Dear Friend of the Public,

As we turn the page into a brand‑new year, I find myself reflecting with a full heart on what an extraordinary 2025 we shared together. I joined The Public team in 2018 and the External Affairs department in September 2025. Already in that short time I've had the good fortune to meet many of you by phone, at the theater, or via email. And to those of you I have yet to meet, "Hello!"

I'm eager to start or continue our conversation. You're welcome to reply to this email or call my personal cell phone at 412-708-2409. If I can't answer right away, I promise to return your call asap. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a good old-fashioned family recap of 2025 as I embrace 2026 and all its possibilities. 

Read my full message to you below or click to visit our new webpage: Hello, from External Affairs!

2025: A Year of Artistic Excellence

• Trouble in Mind kicked off 2025 with a powerful reminder of theater’s ability to illuminate complex ideas and inspire meaningful dialogue. We got into "good trouble," indeed thanks to an extraordinary cast led by one of the best in the biz, Justin Emeka.
• The Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest engaged nearly 1,000 students from 75 schools, showcasing the talent and dedication of young artists across our region. I always forget the Kleenex, so don't mind my tears if you see me at the event this coming February.
• Our production of Public Works' Twelfth Night brought hundreds of Pittsburghers together in celebration of Shakespeare’s enduring wit and humanity. I've never seen anything like it. Twelfth Night is the play that launched my career, but that's a story for another time.
• Summer Sessions sold out, welcoming hundreds of young and young-at-heart learners to The Public all summer long for camps and workshops. There's nothing like the energy those students bring to the building. My nine year-old son announced that he's now a professional actor after attending Twelfth Night, so look out fellow campers...
• Noises Off surpassed expectations, both at the box office and in the seats, delighting audiences with its impeccable timing and comedic brilliance. I love a show that makes you laugh when you just THINK about it.
• We concluded the year with A Christmas Story: The Play, a cherished holiday tradition that continues to bring joy to families of all ages. I brought nearly my entire family and a group of five-10 year-olds in celebration of my son's December birthday. It was a true joy and we all lived to tell the tale. Apparently, I'm now the "cool lady," who works at a "real theater," so spread the word.

Organizational Milestones

• We proudly launched our Participation & Public Partnerships Department, expanding our commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and community connection. My colleague Dominique Briggs (Director of Participation and Public Partnerships) is astounding. Already, our new partnerships include Partner4Work, IATSE Local 3 Training Trust Fund, and Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12. She also got engaged on Christmas Day, so be sure to congratulate her if you see her at the shows!
• Our production shop, officially known as the Pittsburgh Public Theater Production Studios, relocated to a new home in Bloomfield—an inspiring space on Dargan Street that enhances our capacity for innovation and collaboration while saving the company over 2 MILLION DOLLARS over the next 10 years. You read that right. Our Director of Production Monica Bowin has been with The Public for more years than she'll admit, and she's still making magic with deals like these!

Looking Ahead

The new year is already underway with great momentum. On Tuesday, January 6, we held the first rehearsal for our upcoming production of An Enemy of the People, a timely and resonant work we look forward to sharing with you February 4-22. In The Public's tradition of welcoming back artistic directors to the director's chair, we welcomed home former artistic director Marya Sea Kaminski to share her rare gift of theater direction with us in this Pittsburgh premiere. 

Members of the cast and creative team of An Enemy of the People with Public staff.

Thanks for reading and for everything you do. I'll be sending these notes periodically, but am always available to you in the meantime. 

Happy New Year,

Aja Jones
Chief of External Affairs