Tag: Culture

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of February 19 – 22.

 

Don’t Stop the Motion

Alexis Gideon and a team of artistic collaborators present the world premiere of The Crumbling, a 21 minute narrative stop-motion animated opera that combines projected video with live music.  Follow the trials of an apprentice librarian as she tries to save her city from crumbling down around her. I’m picturing Burgess Meredith and some broken spectacles, but I suspect it will be far different from that.  It starts, stops, and starts again at the New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh (North Side).  For more information, go to http://newhazletttheater.org/

 

Johnny Dangerously

John McIntire is about to get dangerous again. He’ll be talking about the First Amendment with panelists; Post-Gazette cartoonist Rob Rogers, ACLU dude Vic Walczak and Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner in the Freedom of Speech episode of the Dangerously Live Talk Show at the Cabaret Theater in Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to https://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/event/3303/the-john-mcintire-dangerously-live-comedy-talk-show

 

Bet on Black

Race to the Coffin Comedy presents Comedy Roulette: Comedy with a Catch, featuring Jesse Irvin, Shannon Norman, Molly Sharrow, Holly Price, Ed Bailey, and Hosted by John Dick Winters at Club Café, 56-58 12^th Street, Pittsburgh (South Side) on Friday, February 22. For more information, go to ttp://www.ticketweb.com/clubcafe

 

Downtown!

PICT kicks off its new season of plays with its new Downtown Series with Lissa Brennan’s “For the Tree to Drop.” February 19 – 28, 2015 at The Peirce Studio inside the Trust Arts Education Center, 805 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222  For more information, go to http://www.picttheatre.org/2015/02/10/for-the-tree-to-drop-is-a-breath-taking-world-premiere-by-a-pittsburgh-playwright/

 

Roll Over, Beethoven

Huzzah! This weekend it’s Beethovenfest: the Hero! Conducter Manfred Honeck brings you the music of Beethoven “Heroic” middle period, including symphony No. 3 in E-Flat major, Opus 55, and “Eroica.” It’s the second of three Beethoven symphonies from each of the three important periods of his life.  You’ll find beautiful music at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Downtown). For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/40185/beethovenfest-the-hero

 

– MB.

 

 

 

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh this week (February 12 – 15)

 

Primed for love

On Valentine’s Day, Prime Stage Theatre has “A night of Love Stories and Songs” in their new studio at 840 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA. Not only will you hear songs and love stories, there’s giving a romantic gift basket for two at the event, so you won’t even have to buy your honey a gift, other than theater tickets. For more information, go to http://primestage.com/shows_and_tickets/2nd_stage.html

 

Grin and Bare it

Robert Morris University Colonial Theatre presents “Bare: A Pop Opera” a musical about the coming-of-age story of five high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school. Feb. 11 through the 15 at Massey Hall, RMU’s Moon Campus, 6001 University Blvd. Moon Township, PA. For more information, go to http://studentlife.rmu.edu/colonial-theatre

 

Three-in-One

It’s “(Yet Another) Evening of One Acts” with Stage Right. Three one act plays by local playwrights will be performed at the Boyd Community Center, 1220 Powers Run Road, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to http://www.stagerightboyd.org/

 

Chaste Around

Moll Yellowhammer loves Torchwood (not the “Doctor Who” spinoff), but sadly, she is engaged to Sir Walter Whorehound in “A Chaste Maid in Cheapside.” I’m going just for the names! It’s a night of romantic intrigues and betrayals at Duquesne University’s Peter Mills Theater (Inside Rockwell Hall), 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://www.duqredmasquers.com/#!current-production/c13sl

 

Three Little Maids are We…

If you think Yellowhammer and Whorehound are strange names, meet Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo. The Pittsburgh Savoyards conclude their 77^th season with Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.” It happens at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie. For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghsavoyards.org/wordpress/

 

-MB.

 

 

Pittsburgh, February 4, 2015 – Patrick Jordan, The Post-Gazette’s Performer of the Year in 2014, and founder of barebones productions is being recognized by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh for his years of dedication to the community and its cultural enrichment. Since Mr. Jordan founded barebones productions in 2003, he has consistently shown a dedication to the growth of local theater artists by producing challenging, thought provoking, and most of all entertaining plays in an effort to attract young, new theater audiences.

WATCH/LISTEN: ‘Burgh Vivant’s interview with Patrick Jordan – Founder and Artistic Director, barebones productions.

Mr. Jordan was inspired to start his own production company after he did not see what he thought needed to be seen on Pittsburgh stages. Mr. Jordan has said, around the time he started barebones, “there were a lot of plays and playwrights that had been looked over and I didn’t want a generation of Pittsburgh Theatre goers to miss out on them.”  Since he started barebones, Jordan has become one of the most successful theater professionals in Pittsburgh.

In 2014, Mr. Jordan and barebones productions put on two plays, both of which were named as 2014’s best productions by the Post-Gazette. In Steady Rain, Patrick Jordan paired with David Whalen for the challenging drama about two Chicago cops, who were originally played on Broadway by Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. To round out 2014’s stellar year, he and barebones put on the iconic play, A Streetcar Named Desire, which is barebones most intricate production in its 11 year history

In May 2015, barebones productions will mount the Pittsburgh premiere of Miki Johnson’s American Falls in Braddock on the same site as Kevin Sousa’s new restaurant, Superior Motors.

 Mr. Jordan has been conducting workshops, leading public art projects, and has appeared in speaking and teaching engagements locally and nationally. Patrick Jordan has dedicated his life and company to promoting the arts in Pittsburgh. For these reasons, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh declares Tuesday, February 10, 2015, to be “Patrick Jordan Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh in the last week of January.

 

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

Start your weekend really, really early…i.e. Monday January 26. See a lively troupe of actors from Pittsburgh’s Shakespeare in the Park will read monologues from William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Brush up your Shakespeare, because audience participation is welcome. Get thee to “Bring Your Own Bard,” at Te Café, 2000 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghshakespeare.com/

 

A Righteous Babe Returns

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Ani DiFranco comes to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, January 28. You can catch the feminist icon at The Rex, 1602 South Carson Street, Pittsburgh (South Side). For more information, go to http://www.rextheatre.com/

 

Opera Queen

You have only one more weekend to catch Handel’s “Rodelinda” at the CAPA Theater. It’s a classic story of love and betrayal told in Italian with English text. The opera is at the CAPA Theater, 9^th Street & Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh (Downtown). For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/40598/rodelinda

 

I believe in Claude!

It’s the Age of Aquarius in Greensburg this weekend. It’s dawning all over again over there. The rock musical “Hair” opens at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. Talk about a far out show, literally and figuratively! The Greensburg Garden and Civic Center is located at 951 Old Salem road, Greensburg. For more information, go to http://www.splitstage.com/

 

Get out of Jail Free Card

Eisenstein delays his jail sentence one day to attend a fancy ball, and gets into a lot of trouble in Johann Straus II’s opera “Die Fledermaus.” The Undercroft Opera will present the opera this weekend at Carlow College, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh (Oakland). For more information, go to http://www.undercroftopera.org/community/die-fledermaus/

 

-MB.

 

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of January 23 – 25.

 

Circus: Part One

King Charlemagne has a son he can’t control. That kid is “Pippin,” and they made a Broadway play about the boy who wanders the wild world in search of his own corner of the sky. It’s a high-flying, death defying musical. “Pippin” is at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/41419/pippin

 

Circus: Part Two

The Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow comes to town on Friday, January 23. It’s a mix of music, freak show, dancing, sword swallowing, aerial, burlesque and body modification.  There’s no big tent, it’s at the Smiling Moose, 1306 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh’s Southside. For more information, go to http://www.smiling-moose.com/

 

Rain in Spain

Henry Higgins beats the Bravo to the punch and performs the first makeover in “My Fair Lady.” It’s the return of a Broadway favorite at the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/40792/my-fair-lady

 

Joy Boy

A Harlem community is disrupted when the Chinese immigrant’s shoe repair shop doesn’t open its doors in “Mr. Joy.” It goes down at the City Theater, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh’s Southside.  For more information, go to http://www.citytheatrecompany.org/

 

Heating up

Michele Bensen and the Bensen Burners return to Carnegie in “Turn up the heat,” a sizzling night of jazz. Bensen and company turn up the heat to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Musical hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie on Saturday January 24 at 8:00 pm.  For more information, go to http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/

 

– MB.

 

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of January 15 to January 18.

 

Pilot Season

The No Name Players are back with some big names in local theater! Tressa Glover, Julianne Avolio and Maggie Carr team up for the pilot in the “The Sisters Sorella: A Live Sitcom” on January 16. Three Italian sisters share one apartment. Glover and her No Name Players are launching this live sitcom event with live music and commercials.  It all happens live at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to http://arcadecomedytheater.com/

 

Important People

Get your rock on, with The Meeting of Important People and Lohio at the Thunderbird Café. It’s a reunion show for Lohio. The show is presented by Hughshows and there will be special guests, sing-alongs and more (including a guest set by the Wreckids).  Party with important people at the Thunderbird Café, 4023 Butler Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville)  http://www.showclix.com/event/MeetingOfImportantPeopleLOhio

 

Family Rate

Steve Solomon’s one mane show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy” comes to the Byham Theater on January 17 & 18. Take your parents and yell, “We were just like this!” after the show. It’s at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh (Downtown). For more information, go to http://www.trustarts.org/

 

Look Again

You have a few days left to go see Sebastian Errazuirz’s first solo museum exhibition at the Carnegie Museum. He’s show “Sebastian Errazuriz: Look Again” closes on January 19. In the show, the artist takes common everyday items and repurposes them into art; a discarded taxidermy duck becomes a desk lamp, a coffin becomes a motor boat, etc. You can view the collection at the Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh (Oakland).  For more information, go to http://www.cmoa.org/ExhibitionDetail.aspx?id=22221

 

Good Fridays

Each Friday in January The Andy Warhol Museum is free after 5:00 pm. Go see the multicolored Mao’s, the silver balloons, and all the wonderful weirdness of Andy Warhol for free. It’s a good deal, and a good deal of fun.  Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh (North Side). For more information about exhibits and such, go to http://www.warhol.org/museum/

 

-MB.

 

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are Five Fun Things to do the week of January 7 to 11.

 

 Close by

Seven artists use photography to explore different notions about home as a physical place with deep emotional connections in “Close to Home,” at the Silver Eye. January 10 is the last day of the show, so don’t miss it! It’s at the Silver Eye Center for Photography, 1015 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://silvereye.org/

 

Twelfth Night

The 16^th Annual Twelfth Night Gala takes place Saturday, January 10. The event pays homage to one of the greatest patrons of the arts, Louis XIV, upon the 300^th anniversary of his death. Enjoy the sumptuous cuisine of E2 and the delicious libations of Bar Marco all while enjoying the company of fellow revelers and a silent art auction curated by TheAssociated Artists of Pittsburgh. Chatham Baroque will delight the audience with music that echoed through the resplendent halls of Versailles. The party gets going at the Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Center 805-807 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information and tickets, go to: http://www.showclix.com/event/3896984/listing

 

Second City goes Pittsburgh

Pittsburgher’s love references to Pittsburgh. Want to hear a bunch of Chicagoans make fun of Pittsburgh? Go see The Second City show, “N’at’s All Folks!” I’m betting on at least one reference to Primanti’s! The show runs from January 6 to January 10 at the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/42455/the-second-citys-nats-all-folks#tab=buy_tickets&performance=42463

 

Black all over

Comedian Lewis Black is in town on January 10. The comedian is known from his Comedy Central appearances, most notably from “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He’ll bring his rage-infused comedy to Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/43586/lewis-black#tab=buy_tickets&performance=43587

 

Big Gay Show 

Arcade Comedy Theater is welcoming improviser Alex Tracy back to Pittsburgh for special performance at “Argayde.” He will be half of the comedy duo the Pegusluts and he will be performing with LGBTQ*Bert, Pittsburgh’s first all LGBT improv troupe. It’s happening at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://arcadecomedytheater.com

 

-MB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of December 31 – January 4

 

First of the Night

There’s music, comedy, dance and magic at Highmark’s First Night. Ring in 2015 with Arcade Comedyt Theater, Gemini Theater, Belly Dancers, Caricaturists, Tania Grubbs, Joy Ike, River City Brass, Magician Chris Ruggiero, Comedian Aaron Kleiber, the Pirate Parrot and FIREWORKS! Am I the only one who loves fireworks?!? The event takes place all over Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday, December 31 into January 1. For more information, go to http://www.firstnightpgh.org/fest_events/

 

Murder on NYE

If you’re looking for a mystery on New Year’s Eve you can go to the New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Spectacular for an Murder Mystery dinner titled, “It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I want to,” it’s improve, murder and champagne at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 164 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park, PA. For more information, go to http://www.eatdrinkmurder.org/

 

Uproarious

The FireWALL dance troupe is causing an “Uproar” over at the Off the Wall Theater in Carnegie. Choreographer Elisa Marie Alaio and the brand new troupe will be dancing up a storm. There show runs concurrently with “Or” also on the Off the Wall stage. “Uproar” will be performed at a matinee at 3:00 pm on January 3 and an evening show on January 4 at the Off the Wall Theater, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA. For more information, go to http://www.insideoffthewall.com/

 

Motown in town

Berry Gordy goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul in “Motown the Musical.” Gordy helped launch the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Ease on down to Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/41408/motown

 

A Night in the Museum (sort of)

There are two movies about being inside a museum this month, we recommend “The National Gallery.” Critically acclaimed film from master documentarian Frederick Wiseman goes behind the scenes of the National Gallery, a London institution, a museum inhabited by masterpieces of Western art from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century. It is the portrait of a place, its way of working and relations with the world, its staff and public, and its paintings.  Through January 1st at The Harris Theater, Downtown.  www.pghfilmmakers.org

 

– MB.