The Shaker Archives - Page 80 of 111

December 28, 2015December 30, 2015

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/30 – 1/3)

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Holidaze

Start the celebrations early with Cirque Dreams Holidaze, a show with stunning acrobatics, Broadway music and family fun. It’s not just a variety show but an extravaganza. Holidaze is at the Benedum Center, 237 Seventh Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

New Year’s Eve Eve

Put your party hat on one day early at the 3^rd Annual New Year’s Eve Eve event at the Lava Lounge. It’s a Swive spectacular with comedians Abby Denton, Garrett Titlebaum, Krish Mohan and more. Don’t miss Uke and Tuba, a humorous singing duo that plays (you guessed it) a ukulele and a tuba. It’s going down at the Lava Lounge, 2204 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. For more info, click here.

Rocking New Year’s Eve

Pittsburgh kicks off the New Year right with a dazzling display of fireworks and talent at Highmark’s First Night 2016 event. There will be magic, ice sculpting, ballet, music and more. Check out River City Brass, improvisational comedy troupe Player One, jazz bassist Dwayne Dolphin and the comedy stylings of J. Russ and Gab Bonesso. Buy a button and ring in the New Year right. It’s all over downtown Pittsburgh. For more information, click here.

Fun with French

On Thursday, December 31 you can enjoy your holiday in a more posh way with dinner and an 18 piece chamber orchestra with the Pittsburgh Opera at “Une Belle Soiree et Fete,” which roughly translates to mean “a beautiful evening and party.” It’s all at the Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

Last Chance

On Sunday January 3^rd, before you start those New Year’s resolutions go to brunch and live it up one last time. Get the hair of the dog that bit you with $5 dollar Bloody Mary and/or Mimosa, and see the best in male and female impersonation at Kierra Darshell’s Drag Brunch. It’s at the James Street Gastropub, 422 Foreland Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

-MB.

December 21, 2015August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/23- 12/27)

By Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Punk Rock Holiday!

Start your weekend early on Wednesday, December 23 with a Super Fun Time Awesome Party Band (no, seriously, that’s their name). Join comedian Omid Singh, Santa Youth, Crisis in America and more for a Punk Rock Holiday at the Spirit Lounge, 242 51^st Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. For more information, click here.

Burlesque

Phat Man Dee is having a holiday party at Altar Bar on Saturday, December 26. It’s “A Phattie Little Holiday: Jazz & Burlesque Holiday Experience.” Come out and see Macabre Noir and a host of holiday talent. It’s at the Altar Bar, 1620 Penn Avenue (the Strip District), Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Reindeer Games

It’s not too late to catch a musical version of your favorite Christmas story. “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – the Musical” is hitting Heinz Hall. A mutant reindeer gets bullied in this timeless holiday tale, but don’t worry…he gets to guide Santa’s sleigh through fog. It’s at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue (Downtown) Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Merry Krishna!

Photographer Nandini Valli Muthiah is incorporating traditional ideas of popular Indian art and capturing them in contemporary everyday environments. You can catch her show at the Wood Street Galleries, 601 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Sing! Sing!

The Lava Lounge is serving up some fun times with their “Crooners & Cocktails” event on Sunday, December 21. Join them for Karaoke. It’s hosted by Ms. Lourie (Nyberg). Sing out loud at the Lava Lounge, 2204 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh’s South Side 15203. For more information, click here.

– MB

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/17- 12/20)

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

A Kid Outside of the Hall

Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall, Brain Candy) comes to Pittsburgh to talk shop. He’ll be interviewed by Brian Gray for Talking Shop: An Improv Podcast. Come down to the Arcade Comedy Theater for this FREE event. It’s on Friday, December 18 at 4:00 PM at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here. Then, catch his show on Saturday at 8:00 PM at the same location. For the full scoop and schedule of events, click here.

Bet on Black

Comedy Roulette is back for the Drunk Comedy Holiday Edition hosted by John Dick Winters, Friday at 10 PM. Winters will be joined by Alex Stypula, Matt Light, James J. Hamilton and Ray Zawodni at Club Café, 56-58 South 12^th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. For more information and tickets, click here.

Buzzing about it

Check out “The Mountain and the Bumblebee,” a multi-artist, multi-media exhibition exploring ideas about landscapes at Space, 812 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information about the exhibit, click here.

The Return of the Mouse King

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is bringing the “The Nutcracker” back to the Benedum Theater. The holiday tradition continues with a classic story and iconic choreography. Everything is beautiful at the ballet. Find the Nutcracker, toy soldiers and mice at the Benedum Center, 237 7th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Caroling with the Christmas Carol

This town is overrun by a plague of Dickens! There was the Bricolage’s “Yinz’r Scrooged,” and PICT Classic Theatre’s “Oliver Twist,” and now “A Musical Christmas Carol” returns. See Scrooge sing! It’s the classic tale of greed and redemption with song at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

– MB

December 7, 2015August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s This Weekend (12/10 – 12/13)

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Hoot for the Holidays

December 10, you can support our troops and enjoy a great line up of music with WYEP’s Holiday Hootenanny, with Norm Nardini, Josh Verbanets, Molly Alphabet, the Wreckids and more. Gifts will be collected for Veterans’ Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania. It’s all at Stage AE, 400 N. Shore Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

The Laughs Awaken

On December 11, the Arcade Awakens with “Star Wars: The Arcade Awakens.” This night of live sketch, videos, and musical comedy, both the original trilogy and the new movie will be lovingly spoofed and skewered. Come for the lightsaber fights, stay for the Wookiees. It stars some of Pittsburgh’s funniest people like Anna C. Reilly, Missy Moreno, Kyle Longsdorf, Ian McIntosh, Frank McDade and more. Find the force and the funny at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Deep Blue Sea

John Patrick Shanley’s “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” is at Duquesne’s Genesius Theater December 11 and 12. Two people, Danny (Andrew Yackle) and Roberta (Rachel Erin), meet over a beer in a rundown bar in the Bronx. The meeting proves to be fateful for both. It’s at the Genesius Theater, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282. There’s more information at Brown Paper Tickets here.

Pop goes the Holidays

Heinz Hall puts on a spectacular holiday show every year, with the “Highmark Holiday Pops.” It’s got classic Christmas carols, astonishing solo performers, a choir and a special visitor from the North Pole is scheduled to make an appearance (even though it’s his busiest season). Catch the holiday magic at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

More Christmas Carols

When a small theater company is rehearsing for its umpteenth production of “A Christmas Carol,” something happens to shake up the production in “Inspecting Carol.” It’s more Christmas shenanigans at the Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317. For more information, click here.

December 6, 2015December 8, 2015

A Darker Twist: a review of PICT Classic Theatre’s OLIVER TWIST

By Michael Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

After all this time, Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” originally published in monthly installments in the Magazine Bentley’s Miscellany from February 1837 to April 1839, is still all the rage. Rage, indeed. The tale is dark, twisted and rife with rage. Lots and lots of rage.

When an orphan boy, Oliver (Will Sendera), begs for a second bowl of gruel from the parish beadle Mr. Bumble (David Cabot), he is cast out of the workhouse and has a series of misfortunate events that would make Lemony Snicket sigh in desperation.

Eventually he runs away to London and meets up with the Artful Dodger (Simon Colker), Charley Bates (Lance Wilhelm) and the band of misfit pickpockets under the care of Fagin (James FitzGerald). Fagin instructs Oliver in their devious ways, but on his first assignment watching Dodger and Bates pick pockets, Oliver gets nabbed by Mr. Brownlow (Martin Giles).

Brownlow realizes Oliver is innocent and decides to give him food and shelter, but Fagin fears Oliver will ‘peach’ him (snitch in modern vernacular). Fagin asks for help from Bill Sikes (a very scary Tony Bingham) and Nancy (Karen Baum) to aid him in recovering Oliver. Things go sideways pretty quickly, and not everyone gets a happy ending.

“Oliver Twist” is not to be confused with the musical “Oliver!” that recounts the same tale with song and dance, however, when Dodger makes his first appearance, it’s hard not to start humming “Consider Yourself” in your head.

Alan Stanford adapted this version for the stage and also directs. Dickens writes merciless satire on the Poor laws of the time. Orphans were cast adrift, unwanted and treated badly. They were treated as if their situation was their fault. The story remains relevant. Imagine Oliver as a Syrian refugee or the child of an illegal Mexican immigrant and there would be very few rewrites needed. There’s a disturbing parallel. The serialized story, the play and the musical are all about hope, though. Dickens knew that kindness and charity were some of man’s best qualities. He went to the darkest depths to shine the light bright.

PICT Classic Theatre’s usual suspects are in fine form here with excellent performances from FitzGerald, Giles, Cabot, Baum and Bingham. The surprise is that many of the younger actors are equally brilliant. Sendera deftly portrays the lost parish boy, Oliver. The kid has a star quality.

Fagin’s gang handed in some fine performances as well, especially Colker’s Dodger and Wilhelm’s Bates. Let’s doff our caps to PICT players Ken Bolden, Linda Froelich, Parag S. Gohel, Bridget Connors and Dylan Marquis Meyers for very good performances in smaller roles.

Scenic Designer Johnmichael Bohach makes a grand use of very few materials. In the words of Cosmo Kramer, “It’s all about the levels.” There are very credible looking costumes from Costume Designer Joan Markert.

“Oliver Twist” runs until December 19 at the Charity Randall Theatre, inside the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

– MB

December 6, 2015December 16, 2015

A Little Dickens: a review of YINZ’R SCROOGED at Bricolage

By Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Bricolage Producing Artistic Director Tami Dixon takes Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” stuffs it with mashed potatoes and rolls it into a pierogi in her outrageous Midnight Radio production of “Yinz’r Scrooged,” a version of the classic Christmas tale in Pittsburghese.

Fans of the Midnight Radio series are sure to enjoy this skewered Scrooge. If you haven’t heard of Midnight Radio we need to get you up to speed: Midnight radio is not on the radio and it does not start at midnight. The shows are produced with an old-timey radio bluster, replete with Foley artist sound effects and campy commercials. Listen carefully to the Pittsburgh Directional Translation app. It’s hilarious.

The show sticks closely to the Scrooge story with a decidedly Pittsburgh twist. In this tale everyone pitches in and plays a variety of offbeat characters doing multiple voices and a series of vocal aerobics. Ebenezer Scrooge (with a slight name variation) is played by Howard Elson. Lissa Brennan is Cratchit (sort of) and her sweet, but sickly child is played by Connor McCanlus (McCanlus also plays Young Ebenezer). The ghosts of Christmas are local legends, expertly voiced by Michael McBurney and Sheila McKenna.

Spoilers ahead.

Fred Rogers is the ghost of Christmas Past, taking Ebenezer on a trolley ride (naturally) to his childhood. McBurney’s impression is delightful. If you close your eyes you could almost see the familiar red-sweater and tennis shoes on the popular Pittsburgh icon. The band, comprised of musical director James Rushin, guitarist George Elliot and clarinetist Kira Bokalders (the Bah Humbugs), literally chimes in with the familiar tune that used to take us back and forth from Make-Believe.

Mayor Sophie Masloff rears her Babushka wrapped head as the Ghost of Christmas Present. You could swear that the squeaky-voiced diminutive mayor was in the room with you, thanks to McKenna’s rendition. None of the impressions are subtle but they are sublime.

The cast is brilliant. With three Equity actors in the cast it’s almost expected, but McBurney and Brennan deftly keep up with their talented union brothers and sister.

Sam Turich directs this laugh-out-loud production. The show is a brisk, hilarious and… strangely heartfelt. After all, the original yarn is about giving back. In the spirit of the story, Bricolage is collecting donations, food and art supplies to various charities. When you go, bring stuff! You don’t want to have the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future haunting you. Of course, if it was the cast of Bricolage’s “Yinz’r Scrooged” you might. Bring stuff anyway.

The Bricolage is downtown at 937 Liberty Avenue (First Floor), Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information about the show, click here

– MB

November 30, 2015December 2, 2015

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s This Weekend (12/3 – 12/6)

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

The Dickens You Say!

Get ready for a twist on a holiday classic. Bricolage is finishing their Midnight Radio season with a Pittsburgh parody of the Charles Dickens story, “A Christmas Carol,” with “Yinz’r Scrooged.” Get your stockings and cap down to the Bricolage, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Double Dickens!

Move over, Ebenezer. You’re not the only Dickens in town. PICT Classic Theatre is presenting, “Oliver Twist,” adapted for the stage by Alan Stanford. He wants food, glorious food (Note: this is the drama not the musical), and it’s at the the Charity Randall Theatre inside the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

Eggs Not included

What’s better than a Denny’s Grand Slam? The Moth GrandSlam on December 5, 2015. Come out and see, Todd Shaffer, Tristan Reid, Tim Sommers, comedians Krish Mohan, John Dick Winters, Derek Minto and more. They’ll all be telling stories with the theme “Now or Never.” So, go! Now. It’s at the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

The Sarah Chronicles

Lily & Sam, an upwardly-mobile young urban couple, are in crisis mode. Lily’s pregnant & Sam is stuck in a panic that rings entirely true: they owe more than a hundred thousand dollars – how will they support a baby? That question will probably be answered in “Scared of Sarah,” at the Carnegie Stage, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, click here.

Have you heard about the Herdmans?

A group of unruly children learn the true meaning of Christmas in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Come and see them at the Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317. For more information, click here.

– MB

November 24, 2015August 12, 2019

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s This Weekend (11/27 – 11/29)

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

And I helped!

Support Small Business Saturday at the “I Made It Holiday Market.” One Hundred local artisans are selling handmade wares. Shoppers will enjoy music, entertainment, crafts and more. It’s 12 – 8 pm on Nov 27th (Black Friday) and 11 am – 6 pm on Nov 28th (Small Business Saturday). Also check out the food trucks. “I Made It” is at Nova Place (former Allegheny Center Mall, Northside) 100S. Commons, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

Flaming Fruit!

After shopping at the “I Made It,” take a short walk over to the Carnegie Science Center. There’s always something going on. For example: instead of shopping on Black Friday, you can watch a live demonstration of people setting fire to fruit. It’s the chemistry of fire and the flavor of dessert. You can also see “The Christmas Star” on the big, big screen of the Rangos Omnimax Theater, or check out the Holiday Magic Laser Show at the Buhl Planetarium. It’s at One Allegheny Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, click here.

Art Kids

Black Friday is also Family Day at the Mattress Factory Museum. Imagine, share and explore! Everyone is invited to make a patterned sphere, weave a string installation, explore the museums with an interactive scavenger hunt, enjoy a hot chocolate bar, face-painting and more. It’s at the Mattress Factory Museum, 500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. For more information, go here.

Choo Choo Choose Me

The Garden Railroad is up at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Enjoy the Winter Flower Show, the train and all the lovely things at Phipps. It’s all at One Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

Quest for Funny

Saturday at 10 PM, it’s “Knights of the Arcade,” a live action Dungeons and Dragons game played on stage by comedians, improvisers and tried-and-true geeks. Every month, the Knights embark on an epic quest built entirely from audience suggestions. Pittsburgh Magazine proclaimed, “Best Nerd Fantasy Come to Life.” Check it out at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

November 22, 2015November 23, 2015

Revved up and ready to go: SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, barebones productions

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

When Frank (Patrick Jordan) gathers his childhood friends Packie (Gabe King) and Swaino (Brendan Griffin) for a drink in his shop, he’s got more on his mind than emptying the bottle of Johnny Walker Blue in John Pollono’s dark comedy, “Small Engine Repair.”

Frank lures Packie and Swaino to his independent small engine repair shop in Manchester, New Hampshire under false pretenses. Frank is clearly the alpha dog in his pack. It seems he’s brought the two friends together to repair an ancient rift between his two besties; a ridiculous kerfuffle over a pack of cough drops.

Packie is unemployed sad-sack who lives in his grandmother’s basement. Swaino works in a warehouse, but parties like a playboy. He contends that the secret to his youthful appearance is sleeping with younger women. He insists, “Don’t date ‘em over 26.” He struts and preens all over the garage.

Frank, however, has issues of his own. He’s a divorced dad with a high school age daughter named Crystal. He also has some deep-seated anger management issues.

The old friends hilariously bicker, joke and cajole one another like old friends often do, but then the story takes an ominous turn when Chad (Casey Cott) walks in. Chad believes he’s there to sell the older guys Ecstasy. Chad recants a story about his shenanigans at his fraternity and suddenly the plot twists and turns in a frightening way.

A wry wink at modern technology throws an unexpected wrench (pun intended) into the inner workings into “Small Engine.”

Director Richard Keitel does excellent work with very talented actors. He skillfully moves the actors around the grimy garage.

Griffin, straight from his run as a disturbed Kenneth in City Theatre’s “A Night Alive,” is the voice of reason in this psychodrama (emphasis on psycho). He tosses around utterly vulgar dialogue as if each dirty word was a Wildean bon mot. There’s a great moment when Griffin transforms from cock of the walk to chicken and the transition is seamless and hilarious.

Meanwhile, King is endowed with all the attributes that make him perfect to play Packie (a you-had-to-be-there pun).

Cott’s Chad is a smaller but equally important role. He gives off the perfect preppie vibe, and it’s easy to feel the terror in his heart when his life is threatened later in the play.

Jordan’s rage-fueled Frank is terrific. The actor wore many additional hats. He is also the creative director, set and costume designer. He exceeds in each endeavor. The cast is appropriately attired, especially Jordan in grease monkey overalls and Cott in Izod and chinos. The set is reminiscent of every small business repair shop.

Even though cyberbullying and misogyny are integral aspects of the plot, Pollono wrote a show for an all white, all male cast. It would be nice to have some more diversity, especially in Braddock. But it’s a rare show that can make you laugh hysterically, terrify you, and bring you back to laughter two minutes later. “Small Engine Repair” is firing on all pistons.

“Small Engine Repair” runs through December 6 at the barebones black box theater at 1215 Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA 15104. For more information, click here.

– MB

November 16, 2015November 19, 2015

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s This Weekend (11/19 – 11/21)

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Start your engines

Former high school buddies Frank, Swaino and Packie – now past their prime – meet off-hours one in Frank’s repair shop under cloudy circumstances in barebones production’s “Small Engine Repair.” Get your motor running up to 1211 Braddock Avenue, Braddock, PA 15104 to catch all the excitement. For mreo information, click here.

Play on Words

Alan Olifson has met a lot of storytellers. He’s bringing them up on stage to tell their stories with a live soundtrack in “Word Play.” Find him, Siovhan Christensen, Parag S. Gohel, Adam Tobias, and Tami Dixon at the Bricolage, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Light ‘em up!

Friday, November 20 is Light Up Night in Pittsburgh. Watch the lights go up on Pittsburgh throughout the night. There’s jazz, fireworks, Santa Clause and so much more. For a full schedule of events, click here.

No plans?

Unplanned Comedy is planning on bringing lots of joy in 2016 with two new projects Unplanned TV, a screening of television pilots created by Pittsburghers, and Cinebrain, a live game show that will test your knowledge of film. Find out more about both projects at the Unplanned TV Launch Party, Saturday November 21 at Hambones, 4207 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. For more information, click here.

Misguided

Monty Navarro is planning some serious shenanigans. He’s planning on getting his inheritance any way he can in “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” part of PNC’s Broadway in Pittsburgh series. Get your guide to all the action at the Benedum Center, 7^th Street between Liberty and Penn, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.