City Theatre Previews ‘The Wanderers’; Suite Life Benefit for Kelly Strayhorn Theater (Sat., 11/26/22

THE WANDERERS by Anna Ziegler. City Theatre. November 26 – December 18.

1) Life tests us––well beyond the challenging years of SAT tests––to compare and contrast. In Anna Ziegler’s highly acclaimed wistful drama, The Wanderers, two couples play out their marriages in comparative strokes of introspection and dreams. Esther and Schmuli are two young Orthodox Jews in a traditional arranged marriage. Abe and Sophie, more modern and more fascinated with secular ideals of fame and fortune, follow more common paths to marital happiness. But, as a novelist and near-narrator of his own story, Abe flirts with temptation and, like a serpent, it bites back in ways that pose for each couple the elusive mysteries of true love. Ziegler, whose popular plays include The Last Match, Boy, and Photograph 51, has won huge praise for this sweet, wryly funny, dive into what makes humans happy. The DC Theatre Scene even lauded it as “the perfect play.” City Theatre presents The Wanderers at 1300 Bingham St. 5:30 p.m. Sold out. South Side. (C.P.O.)

2) The Kelly Strayhorn Theater is honoring their namesakes, 20th century entertainment legends, and Pittsburghers, Billy Strayhorn and Gene Kelly tonight at their 15th annual benefit concert, Suite Life. The benefit, under the direction of Monteze Freeland (Co-Artistic Director of City Theatre) and musical direction of Akron-based Theron Brown, features “vocalists Anita Levels (a Pittsburgh favorite) with Kelsey Robinson and Treasure Treasure (Dance & vocals), James Johnson III (Drums), Jordan McBride (Bass), Reggie Watkins (Trombone), and John Shannon (Guitar)” will bring to life the brilliance of Strayhorn’s music and Kelly’s dance and imagery. There’s also a VIP reception. For more information see the Kelly Strayhorn Theater event page. 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. (R.H.)

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