On Stage, which I call my online journal, serve as my personal supplement to Post-Gazette theater coverage, dealing with performances and related events and personalities in Pittsburgh as well as New York, London and other places my love of theater takes me. Everyone calls it a blog, but I don't, because I don't usually write daily, except when I'm on a theater trip. But having just moved into the role of senior theater critic, I have more time for On Stage. It's also a good place to publish messages from readers, so keep them coming. Below is the current bio that shows up in the left column of my stories online. By the way, I'm Christopher in bylines but Chris when you run into me in person -- at the theater, I hope.
-- Chris Rawson
Christopher Rawson became Post-Gazette theater critic in 1983 and theater editor in 1990, writing reviews, previews, news stories, obituaries and columns. He generally reviewed about 170 plays a year, mainly in Pittsburgh but also New York, London and Canada.
At the end of 2008 he transitioned to senior theater critic and is now writing irregularly in the paper while maintaining "On Stage," this online theater journal. Rawson continues to lead annual Post-Gazette theater tours to Broadway, London and Canada. That schedule is posted on the PG theater page.
A native of Rhode Island, Rawson inherited a love of theater from his parents and did a lot of acting in high school and college. He was educated at Harvard (B.A.) and the University of Washington (Ph.D.) and came to Pittsburgh in 1968 to join the University of Pittsburgh English Department, where he still teaches Shakespeare, criticism, August Wilson and Irish drama.
He studied directing at Carnegie Mellon University and was drama critic at WQED-FM from 1980-93. Currently he is chair of the American Theatre Critics Association and is on the board of directors of the Theater Hall of Fame and the editorial board of "Best Plays."
His wife, Mary, is an actor and acting teacher who was a long-time producer at WQED-TV. They have four grown children.