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Best College Productions To See This Year In Market

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All of the world-renowned universities in Pittsburgh bring the benefit of academic excellence to the region with amazing student theater performances. The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Point Park University and Carlow University all have well-known and well-respected drama departments and frequently invite the public to their performances that cost a fraction of the price of professional productions. Here are the best five college productions to see this year.

Venus
Studio Theater in Cathedral of Learning Room B-72
Intersection of Forbes Ave. and Bigelow Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-7529
www.play.pitt.edu

Dates: Oct. 24 through Nov. 10, 2013

Step into the small theater at the historic Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh to experience student performances at their finest. Drama students at Pitt are well known for their acting chops and the performance of "Venus" is sure to further that reputation. "Venus" is the story of a woman brought to the United States from Africa in the early 1800s to be a participant in what is essentially a freak show. The play, with a plot that explores themes of racism and colonialism, was written and is being directed by Assistant Professor Cynthia Croot. Tickets start at $12 and can be purchased online here.

You Can't Take It With You
Philip Chosky Theater in The Purnell Center for the Arts
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 268-2407
www.drama.cmu.edu

Dates: Nov. 14-23, 2013

This year, the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama celebrates its 100th year and the drama students will be performing some well-known plays. "You Can't Take It With You," a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, is one on the all-American line-up of plays being performed this year. The play will be directed by CMU alumna and faculty member Barbara Mackenzie-Wood. Tickets can be purchased online here. Tickets begin at $15 for single performances.

Romeo & Juliet
Rockwell Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse
222 Craft Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 392-8000
www.pittsburghplayhouse.com

Dates: Dec. 10-15, 2013

Get romantic with Point Park University's student performance of the ballet version of "Romeo & Juliet." The choreographer Nicolas Petrov first introduced this ballet to the city 40 years ago and is concluding his tenure as faculty and director of the university's ballet department at Point Park with this farewell performance. Tickets for this performance are just $18, an incredible bargain for the amazing talent behind this production.

Related: Best Directors In The Local Theater Scene In Pittsburgh

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!
Rockwell Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse
222 Craft Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 392-8000
www.pittsburghplayhouse.com

Dates: Oct. 17-23, 2013

"Oklahoma" was the first musical written by the acclaimed duo and Point Park University's conservatory theater department is paying homage to this Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by making it this theater season's debut show. Patrick Cassidy, son of Shirley Jones, an original cast member, will direct the students in this production. "Oklahoma" debuted in 1944 and remains an instantly recognizable American musical. Tickets are just $12 for this fun musical that may cause toe-tapping and humming.

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow
Antonian Theatre at Carlow University
3333 5th Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(800) 275-5005
www.theatreiv.org

Date: Oct. 31, 2013

Celebrate Halloween with this morning performance of the play based on Washington Irving's famous short story. Drama students will bring to life this story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolmaster haunted and hunted by the Headless Horseman. This performance is staged as a field trip for school students and is sponsored by Theatre IV, a production company whose profits are put right back into the school and neighborhoods where performances are staged. Tickets are just $8 or $12 and can be purchased online here.

Related: Best Places To See Ballet In Pittsburgh

Sally Turkovich Wright lives in her beloved city of Pittsburgh with her husband, Jason and German Shepherd, Zeus. She is a policy analyst by training, an eyewear stylist by trade and an amateur healthy-living advocate by choice. She also writes a column for Twoday Magazine. Catch up with her there at twodaymag.com. Her work can be found at Twodaymag.com.

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