Who are we? We are a professional theatre company that includes some of the most talented actors in Pittsburgh. Founder, Roni Ostfield has over 30 years experience producing theatre in Pittsburgh and around the world. For over 13 years she was the Director of Outreach for City Theatre, where she developed ground breaking programs in prisons, shelters and community centers that helped thousands of underserved individuals find their voice during their most difficult periods. Since founding Pittsburgh Playback Theatre in 1986, Roni has been commended by the Presidential Commission on the Arts (1996), Pennsylvania Department of Education (1987) and has founded an important HIV Awareness Theater Project (2000). Meaningful projects have included work with gang members, Lost Boys of Sudan - refugees living in Pittsburgh, Somalian Bantu teens, West Dafur refugees, and Jews and Arabs from Israel/Palestine to connect and have the opportunity to engage in open dialogue. Associate Director, Rich Keitel is a member of Actors Equity, he has been involved with Pittsburgh Playback Theatre for over twenty years, where he currently serves as Associate Artistic Director. Professor at Point Park University, BA in Theatre and Philosophy from SUNY Oneonta, MFA in Directing from University of Pittsburgh. Rich was the Associate Artistic Director for City Theatre during its 1997-98 season and Head of Undergraduate Acting and Directing Program at the University of Pittsburgh from 1991-1997. His directing credits include Collected Stories and American Buffalo for City Theatre, Wild Duck for Quantum Theatre, I'm Not Rappaport and the world premiere of Sam Hazo's Watching Fire, Watching Rain for Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh, along with A Moon for the Misbegotten, Mad Forest, School for Scandal, What's Wrong with this Picture? Criminal Genius, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, and A Flea in her Ear. Regionally, Rich directed Communicating Doors and Dinner with Friends at St. Michaels' Playhouse in Vermont. Previous Prime Stage credits include Great Expectations, To Kill a Mockingbird and Tuesdays with Morrie. He is regularly mentioned in the Pittsburgh newspapers' year-end top ten lists. Rich was recognized with the "Harry" award for theatrical excellence by Pittsburgh Magazine. Rich is married to Dr. Elisabeth Roark, Associate Professor of art history at Chatham College, and their two proudest productions are their sons, Jordan Akira and Daniel Whitman. Company Demetria Marsh Amy Guterson Paulo Nzambi Gentry Thurman Jewel Barber Dihlon McManne Maggie Ryan Ruth Wylie Buddy Rieger Fredi Bernstein Connie Castanzo Emmett Zitelli Past Company Members Ido Roll, Andrea Scheve, Nicole Accuardi, Ashley Archambeau, Rasheed Clark, Doug Mertz, Ellie Pfeuffer Pittsburgh Playback Theatre Board of Trustees Nick Bonesso, President, President of NABCOMM Communications, Jeff Maizlech, CPA, Treasurer, Fabi Cheistwer, Stress Management Specialist, Jonas Chaney, Journalist for Sheridan Broadcasting Network and WPKI-TV; Dona S. Luedde, PhD, Psychologist, Elizabeth Reiss, Executive Director of Three Rivers Arts Festival. Pittsburgh Playback Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible.