Quantum Theatre


Quantum Theatre is an experimental theatre company that uses non-traditional stages in Pittsburgh, PA. Founded in 1990 by Karla Boos, it is the longest running producer of site specific plays.
The theatre has been mentioned in American Theatre Magazine and Stage Directions Magazine. It has staged classical plays, adaptations of literature, world premieres and contemporary plays in places such as Washington's Landing, Iron City Brewery, the former Don Allen Auto City, a Downtown loft in the Cultural District, abandoned school houses and the Frick Art & Historical Center.

Education

Quantum Theatre also features an educational outreach program in which a teaching artist helps students at inner-city high schools interpret a play, a piece of literature, or a historical event in contemporary terms. The students then create a performance to be showcased at a rehearsal for a Quantum Theatre production.
On January 30, 2012, Quantum Theatre was one of twelve companies to participate in Organic Theater Pittsburgh's From the Ground Up event to promote collaborations between Pittsburgh playwrights and local theater troupes.

Productions

Quantum Theatre creates site-specific performances tailoring each one to the location. Updates can include costumes, plot, or a completely new adaptation. One example is when performing King Lear at the Carrie Furnace, Karla Boos mixed medieval English clothing with 1970s steelworker uniforms and added union songs to the play.
SeasonLocationPlayAuthorNotes
2022-2023OneValley RoundhouseThe Cherry OrchardLibby AppelDirected by Katie Brooks. An elaborate multi-tiered stage was incorporated into the Roundhouse.
2021-2022Schenley Park Ice Skating RinkAn OdysseyJed Allen HarrisAdapted by Jay Ball. Odysseus recounts his tales to a young princess Nausicaa. Quantum Theatre transformed the Ice Rink into a Greek amphitheatre.
2021-2022The MaverickChimericaLucy Kirkwood
2020-2021Digital SeasonLove and InformationCaryl Churchill
2020-2021Digital SeasonConstellationsNick Payne
2020-2021Digital SeasonWildMike Bartlett
2020-2021Digital SeasonFar AwayCaryl Churchill
2018-2019Trinity Cathedral PittsburghChattertonKarla BoosBased on the book by Peter Ackroyd
2018-2019Homewood Branch of the [Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh|Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood]The Gun Show E. M. LewisAdditional showings were at West Hall at CCAC – Allegheny Campus & The Tull Family Theater.
2018-2019Carrie FurnaceKing LearWilliam ShakespeareCostumes were a mixture of Early english garments and steelworker gear.
2016-2017Mellon Park Rose GardenPeribañezLope de Vega

Quantum Theatre's final production of their 2018-2019 season will be the world premiere of Inside Passage, opening in March 2018. The play was written by Pittsburgh's Gab Cody, whose work was most recently featured in Bricolage Production Company's Dodo: The Time Has Come in partnership with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Directed by Sam Turich, Inside Passage incorporates documentary film footage and live performance to explore themes of family, home, childhood, and loss.