The Greer Cabaret Theater is in character, dressed up and ready for opening night.
After being closed for more than a year and getting a re-fresh, the venue will host Pittsburgh CLO’s “tick, tick…BOOM!” It’s an autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer of “RENT.” The show tells the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theatre.
The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
More than $6 million has been invested into the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Cabaret Theater, which opened in the fall of 2004.
The renovation became a reality through the support of donors. Leading the way was the Eden Hall Foundation, a private foundation established through the will of Sebastian Mueller, a Pittsburgh philanthropist and vice president and director of the H.J. Heinz Company.
The theater has been closed since the spring of 2022.
“It is hard to comprehend we are standing in the same venue,” said senior vice-president development and real estate for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Nicholas J. Gigante. “The new look gives the space a nightclub vibe. It’s cool and hip.”
Gigante said it’s not just about the brick-and-mortar — elevated food and craft cocktails from Culinare are part of the changes. Some shows will have themed menu items.
“We wanted to create an incredible venue,” Ingram said. “And we want to enhance the experience for our guests and the Cultural District.”
In June 2018, the Cabaret at Theater Square was renamed to honor longtime trustee and supporter George Greer.
The new look provides easier access from the nearby Theater Square Garage and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh. The doors open to the grand Kara Family Lobby, which is illuminated by a massive chandelier. It’s named for the support of the Kara family and a place where guests can gather before a show. There are places to relax, the box office and Meat & Potatoes, a Richard DeShantz restaurant.
Making the space accommodating by creating a unique atmosphere was key, said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, who became president and CEO of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in February.
“It’s about being inclusive so everyone feels welcome,” Ingram said “Look at this transformation. This is absolutely spectacular.”
She said the Cultural Trust has 81% recovered in attendance to pre-pandemic levels, and those guests want an experience. The update to the Greer Theater has been a goal of the Cultural Trust, she said.
“People have cried when they’ve returned to shows, and told us they’ve missed being here in person,” Ingram said. “We will never take live theater for granted ever again.”
A few steps away is the refurbished lounge, formerly known as the Backstage Bar. It features plush seating and a new bar. There will be craft cocktails and light bites. The lounge will have live entertainment and can accommodate 80 guests.
The former black-box theater has been re-imagined with a permanent stage and proscenium, the part of a theater stage in front of the curtain.
The seat cushions are larger and chairs can be stacked easily for reconfiguring the room. Capacity in the theater is 198, down from 254.
There are continuous bands of lights and mini table lamps.
The lighting can be controlled via a computer and synchronized with what is happening on the video screen, creating an immersive experience, said Marta Johns, the lead designer from DLR Group out of Cleveland. The company collaborated with Pittsburgh-based Moss Architects.
The project has been about two years in the making, Johns said.
“The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust had a vision, and we were more than delighted to execute that vision,” Johns said.
At a media preview on Tuesday, Ethan Riordan, whose CLO debut is the lead role of Jonathan in “tick, tick…BOOM!” performed.
The theater will be used for various performances beginning with the Pittsburgh CLO show to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Cabaret Series launching in October with Mauricio Martinez, Meow Meow, Joe Iconis, Catherine Russell and Matthew Morrison as well as other shows and events.
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“This is truly a one-of-a-kind venue,” said Mark Fleischer, executive producer of the CLO. “The Cultural Trust exceeded expectations. Where else can you park your car, enter the lobby, have a cocktail, have dinner, see a show and then return to your car, all in the same space? That will be especially nice during Pittsburgh winters.”
There will be a fundraiser on Oct. 28.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne by email at jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .