The Tempest
A Modern Shadow Theater Experience
Directed & Designed by Cat Aceto
November 14-23, 2025
Step into a world where shadows speak, music weaves spells, and Shakespeare’s timeless tale is brought to life in a way you’ve never seen before. The Tempest, reimagined by Steel City Shakespeare Center as an immersive modern shadow theater experience, premieres this fall in the Hubworks space at the West View Hub.
Designed and directed by local shadow artist Cat Aceto, this fully analog production combines live silhouettes, shadow puppetry, and an original live music score to create a strikingly visual and acoustic retelling of Shakespeare’s final play.
Cast
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![Silhouette of a person's profile shadow cast on a light-colored fabric background.]()
Jeffrey Chips
Prospero
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![Silhouette of a woman with long hair and a beard, standing against a plain fabric backdrop.]()
Bob Colbert
Caliban, Antonio, Trinculo, Gonzalo
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![Silhouette of a woman with long hair against a light background.]()
Alexandra Hellinger
Ariel, Boatswain
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![Silhouette of a woman with short hair, looking to the right, against a plain background.]()
Michael Kirk
Ferdinand, Stephano, Sebastian
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![Silhouette of a woman with long hair standing against a white backdrop.]()
Lauren Scheller-Wolf
Miranda, Alonso
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![Silhouette of a woman with glasses and curly hair pulled up, facing sideways against a plain background.]()
Anna Bopp
Spirit of the Island/Puppeteer
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![Silhouette of a woman with long hair in front of a light-colored curtain.]()
Siena Forschein
Spirit of the Island/Puppeteer
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![Silhouette of a woman with long hair looking to the right, viewed against a light-colored curtain or fabric background.]()
Sydney Forschein
Spirit of the Island/Puppeteer
Creative Team
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![Silhouette of a woman with a bun hairstyle, facing to the right, in front of a light-colored background]()
Cat Aceto
Director/Designer
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![Shadow of a person with long hair and glasses on a light-colored curtain.]()
Skylar Rella
Stage Manager
The Tempest Press Release
A Modern Shadow Theater Experience
Directed & Designed by Cat Aceto
November 14-23, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shakespeare’s The Tempest Casts a New Shadow in a Bold Modern Shadow Theater Production
West View, PA — Step into a world where shadows speak, music weaves spells, and Shakespeare’s timeless tale is brought to life in a way you’ve never seen before.The Tempest, reimagined by Steel City Shakespeare Center as an immersive modern shadow theater experience, premieres this fall in the Hubworks space at the West View Hub.
https://www.steelcityshakespeare.org
Designed and directed by local shadow artist Cat Aceto, this fully analog production combines live silhouettes, shadow puppetry, and an original live music score to create a strikingly visual and acoustic retelling of Shakespeare’s final play. With overhead projectors and work lights as tools of enchantment, simple shadows are transformed into stage magic—an experience both ancient and innovative.
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep." – The Tempest, Act IV
Jeffrey Chips stars as Prospero, torn between vengeance and forgiveness, with Lauren Scheller-Wolf as his daughter Miranda. Lexie Hellinger, Michael Kirk, and Bob Colbert lend their voices and hands to a host of characters and forms, conjuring stormy seas, mischievous spirits, and the eerie island landscape. An original acoustic guitar score by Michael Kirk infuses the story with rhythm and emotional depth, performed live at every show.
“In many ways, The Tempest is a play about illusion, transformation, and the power of art—and shadow theater speaks that language fluently,” says director Cat Aceto. “Shadows aren’t realistic, but they’re deeply emotional. They’re visceral. They live in the tension between what is real and what is perceived. For a story filled with spirits, storms, and shifting realities, this medium lets us show not just what happens, but how it feels. This production invites the audience not just to watch, but to witness—to sit inside the act of storytelling itself, where the magic is made.”
This intimate staging draws the audience close—into the very light and shadow of the performance. The show blends the poetic language of Shakespeare with the stark, expressive visuals of analog shadow play, engaging viewers in a fresh, enthralling way.
Skylar Rella completes the production team as stage manager. Valuable support for the production comes from interns Sydney Forschein, Siena Forschein, and Anna Bopp, who contribute their talents as designers, puppeteers, and voice actors.
A special Puppet Slam follows the Sunday, November 16th performance at 4:30 PM, featuring short works by local and international puppetry artists. Themed around Shakespeare and mythology, this event is supported in part by a grant from the Puppet Slam Network.
Performance Details:
Venue: Hubworks at the West View Hub
Friday, Nov 14th, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, Nov 15th, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Sunday, Nov 16th, 2025 – 2:00 PM (Puppet Slam follows at 4:30 PM)
Friday, Nov 21st, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, Nov 22nd, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Sunday, Nov 23rd, 2025 – 2:00 PM
Tickets and More Info:
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/steel-city-shakespeare-center/68e2d68bd394c65952d86b02
Building a Legacy
Steel City Shakespeare Center has engaged and inspired Pittsburgh audiences for over 10 years. Making our home at the West View HUB, we serve the West View and North Hills community and beyond with intimate, fast-paced, and interactive performances.
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