New Olde Bank Theatre Gears Up for Last Performances in Verona

The New Olde Bank Theatre in Verona will raise the curtain for for its final production at its current location during its one-act play festival, which will run for the next two weekends.

The theater, which has been located on Allegheny River Boulevard for almost four years, whill be moving to downtown Pittsburgh in July.

Before the theater moves, there will be four final shows at the Verona location—"CSI: SVU: Moral Abyss! 3D!" The first performance will be Friday, June 15, at 8 p.m. Others will be June 16, June 22 and June 23 at the same time.

The New Olde Bank Theatre’s Artistic Director Sean Michael O’Donnell said leaving Verona was a tough decision, but the theater needs room to grow.

"We tried very hard to find a new space that would keep us in Verona, but unfortunately we were unable to find a location that would work in the end," he said. "Verona is a unique town with so much potential and as it continues to revitalize it is the perfect place to open a new business.

"The people, the council, and the business association are incredibly supportive; they have have shown great faith in us and our every endeavor over the past four years. We have been lucky to call Verona our home."

About the festival

Featuring three new plays written by O’Donnell as well as original works by noted playwrights Jeffrey Hatcher and Christopher Durang, the festival will feature five one-act comedies with a cast of sixteen actors. The lineup for the festival includes:

• Three Women in a Theatre Auditioning—Three very different actresses battle for a coveted role in a new play.

• Downtown—Three wannabe literati dish the competition at a trendy club.Written by Jeffrey Hatcher.

• The Hardy Boys & The Mystery of Where Babies Come From—The Hardy Boys set out to solve the mystery of Nancy Drew and the Bun in the Oven. Written by Christopher Durang.

• Untitled Vivien Flowers Project—Disgraced theater director Vivien Flowers faces off with arch nemesis Evelyn St. Claire as they collaborate on a production of Gypsy. Hilarity and theatrical blasphemy ensue.

• Disaster! (The Play!)—A tsunami, an out-of-control fire, a volcanic eruption and killer bees threaten to destroy the world’s tallest underground building. A spoof of 1970s disaster movies – The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure,Earthquake – complete with original music. 

The cast includes: Lori Barrage of Natrona Heights, Tessa Flannery of Butler, Hannah Gross of Pittsburgh, Kate Hagerty of Pittsburgh, Laura Hoffmann of Verona, Roberta Honse of Springdale, Brittany Huffman of Ross Township, Jackie Hranica of Sarver, Marie Karcher of Allison Park, Sean Michael O’Donnell of Pittsburgh, Evan Oslund of Oakmont, Tom Protulipac of Worthington, Chris Schwanke of Penn Hills, Tyler Anthony Smith of Gibsonia, Ben Tegethoff of Sarver, and Andrew Wolf of Natrona Heights. Todd Collar and Sean Michael O’Donnell are directing.

Seating is very limited and reservations are required.Tickets are $15 for the June 15, 16 and 22 shows. There will be a special closing night reception following the June 23 performance. Tickets for this night are $25 and include a food buffet and open bar. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 412-251-7904.To purchase tickets online with a credit or debit card, visit www.newobt.com.

The future of the theater

O'Donnell is hoping to move the theater to Smithfield United Church of Christ in downtown Pittsburgh.

"We hope very much that our loyal Verona audience will be able to make the trip downtown to support us in our new home," he said. "There will be more than a few tears the last time I close the doors (in Verona). I want to sincerely thank each and every person who has supported us."

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