Broadway Meets Pittsburgh: Alumni Theater Company Brings “Once on This Island” and Black Theater Legacy to the Stage

From the legacy of Bill Nunn to the next generation of young Black artists, Alumni Theater Company is proving that theater is more than entertainment — it is mentorship, opportunity, and a place where communities tell their stories.

A fearless young girl. A journey across class, culture, and destiny. A story about love, sacrifice, and courage against all odds.

This summer, Pittsburgh audiences are invited to step onto the island as Alumni Theater Company (ATC) presents the Tony Award-winning musical “Once on This Island.” The production follows Ti Moune, a young girl who dares to challenge boundaries and even the gods themselves in pursuit of love. Guided by powerful forces and driven by an unshakable spirit, her journey becomes a moving story about devotion, resilience, and the power of the human heart.

Featuring powerful vocals, dynamic choreography, and a talented cast of emerging artists, ATC’s production celebrates hope, love, and community while showcasing the next generation of Black performers. Directed by Monteze Freeland, Once on This Island promises a theatrical experience that will inspire audiences of all ages.

Pre-Show Experience

“Come to Our Island Experience”

Friday, July 31 · 6:30 PM
Hors d’oeuvres & signature cocktails · Live entertainment · Cast conversations · Exclusive meet-and-greet with Kim Exum

Proceeds support ATC’s training, mentorship, transportation, and workforce development programs for young artists.

Broadway Comes to Pittsburgh: Kim Exum Joins the Island

This production will also bring a special Broadway connection to Pittsburgh. All the way from New York City, ATC welcomes Broadway star Kim Exum, who will grace the Charity Randall Theatre stage as Erzulie, the radiant goddess of love.

Left: Kim Exum. Right: Kim Exum as Nabulungi in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon.

Exum is a New York-based actor and mother whose career represents the possibilities that come from talent, dedication, and access to opportunity. Her recent credits include starring as Alpha Smith in A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical and becoming the longest-running Nabulungi in Broadway’s The Book of Mormon.

Beyond performing, Exum is committed to advancing Black stories and voices in theater. She is a co-host of Broadway Black’s “Off Book: The Black Theatre Podcast” and a founding member of The Black Theatre Society, producers of the first Antonyo Awards, which celebrate excellence and achievement in Black theater.

Her appearance with ATC represents a powerful connection between Pittsburgh’s emerging artists and professionals who are helping shape the future of theater nationwide.

More Than a Musical: Building Pittsburgh’s Black Theater Pipeline

For nearly two decades, Alumni Theater Company has been creating opportunities for young Black artists across the Pittsburgh region. Now in its 18th season, ATC provides high-quality training, performance experience, mentorship, and workforce development through its three ensembles:

The organization’s members represent more than 20 secondary schools across the region, and ATC alumni have attended more than 40 universities nationwide, building careers as actors, teaching artists, arts administrators, and creative professionals.

For ATC, the stage is not simply a place to perform. It is a place where young people develop confidence, discover their voices, and imagine futures they may not have thought possible.

Honoring Pittsburgh’s Bill Nunn Legacy

The mission of Alumni Theater Company is deeply connected to the legacy of one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved actors: William Goldwyn “Bill” Nunn III.

Known around the world for his role as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Nunn was much more than a Hollywood actor. He was a Pittsburgh native who believed in giving young people access to the arts.

A graduate of Schenley High School and Morehouse College, Nunn returned to Pittsburgh in 2007 to launch the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project, helping thousands of underserved students gain access to theater arts training with professional artists.

He also helped bring the August Wilson Monologue Competition to Pittsburgh, creating opportunities for young performers to connect with one of the city’s greatest literary voices.

Today, ATC honors that vision through its home — The Bill Nunn Black Box Theater, located at 6601 Hamilton Avenue, near the border of Homewood and Larimer. Nunn believed theater could transform lives. ATC continues that work by providing young artists with mentorship, opportunity, and a stage to share their voices.