SISYPHUS & SIRI
Darkly funny and mind-boggling, a play swallowed by a magic show— Sisyphus and Siri follows the whimsical journey of magician and creator Francis Menotti as he comically and mysteriously comes to terms with his inevitable demise while presenting his (supposedly) final performance. The even-tempered digital voice of Siri hosts the evening, interacting with the audience and even
performing a magical interlude, midshow. Featuring pieces he created for Penn & Teller Fool Us and Masters of Illusion, the show builds from lighthearted amusement to thrilling chaos up until the final curtain which looks an awful lot like the beginning. Has he done this exact show three times? Hundreds? Thousands? Absurd, visually stunning, and a tad disturbing, Sisyphus and Siri is a textured and captivating exploration of the balance of futility, optimism, and magic.
CONTINUED
Welcome to a night of mind-bending theatrical magic that will transport you to another realm entirely. Sisyphus and Siri promises to be a delightful romp through the absurdities of existence. Francis’ magic may not be suitable for the faint of heart, the overly serious, or those who refuse to believe that Siri is listening to them. Spoiler alert: She is, and she’s been taking notes.
We look forward to welcoming you to a night of magic that will leave you questioning everything— like the point of your own Sisyphean struggles. Like the fate of Francis’ soul...
As you enjoy tonight’s performance, please keep in mind that the true magic happens somewhere in the intangible connection between performer and audience. The most magical experience we can provide is one that truly requires your thoughts, your choice, and your actions to create. We hope you will leave Liberty Magic knowing that there wouldn’t have been any magic at all without you.
Thank you for joining us, supporting us, and believing in us.
Yours in magical absurdity,
Zoe Ruth, Director of Operations & Programmer
In February 2019, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust launched a new venue dedicated to elevating the art of magic. Located at 811 Liberty, on the same block where Harry Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh crowds in 1916, Liberty Magic is an intimate, speakeasy storefront emphasizing the art of sleight of hand and prestidigitation. With 66 seats in 4 rows, the magicians and performers who appear at Liberty Magic offer you a one-of-a-kind experience that is easy to access and hard to forget.
Scenic Design
TONY FERRIERI
Technical Direction, Lights & Sound Flyspace Productions
CORY COPE & JEN OWEN
ALEX KORZENIWSKY
Director of Operations & Programmer
ZOE RUTH
Front of House Magicians
JON TAI
DAN HARMON
SHANE PATRICK CREWS
HAZARD SPENCE
Set Dressing JON WARD
HAYLEY ULMER
Front of House
AUDREY SWANDERSKI
BRIAN SAYRE
TREY DUPLAIN
HALEY STAMATS
Artistic Advisors
ERIC JONES
MICHAEL CHAUT
DENNIS WATKINS
Press & Marketing
KAITLYN CIANCIO
MARKOWITZ COMMUNICATIONS
Film & Video
DUSTIN WICKETT
Creative Team
MORGAN BARBA
GIGI BOWER
JONATHAN DAYBEAR
BRIAN NICHOLS
THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST STAFF
PRESIDENT
Kendra Whitlock Ingram President and CEO
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Rona Nesbit
Executive Vice President
Sarah Aziz Director of DEAI Initiatives
Amy Cooper Office and Executive Projects Manager
Hayley Haldeman Chief Administrative Officer
Dana Love Receptionist
Cheryl Schnippert Executive Assistant to the President ARTS EDUCATION
Tracy Edmunds Vice President of Arts Education
Tyler Anderson Program Coordinator
Julissa Bermea Manager of Early Childhood Programs
Elizabeth Foster-Shaner Director of Arts Education
Kalee George Manager of Arts Education Programs
Shakirah Stephens Manager of Arts Education and DMIS Programs DEVELOPMENT
Nicholas Gigante Chief Development Officer
Grace Alverson Assistant Manager of Institutional Giving
Ryan Bromley Manager of Corporate Giving
Kaylin Cranmer Senior Manager, Development Systems
Elizabeth DiLeonardi Donor Concierge Specialist
Allie Fetchko Major Gifts Officer
Linda Fletcher Manager of Foundation and Government Giving
James Hill Director of Government Affairs and District Initiatives
Monica Marchese Senior Manager of Individual Giving
Heather Masterson Senior Director of Development and Individual Giving
Ariel Mookherji Assistant Manager of Donor Relations
Hector Navarrete Assistant Manager, Development Systems
Rebecca Rickard Director of Institutional Giving
Nicole Shero Development Systems Associate
Jessica Walz Director of Special Events & Engagement
FINANCE
Linda Jakubec Vice President of Finance
Timothy Baum Risk and Finance Manager
Benjamin Boggio Senior Finance Manager - Facilities and Grounds
Lisa Fisher Director of Finance
Taleesha Johnson Senior Accountant
Amy McDonald Accountant and Accounts Payable Specialist
GUEST SERVICES
Albert Rodibaugh Vice President of Guest Services and Patron Experience
Vanessa Braun Director of Accessibility
Joi Brook Senior Manager of Sales
Archie Diaz Ticketing Operations Manager
Pamela Howell Group Sales Manager
Rhonda Jones Ticketing Operations Manager
Maria McIntyre Full Time Ticketseller
Julie Neal Director of Guest Services Operations
Brenna Painter Full Time Ticketseller
Aimee Plotz Event Operations and Data Analysis Manager
Eva Resnick-Day Full Time Ticketseller
Dennis Sen Ticketing Services Manager
Karoline Smith Accessibility Manager
Timothy Smith Lead Ticketseller
Eric Thomas Director of Guest Experience
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maureen Shannon Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Affairs
Kayla Coley Human Resources Manager
MaryAnne Culleiton Senior Manager, Finance - Payroll & Benefits
INFORMATION STRATEGY & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Daniel Hoffer Chief Information Officer
Jared Blumer Full Stack Ruby on Rails Developer
T C Brown Tessitura Quality Assurance and Data Support Administrator
Benjamin Chen Help Desk Analyst
Patrick FitzGerald Director of eCommerce Operations
Danielle Greaves
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marc Fleming Chief Marketing Officer
David Alcorn Director of Digital Marketing and Engagement
Daniel Alexander Creative Director
Morgan Barba Senior Designer
Gigi Bower Digital Production Manager
Kaitlyn Ciancio Marketing Coordinator
Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery
Lead Web Developer
Rebecca Harriman Director of Projects and Enterprise Applications
Devin Loney
Marketing Manager
Jamie Cuba Show Marketing Director
Jonathan Daybear Senior Designer
Shelby Fink Marketing Engagement Manager
Ashley Kier Marketing Manager
Krist Muñoz-Malavé
Network Administrator
Jay Mash Network Administrator
Cora Ormsby Help Desk Analyst
Nancy Sheleheda Senior Director of Application Development and System Integrations
Justin Snair Director of Network and Cloud Infrastructure
Dale Snyder Help Desk Manager
Katie Springer Director of Technology and Support Services
Michael Tiernan Director of Network Operations and Security Technologies
Kevin Vetterly Lead Help Desk Analyst
Katina White Tessitura Support Administrator
Christine Wingenfeld Partnership Manager and Data Analyst
Social Media and Content Manager
Brian Nichols Senior Designer
Diana Roth Senior Communications Manager
Derek Scalzott Senior Director, Communications and Marketing Management
Andrea Sharfman Institutional Marketing and Communications Manager
OPERATIONS – INFRASTRUCTURE
Eugene Ciavarra Vice President of Venue Infrastructure
Dennis Curry Chief Engineer
Jeff O’Laughlin Chief Engineer
Ben Bacho Operating Engineer
Dustin Curry Operating Engineer
Todd Fedorek Operating Engineer
Thomas Hatala Operating Engineer
Rick Jordan Operating Engineer
Christopher Kazar
Operating Engineer
Kevin Koontz Apprentice Operating Engineer
Brett Melisko Operating Engineer
Daniel O’Brien Operating Engineer
OPERATIONS – VENUES
Joanna Obuzor Vice President of Venue Operations
Lyla Bartman Production Manager
Robert Bollman Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Bryan Briggs Production Manager
Greg Brooks Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Katelyn Colwell Director of Venue Operations
Anna Cunningham Production Manager
Chris Evans Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Diane Hines Production Manager
Kamwana Hobbs Director of Production
Adolf Hundertmark
Chelsea Kirch
Brett Lindblom
Stage Technician, House Carpenter
Stage Technician, House Electrician
Stage Technician, House Electrician
Phill Madore Operations Manager for the Liberty Venues
Sofia Marino
Stage Technician, House Electrician
Joseph Morrison Venue Manager of the Harris Theater
John Mumper Senior Director of Venue Operations
Kevin Rabbits Operations Coordinator
Steven Schultz Stage Technician, House Carpenter
Zoe Ruth Silberblatt Director of Venue Operations
Donald Squires Venue Manager of the Greer Cabaret
Christine Wagner Operations Manager
Nicole Zeak Operations Manager
PROGRAMMING
Brooke Horejsi Chief Programming and Engagement Officer
Bri Fallahee Programming Manager
Heather Irwin Director of Programming
Randal Miller Director of Programming
SECURITY & FRONT OF HOUSE OPERATIONS
Kevin Wilkes Vice President and Chief Security Officer
Shirley Epperson Director of Security
Ashley Rieser Director of Volunteer Services and Front of House Guest Experience
Vinay Thomas Manager of Volunteer Services and Front of House Guest Experience
SHARED SERVICES
Hannah Feldhues Shared Services Associate
Linda Wagner Advertising Sales Manager
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Theresa Bell Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement
Kristin Baker Program Manager
VISUAL ARTS & PUBLIC ART
Anastasia James Director of Galleries and Public Art
Davine Byon Curatorial Assistant and Department Coordinator
Kennedy Deen Exhibition Coordinator
George Dun Manager of Gallery Facilities and Public Art
Christopher Korch Art Handler
Joshua Rievel Art Handler
THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
David L. Holmberg*
Chair
Carolyn D. Duronio*
Vice Chair, Treasurer
Kendra
Whitlock Ingram*
President & CEO
Nicholas J. Gigante
Secretary
Chester R. Babst III*
Jill M. Brodbeck*
Anthony L. Bucci***
Esther L. Bush**
Tacy M. Byham
Helen Hanna Casey*
Ronald R. Davenport, Jr.
George A. Davidson, Jr.
Chris DeCardy*
William S. Demchak
Jack W. Elliott*
Ed Gainey***
William O. Generett, Jr.
Murry S. Gerber
Sarika Goulatia
George C. Greer**
Steven J. Guy*
Lisa Haley
Richard J. Harshman*
Jean Anne Hattler***
Sara Innamorato***
Farnam Jahanian
Daniel Lavelle***
Tracey McCants Lewis***
Sally McCrady*
Kenneth C. McCrory
Alex Overstrom***
David L. Porges*
Charles J. Queenan, Jr.**
Sam Reiman*
James E. Rohr**
Caryn B. Rubinoff
Cynthia D. Shapira
Jimmi Sue Smith
Balaji Srinivasan***
Ayana Teter***
Hilary S. Tyson
Ryan L. Vaccaro
Thomas L. VanKirk*
Sunil Wadhwani
Hal K. Waldman
Nancy D. Washington*
Michael Watson**
Christy C. Wiegand
Travis E. Williams*
Daniel S. Wilson
*Executive Committee Member
**Lifetime Trustee
*** Ex-Officio