Trapped: The Most Powerful New Play in Twenty Years

PITTSBURGH, PA, September 22, 2026 (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — “The whole idea of this political anomaly; a working-class folk hero, and with all the charisma in the world, but still deeply flawed was something that I believed the local press would eat up, especially in a mid-term election year,” Cain said. “Unfortunately, this powerful play has not gotten the attention it deserves by the local Pittsburgh media.”

On the plot’s surface, Trapped follows Jim Traficant as he battles with his conscience while in solitary confinement. But the play goes far deeper than that. The production is an emotional rollercoaster filled with striking visual imagery and intense psychological conflict that is very relevant to today’s chaotic world.

“The play explores three emotionally complicated characters: Jim (played by Andrew/Andy Pivarnik Jr.), who longs to do good but refuses to fully admit his wrongs; Lisa (played by Amy Sikora Baschnagel), who tries to help Jim understand the error of his ways; and a sympathetic correction officer (played by Eric Vollmer) who has overcome his own difficult past in search of stability.

Cain didn’t want to reveal too many plot points about his script. “I am hesitant to give away too much, because there are some twists and turns in the play that are going to catch people by surprise,” he said.

It’s safe to say Traficant wasn’t the first — or the last — politician who professed to be a man of the people despite overwhelming evidence that he was driven by self-interest, and that duality is one of the aspects that interested Cain.

“Trapped” is staged at the 340-seat Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. There are still three more performances this week; September 24, 25 and 26. Tickets are on sale now at: https://kellystrayhorntheater.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SVO000005W4jx2AC

“It’s a beautiful theater, ” Cain said. “We’ve got an amazing set and three incredible actors. If you enjoy live theater, this is a play you won’t want to miss.”

 

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