The post-World War II drama from the author of String of Pearls plays the 272-seat mainstage of Pittsburgh's City Theatre March 8-April 1. Opening is March 14.

According to City Theatre, "Mezzulah, 1946 is set in Monroe, Washington a year after the end of World War II. During the war the women 'worked the line' at the Boeing airplane plant, but now the men have returned and want their jobs. At the center of the story is 19-year-old Mezzulah Steiner, who like her hero, Leonardo da Vinci, is ahead of her time and ready for flight. Surrounding Mezzulah is a large cast of townspeople, each trying to give wing to new dreams. With expansive theatricality Lowe depicts an important period for women's rights and an exciting time in aviation design."

City Theatre artistic director Tracy Brigden told Playbill.com, "Michele Lowe is one of our most accomplished and joyous voices writing for the American theatre today. In Mezzulah, 1946 she paints a funny and heartfelt portrait of life in small town America circa 1946, akin to the best of Norman Rockwell, Thornton Wilder and Preston Sturges, all rolled into one. Her vivid characters are each dealing with their war time losses and grappling with their passions and hopes for the future all while cracking wise and singing a cappella songs from the period. I am proud of Michele for taking on such a big canvas and filling it so completely with this beautifully wrought and deeply engaging story."

Lowe punctuates the play with the chart-topping songs of the era, including "Don't Fence Me In," "Coming In on a Wing and a Prayer" and "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition."

Pittsburgh-based actress Theo Allyn plays Mezzulah Steiner. Also featured are Jeffrey Carpenter, Johnny Giacalone, Rebecca Harris, Brett Mack, Sheila McKenna, Larry John Meyers, Gwendolen Morton, Joel Ripka, and Jenny Wales. The dramaturg is Carlyn Aquiline. The design team is Tony Ferrieri (scenic), Michael Krass (costumes) and Andrew David Ostrowski (lighting). The music director is Thomas Wesley Douglas. The production stage manager is Patti Kelly.

Michele Lowe is best known to City Theatre audiences for her play String of Pearls, which world premiered at City Theatre in 2003. Since then String of Pearls has been produced in New York and in theatres across the country. In 2004 Michele Lowe received City Theatre's Frankel Award, which recognizes outstanding commitment to new play creation and support.

Mezzulah, 1946 was read at City Theatre as part of 2006's MOMENTUM: new plays at different stages. It is the second production in City Theatre's New American Trio, an innovative series of three brand-new plays plus a constellation of activities being produced at City Theatre early this year.

For more information, call (412) 431-CITY or visit CityTheatreCompany.org.