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Courtesy Michelle Tibble<\/p>\nCourtesy Michelle Tibble<\/p>\n
In our reconstituted Q&A series,\u00a0Seven with Sue (+1),<\/a>\u00a0we are exploring the local arts scene. We customize the questions for folx in various parts of the arts community.<\/p>\n I received an email from Jeremy Mikush about an upcoming show\u00a0\u00a0Divas Survival Guide, happening in two fridays at the Historic Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, in the Studio Cabaret space on Friday, August 21. We are two native Pittsburghers sharing stories of growing up in the Mon Valley, connecting to musical theater, with laughs and stories to share for all Pittsburgh showtunes and cabaret lovers<\/p>\n So I asked both Jeremy and Michelle to participate in this Q&A series.<\/p>\n Note: post has been edited for length and clarity<\/p>\n Name:\u00a0Michelle Tibble<\/p>\n Pronouns:\u00a0 She\/Her<\/p>\n Your Affiliation with the Arts:\u00a0 I\u2019ve been a professional actor for more than 20 years, with much of my career rooted in Pittsburgh and Chicago.<\/p>\n How do you describe your identity?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I am what you might call a cisgender, straight, boring-ass white lady, married to a cisgender, boring-ass Midwestern man. We have kids, a dog, and a pretty wonderfully unconventional division of labor.<\/p>\n Honestly, I\u2019ve never spent much time overthinking my pronouns, sexual identity, or gender category. <\/p>\n That said, I absolutely understand and respect why these categories are important to so many people. If identifying yourself in a particular way helps you find community, support, understanding, and love\u2014for yourself or for others\u2014I am all for it. I respect people\u2019s individual paths as long as they are rooted in love, kindness, and the well-being of others and of life itself.<\/p>\n Tell us about your connection to or your first impression of Pittsburgh.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I grew up in Finleyville, Pennsylvania, about 40 minutes south of Pittsburgh. It\u2019s a very rural, very conservative area, where people aren\u2019t necessarily talking about art. But every once in a while, little glimmers of it leak out from the city into those rural communities. My high school choir teacher, Ester Spadaro, was one of those glimmers. She\u2019s a true Pittsburgh gem.<\/p>\n But my first impressions of Western Pennsylvania weren\u2019t exactly the finest.<\/p>\n The funny thing is, we didn\u2019t really go into the city when I was growing up. Occasionally we\u2019d go to see a show or the Ice Capades, but that was about it. The city was portrayed as this big, scary, dangerous place full of guns and bad people. \u201cWe can\u2019t go to the city because there are bad people in the city.\u201d That was the message.<\/p>\n And honestly, I think that\u2019s one of the sadder things about growing up in a small town in Western Pennsylvania. I didn\u2019t discover the beauty of Pittsburgh or any big city, until I left the Pittsburgh area, and eventually came back as a full-blown adult.<\/p>\n Even when I was in college, I didn\u2019t really explore the city. I didn\u2019t have anyone sparking my curiosity about what existed beyond the theater community, and most of the time, I didn\u2019t have the money to explore anyway.<\/p>\n There are real barriers to the arts \u2013 time, money, etc. But there\u2019s also the matter of perception, that one must dress a certain way, know the culture of their local arts community or be knowledgeable about the medium . How does the creative community collectively lower these barriers so people actually learn if you like opera, ballet, plays, or symphonic music as a few examples?\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m not convinced people aren\u2019t attending theater because of perception or because theaters aren\u2019t accommodating audiences. I think the bigger issue is that people simply can\u2019t afford art right now and they are stuck in an anxious state due to screen addiction.<\/p>\n Fixing screen addiction is above my pay grade, but I myself find it hard to leave my home after 5pm to go see a local production of my favorite musical.\u00a0 Who are you going with?\u00a0 Can you sustain conversation for 4 hours with that person?\u00a0 Can you afford it?\u00a0 Work was physically demanding and are you too tired?\u00a0 It sounds like a crazy thing to say, but there have been shows that I\u2019ve missed because I was too comfortable in my home and did not have the mental energy to leave. \u00a0 So how do you get people to buy tickets before hand so they are forced to leave and have a pre-paid ticket?\u00a0 You have to them to subscribe.\u00a0 And subscriptions have to be affordable.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n And as far as cost goes, I think some of that could change if the people controlling the cost of venues were willing to help. Theater rentals are astronomical. Theaters could help save the arts in one red-hot minute by offering sustainable rates or by being a public run building.<\/p>\n Which leads me to, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall.\u00a0 This venue is fantastic and has been wonderful to work with. They don\u2019t overcharge, they help market your production, and they\u2019re genuinely supportive with every need you might have.\u00a0 Lighting, Sound, a bar with a bartender, volunteers to help front of house for the night of your performance.\u00a0 Compare that to Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, where 200\u2013300-seat theaters can charge $7,000\u2013$10,000 for a four-week run. And that\u2019s just for rental and maybe- MAYBE- a dressing room.\u00a0 One place wanted to charge an additional $1,000 for a dressing room.\u00a0 Come on! \u00a0 That\u2019s unsustainable for most theater companies, even established ones.<\/p>\n I also don\u2019t think the live arts creative community itself is necessarily putting up barriers. In Chicago and New York, I\u2019ve watched theater become dramatically more inclusive and accessible, from diverse casting and employment to ASL and sensory-friendly performances and increased accessibility initiatives.<\/p>\n If we want live art to survive, we need affordable theater, sustainable venues and wages, accessible spaces, and broader, more diverse audiences.<\/p>\n Because live theater belongs to everyone.<\/p>\n Tell us about an under-appreciated or underutilized cultural resource in this region.<\/p>\n Live storytelling can save us from technological depression. It\u2019s such a powerful way to provoke new thoughts, introduce different perspectives, and imagine different ways of living. You\u2019re going on a journey with other human beings\u2014and you might even talk to people while you\u2019re doing it!<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen some great examples of corporate partnerships. At the Goodman Theatre, for instance, companies can sometimes provide products for productions. A company like Samsung might donate a television and funding to the production; the TV becomes part of the set, and the company receives recognition in the program. It\u2019s a win-win: the theater gets support, and the company gets meaningful visibility while contributing to the arts.<\/p>\n I also think community organizations\u2014public schools, churches, nursing homes, group homes, and other community-based organizations\u2014could play a much bigger role in bringing people to live performances. This is especially important in rural communities where people may be intimidated by, or simply unfamiliar with, going into the city for theater.<\/p>\n And when these groups come to a performance, I think there should be opportunities for talkbacks afterward. Theater can be incredibly thought-provoking and even overwhelming if you aren\u2019t accustomed to watching live performance. Giving people a chance to ask questions and talk about what they just experienced can make the art more accessible and meaningful.<\/p>\n With whom in the Pittsburgh region would you like to collaborate and why?\u00a0<\/p>\n I would love to do anything with Point Park again, or with the professors who taught me everything I know about theater. The professors at Point Park will always hold a very special place in my heart. I still draw on their wisdom every time I do a show. The fundamentals they gave us in that program were truly priceless\u2014and, to put a fine point on it, they were all exceptional human beings.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve also had very great experiences at The City Theater in Pittsburgh and would love to work with them. Have always wanted to work there. In college I saw Anthony Rapp play \u201cHedwig and the Angry Inch\u201d. Front row tickets. It was exhilarating. I will never forget that show, and in fact, Anthony Rapp is one of our\u00a0Divas\u00a0in the show. Jer and I were heavily influenced by the original Broadway cast of Rent. \u00a0<\/p>\n Sadly some of my other favorite places to act in Pittsburgh are no longer here or the same. The Pittsburgh Rep was a favorite\u00a0places\u00a0for me. And The Public Theater which is merging with the CLO. I think it will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh Theater evolves in the next 4 years. I would love to see more local professional actors be able to provide quality art and make a living wage. And I\u2019m rooting for you to find that.<\/p>\n Your upcoming show references the \u201cBroadway icons who got you through life\u2019s toughest moments\u201d \u2013 do you think Gen Z and Alpha Generation have that same relationship with Broadway? Who gets them through life\u2019s toughest moments?\u00a0<\/p>\n I can throw a stone and hit at least four youth theater programs in my little suburb, all teaching professional theater with professional teachers. There is an overabundance of theater programs right now, and they\u2019re creating Gen Z and Gen Alpha \u201ctheater babies\u201d faster than the industry can possibly create jobs for them.<\/p>\n I honestly have no idea how these kids are ever going to recoup the thousands of dollars their parents are spending on these programs every month. We can only hope that these generations find new and creative ways to keep the business side of this industry alive.<\/p>\n So yes, absolutely, they have Broadway icons to look up to. They even look up to my Gen X, Millennial, and Boomer icons\u2014they just don\u2019t always realize that\u2019s what they\u2019re doing!<\/p>\n I mean, Idina Menzel and Patti LuPone are the divas who never die. Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, and Lea Michele have all had major career moments and comebacks over the last five years, so it\u2019s very possible that we\u2019re seeing generations collide in really fun ways.<\/p>\n And then there are some of the newer artists who have emerged or grown popular over the last decade: Cole Escola, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jeremy Jordan, Sadie Sink, Ben Platt, Jonathan Groff, and Rene\u00e9 Rapp, just to name a few.<\/p>\n I do think younger generations gravitate toward performers who openly stand for something\u2014people who speak out against injustice and inequality and who communicate directly with their audiences through social media.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t just stand on a stage anymore, rely on a great script and a great voice, and expect fame to follow. You have to build a relationship with your audience. You have to speak up, stand for something meaningful, communicate with them in a loud and authentic way\u2014and then, of course, still have a ridiculously amazing voice.<\/p>\n Our show celebrates the women who sang our favorite songs, but it also celebrates the songs and the songwriters themselves. Back in the day, actresses could largely rely on a great song and their talent. That\u2019s part of what makes our divas feel so special to me. We associate them with a song, a character, or a show\u2014not necessarily with what they wore or what they said in a TikTok interview.<\/p>\n What sort of performing arts programming was available in your high school and community?\u00a0<\/p>\n We didn\u2019t have much growing up. I sang in church, so that was sometimes my main singing outlet. Thankfully, though, we had wonderful music teachers in our public schools.<\/p>\n I had an incredible middle school music teacher, Mrs. Sandrock. When I look at the middle school productions my daughter and her friends have today, Mrs. Sandrock\u2019s programs put them to shame. She produced three huge productions every year with us\u2014everything from classical music to Broadway to Disney to\u2026country music, which I hated. But if it got the townies to love music, I suppose it was a necessary evil. LOL.<\/p>\n My high school choir teacher, Ester Spadaro, was also a saint. Without her, I honestly wouldn\u2019t be where I am today. She inspired so many of us to sing, act, read music, and explore music from different cultures. She also directed our musical every year.<\/p>\n And one of the things I appreciate most about Ringgold or maybe my generations high school experience now, as an adult, is how inclusive those productions were. It wasn\u2019t just the kids who were obviously interested in music and theater. We had the star football player in the musical. We had basketball and volleyball players. Shy, awkward skater kids who weren\u2019t quite sure where they fit yet found a place in the theater. Somehow, they all found a place in the theater.<\/p>\n Ester Spadaro was brilliant and incredibly motivating, and she set us up for success. She gave us a genuinely professional education\u2014and she made us feel like we belonged there and we were artists.<\/p>\n Will Homestead native Tamara Tunie and star of \u2018Beyond the Gates\u2019 delicious new soap opera on CBS move into the pantheon?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I have no idea.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know what any of this means.\u00a0 <\/p>\n I am a HUGE Law and Order SVU fan.\u00a0 And originally, when I found out that Tamara Tunie was from Pittsburgh, it was one of the small things that made me think I could actually be doing bigger things than storefront theater and improv shows. I became obsessed with SVU at one point in my 20\u2019s and it motivated me to get a better agent and I booked a National Broadway Tour and a feature role on Chicago Code. So let\u2019s go Tamara Tunie.\u00a0 You are officially a Pittsburgh Survival Diva, if not the number one Pittsburgh Diva!<\/p>\n +1 \u2013 How do you strive to make your art, your performances, and your audiences representative and inclusive.<\/p>\n I try very hard not to say anything too stupid and to help people to laugh at my expense, and escape reality with a room full of strangers for a moment.\u00a0 That is my number one goal at this part of the journey.\u00a0 The venue is wheelchair accessible. We are a very small entity right now with no financial backers, so it\u2019s just the two of us small-time artists sharing our big-time stories.\u00a0 But we welcome everyone who wants to have a good time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Finally, please list your socials.<\/p>\n Instagram @therealmichelletibble<\/p>\n Thank you, Michelle. <\/p>\n You can catch Michelle and Jeremy at the upcoming show.<\/p>\n Doors Open \u2013 6:30 p.m. Seven with Sue (+1) is one of our favorite Q&A series \u2013 a quick dive into the local arts world. (+1) is a nod to my need for a companion when I attend a performance and an acknowledgment of the need for universal accessibility to the arts. If you\u2019d like me to craft a Q&A for your production, email\u00a0pghlesbianblog@gmail.com<\/a>. We love talking with actors, directors, stage crew, poets, artisans, and definitely front of house staff.<\/p>\n Previous Q&A\u2019s in this series (pre-re-launch, too)<\/p>\n Jeremy Mikush wants artists to lead in the revitalization of the city: A Seven (+1) With Sue Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Journalist and Union Member Steve Mellon Reframes the Art of Labor Organizing: a Seven with Sue (+1) Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Actor, Director, and Playwright Elizabeth Huffman Changes the Narrative: a Seven With Sue (+1) Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Cartoonist Joe Wos Celebrates the Amazing Friends We Meet Along the Way: a Seven With Sue (+1) Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Actor Phoebe Lloyd Talks About Queering Chekhov in a new local production: a Seven (+1) With Sue Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Native Janet Campbell Talks Costuming Lines for Madame Clicquot with the CLO: A Seven with Sue Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n Pittsburgh Native Laurie Glodowski Directs, Produces CLO Debut of Madame Clicquot with the CLO (and her daughters): A Seven with Sue Q&A<\/a><\/p>\n My \u2018Burgh Vivant Q&A with Jill Sobule #7WithSue<\/a><\/p>\n
Showtime: 7:00 p.m.
Ages: Recommended for audiences ages 16 and up
Beer and Wine available by monetary donation for guests 21 and older (outside alcohol
is not permitted).
Ticket Price \u2013 $25
Tickets:
https:\/\/www.purplepass.com\/events\/380017-divas-survival-guide-a-tribute-to-the-broadw
ay-diva-s-who-got-us-through-aug-21st-2026<\/a><\/p>\n
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