Front Porch Theatricals opens 2025 season
'Baby' and 'Sundays in the Park with George' on tap
Nancy Zionts is clear — the spirit of Leon Zionts still resides in the works she produces with her partner Bruce E.G. Smith.
Zionts and Smith founded Front Porch Theatricals with Leon in 2009. When Leon died in 2019, the pair decided to continue to produce works that mattered to them and the community at large. Leon’s vision became the company’s raison d’être.
“It has to be in the spirit of Leon. It has to be some of those ideals that mattered to him,” she said. “We talk about him in the first meet and greet we have. We have 35 or 40 people from the team that will put on the show — actors, tech — and we ask who knew Leon. We challenge those that didn’t [know him] to talk with someone who did and learn about him.”
For their 2025 season, Front Porch is producing two works that might be familiar to many: “Baby” and “Sundays in the Park with George.” Both musicals were nominated for Tony Awards in 1984, which just happens to be the year Zionts and Leon were married.
It was Zionts’ partner that suggested producing “Baby.”
“We’re always looking for a show where the story is there,” Zionts explained. “Bruce had always loved the show. His wife Martha had always loved the show. We looked at it, but it seemed a bit dated because it was written in 1983.”
After doing a little research, the pair found out that the show had been updated in 2021.
Those attending the production, May 16 to 25 at the New Hazlett Theatre, are in for a treat: Zionts said there have been virtually no full stage versions of the updated production.
“Baby” tells the story of three couples in various stages of life: one dealing with the consequences and experiences of pregnancy and upcoming parenthood; another, having trouble conceiving but trying; and middle-aged parents whose last child is graduating from college.
“It’s a show about relationships and specifically about communication,” Zionts said. “All three of the couples communicate the strength of their relationships.”
Audience members, she offered, will see themselves in one or more of the couples.
“It will resonate with everyone,” she said.
Zionts said that as storytellers she and Smith were drawn to the story, which features 10 actors, four in multiple roles, and a small orchestra.
In keeping with Front Porch Theatricals’ mission, director Kristiann Menotiades has previously been actor with the company and has directed in college, but “Baby” is her first professional production.
Zionts and Smith felt strongly that “Baby” should be directed by a woman and wanted to select someone they’ve worked worth in the past.
“You’re putting a lot into them and you’re expecting a lot of them,” she said. “We had a lot of women apply but Kristiann was someone who’s always been on our short list.”
The cast includes Allan Snyder, Becki Toth, Saige Smith, Lindsay Bayer Ray, Maria Bechtell, Braden Stroppel, David Leong, Sarah Hennessy, Isabella Corea and William Forrest Smith. Zionts said for some, it will be their first professional paycheck, an opportunity Front Porch is proud to offer to professional actors each year.
The company’s success has grown each year with both the audience and actors. Zionts said that this year 250 people auditioned for roles.
“Which is the most we’ve ever had,” she said. “We were able to cast both shows.”
The strength of those auditioning, Zionts pointed out, is that four of the actors were cast in both shows, unbeknownst to the different directors.
“Directors don’t collude. They have no idea who they’re choosing,” she said. “They wanted the best.”
Like Menotiades, many of the actors are familiar with Front Porch, which Zionts said strives to create a sense of family in its cast and crew.
Make no mistake though, Front Porch has a clear mission: “Local, live musicals, telling stories that are meaningful,” she said.
“Sundays in the Park with George,” will follow later this year, August 15 to 24. More information and tickets for both shows can be found on Front Porch’s website. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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