Red Masquers Celebrating 100th Anniversary

Duquesne University’s Red Masquers, the oldest amateur theatre company in the city of Pittsburgh, is celebrating its 100th season this year. The centennial season, which kicked-off last month, will showcase all new and original works.

“We want to recognize our past and the wonderful, thrilling contributions we have given to the Pittsburgh theater scene in the past 100 years,” says John Lane, director of theater arts and Red Masquers director. “However, we are not able to fulfill our mission by just celebrating our past, so all of our productions for this year will be world premieres.”

Thus far, the season has featured The Pittsburgh Monologue Project, which was inspired by overheard conversations of actual Pittsburghers in restaurants, on the bus and at family reunions. During this past Homecoming weekend, a History of the Red Masquers variety show was staged to benefit the Keenan/Lane scholarship fund, awarded annually to an outstanding Red Masquer.

The next production, Be Our Guest, is a comedy about a couple concealing their marriage from their crazy family members. The farce highlights ridiculous characters like a father who is a First Lady impersonator and a sister who will not let their dead taxidermied dog leave her side. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m. The show runs from Oct. 11 to 13 and Oct. 18 to 20.

Additional Red Masquers productions for the centennial season include:

• The 33rd annual One Acts for Charity, from Dec. 5-8. This series of one-act plays are written, directed and produced by current Duquesne students. All proceeds are donated to charity.
• The Red Masquers’ Cabaret, Jan. 19. This performance will feature popular songs from overlooked composers.
• Duquesne alumnus David Katzin’s American Tragedy, from Feb. 7 to 9 and from Feb. 14-16. Katzin’s play revolves around the Astor Place riots in New York City in 1849 that left at least 25 dead and the Astor Place Theater in ruins.
• The final show of the 100th season, March, from April 11 to 13 and April 21 to 23. Written by alumnus Matt Smith, March tells the story of a pair of witches dwelling in the basement of a local high school that are forced to deal with a newcomer after centuries of tradition.

Tickets to all performances are free with a Duquesne ID, Carlow ID or Red Masquers Card, otherwise, general admission tickets will be sold at the door. All productions, unless otherwise noted, are held in the Peter Mills Auditorium, in Rockwell Hall.

For more information, contact the 100th Anniversary Chair Vickie Lecci or visit the Red Masquers Blog.