History & Mission

barebones productions is a Pittsburgh theater company whose mission is to facilitate the growth of local theater artists through the production of challenging, entertaining, thought-provoking plays and to attract new, young audiences by employing minimal production elements for maximum impact.

barebones productions was formed in 2003 (and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2016) to focus on three interdependent key elements: the plays, the artists, and the audience. We select plays (focusing on works that would not otherwise be seen in Pittsburgh) that challenge actors as artists and provide rewarding artistic experiences to non-traditional theater audiences. barebones selects plays with story lines and characters that focus on human experiences often relevant to a younger, contemporary audience who do not regularly attend cultural arts events; yet at the same time appeal to traditional theater-goers because of their excellence and timelessness. The result is that barebones has garnered a reputation for producing critically acclaimed, well attended, high quality, risk- taking plays that reward both actors and audiences of all types.

In addition to our continued work and artistic growth, we have operated a permanent theater in Braddock, PA since 2017. The building that houses the theater also shares its space with a restaurant and is adjacent to an art gallery and affordable artist housing. This collaborative eco-system in a traditionally underserved area also lends itself to community outreach initiatives, facility rentals, community usage, and educational and training opportunities.