At City Theatre, ‘In Clay’ unearths the vibrant story of an overlooked jazz-age artist
At City Theatre, ‘In Clay’ unearths the vibrant story of an overlooked jazz-age artist
City Theatre opens its 2026-27 season with “In Clay,” a dazzling solo musical based on the true story of overlooked early 20th-century ceramic artist Marie-Berthe Cazin.
Coming to Pittsburgh from a sold-out run at Washington, D.C.’s Signature Theater, “In Clay” will be on stage Sept. 19 to Oct. 11.
“In Clay” premiered in London with a sold-out run at the VAULT Festival in January 2023 and an all-star concert at the Other Palace that August. The show has recently completed its second Chinese-language production in Shanghai.
Set to an upbeat Parisian jazz score, “In Clay” is a story of passion, tenacity, and art. The play joins Cazin in her apartment in Paris in 1938 and on the eve of a visit from an estranged childhood friend turned acclaimed painter, Cazin reflects on her life. From her early days as a gifted protégée discovering pottery, to watching her husband rise to fame partly by claiming her work as his own, and through the upheaval of World War I, Marie’s unwavering spirit reveals the beauty in the broken.
Around 50 ceramic pieces displayed on set have been crafted by local Pittsburgh artists through a partnership with local ceramic center Union Project. Patrons can purchase items to bring home a piece of “In Clay” after the final performance.
Performances are Wednesday through Sunday, including evenings and matinees. The exact schedule is available on City Theatre’s website. For information, call 412.431.CITY (2489) or go online to CityTheatreCompany.org.