About PICT Classic Theatre
A Brief History of PICT
PICT (formerly known as Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre) was founded in 1996 by Andrew S. Paul and Stephanie Riso in Pittsburgh. PICT emerged as a significant contributor to the cultural fabric of Pittsburgh with almost 2,000 season subscribers, and annual attendance of over 23,000.
A constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), PICT garnered a yearly position on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's list of the city's Top 50 Cultural Forces. The organization's productions are consistently ranked among the year's best by the critics of the Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Onstage Pittsburgh. PICT was named Theatre of the Year-in both 2004 [1] and 2006 [2] by the critics of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
From 2013-2020, Alan Stanford was named the Artistic and Executive Director and produced many stellar productions. PICT performed in the Stephen Foster Memorial building - a City of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania state Historical Landmark located on Forbes Avenue on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
In 2021-2022 the company took a pause post Covid for restructuring.
In 2023 Elizabeth Elias Huffman was named as the new Artistic Director and the company moved to take up residence at Carnegie Stage, and changed the name to Pittsburgh International Classic Theatre with the focus now on classic and international plays.
In her first year, Ms. Huffman created a new three-part play development series, The Bards Project. “Bards from the Burgh” reading series, now in its fifth year, chooses plays by 4 local playwrights to be presented in a reading series for the public. Bards Work in Progress is a two-week paid development workshop with one of the plays chosen from the series and this past year created the Classic Bards staged reading series of lesser known classical plays.
PICT resumed full production in 2024 with Andy Warhol’s Tomato by Vince Melocchi, previewing at the Warhol Museum earning critical acclaim. International productions followed in 2025 with the USA premiere of Miss Julie adapted from Strindberg, set in Hong Kong in post WW 2, by Chinese playwright Amy Ng. The company produced another USA premiere with First Lady by Turkish/French playwright Sedef Ecer, and the Pittsburgh premiere of The Smuggler by Irish playwright Ronán Noone.
This fall they will produce Refugee Rhapsody by Egyptian playwright, Yuseff El Guindi in a rolling world premiere with CATF in West Virginia and Sound theatre in Seattle.
Artistic Director: Elizabeth Elias Huffman
Elizabeth Elias Huffman was appointed PICT’s new Artistic Director in February of 2023. With the board, her first year was restructuring and rebuilding the company’s financial solvency through various fundraising events, donations, and grants. PICT returned to production in the fall of 2024
Development and Relationship Manager, Carolyn Ludwig
Carolyn has been a part of the PICT family for many seasons, embracing a collective approach to bringing inspiring classic works to Pittsburgh audiences. Bringing a diverse business perspective to the company, it has been a rewarding challenge to develop encompassing business solutions through resourceful planning and implementation. Carolyn currently focuses on all development, relationship building, and strategic planning.
Prior to entering the performing arts sector, Carolyn professionally dedicated more than fifteen years in the technology sector, holding various positions at The Robotics Institute and Carnegie Bosch Institute, both at Carnegie Mellon University, Zaxel Systems, a virtual reality data capturing company, and advanced manufacturer, Acutronic.
Carolyn has completed coursework at the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Master of Public Management Program and holds a B.S. in Business Administration, Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Who We Are
Who is PICT?
PICT Classic Theatre is an internationally recognized, non-profit theatre company committed presenting the highest quality productions for the widest audience. Our productions feature innovative, minimalist design, and examine current social issues through the lens of classic text. With over 111 productions in our nearly 30-year history, PICT continues to bring beloved works to the stage to approximately 6,000 patrons in person and 11,000 patrons online each season.
What is Classic Theatre? PICT's Minimalist Approach
We define a “classic” as a work that is true of its time and for all time. We define minimalism as the process of creating theatre with the actor as the center and heart of the presentation. The text and its themes and style come next. All other aspects of production and presentation such as setting, costumes, lighting, and sound are kept to a minimum and only serve to enhance and support the work of the actor.
Our productions celebrate the artistry of classic text through the craft of modern performance, but those are not our only strengths. PICT is also dedicated to the principle of employing local talent in all facets of the company, and to the duty of educating and training the next generation of Pittsburgh theatre makers in analysis, appreciation and execution of the performance of classic work. Lastly, and most importantly, we are invested in our local community partnerships: a theater of Pittsburgh, by Pittsburgh, and for Pittsburgh. PICT strives through the art of theatre and the interpretation of classic text to create a platform for our community to discourse on the issues relevant to our current time, and work toward connection and solution.
Long after the curtain falls, PICT Classic Theatre will remind you of the moment you first felt the power of a great performance.
Mission Statement
PICT Classic Theatre’s mission is to engage with, entertain, and serve the Pittsburgh community by examining current social issues through the lens of classic text.
Our Vision
To produce professional and challenging drama for the widest audience through innovative and imaginative theatrical presentation.
Core Values
We exist to serve as an essential artistic and educational resource for the Pittsburgh community.
We are dedicated to achieving the highest quality of artistic expression.
We demonstrate integrity and respect for others in all our dealings.
We create a safe and collaborative workspace founded in equity, inclusivity, and accessibility.
We endeavor always to be financially prudent and disciplined.
We operate as a Not-For-Profit organization.
Core Values Expanded
We believe in the power of live theatre, of art and of compassion.
We believe creativity is an essential part of what it means to be human.
We exist to bring people together for the unique emotional experience of theatre, especially the younger members of our community.
We are dedicated to the support of local artists and offer every encouragement to help them continue to make Pittsburgh their viable artistic home for this city's rich talent.
We serve as ambassadors to visiting artists who bring to Pittsburgh the best of talent from which we can learn.
We provide a professional theatre environment that is based on and around a committed team and acting company, where the best of new talent is nurtured.
We provide a theatrical experience that is family-friendly and welcoming to everyone.
We create and uphold a culture of respect in all interactions with artists, staff, board, audiences, donors and vendors at every point of contact, that engages and nurtures all constituencies.
We are an environmentally pro-active organization that minimizes the negative impact of the inherently wasteful theatrical process.
We are dedicated to the building of clear, trusting and robust relationships with Foundation funders based on a commitment to work with them for the betterment of theatre experience for all; and especially in those areas for which their funding is dedicated.
We provide a theatre where donors, subscribers and all other attendees are given the highest quality experience of theatre both as guests and more importantly as stakeholders.
Board Members
Joseph Parsons, President
Theresa Donato, Executive Director / Treasurer
Heather Ruppert, Secretary
D. Larry Brophy, Vice Chair, Advisory Board
Laura Bunting
Theresa Gregory
Greg Beal
Dolores Nypaver
Lily Cheng
Artistic Advisory Board
Alfred Molina
Carlos Carrasco
Frank Dwyer
Yussef El Guindi
Stuart W Howard
Louanne Moldovan
Lawrence Peters
Olga Sanchez Saltveit
Gemma Whelan
Advisory Board
Ashish Badjatia
Diane V. Byrnes
Eryn Correa
Kevin Geider
Kenneth "Kel" Laeger
Jim Lamb
Robert Levin
Charles & Karen Mollenberg
Jessica Neiss
Kristen Olsen PhD
Mona Rush EdD
Peter Smerd
Jennifer Trehar
Katheryn Wagner-Bowe
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”
Oscar Wilde
