Pop quiz: Where was the first ambulance service stafffed by paramedics with medical training established?
It may surprise you, but it was in the Hill District in Pittsburgh.
Our city has been a center for pioneering medical breakthroughs for decades; the polio vaccine, modern CPR and any number of other contributions. But not only was the Freedom House Ambulance Service revolutionary for its use of trained paramedics, it was also comprised of Black paramedics, breaking through racial barriers as well.
While this new model changed the world, its significance is not all that well-known in Pittsburgh. Prime Stage Theatre is shining a light on this pivotal moment in local history with the play “Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance,” running through Feb. 1 at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side.
Despite the looming winter storm, a packed house turned out for opening night on Saturday, including local officials and even veterans of the FHAS. Before the house lights went down, Pittsburgh acting public safety director Sheldon Williams read a proclamation from Pittsburgh mayor Corey O’Connor, who declared Jan. 24, 2026 to be Prime Stage Theatre and Freedom House Ambulance Service Day in the city.
The play was penned by L.E. McCullough and takes place from 1966 to 1975, from the birth of the Freedom House Ambulance Service to its shuttering. The story is told through facts, historical events and snapshots of important moments, and the script is both educational and entertaining. We watch characters including Dr. Safar (Ryan Warsing), a physician who was instrumental in the creation and instruction of the service, to the men and women who worked as its first paramedics and dispatchers.
The cast is small and multi-talented, all seven players portraying multiple roles. Willa Catherine Cotten, who played dispatcher Ruth Gardner among other roles, was a particularly bright presence, as was Darrin Mosley Jr. as Dave Rayzer, one of the first paramedics. Both gave powerful turns that drew the audience into the story. Cynthia Dallas, as the barmaid at Crawford Grill — one of the play’s main settings — added a depth to the neighborhood feel of the production. DeVaughn Robinson played Freedom House head James McCoy Jr. with a verve and humanity that revealed the promise and optimism of the community.
Justin Mohr as FHAS co-founder Phil Hallen and Anne Rematt as Dr. Nancy Caroline — one of the later heads of the ambulance service who would go on to literally write the book on EMS education — both exuded passion. Rematt especially gave the second act real spark.
Scenic designer Richard Morris Jr. brought the Crawford Grill to life as the main backdrop for the play, though clever use of space by director Scott P. Calhoon placed the actors in spotlight all over the stage to denote different settings, making the cast of seven feel like dozens. The audience watches as these real-life people grapple with forming the FHAS, the difficulty of training and then the impossibility of maintaing city-wide support.
The issue of racism is prevalent the whole time. Before the creation of a dedicated and trained EMS staff, police officers in the Pittsburgh area were responsible for responding to medical emergencies, and their response times to predominantly Black neighborhoods wre demonstrably slower. Creating this service in the Hill not only gave skilled jobs to local residents, it also helped to bridge the race gap in quality of care in ways that have lasted to this day and been enshrined in EMS practices all over the country.
McCullough’s script doesn’t shy away from that reality, even taking the time to delve into the history of the Hill District through clever character interactions. The play also integrates the history of jazz music into songs placed into the play, emphasizing Pittsburgh’s place in the genre’s legacy.
As a lifelong Pittsburgher, I know that there’s nothing we love more than to get to tout the accomplishments of our city. “Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance” reveals the layers and characters behind an amaing achievement that even few Pittsburghers know about. It’s a compelling production that lends insight into our own history and gives hope for the future.
Prime Stage Theatre’s “Freedom House: Giving Life a Second Chance” will run through Feb. 1 at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side. To get tickets, visit primestage.com.