VivantAdmin, Author at 'Burgh Vivant

May 9, 2016August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (5/12 – 5/15)

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Dirty words

This weekend you can go see Mike Bartlett’s “Cock.” It’s the story about a man who breaks up with boyfriend and meets the girl of his dreams. Both man and woman are prepared to fight to keep him. It’s a dinner party like very few others. Kinetic kicks off their season with this bold comedy. Naturally, you can find “Cock” on Liberty Avenue. It’s in the Pittsburgh Playwright’s studio, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Jungle King

Benjamin Scheuer comes to town to perform his one-man show, “The Lion.” This poignant coming-of-age tale told is song and story gives us an authentic look at the redemptive power of music. You can see it at the City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. For more information, click here.

Killer Shows

Witness the story of nine assassins in “Assassins.” A musical that explores the dark side of American History. Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman show us the point-of-views of everyone from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald. It’s at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, click here.

Dancing Shoes

Wanna learn some new moves? Go to the The New Moves Contemporary Dance Festival and see amazing dancers. The festival celebrates rising talent and established artists from Pittsburgh’s dance scene and encourages them to take creative risks. This year’s festival artists include Alexandra Bodnarchuk, Christal Brown, Jean-Paul Weaver, Brady Sanders and many more. It’s at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. For more information, click here.

It’s better to Give

Catch the world premiere adaptation of Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award winning novel, “The Giver.” Move over Katniss Everdeen, it’s another kid in a dystopian future. A young boy, Jonas, finds out he’s got special gifts. It’s at the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

– MB

May 7, 2016August 12, 2019

The review of a revue – “The Musicals of Musicals – The Musical” – the review

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

There’s a classic trope of a girl being harassed by the villain only to be saved by the plucky can-do do-gooder. Here in Eric Rockwell and Joanne Bogart’s “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical” we are served the same plot five different ways, each through a stylings of five different famous Broadway songwriters, composers or teams such as Rodgers & Hammerstein (“Oklahoma!,” “Sound of Music” and “The King and I”), Sondheim (“Into the Woods,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Company”), Jerry Herman (“Mame,” “Hello Dolly” and “La Cage aux Folles”), Andrew Lloyd Webber (“Cats,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Evita”)and Kander & Ebb (“Chicago” and “Cabaret”).

The plot doesn’t really matter. It’s more a musical revue than straight story. It doesn’t even seem to matter to Rockwell or Bogart as long as they get to tell their corny jokes. Don’t worry if you miss one or two, they will be glad to point at the jokes and pound them home. With a sledgehammer. They’ll even tell you when it’s time to applaud.

Greg Coffin pulled off a similar schtick with a brilliant, little cabaret show called “Five Course Love.” Only fewer cast members. It was also far superior to “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical.”

If anyone could make this schlocky show work it would be Robyne Parrish. The director is also part of the ensemble. She may be the best reason to go to Carnegie. She shines every time she’s on stage. Parrish is charismatic and engaging, and the only one to effectively land some leaden jokes. She’s the Sully Sullenberger of musical comedy. She has the je ne sai quoi of Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Rosalind Russell, elegant and hilarious. She’s a joy to watch.

Let’s also doff our over-sized prop cap to Elizabeth Boyke and Brittany Graham, who do some excellent work here. It’s a shame there wasn’t more for them to do.

Some songs work much better than others. There’s a hilarious send up of “He had it coming” from “Chicago,” and a laugh out loud “Phantom of the Opera” number. However, the opening number took “Oh what a beautiful morning,” and turned it into “Corn!” Gordon MacRae is still spinning around in his grave after the opening night performance.

While most of the lyrics are painfully punny, the music itself is beautiful. The songs are magnificently rendered by Musical Director Nancy Gordon Galluzzo on the piano. She masters each musical style with panache.

Discerning audiences have come to expect a lot of the Off the Wall Productions at the Carnegie Stage. “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical” is the kind of pablum you’d get from a lesser theater company. Off the Wall is known for edgier, envelope-pushing material, but “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical” panders to the lowest common denominator. It wasn’t off the wall…it was in your face, and, worse, it was right smack in the middle of the road. It was never offensive, challenging or, for that matter, interesting.

To be fair, I was one of a handful of people in the audience staring back at the actors like an Easter Island Idol on a sold-out opening night; the rest of the crowd was roaring with laughter. “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical” will likely become a huge box office success, and the Off the Wall gang can laugh all the way to the bank. It is my fondest wish that the company won’t redirect their mission to accommodate a low brow audience who needs to have a joke handed to them. Give me “Stop/Kiss,” “Tunnel Vision,” “Or,” or “Well” any day. I’d also take the locally produced sketch comedy troupe, the Harvey Wallbangers, over “M of M – the M” any day.

Luckily, Off the Wall Productions recently announced 2016-2017 season, and it looks like it will put them back on track with thought-provoking material with playwrights such as the Sarah Kane (“4.48 Psychosis”), Lydia Stryk (“An Accident”) and Duncan MacMillan (“Lungs”).

(Off the Wall Productions of “The Musical of Musicals – the Musical” runs till May 21^st at the Carnegie Stage, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106)

May 6, 2016August 12, 2019

How Not To Fit In – Attend a Live CD Comedy Recording

Using his quirky attitude and intelligent comedy, Comedian and former Pittsburgh Native Krish Mohan tries to find where he fits in. Krish will be performing his one hour show called “An Indian Comedian: How Not To Fit In” at the Hambone’s in Pittsburgh, PA along with local Comedians, Garrett Titlebaum & Derek Minto.

Krish has toured across the MidWest, South, Northeast and Mid Atlantic regions and has opened various nationally touring headliners including Lee Camp, Stewart Huff & Cameron Esposito. Audiences have called Krish’s show “brilliant”, “hilarious” and “refreshing” as he “skewers mainstream American ignorance: a nation of foreigners doesn’t seem to know what to make of them”. Find out where he fits in; Is it with Americans or the Indians in the U.S? Krish will be recording his new hour of comedy at the HIT that will be released later in the summer.

“An honest, funny approach to describe how his expectations of moving to America didn’t line up with reality; how he has handled racism…; his relationship with his parents who raised him to be a devout Hindu, yet he is no longer faithful; and even sex education” -NUVO (Indianapolis)

“If you appreciate comedians that deliver a message with style and truth, and make you LOL while they’re delivering the message, then go see the Indian Comedian, unless of course…you’re racist.” -Randy Clark from IndyFringe Talks

“wry observations about how he’s treated in America as an immigrant, though he uses where he was born and what he looks like as a jumping-off point, not a crutch” -IndyStar

Krish will be performing & recording his album at the Hambone’s Restaurant in Pittsburgh, PA on May 28, 2016 at 8:30pm. Hambone’s Restaurant is located at 4207 Butler St. Pittsburgh PA, 15201.

Krish is an Indian standup comedian and writer who regularly performs at comedy clubs, colleges, bars, theaters, and coffee shops across the country. As an immigrant from India, he tells stories focused on adapting to life in the US and his experiences with race, religion, culture, and relationships. With his quirky attitude, charming personality, and intelligent humor, Krish captivates and engages audiences of all backgrounds. Mohan has opened for nationally touring headliners and has had a highly rated & hit IndyFringe show. He has been featured on NPR and in the Arch City Comedy Festival. Krish is a regular contributor to the Indie Bohemians, a radio show which airs on iHeartRadio and affiliates all across the country. Krish is also the host, writer and creator of Fork Full of Noodles, a weekly satire web series that focuses on societal and political issues.

May 6, 2016August 12, 2019

Sip into Summer on June 5th at the Spoonwood Brewery

The Denis Theatre is excited to announce the “Sip Into Summer” event on Sunday, June 5^th at Spoonwood Brewery in Bethel Park. This fun evening of craft beer, food, and live music will benefit the Denis’ current community programming and its goal of bringing a community-driven independent movie theatre and art space to the South Hills. Over 120 Pittsburgh-area art lovers are expected to attend this exciting event.

Sip Into Summer will supports two unique Denis film programs: Meet Me at the Movies -an innovative film program for seniors with dementia, which served over 200 people in the past year; and Reel to Real -a community forum for thoughtful discussion of classic, foreign, and independent films.

Tickets for this evening of delicious food, terrific craft brews, silent auction, and live music by Root 19 are $50/person and may be purchased online at www.denistheatre.org/events/; mailing a check with a note “Spoonwood June 5 Event” to 685 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15228; or by calling 412.668.0737. Tickets include stone-fired pizza, wings, salad and one drink ticket. Space is limited, so reserve your ticket now for this great evening.

May 6, 2016August 12, 2019

Summer Starts in April at Phipps Conservatory

Summer Starts in April at Phipps Conservatory
UPMC Health Plan’s Celebrate Summer 2016 Event Offers a Day of Healthy, Family Fun

Pittsburgh, Pa. — Kick off the Summer Flower Show at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens with UPMC Health Plan’sCelebrate Summer 2016 event. Delight in a day of healthy and interactive fun for the whole family on Sat., April 30, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Experience the grand opening of the interactive Summer Flower Show: PlayGardens, and stroll through the enchanting Butterfly Forest. UPMC-sponsored events will promote healthy lifestyles and Phipps’ Let’s Move Pittsburgh Program.

Make upcycled origami crafts, play giant Connect Four and checkers games and watch a cooking demo from Café Phipps.

From 1 – 2 p.m., meet Charlie Batch, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and an advocate for healthy lifestyles.

Visit UPMC’s Health Coach Table, where families can learn how to make tasty, refreshing drinks to help keep hydrated during the summer.

Take a fun selfie at the 5-2-1-0 Funky Photo Booth and find out how the numbers 5-2-1-0 can keep you on the path to good health.

Phipps’ tip: When completing the activities, guests should tweet one picture from each of the eight activity stations to Twitter at @UPMChealthplan using the hashtag #phippssummer to be entered into a drawing for a free Phipps Family Membership! Guests can send in one entry per station for a total maximum of nine entries. Photos must be posted by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Find official sweepstakes rules at http://upmchp.us/1S8B4xV.

All activities are free with admission. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and students, and $11 for children (2 – 18). Members and kids under 2 enter free. UPMC Health Plan members with a valid UPMC Health Plan insurance cardholder ID get 50% off admission on up to four tickets, and UPMC for Life members get 50% off admission on up to two tickets. More details can be found at phipps.conservatory.org.

May 6, 2016August 12, 2019

STAGE 62 presents: Assassins

STAGE 62 presents: Assassins

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim ; Book by John Weidman

Assassins lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, in a one-act historical “revusical” that explores the dark side of the American experience. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, writers Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman bend the rules of time and space, taking us on a nightmarish roller coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.

Dates:

Thu. to Sat. May 12-14 and 19-21 at 8 pm
Sun. Matinees May 15 and 22 at 2 pm

Tickets:

Adults: $20
Students/Seniors: $15 Order by calling 412 429-6262 or online at www.stage62.com

Location:

Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
Music Hall
300 Beechwood Avenue
Carnegie, PA 15106

May 3, 2016August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (5/5 – 5/8)

Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Tricky Comedy

Mark Haywood and Jonathan Burns do tricks in the “Mark & Jonathan Family Friendly Comedy and Tricks Show.” The duo have performed on “The Tonight Show,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The Late, Late Show with James Corden.” There will be yo-yo’s and all sorts of crazy shenanigans. It’s May 6^th at The Oaks, 310 Allegheny River Blvd. Oakmont, PA 15139. For more information, click here.

Do a Little Sidestep

You might want to do a little sidestep over to McKeesport for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” It’s a little ole’ bitty puissant country place, but it’s got lots of singing and dancing. It opens this weekend at the McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin Street, McKeesport, PA 15132. For more information, click here.

It sure is musical!

It’s time for “Musical of Musicals – the Musical!” You get one story and five musicals! Hear skewered versions of Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman and more in this hilarious satire of musical theater. It’s at the Carnegie Stage, 25 W Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, click here.

Onomatopoeia!

It’s time for Pittonkatonk, a grassroots effort to connect people through local and national brass band music. Pittonkatonk is a day-long concert in the park with over 100 musicians. It’s May 7^th (the first Saturday of May annually) on Overlook Drive, Schenley Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. For more information, click here.

You Don’t Say!

It’s not too late to catch Vanessa German’s “Dontsaythatshitoutloud.” The award-winning multidisciplinary artist works with all sorts of different mediums to create her art. The show runs till May 29 at the Artists Image Resource, 518 Foreland Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

– MB

May 2, 2016August 12, 2019

Comin’ Right at You – A new “Tru” review

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

It’s mayhem in the mind of Truman Capote (Eddie Korbich) in Jay Presson Allen’s one man show, “Tru.” Capote was shorter than average but larger than life, and the play captures a particular era; Christmas eve 1975 shortly after a chapter of his promised masterpiece “Answered Prayers” was released in an issue of Esquire. It was a moment in mid-November which turned the social butterfly into a social pariah.

The infamous chapter drops a dime on his harem of swans; his ladies who lunch with kings and queens including Lady Slim Keith, Babe Paley (wife of CBS mogul William S. Paley) and Gloria Vanderbilt. The glossy magazine pages of Esquire went nuclear, exploding throughout New York society. It was Capote’s social suicide, committed in print. Death by Underwood.

The play grapples with the loss of Capote’s famous friendships, but hits the major tenants of his life; he lived on books, gossip and alcohol. He loved to disco. He loved to party. He talks openly about his homosexuality, and his peccadillos (though it’s not dirty or smutty, leave the kids at home). The play posits the question was he the bully or the victim or both?

One man shows are hard. You have to keep the audience engaged for the entire time with few interruptions. Korbich managed aptly. There are visceral moments when the play packs a deep, emotional gut punch. The wallop hits hard at some universal fears for single audience members, “Will anyone love me,” and “Will I die alone?”

Capote had a slow, sly way of talking. While Korbich mimics his unusually shrill voice, it’s a clocking in at too many RPMs. In the actor and director’s defense, had he been speaking at Capote speed it would have added thirty extra minutes to the show. Director Ted Pappas lets the bon mots fly with precision.

James Noone’s set is impeccable, replete with tasteful furnishings, a stunning view of New York, and a bright, beautiful Christmas tree. There is a table filled with paperweights and snow globes, provided by the Pittsburgh Glass Center and a plethora of donors. It cries out to be examined. You’ll want to pick up each one and marvel in its artistry (try, at the very least, to sit in the first few rows to see them as closely as you can).

Allen’s script wanders a bit, but, as with all biographies, some parts are just less interesting than others. There are, however, some genuinely funny moments, and some genuinely sad ones. The problem is that Capote is not the most likeable man, but it’s easy to pity him. It’s just not easy to love a play about a pitiable man. However the story is thought-provoking and emotionally gripping. “Tru” is like a raw garlic, it’s powerful, biting, and it stays with you long afterward. Some may find it a little off-putting, but it can really spice up your evening. If you’re looking for an evening of insight into one of the world’s most famous celebrity authors, see “Tru.” If you’re looking for a few laughs, this is also the play for you. It’s funny because it’s Tru.

“Tru” runs till May 22 at the O’Reilly Theatre, 621 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

– MB

April 26, 2016August 12, 2019

Film Noir Interactive Adventure Invades the Pittsburgh Landscape

Serpentine: an Alternate Reality Game Blurs Barrier Between Fantasy and Reality

Pittsburgh, PA – April 26th, 2016 – What if a theater experience did not have to end just because you left the venue? Beginning this May, Uncumber Theatrics’ latest creation Serpentine invites participants to become part of a five week story that will take them across Pittsburgh and down the proverbial rabbit hole.

Serpentine blends Pittsburgh’s real history with a touch of film noir magical realism to create a playground that is the city itself. Inspired by a true Pittsburgh cold case, patrons will begin their adventure in true film noir fashion — in the office of a private investigator. What patrons discover within this office will launch them into a multi-week excursion that will have them chasing down informants, attending strange events, and searching both public spaces and internet sites for clues.

This character-driven Alternate Reality Game is part immersive theater and part scavenger hunt. Participants may delve as deeply or tread as lightly in the game as they see fit. Because the world of Serpentine is too complex for any one person to explore, collaboration becomes key. Each participant will be invited to join an online forum where they can compare notes and share information. But chose your allies carefully. Factions may emerge as this story heads towards an unknown conclusion. In the end, how this story plays out is entirely in the hands of its participants.

“If you ever thought Pittsburgh might be a magical place, you don’t know how right you are,” says Creative Director and Story Creator Ayne Terceira, whose other immersive work includes serving as a cast member of immersive experience STRATA (Bricolage) and artistic director of fear experience The Basement (ScareHouse), as well as Uncumber’s previous fully sold-out runs Her Things, Prof. Eldritch’s Asylum for Uncanny & Extraordinary Women, and Mingled. “We have fused the living world of Serpentine with our own in order to highlight a few of Pittsburgh’s strange features. In the end, you may discover there was never really a difference between the two worlds at all.”

Serpentine’s five week story begins on May 19th. Participants can enter the game at any point during the first four weeks. For each participant, the experience begins with an appointment at Maat Investigations, located at an undisclosed office space in Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood. Up to four participants can attend the initial office appointment at a time. Each initial office appointment lasts approximately 40 minutes, but the time spent in the game thereafter is up to each participant. Tickets can be purchased online at the Uncumber Theatrics website (www.uncumbertheatrics.com). This experience will be open to the public and is suitable for adults ages 21+.

Serpentine is the fifth production of Uncumber Theatrics, under the creative direction of Ayne Terceira and the technical direction of Aaron Tarnow (whose experience in innovative, site-specific theatre includes two seasons as the Technical Director of Quantum Theatre). Uncumber Theatrics’ mission is to push the limits of improvisational actors and improvisational techniques to create new and innovative theatrical work. The cast therefore is drawn heavily from Pittsburgh’s booming improvisational community.

April 25, 2016August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (4/28 – 5/1)

Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Idle Hands

Follow Tom Rakewell as he abandons his true love (named Ann Trulove!) to spend his inheritance on women, drinking and gambling, in Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress.” His idle hands are the Devil’s workshop. Hear them sing the story at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Midway through Midlife

It’s not too late to catch Bob and Jim Walton’s musical, “Mid-Life: The Crisis Musical.” Watch a musical comedy about the trials and tribulations of aging. There’s a discount for seniors! Obviously. But students get a discount, too. It’s at the Theatre Factory, 235 Cavitt Avenue, Trafford, PA 15085. For more information, click here.

Acrobats and Orchestras

The circus is in town. It’s the “Cirque de la Symphonie” as acrobats, jugglers, dances and more choreograph their movement to the symphony. See feats of strength and stamina at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Hopelessly Devoted

You better shape up or you’re going to miss “Grease.” It’s the musical that rocks out with 50’s style tunes. Catch Danny and the T-Birds at PMT production. It’s at the Byham Theater, 101 6^th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

What’s the matter with kids these days!

Join John McIntire as he discusses generational politics at the Dangerously Live Comedy /Talk Show. McIntire’s guests will be Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner, Comedian Gab Bonesso and Post-Gazette Cartoonist Rob Rogers. It’s at the Oaks Theater, 210 Allegheny River Boulevard, Oakmont, PA 15139. For more information, click here.