 3, 2014 / People

Pittsburgh Playhouse performers

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Kathleen Marshall, center and wearing a feathered head band, starred as Velma in the 1989 Pittsburgh Playhouse production of the musical "Chicago."
Kathleen Marshall, center and wearing a feathered head band, starred as Velma in the 1989 Pittsburgh Playhouse production of the musical “Chicago.”
In the 1980s, Richard Rauh served as director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse film series, which brought great classic and foreign films to the big screen. Post-Gazette photo/V.W.H. Campbell Jr.
In the 1980s, Richard Rauh served as director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse film series, which brought great classic and foreign films to the big screen. Post-Gazette photo/V.W.H. Campbell Jr.
In 1990, the Pittsburgh Playhouse staged the musical "Dreamgirls." From left are Kena Tangi Dorsey, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Virginia Woodruff and Vanita Harbour.
In 1990, the Pittsburgh Playhouse staged the musical “Dreamgirls.” From left are Kena Tangi Dorsey, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Virginia Woodruff and Vanita Harbour.
Kathi Fleming plays Sally Bowles and Jeff Paul plays the Emcee in a 1983 production of the musical "Cabaret" by The Pittsburgh Playhouse professional company.
Kathi Fleming plays Sally Bowles and Jeff Paul plays the Emcee in a 1983 production of the musical “Cabaret” by The Pittsburgh Playhouse professional company.
Local mime Dan Kamin performs at The Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland in 1973.
Local mime Dan Kamin performs at The Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland in 1973.

The woman at the center of this picture wears a feathered hand band and leads a dance ensemble at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in Oakland.

The year is 1989 and she’s playing Velma in the musical “Chicago.”

You may not recognize her face but if you like Broadway musicals, you know her name. That’s Kathleen Marshall and legions of theater fans know her as an outstanding choreographer.

Since 2004, she has won three Tony Awards for best choreography plus two Drama Desk Awards for outstanding choreography. (Her brother, Rob Marshall, won an Oscar for his direction of the movie version of “Chicago.”)

A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Marshall is among a long parade of people who started to learn their craft on the boards of the Pittsburgh Playhouse. The list of people who either studied or performed at the theatrical complex  includes Cicely Tyson, Rene Auberjonois, Sada Thompson, Shirley Jones, Barbara Feldon and George Peppard.

A golden age for the Pittsburgh Playhouse was the 1950s. On Saturdays, teen-agers learned acting, dance and the technical side of stagecraft. The Playhouse School, a two-year program, launched young actors and technicians into professional careers. By the mid-1950s, the Playhouse had two auditoriums, offices, scenery shops, a cocktail lounge and a popular restaurant.

In the 1980s, people flocked to the Playhouse to see classic and foreign movies brought to Pittsburgh by Richard Rauh. His mother, Helen Wayne Rauh, starred in Pittsburgh Playhouse productions for more than 30 years.

Point Park University took over the facility in 1973. Today, the Pittsburgh Playhouse is home to The REP, a professional theater company and plus three student companies.

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Topics related to this:music and musicians Photographer V.W.H (Bill) Campbell stage and film

Marylynne Pitz

Marylynne is a feature writer who has more fun looking at old Pittsburgh newspaper images than the law allows.

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