''The Chief'' is a 2003 biographical
one-man play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
about the
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...
' founder and owner
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph Rooney Sr. (January 27, 1901 – August 25, 1988), often referred to as "the Chief", was an American professional American football, football executive. He was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football fr ...
(1901–1988). The
Pittsburgh Public Theater show has had several revivals since its inauguration, with shows often performed by
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
native
Tom Atkins. More recently, Pittsburgh-based actor and Point Park University Phil Winters has taken on the role, performing at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in 2021 and at St. Vincent College in 2015.
Overview
The story takes place in 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two months after the Steelers won their second
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the annual History of the NFL championship, league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966 NFL season, 1966 (with the excep ...
in
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for t ...
. The story begins in Art Rooney's office at
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) ...
where he is preparing for a dinner at the local
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic Church, Catholic Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney, Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. ...
hall. He then begins to converse with the audience, where he reminisces about his youth, and how he formed the Steeler franchise. The play concludes with Rooney showing footage of the
Immaculate Reception
The Immaculate Reception is one of the most famous plays in the history of American football. It was a touchdown which occurred in the AFC divisional playoff game of the National Football League (NFL), between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oa ...
.
2010 film adaptation
In 2010, a film version of the play was produced, with Atkins reprising his role as "The Chief".
References
External links
Pittsburgh Public TheaterThe Chief Movie
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chief
2003 plays
Pittsburgh Steelers in popular culture