Downtown’s Byham Theater stage was perhaps never more reflective of Pittsburgh as it was Thursday night. There were Furries, songs mentioning IC Light and Primanti Bros. sandwiches, lots of Kennywood references, parodies featuring Randyland and Pittsburgh icons Sophie Masloff, Cyril Wecht and Mister Rogers (all three as angels), and a unique version of “Renegade.”
It was all part of “Off the Record XXIV,” the annual musical satire, which our Karen Carlin wrote about a few days ago.
Presented by United Steelworkers, Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild/CWA and SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh, the event raised money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Striking workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette were especially amused at the portrayal of PG Publisher John Robinson Block and his brother Allan Block, CEO of PG parent company Block Communications Inc. The two appeared as wealthy clowns, complete with rainbow-colored hair and ridiculous bow ties, determined to buy an ark to save them from an impending flood. But alas, no union workers would help them out. The two tried closing out with a song, but the union musicians refused.
Ahh, we love the solidarity!
Steve is a photojournalist and writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he is currently on strike and working as a Union Progress co-editor. Reach him at smellon@unionprogress.com.