Attack Theatre: 30 Years of Engaging Audiences

Thirty years ago, two dancers met in Pittsburgh dancing for a local company. They fell in love and founded Attack Theatre. Their desire to create new and inspirational dance for Pittsburgh audiences was received with open arms. As the years passed, they have touched countless lives through performances, teaching classes, family game nights, participating in First Night Pittsburgh, as well as endless festivals here and abroad. We spoke with their co-founders and co-artistic directors, Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope, to learn more about this longtime Pittsburgh arts organization.

Co-founders and Co-artistic directors of Attack Theatre Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope

North Hills Monthly (NHM): Tell us how the company Attack Theatre was created.

Michele de la Reza (MdlR): Thirty years ago, Attack Theatre was founded with a few props, a lot of passion and a belief that movement could tell stories that words sometimes cannot. It was New Year’s Eve in Pittsburgh, and we created an evening of performances that filled downtown with dancers, actors, visual artists and even a chorus of kazoos! It was the city’s first First Night … and Attack Theatre was born.

Since then, we’ve danced in warehouses and museums, on bridges and in stairwells, in Pittsburgh and across the globe. We’ve collaborated with symphonies, sculptors and schoolchildren. And through it all, one thing that’s remained constant is our connection with incredible audiences, artists and participants.

NHM: Talk a bit about the company’s mission and artistic style.

Peter Kope (PK): We are a company of artists, doers, thinkers, risk-takers, dancers, administrators, entrepreneurs and makers. We dance. We engage audiences. We inspire children. We interact with our surroundings. We crave artistic adventure, a good challenge and achieving something just out of our reach. And we love the journey as much as the destination.

Attack Theatre fuses modern dance, original live music and interdisciplinary art forms to create engaging dance performances. We create work at the intersection of art and community, resulting in productions that are personal, authentic, welcoming and fearless.

NHM: What other arts organizations has Attack Theatre collaborated with? Why is it so important for Attack Theatre to continue collaborating with other artists in Pittsburgh and around the world?

PK: Collaboration is in our DNA. Over the years, we’ve worked with organizations like the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Quantum Theatre, Chamber Music Pittsburgh, The Andy Warhol Museum, Contemporary Craft and so many independent musicians, visual artists and designers.

For us, collaboration isn’t just about sharing a stage, it’s about expanding what dance can be. When you bring different disciplines and perspectives into the room, something unpredictable happens. New ideas spark. Audiences discover something they didn’t know they were looking for.

Attack Theatre's performance of 1000 Tomorrows

NHM: Do you have any upcoming performances? What other interactive programming do you offer other than performances?

MdlR: We have two productions remaining in our 30th anniversary season. Once in a While is a world-premiere dance performance powered by the music of the Grateful Dead. It’s going to be an incredible show, in collaboration with the Owsley Stanley Foundation (OSF), bringing together deadheads and dancers alike with live recordings, unreleased banter and high-voltage choreography to create a uniquely immersive event. There are six performances, Feb. 27-March 6, each with a special event in the studio or with one of our Lawrenceville neighbors. Details and tickets are on our website: attacktheatre.com/once-in-a-while.

In April, we’ll close this milestone season with 212 Stories, a dance event inspired by the rich history of the building (212 45th St.) we now call home. A former YMCA and Pittsburgh Boys Club from the early 1900s — this building becomes both the venue and the impetus for a world-premiere performance that honors the stories that have echoed through its halls for more than a century. Presented in partnership with MCG Jazz, this production will feature original live music and jazz standards as the score for the decades. Learn more and get tickets on our site: attacktheatre.com/212-stories.

And, to join us for both productions, you can purchase a half pass — you’ll save a little and receive additional subscriber perks: attacktheatre.com/half-pass.

In addition to our productions, we offer classes and education for all. For our youngest learners, we offer a wide range of programming, from Parents’ Night Out — a chance to have your little one have fun in the studio while you have a date night in Lawrenceville — to connecting with students through school assemblies and residency programs.

For adults, we offer regular studio classes with company dancers and teaching artists for all levels, including a guest artist series and summer dance intensives.

NHM: Your company does a lot of programming with local schools. What makes that such a rewarding experience for your dancers?

PK: There’s something extraordinary that happens when a dancer steps into a classroom. It becomes a co-learning environment, rather than a presenting one. Students who might not see themselves as “artists” suddenly discover that they have something to say, with their bodies, their ideas, their imaginations.

For our dancers, it’s a reminder of why we do this work. The curiosity of a third grader, the bravery of a middle schooler trying something new, the pride of a high school student performing something they created — those moments stay with you. Education isn’t separate from our artistic work, it fuels it.

Co-founders and Co-artistic directors of Attack Theatre Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope

NHM: What are some ways you raise funds and tell us about any upcoming fundraising parties that our readers may attend?

MdlR: Like many nonprofit arts organizations, we rely on a combination of ticket sales, grants, sponsorships and the generosity of individual supporters who believe in what we do. We try to approach fundraising the same way we approach performance — creatively and with a sense of celebration.

On May 30, we’ll celebrate the culmination of our anniversary season at The Thirty Ball. This event is a joyful nod to our 30th anniversary and a playful evolution of our iconic Dirty Ball. It’s not your average gala. Expect elegance, energy and just the right amount of mischief. The Thirty Ball is a once-in-a-generation chance for longtime supporters and first-time guests alike to celebrate Attack Theatre’s 30th anniversary and invest in our next chapter.

NHM: What kinds of volunteer opportunities do you have?

PK: We love welcoming volunteers into the Attack Theatre community. There are many ways to get involved, depending on your interests and availability.

With our 30th anniversary season underway, The Thirty Ball will be a major moment for us, and we are actively building a strong volunteer team to support the celebration. This event is the closing celebration of our season and a reflection of 30 years of creative community, and volunteers are an essential part of what makes that possible.

Throughout the year, ushering at performances is another wonderful way to connect. Ushers are often the first friendly faces our audiences meet. It is a hands-on way to support artists, experience the work up close and help create a welcoming environment.

We also offer meaningful college internships for students interested in arts administration, production, education, marketing and community engagement. Interns work alongside our team and gain real experience in how a dynamic and collaborative arts organization operates.

NHM: What do you want NHM readers to know about Attack Theatre?

PK: This season, we celebrate 30 years of fearless creativity on the stage, in the classroom and in the community with programming that honors our past and leaps boldly into the future. Our audience has made Attack Theatre what it is today. You’ve cheered us on, challenged us to grow and shared in beautiful swirls of live performance. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or discovered us last season, we are grateful for your presence.