'Burgh Vivant

April 21, 2014

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli – Pittsburgh’s Top 5 To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (4/24 – 4/27)

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant Contributor.

Ink-a-Dink-A Doo

A love-starved Manhattanite husband and wife struggle to satisfy their childlike desire to “Have it all” during the 80s. They hire Inky, a young Slavic Nanny who is obsessed with Muhammad Ali. Complications ensue

Have a spot of “Inky” at the Off the Wall Theater, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA opening this weekend.

www.insideoffthewall.com

Slowly, I turned

Quickly head to “Slowly” it’s the last weekend to see the Howard Barker play about four women waiting for the arrival of conquering in their besieged city.

The 45 minute play is from the Alarum Theatre stars Jenny Malarkey, Amanda Montoya, Cynthia Sulemana and Lauryn Thomas. The event takes place outside but rain dates will be announced if necessary.

“Slowly” is at Scheneley Park’s Flagstaff Hill. For more information, go here: alarumtheatre@gmail.com.

Orpheus Descends into Pittsburgh

Philip Glass is putting an operatic twist on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice in “Orphee.” This new twist on a myth is presented by the Pittsburgh Opera. Say “Twist on a myth” three times fast, I double-dog dare you.

You can see and hear “Orphee” in all of its melodic beauty at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue.

For more information, go to www.pittsburghopera.org

Math is Hard

The Prime Stage Theater will perform select scenes from “The Devil’s Arithmetic,” an adaptation based on the book by Jane Yolen.

Subtract yourself from the couch and add yourself to the audience of “The Devil’s Arithmetic” on Saturday night at the Carnegie Library, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh.

For more information, call 412-622-3151 or www.carnegielibrary.org

Serious music

German born clarinetist Susanne Ortner is an internationally acclaimed in klezmer music. Over seven years ago, Susanne left her home country to collaborate with Holocaust Survivors in Pittsburgh and delve deeper into their music. Ortner will be telling her story through music, with the accompaniment of Walt Mahovlich, an accomplished accordionist.

Ortner will play Saturday April 24 at the Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh, PA.

For more information, contact the Andy Warhol at www.warhol.org

– MB.

April 14, 2014

Review – PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, Pittsburgh Playhouse Conservatory Theatre Company

The Playboy of the Western World is a riot!

by Michael Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant contributor

In 1907, when it was first performed, “The Playboy of the Western World” evoked a riot. Sinn Fein leader Arthur Griffith said, “A vile and inhuman story told in the foulest language we have ever listened to from a public platform!” Luckily, when Kim Martin directs this version of John Millington Synge’s classic play it only induced a riot…of laughter.

Ashton Guthrie, Jenny Lester, Kyle Coughlin, and Nick McDonough. Photo by Jeff Swensen.

A young strapping lad, Christy Mahon (Nik Duggan) swaggers into town with a ghastly tale. He claims to have murdered his own father. Do the locals hoist him from his own petard? No. They embrace him as a hero. Clearly, County Mayo, in Ireland’s lonesome west, is full of oddballs. Michael James Flaherty (Drew Palajsa) calls him, “A daring fellow is the jewel of the world,” and puts the alleged murderer in his daughter’s charge.

Margaret “Pegeen Mike” Flaherty (Amanda Lee Hawkins) is enamored of the mysterious stranger. Unfortunately, every woman in the County from the borders of Sligo to Galway takes a shine to the Christy.

Pegeen’s biggest rival for Christy’s affections is the Widow Quinn (Jenny Lester), who has agreed to snatch Christy out of Pegeen’s arms, as a favor for the mousy and meek Shawn Keogh (Corwin Stoddard), who has his own plans of matrimony for Pegeen.

Christy learns of the women vying for his affection and says, “It’s great luck and company I’ve won me in the end of time — two fine women fighting for the likes of me — till I’m thinking this night – wasn’t I a foolish fellow not to kill my father in the years gone by.”

Laughter ensues. Actually, things get riotous on stage, especially when the alleged corpse Old Mahon (Ashton Guthrie) comes to town with a giant bump on his noggin. Apparently the reports of his death his death were greatly exaggerated.

It took superb acting skills and a deftly directed cast to pull off the humor from the nearly two-hundred year old play. Martin makes it work. Duggan is charismatic in the role of Christy. Aye, Hawkins is a comely lass; with excellent acting chops. Lester simultaneously villainous and affable, it’s a rare feat.

The dialogue is spoken in an Irish brogue as thick as Mulligan Stew, but the cast pulls it off effortlessly. Mind, it was a bit too much for some audience members, who fled before intermission. Philistines! The language might be difficult, but it’s worth it. We haven’t abandoned Shakespeare because he was challenging, why should we not afford an Irishman the same courtesy we afford an Englishman?

It’s an amazing cast in a spectacular production. One quibble; “The Playboy of the Western World,” has a truncated run thanks to the Easter holiday.

The play is funny, then dark, then funny again. If there were any more complaints about the show, it would be the ending, but this is a spoiler free zone! When the run is over, come back and discuss in the comments section below.

In the words of Sara Tansey (Sophia Grosso), “Drink a health to the wonders of the western world, the pirates, preachers, poteen-makers, with the jobbing jockies; parching peelers, and the juries fill their stomachs selling judgments of the English law.”

Raise your glass! Then, get yourself down to the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s Conservatory Theatre’s Rauh Theatre, 222 Craft Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information go to: www.Pittsburghplayhouse.com

April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

Young playwright / theatre artist premiers “Darling” work at Pittsburgh Fringe Festival

The Darling Core, a new original piece by Scranton based theatre artist Conor A. O’Brien will premiere at The Pittsburgh Fringe Festival. The Darling Core is a dark comedy which strives to capture the magic and mystery of the early 20th century vaudeville stage – with great modern conventions and liberties taken. The piece reveals the inner tensions and tragedies of Adam (portrayed by playwright Conor O’Brien) and Lilith (portrayed by Simone Daniel), a strange remnant of a long gone era of theatre as they try to remain interesting to the world and tolerable to each other. It delves into the twisted and often cynical lives of performers and focuses upon the two things they so desperately crave – a loud voice and a quiet audience.

Conor O’Brien and Simone Daniel in The Darling Core.

Conor O’Brien has served as the performing arts director for The Vintage, an award winning visual/performing arts space in downtown Scranton, PA for over five years. Conor co-founded The Vintage in January 2009 at the age of seventeen and has been so (undeservedly) fortunate to work with countless artists and performers on both the local and national scale since the organizations inception. An actor and arts administrator by trade Conor O’Brien has served as an assistant within Manhattan under the historic Living Theatre as well as production intern for The Debate Society’s Blood Play (Under The Radar Festival 2013, The Public Theatre).

The Darling Core will premier May 10th in conduction with The Pittsburgh Fringe Festival. All performances of The Darling Core will be held at:

Boys & Girls Club Upper Theatre, 6 Brownell Street
May 10th at 4:00 pm, Sunday May 11th at 2:10 pm and 7:30 pm.

For tickets and information on other fringe events please go to: http://pghfringe.org/

April 14, 2014April 17, 2014

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli – Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (4/17 – 4/20)

Here’s the list of Five Fun Things to do this weekend in Pittsburgh, April 17 – 20. Hop to it, it’s Easter weekend!

Oh Candida!

A romantic tug of war ensues between a practical husband and a passionate poet in “Candida.” Ted Pappas directs this classic George Bernard Shaw work at the Pittsburgh Public Theater April 17 through May 18

The Pittsburgh Public Theater, 521 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh

For more information call 412-316-1600 or click www.PPT.org

Eggs and the birds that lay them

Here’s an eggscellent idea for Easter! Go to the National Aviary’s Eggstravaganza this weekend. You can get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny and there’s an egg hunt included in the price of admission. Can you think of a better place to hunt for eggs than in a sanctuary filled with birds that lay them?

The National Aviary, 700 Arch Street, North Side, Pittsburgh.

Call 412-323-7235 or click www.aviary.org

Dancing Shoes

April 17 19 you can see the Point Park dance students in the Conservatory Dance Company will be performing dances from Martha Graham, George Balanchine, David Parsons and Dwight Rhoden at the Byham, 101 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh

For more information, go to www.pittsburghplayhouse.com

Wine Walk

Stroll along the avenues of downtown, see the architecture and taste the wine. It’s the Architecture Walk and Wine Tasting on Saturday April 19 from 2-5.

After the walk, enjoy a wine tasting paired with appetizers at the Capital Grille. Reservations are required.

For more information, click on www.ventureoutdoors.org

Cabaret!

Saturday, April 19 you have a chance to see the sexy and daring firewall dance troupe, two talented vocalists, Rebecca Covert and Alison Cahill, and the always hilarious Burgh Vivant himself, Brian Edward at the Cabaret at Off the Wall Theater.

You can come to the Cabaret at the Off the Wall Theater, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie.

For more information click on www.Insideoffthewall.com

(Special thanks go out to my theater wife, Lonnie the Theater Lady, for the assist in compiling this week’s list)

-MB.

April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

‘Burgh Vivant host Brian Edward guest interviews on WRITING ON THE FLOOR

This week, ‘Burgh Vivant Host and Executive Producer Brian Edward guest interviewed on WRITING ON THE FLOOR, hosted by Zach Simons. Both hosts get amusingly off topic, veering into classic film, animation, Batman, and Brian Edward’s upcoming production of AMISH BURLESQUE FEATURING GOODY PLENTY & THE AMLETS.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE.

And… see both Writing on the Floor and ‘Burgh Vivant featured in NEXT PITTSBURGH.

April 11, 2014

The Silk Screen Film Festival Set to Kick Off Its Ninth Year

The ninth annual Silk Screen Film Festival 2014 will begin on Saturday, April 26th, and runs through Sunday, May 4th. The 2014 Festival features 25 feature length films from all over Asia and the Middle East, as well as two shorts.

There will be 47 screenings at 4 locations in the city: the Regent Square Theater, the Melwood Screening Room, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s Earth Theater, and the new location this year is the Waterworks Cinemas, which will host one screening of “Jadoo” on Thursday, May 1^st at 7:00 p.m.

To kick off the festival, Silk Screen will host a star-studded Gala of lively entertainment and ethnic cuisine on Friday, April 25th, 6:30 p.m. at the Rivers Club in Oxford Center. The Late Night Gala, new this year for the younger crowd, will begin at 9:30 p.m. with Pittsburgh’s hottest D.J, Pandemic Pete.

The Opening Film “Omar” is one of the 2014’s Academy Award Nominated Films for Best Foreign Film directed by Hany Abu-Assad. It is the first time Silk Screen presents a film from Palestine, a region of endless warfare hoping for peace. On Sunday May 4th, the Film Festival will end with “Morning Recipe”, a touching film delivering family love and motive for life. Documentaries, animation, and remake of a previous Best Picture winner are all on the slate for the 2014 Silk Screen Festival, offering those interested in experiencing international cinema an even greater opportunity than ever before.

The Opening Film ticket is $20 and the Closing Film is $15 and included an invitation to the closing reception at D’s Six Pax & Dogz. A 4-flim pass for $30 and an 8-film pass for $60 (not valid for Opening or Closing Night Films) are now available at: http://www.showclix.com/event/SilkScreenFilmFestival2014 . Single tickets are $10 each and $5 for students with valid I.D. Scheduled to be shown:

• “A Respectable Family” (Iran) – April 29, 7:00 p.m. & May 2, 7:00 p.m., both at Regent Square Theater : Directed by Massoud Bahkshi, a story about a man’s returning to Iran after twenty-two years in exile, the clash between past and present leaves him with a hazy choice between loyalty and morality.

• “A Time in Quchi” (Taiwan) – April 27, 1:00 p.m. at Melwood & April 30, 2:00 p.m. at Carnegie: a tale about a young boy from Taipei, who is sent to stay with his grandfather in rural Taiwan. In this touching family drama, he learns life lessons and experiences his coming of age.

• “Ankhon Dekhi” (India): 4/27, 1:30 p.m. & 5/3, 4:30 p.m. both at Regent Square Theater: Fresh off last year’s opening film “Midnight’s Children,” Director Rajat Kapoor returns to Silk Screen Film Festival with this daring tale of the spiritual and ontological awakening of an ordinary man.

• “Apur Panchali” (India) – 4/29, 9:00 p.m. & Sun 5/4, 2:00 p.m. both at Regent Square: a real life story inspired by Subir Banerjee, the little child actor who played the iconic role of Apu in Satyajit Ray’s masterpiece Pather Panchali, which even today remains one of the 100 greatest films of all-time.

• “Beyond All Boundaries” (India) – Each screening is paired with the short film Kush, 4/27, 4:30 p.m. & 5/2, 7:00 p.m. both at Melwood : a documentary uses the 2011 Cricket World Cup as a backdrop to thoughtfully contrast the struggles of India with the hardships faced by individuals.

• “Bonta” (China/USA) – 4/27, 2:00 p.m. & 5/1, 6:00 p.m. both at Carnegie: an animated sci-fi adventure film pulls together all the best elements of fantasy storytelling in an adventure that is a joy to watch for audiences of all ages.

• “ Cheong”(South Korea): 4/26, 7:00 p.m. & 4/28, 9:00 p.m. both at Melwood , 5/1, 1:30 PM at Carnegie: Cheong tastefully explores the inner world of a little girl who tries to experience his blind father’s realities.

• “Confession of Murder” (South Korea) – : 4/30, 8 :00 p.m., 5/2, 9:30 p.m. both at Melwood: A handsome young man emerges from nowhere and publishes a revealing biography in which he admits to killing ten women in an infamous series of murders. A detective refuses to believe it and tries to reveal the truth.

• “Garden of Words” (Japan) – Each screening is paired with the short film Cheong. 4/26, 7:00 p.m. & 4/28, 9:00 p.m. both at Melwood : a study in visual poetry and an ode to human connection and discovery.

• “Hank and Asha” (USA) – 4/26, 4:30 p.m.& 5/3, 7:30 p.m. both at Melwood: directed by James E. Duff, a romantic story between Hank and Asha begins with sharing their video diaries despite thousands of miles distance.

• “Hide and Seek” (South Korea) – 4/27, 7:00 p.m. & 5/1, 9:00 p.m. both at Melwood: The film spins the tale of Baek Sung-soo, whose stable life as a successful businessman gets upended when he begins having strange and inexplicable visions.

• “Jadoo” (UK/India) – 4/26,2:00 p.m. at Carnegie & 5/1, 7:00 p.m. at Waterworks : Oscar-nominated cinematographer Amit Gupta presents this lighthearted comedy about food, family and romance.

• “Kush” (India) – 4/27, 4:00 p.m. & 5/2, 6:30 p.m. both at Melwood: A school field trip rapidly goes awry in this short film based on the shocking death of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 and the large-scale ethnic violence tragedy that followed .

• “Liar’s Dice” (India) – 4/27, 4:00 p.m. & 4/30, 7:00 p.m. both at Regent Square” : depicts a story of a dedicated wife from a rural village facing the horrible realization that her husband is missing and no one will help her find him.

• “Mourning Recipe” Closing Film (Japan) – 5/4, 5:00 p.m.: What starts out as a simple family melodrama develops into a meditation on family, connection, grief, and ultimately- healing.

• “Norte, The End of History” (Philippines) – 5/3, 2:00 p.m. at Melwood: When a brutal murder shatters a small Filipino town, the police wrongfully arrest impoverished family man Joaquin. What follows is a harrowing tale of suffering and brutality, as well as a philosophical consideration of crime and its far-reaching consequences.

•“Omar” Opening Film (Palestine/Belgium) – 4/26, 7:00 p.m. at Regent Square : In Palestine’s first Oscar nominated film; all is fair in love and war. No film in recent memory unpacks this cynical, familiar sentiment with as much gusto and truth as Omar.

• “Red Obsession” (Australia) – 5/1, 6:30 p.m. & Sun 5/4, 2:00 p.m. both at Melwood: Narrated by Russell Crowe, this documentary is a fascinating study about the world of fine wine and a cautionary lesson in global markets.

• “Sake-Bomb” (USA/Japan) – 5/1, 9:30 p.m., 5/3, 9:30 p.m. both at Regent Square: Sake-Bomb uses the road movie tradition as a vehicle to examine the dynamic relationship between two very different individuals who find that they may share much more than is immediately apparent.

• “The Haumana” (USA) – 4/29, 6:00 p.m. at Melwood, 5/4, 3:00 p.m. at Carnegie: depicts not only a beautiful tropical paradise we typically associate with the Hawaiian Islands of our imagination but explores local values as embodied in the hula tradition.

• “Things Left Behind” (USA/Japan/Canada) – 5/2, 2:00 p.m. & 5/3, 2:00 p.m. both at Carnegie: This unique documentary is a collaboration between photographer Miyako Ishiuchi and filmmaker Linda Hoaglund stands as their mutual commitment to shattering the imagery of the Japanese as victims of a holocaust.

• “Touch of the Light” (Taiwan) – 4/28, 7:00 p.m. at Melwood, 5/1, 1:30p.m. at Carnegie-The short film Cheong will be shown as part of this screening: based on a remarkable true story, born visually impaired, Siang is a talented real-life pianist who has been accepted by a prestigious art college is experiencing the journey towards dream

• “Trap Street” (China) – 4/29, 8:30p.m. at Melwood, 5/3, 7:00 p.m. at Regent Square: What begins as a simple story of boy-meets-girl, Trap Street takes us into a rabbit hole. more sinister implications begin to arise as the boy becomes unwittingly tangled in the web of lies and deceit.

• “Unforgiven” (Japan) – 4/26, 9:30p.m. & 4/28 7:30p.m. at Regent Square: Jubei Kamata (Ken Watanabe) brings swords to a gunfight in this highly anticipated Japanese adaptation of Clint Eastwood’s 1992 Best Picture Winner Unforgiven.

• “Why Don’t You Play in Hell?” (Japan) – 5/2, 9:30 p.m. at Regent Square, 5/3, 9:30 p.m. at Melwood : The ambitious, yet wildly untalented, amateur film-making crew discover they may be able to shoot a gang war between rival Yakuza factions that’s been brewing for a decade.

• “With You, Without You” (Sri Lanka) – 4/26, 4:30 p.m. , 4/30, 9:15 p.m. both at Regent Square : A chance encounter between a lonely pawnbroker and his beautiful but shy patron in post-war Sri Lanka quickly leads to romance, but as the two spend time together it becomes increasingly clear that issues from their varied pasts create a struggle to coexist in the present.

• “Zinda Bhaag” (Pakistan) – 5/1, 7:00 p.m. & 5/3, 2:00 p.m. at Regent Square: a drama of three friends Khaldi, Chitta and Tambi literally beg, borrow, and steal to get by in their everyday lives while they look westward for something more than mere existence.

April 8, 2014

The “Buzz” From Buzzelli – Pittsburgh’s Top 5 To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (4/10 – 4/13)

Here are the Top Five things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend, April 10 through 13. There are a lot of balls this week.

Ball One

A bunch of LGBT organizations get together and have a kiki. Garden of Peace, GLSEN Pittsburgh, True T Entertainment and Will Gee’s Fashion present “Living Out Loud! The Kiki Ball.” They’ll be making some noise to celebrate the National Day of Silence (wait, what?). Actually the Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment.

Kick things up to high gear (and high fashion) and enjoy a fashion show and ball. It’s all happening Friday, April 11 at the Andy Warhol Museum (where else), 117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh.

www.gardenofpeaceproject.org/april-extravagayza.html

Ball Two

It’s the biggest ball of the all, y’all. Attack Theatre’s getting dirty again. It’s the Dirty Ball. There will be performances, beats by Title Town Soul & Funk Party, art installations, fashions, throw-downs libations and cocktail fare.

Get dirty on Saturday April 12, at the Jane Street Warehouse, 2120 Jane Street, South Side, Pittsburgh.

“Don’t wear anything too…complicated.” – King Louis in “History of the World, Part II”

Ball Three

This time we’re looking at Quantum Theatre’s Jay Ball (by way of a Michel de Ghelderode classic) with “Pantagleize.” Ball takes the 1931 play out for a spin, adding some wild new concepts. A secret password could bring down a dictator. You’ll “Howl” when you hear Ball’s take (that’s a hint).

Pantagleize opens April 11 at the Lexington Technology Center, 400 North Lexington Street, Point Breeze. For more information, go to www.quantumtheatre.com/season/Pantagleize

Ball three and no one walks.

Strindberg Variations

Red Masquers is celebrating acclaimed Swedish playwright and novelist August Strindberg with a night of one-acts. See “Stronger” and “Playing with Fire.”

X meets Y on Christmas Eve in “Stronger” and a love triangle breaks out on an island in the Swedish archipelago in high summer in “Playing with Fire.”

Catch the Strindberg One Acts at the Peter Mills Auditorium, Rockwell Hall, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh.

http://www.duqredmasquers.com

Wiggin Out

Unplanned comedy has a special guest and we’re wiggin’ out about it. WTAE news anchor Sally Wiggin is coming to the Union Pig and Chicken to be the Mondo (a monologist who comes up with a monologue on the spot). A group of talented improvisers will take her off-the-cuff speech and create comedy from with it.

Go for it, Sally!

It’s all Unplanned Comedy April 12 at The Union Pig and Chicken, 220 N. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA

For additional details go to the Unplanned Comedy Facebook page, here; https://www.facebook.com/events/1480614118833339/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

-MB

April 4, 2014April 4, 2014

Conservatory Dance Company at the Byham Theater showcases work by visionary, internationally acclaimed choreographers

PITTSBURGH – Point Park University’s Conservatory Dance Company continues its acclaimed tradition of featuring the work of some of the most visionary and internationally recognized choreographers with the Conservatory Dance Company at the Byham Theater, April 17-19.

The performances begin at 8 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, at the Byham Theater, Sixth Street, downtown. Tickets are $18-20, and are available by calling the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412.392.8000 or at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com.

This year’s curated evening of dance offers a sampling of styles from choreographers George Balanchine, Martha Graham, David Parsons and Dwight Rhoden.

Choreographed by Balanchine in 1934, Serenade was staged for the Conservatory Dance Company by Joysanne Sidimus. The Russian-born Balanchine, who died in 1983, is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet. His more than 400 works of dance include Serenade, The Nutcracker, Orpheus, Symphony in Three Movements and Vienna Waltzes.

Miki Orihara stages Graham’s Steps in the Street, an excerpt from Chronicle. The program note from its 1936 premiere at the Guild Theatre in New York said, “Chronicle does not attempt to show the actualities of war; rather, by evoking war’s images, it sets forth the fateful prelude to war, portrays the devastation of the spirit which it leaves in its wake, and suggests an answer.”

Parsons’ Wolfgang was commissioned by and created for the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in 2005. Staged by Elizabeth Koeppen, it features Mozart’s Symphony No. 25. Parsons was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company, where Taylor created many roles for Parsons in works such as Arden Court, Last Look and Roses. The New York Times called Parsons “one of the great movers of modern dance.”

Gary W. Jeter II stages Rhoden’s work, Mercy. Called “one of the most sought out choreographers of the day” by The New York Times, Rhoden has performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal and as a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In 1994, he and Desmond Richardson founded Complexions Contemporary Ballet and, together, have brought their unique brand of contemporary dance to the world for two decades.

March 31, 2014March 31, 2014

The “Buzz” from Buzzelli – Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (4/3 – 4/6)

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant contributor.

Here is the list of the Top Five things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend from April 3 to April 6.

Dress to Kill

Start your weekend early with a diva. Cher is at the Consol Energy Center. Chances are you probably already have your tickets, but it’s not too late. Besides, Pat Benetar is also going to be there. It’s a real blast from the past. It’s the Dress to Kill tour with Cher, Pat Benetar and Neil Giraldo.

Get your groove on at Consol Energy Center, 1001 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh.

For more information, go to www.consolenergycenter.com/events/detail/cher

Catch the Bus

See six new 10 minute plays written by playwrights who have to take a 90 minute bus ride around the city of Pittsburgh. In 24 hours the plays are written, directed and performed. It’s the annual Bricolage Urban Scrawl (B.U.S.)Friday and Saturday at the New Hazlett Theater.

Join Dixon, Carpenter and Pittsburgh’s power couple, Marie and Jeff Stapinski at BUS 8. They promise it’s going to be an amazing ride.

The bus stops at the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square E, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

For more information, go to www.bricolagepgh.org/events/bus-9

Comb Out

Kim El will also be telling great personal stories in a performance that combines spoken word, songs and poetry in “Straightening Combs.” Kim promises to take the audience on a intimate journey as seen through the eyes of an African American woman coming of age in Pittsburgh’s Hill District.

You can find “Straightening Combs” at the Off The Wall Theater, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie. For more information go to www.pittsburghtheaterrental.com/straightening-combs

Living Dangerously

Come out for John McIntire’s Dangerously Live Comedy Show at the Cabaret Theater in Theater Square. McIntire will be joined by Pittsburgh’s newest, trendiest columnist, Natalie Bencivenga, Tech Entrepreneur Kit Mueller, Cops Spokesperson Sonya Toler and charming young Councilman Dan Gilman.

They will pit old Pittsburgh against New Pittsburgh. It’s a battle of Yinzers vs. Yuppies. May the best man win, n’nat.

On April 5, you can catch all the excitement of the live show at the Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.

For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/event/3303/the-john-mcintire-dangerously-live-comedy-talk-show

Paint the town

Paint the town and your own body at the 4th annual Pittsburgh Holi Festivities and have a huge color party! Plus learn Masala Bhangra dancing, enjoy amazing music, eat some incredible food and have loads of fun!

DJ Pandemic Pete back will take requests if you message him at @pandemicpgh.

Join the fun on April 5 on Flagstaff Hill, Frew Street and Scheneley Drive, across from Phipps .

For more information, email them at crypittsburgh@gmail.com

BONUS EVENT

Bingo Night

Pittsburgh icons Barbara Russell and Bingo O’Malley perform a one-night-only staged reading of
“What’ll we do about Sue?”

As Russell herself explained on a recent episode of Burgh Viviant, “I get all the glamour roles. I play a homeless lady.”

It’s a fundraiser for the 24 annual New Works Festival, and its wicked funny. There will be a talk back with Bingo and Barbara after the performance hosted by Burgh Vivant’s Brian Edward.

“What’ll we do about Sue?” is at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Blvd. Carnegie, PA.

For details, check out www.pittsburghnewworks.org

March 31, 2014

JUSTICE prevails: JUDGE JACKIE extended two weeks

Pittsburgh, PA • March 31, 2014 – Due to popular demand, Judge Jackie Justice – The Trials of Love has been extended at the CLO Cabaret through May 11. The show was previously scheduled to close on April 27. Tickets for all added performances will go on sale tomorrow, April 1.

About the Show
It’s Court TV meets SPRINGER!
The musical courtroom of Judge Jackie Justice is now in session at the CLO Cabaret. Behold “real” cases involving zombies, spaceships, furries and more! TV’s hottest Judge relishes in ruling on the personal affairs of people just like you, but what happens when the tables are turned? You won’t “object” to this brand new musical comedy with book and music by award-winning songwriters Kooman and Dimond, conceived and directed by Van Kaplan.

WATCH/LISTEN: ‘Burgh Vivant interview with actress Kara Mikula, JUDGE JACKIE JUSTICE

Performance Schedule

Wednesdays	7:30pm
Thursdays	1:00pm* & 7:30pm
Fridays	7:30pm
Saturdays	2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sundays	2:00pm

*With optional buffet at the CLO Cabaret on April 24

Tickets
Tickets range from $34.75-$44.75 and will be available online at CLOCabaret.com, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more can call the Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 to learn more about special discounts, priority seating and corporate discounts. Visit pittsburghCLO.org for more information.

Media members may also access photos by visiting the Press Room at pittsburghCLO.org. When prompted, simply enter “pressroom” as the username and “pittstadium” as the password.