Passionate About Pizza? Here’s How You Can Star in a Play About It

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN TALLARICO

To Dan Tallarico, pizza is pure magic.

Detroit-style slices disappeared before my eyes as I interviewed him at Iron Born in the Strip District. Without shame, he told me it was his fourth pizza in as many days. I found this totally relatable and endearing.

It’s not gluttony, it’s artistic inspiration.

A self-described “pizza journalist” who spent years tossing dough at local joints, Tallarico’s been covering Pittsburgh’s greasy scene since 2011. You can read his expert analysis at PizzaWalkWithMe.com, and in a weekly Substack newsletter.

Now he’s dipping his toe in uncharted sauces as a “pizza playwright.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN TALLARICO

“Slice Something Slice” takes place on the Pizza Continent, where citizens enjoy a daily dose of their homeland’s namesake dish. Led by a Pizza Prophet, they embark on a unifying quest to find the perfect pie.

To celebrate his 40th birthday last March, Tallarico invited his friends and family to Bloomfield’s Brillobox for the play’s debut.

“The experience was truly the greatest night of my life,” he says.

The adults-only pizza party returns to the venue on Oct. 29. Tickets are available online.

There are six scenes, each representing a different pizzeria. As attendees arrive, they’ll be invited to sign up for a part. Actors receive a script, a character description, a name tag and a chance to bask in the spotlight while a live band performs original tunes written by Chad McMurtrie.

Think of it as theatre karaoke for foodies.

Tallarico, who narrates the action, says folks don’t need to deliver a perfect performance — like pizza, even if it’s bad, it’ll still be pretty good.

The North Hills native grew up on a steady diet of Sir Pizza, a place known for its round pies sliced into small squares with crumbled toppings distributed to the edge. I also bend the knee to this brand.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KRISTY GRAVER

As a teenager in the early aughts, Tallarico worked at Bellisario’s Restaurant and made his first delivery using a map scrawled on a pizza box.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN TALLARICO

Intrigued by Pittsburgh’s sheer number of shops — and the ardent followings behind them — he immersed himself in local pizza lore. He’s hit just about every time-honored institution, from Mineo’s and Aiello’s to Monte Cello’s and Beto’s, and always makes room in his belly for artisan offerings from Driftwood Oven, Spirit, Rockaway and ‘77 Club.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN TALLARICO

When he’s not waxing poetic about pepperoni, Tallarico trains for marathons. The guy literally runs on pizza — and he has no intention of slowing down, especially during National Pizza Month.

“There’s so much great pizza in Pittsburgh,” he says. “I love it all.”