May 2 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Performance
Impulse Festival: Atlantic
Date:
Cost:
6 – 20
Time:
Address:
805 Liberty AvenuePittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 United States
ATLANTIC
written by Scott Gilmour & Claire McKenzie
music directed by Robert Neumeyer
directed by Michael Herwitz
in partnership with Pittsburgh CLO & Nancy Woodruff
Far off the west coast of Scotland, nearly 200 miles from the mainland, lies the most remote and forgotten island in the Outer Hebrides; St Kilda (or Hirta, in Gaelic). Hidden by mist and unforgiving waters, it was once home to one of the most remarkable and self-sufficient community of islanders. For hundreds of years the people of the island endured brutal conditions and built a unique and precious society to survive; one that relied on every islander having their part to play. That was until August 29, 1930 – when the entire community boarded a ship and left their home forever. Atlantic: A Scottish Story follows Evie McCormick, a young woman of St Kilda, and her childhood sweetheart, Quinn Whyte. Each share dreams of a life beyond their island, however, when presented with the chance to leave – both are left with a choice that will change the course of their lives, and their island, forever.
Atlantic will have two presentations at the Peirce Studio inside the Trust Arts Education Center. This reading is a part of the Center for New Work’s Impulse Festival, a brand new event featuring new plays & musicals in development at Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh CLO alongside new works from CMU’s MFA in Dramatic Writing program.
CAST
Allie DeMateo
Damson Chola Jr.
Elijah Strain
Favor Buchi
Griffin Frye
Kavan Bhatia
Mae Ryness
Marina Brazendale
Mateo Cortes
Suri Noelle
Tamara Arad
Scott Gilmour & Claire McKenzie are the award-winning musical theatre writing partnership also known as Noisemaker. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, the pair formed their company in 2012 after discovering a shared passion for writing stories that bring folk together through music, song, humour and heart. Their work includes CEILIDH (Barbara Whitman Productions/ Grove Entertainment) Hi, My Name Is Ben (Goodspeed Musicals/NAMT), SCOTS (Edinburgh Fringe/54 Below, National Tour 2026); Oor Wullie (Selladoor Worldwide/Dundee Rep), Atlantic: A Scottish Story (Edinburgh Fringe/Big Light Podcast Series – Winner of British Podcast Award), My Left/Right Foot (National Theatre of Scotland/Birds of Paradise), Legend Trippers (National Youth Music Theatre), The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (Faena Theater, Miami), The Girl Who (AMTP/Edinburgh Fringe), Little Red and the Wolf, The Snow Queen, A Christmas Carol (Dundee Rep). The pair are alumni of Johnny Mercer Writers Grove, the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University, Walt Disney Imagineering/NMI New Voices and are cultural ambassadors for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the American-Scottish Foundation. Upcoming projects include the UK premiere of CEILIDH (Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Fall 2026) The Snow Goose, an adaptation of Paul Gallico’s novella commissioned by Goodspeed Musicals (Summer 2026); Big Noise with The National Theatre of Scotland; and a new collaboration between Fiasco Theater and Signature Theatre, VA called Porter. For more on Noisemaker – www.noisemaker.org.uk
Michael Herwitz was born and raised outside New York City, and began his career as a child actor on Broadway. Inspired by the Broadway stage managers who entertained his every question, Michael developed a passion for making the plays he wanted to see. After graduating from LaGuardia Arts High School, he co-founded G45 Productions, an ensemble-based collective dedicated to incubating new work. At Northwestern University, Michael honed his craft directing musicals. Upon graduation, Michael returned to New York to develop, direct, and occasionally general manage new work. His direction has been seen at Ars Nova, HERE, Ensemble Studio Theater, JACK, SoHo Playhouse, Williamstown Theater Festival, IRT Theater, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, and the Pasadena Playhouse. Michael directed Max Wolf Friedlich’s JOB from its original festival run at SoHo Playhouse’s Lighthouse Series, through two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements, to its extended Broadway production. For more on Michael – www.michaelherwitz.com
