‘The Chief’: One-man play celebrates well-known Pittsburgher
The mid-1970s are an exciting time for Pittsburgh and fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Pittsburgh in 1976, in particular, was a special time for “yinzers” as the football team won their second Super Bowl led by beloved coach Art Rooney. The excitement and vibe of the era will be captured next weekend in a production of “The Chief” at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
Written in 2003 by local authors Rob Zellers and Gene Collier, “The Chief” is a 90-minute, one-man play about Rooney that features some of his zaniest stories and wild memories.
“The show revolves around him telling his story to the folks in the audience that night, which is a night in 1976 before he goes to accept an award from the Knights of Columbus,” said Brad Geyer, who was cast in the iconic role.
“The Chief was a storyteller. The stories are outrageous and funny, and it’s hard to believe they’re true,” Geyer added with a laugh. “But they are. It’s one of those shows that you walk away thinking ‘holy smokes we knew he was a great guy, but we didn’t know how great.'”
The theatrical fourth wall is broken in the play, meaning Geyer’s Rooney addresses the audience directly.
“Expect a small stage. It’s just The Chief’s office. As he prepares to receive the award, he gets to talk about growing up on the North Side, boxing, being in the church, horse racing, and a little bit about football,” Geyer said. “You don’t have to be a Steeler fan to enjoy the show. It’s about 20th century Pittsburgh. He’s telling stories from the 20s, through the Depression, all the way through the 70s. There’s a bit of nostalgia that comes through in this and it’s every bit as important as talking about the Steelers.”
To prepare for the role, Geyer said he watched videos and documentaries, and read up on the legendary coach whom Geyer calls a “true Pittsburgher — a ‘yinzer.'”
With a laugh, Geyer said he’s also taken to trying cigars, as the infamous Chief always had a cigar hanging out of his mouth.
“It’s disgusting,” Geyer joked. “I’ve started to use them as I’ve been rehearsing to get used to it. It makes it a more natural process.”
Physically, Geyer is now seen sans a beard, which he said is an adjustment. Make-up artists will also age Geyer to portray the then-75-year-old.
Overall, he said the process has been “fun and terrifying at the same time.”
“This is somebody that I have grown to love and respect, and I get to portray him on stage. That’s a great honor — and it’s terrifying,” Geyer said. “I’ve put a little extra expectation on myself to make sure I do this really well.”
The show runs 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 22. Tickets are $12 and are available online and at the door.