Tag: Culture

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things To Do in Pittsburgh September 18 to 21.

That Loving Feeling

It’s not too late to see the ceramic work of Pittsburgh native Jeff Schwarz. A solo exhibition of his sculptures are featured in a show titled “Loves You” which opened September 12 at Revision Space, 5262 Butler Street, Pittsburgh PA.  For more information, go to http://www.revisionspace.com

Jazz Hot Baby

The New Hazlett Theatre has a big benefit planned on September 18. Come out for “Salon Noir,” a night with Hammerstep and several local artists. Put on your red shoes and dance at this big gala.  At the New Hazlett Theatre, 6 Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh’s North Side. For tickets head to http://www.showclix.com/event/385346

Jazzin’ up the Joint

When Carnegie celebrates jazz, they really mean it! Join Etta Cox, Michele Bensen and the Don Aliquo Quartet at “Carnegie Celebrates Jazz.” There will be plenty of surprises brought to you by the Carnegie Arts Initiative.  The event takes place Sunday, September 21 at Riley’s Pour House, 215 E. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106.  For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/218988311599075/?fref=ts

The Good Book

The irreverent show about Mormon missionaries is happening at Heinz Hall. South Park maniacs Trey Parker and Matt Stone lampoon a religion and just about everything else in “The Book of Mormon.”  Get into the Missionary position and go see “The Book of Mormon” at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/41992/the-book-of-mormon

Love Potion Number 9

Over at the George R. White Studio of the Pittsburgh Opera, you can see Gaetano Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love.” Opening night, September 19, you can even hit up a happy hour at Wigle Whiskey at their Smallman Street distillery. Besides, everyone knows that alcohol is the true elixir of love.  After happy hour ends, stagger on down to the George R. White Studio, 2425 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA to see the show.  For more information, go to http://www.resonanceworks.org/#!elixir-of-love/c1p9h

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Fun Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of September 11 to 14.

I said Jokes!

Start your weekend early, Wednesday, September 10 at Caliente Pizza and Draft House for the premiere of “Joking Off.” It’s a brand new weekly standup comedy contest. Come out and vote for your favorite comedian as he or she attempts to win $95. Joke off in public at Caliente Pizza and Draft House, 4624 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.  For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/1458863671043810/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Beat it

Thursday September 11, help support a brand new film project. It’s the launch party for “The Beat Goes On,” by Randy Kovitz. Meet filmmakers, winemakers and music makers and help raise funds to get this project from script to screen.  “The Beat Goes On Project Launch and Fundraiser” is located at one of Pittsburgh’s coolest locations, The Pittsburgh Winery, 2815 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.  Click it for a ticket: http://www.showclix.com/event/TheBeatGoesOnLaunch

Wonder Boys

Ever want to see an old television show in person? Friday and Saturday you can see a seated reading of “The Wonder Years.” Instead of Fred Savage and Dan Lauria, the cast has been replaced by Pittsburgh Dad’s Curt Wootton, Comedian Matt Light, Pittsburgh funny lady Missy Moreno and WQED’s Rick Sebak and more!  For more information go to http://arcadecomedytheater.com/

All the World’s a Stage!

The folds at the Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks are taking the line, “All the world’s a stage” to heart! A roving band of actors are playing in parks all around the city. Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 pm you can find them doing “As You Like It” in the Allegheny Commons on the North Side.  For more information, go to www.pittsburghshakespeare.com

Because we love things with Burgh in the title…

Get ready for “Burghlesque” a hot new show featuring drag queens, comedians, dancers, and singers. MadHouse productions and Kierra Darshell, the first lady of Pittsburgh drag, bring you a mash-up cabaret. There’s a little bit of everything in this show. Burlesque dancers Macabre Noir and Lita D’Vargas are real girls ready to tease. Divas of Drag Lady Rose Amore and Anna Steezia will perform, and another real girl (Kelsey Rae Purcell) will sing real songs (and she will sing them expertly). Carl Schimmel will provide some jokes. Darshell and co-host Mike Buzzelli (ahem!) will emcee.  “Burghlesque” is one night only on September 13 at 10:30 pm, and it’s at the Cabaret at Theatre Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. MadHouse Productions combines a mix of the greatest and latest music with a non-stop live entertainment.

-MB.

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do this weekend from September 4 through 7.

Don’t be Doubtless

This week, “Doubt, A Parable,” opens at the Little Lake Theatre. It’s John Patrick Shanley’s play about a priest, who may or may not have sexually abused a boy. I’m on the fence, but I’ll be in the front row.  “Doubt, A Parable” opens September 4 at the Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA 15317. For more information, go to http://www.littlelaketheatre.org/

Get to bed!

“Bedtime Stories: The Summer Lovin’ Storyslam” is back. This time it’s at the Cloakroom. September 4, people will get up and tell sexually explicit (but tasteful) stories about their love life. The event is hosted by Gab Bonesso (always a guaranteed good time). It’s a suggested $5 or $10 donation, but it will be going to benefit Planned Parenthood of Western PA.  The Cloakroom is a brand new venue by our friends who brought us Bar Marco. The Cloakroom is at 5972 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15205.  For more information, check out their Facebook events page HERE.

Punked!

Mondo goes Punk when Chris Barker of Anti-Flag tells stories based on audience suggestion. A group of improvisers will then act out said stories to a live audience. It’s all part of Unplanned Comedy, Saturday, September 6, now at a local LGBT bar in Lawrenceville.  Come down to Cativo, 146 44^th Street, Lawrenceville, 15201 at 10 pm on Saturday and check out all the craziness for yourself.

Unblurred

The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh would like to welcome you to the AAP Curated Exhibit at the Unblurred Art Crawl. Things kick off Friday September 5 at the Most Wanted Fine Art Gallery, 5015 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA.  More information HERE.

Longest Title Award goes to…

“Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme” is coming to PICT Classic Theatre. The play is about the greatest single loss of life in the history of the Irish-infused British army. The battle took place during WWI in 1914. Its gonna be a tear-jerker, so bring your handkerchiefs.  The play opens in preview on September 4, but it runs until September 20^th. Get tickets now. For more information, visit PICT HERE.

And now…a Sixth Thing…

Will Work for Festival!

The 24 annual Pittsburgh New Works Festival opens up Thursday, September 4. See 12 plays for 40 bucks! The New Works runs the length of the month of September, but there are three shows every other night (six on Saturday!).

The Pittsburgh New Works Festival is at the Off The Wall Theater, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, visit http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org/

-MB.

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh, Thursday August 28 through September 1st – Labor Day Weekend!

Moths to a flame

Start your week off early with The Moth Mainstage event! Wednesday, August 27 Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures presents a great night of storytelling with Vanessa German, Cole Kazdin, Richard Price, Horace H.B. Sanders, and Kate Tellers. The event is hosted by Dan Kennedy. You will hear some true stories told well.  For more information, head over to THE MOTH.

Quiet on the set!

Gab Bonesso’s Cheap Date Factory brings “SHHH! A LIVE TALK/GAME SHOW” to Harvard and Highland on Friday August 29.  Hosted by Gab Bonesso and Neal Rosenblat with guests comedian Crissy Costa, Point Park University History Professor Hazel Leroy, the funny Mario Fusca, and anti-bullying curriculum consultant Dorothy Devlin. The contestants have to stay quiet while Gab and Neal try to make them laugh. The audience can laugh as much as they want!  This event is free! Silently march down to Harvard and Highland, 220 N. Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, in single file.  For more information, CLICK HERE.

Sunday Funday

There is one more free Sunday night Staged Reading at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival before the Main Stage events next week.  Come down to this free event and see three short plays, “Roadway to Heaven,” “Shadows,” and “Blowjobs in the Park.”  You can catch the fun at Off the Wall Theater, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie.  For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org/

Pajama Game

Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez AKA the Pajama Men are in town. The comedy duo from Albuquerque, New Mexico comes to Pittsburgh for shows that include sketch comedy and improvisation. The London Times gave these guys five stars! They’re like generals of comedy!  Button up your drop seat and go down to the City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh (South Side).  

Starry Night

Remember the Star Lake Amphitheatre? It’s the First Niagara Pavilion and it’s at the crossroads of Route 18 and Route 22 W, in Burgettstown. Doesn’t Burgettstown seem like a weird place to find Louis CK, Sarah Silverman, Aziz Ansari and Jim Gaffigan? Well, they will be there August 30 for “The Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival” presented by Funny or Die (laugh, don’t die).  Find the oddballs at 665 Route 18, Burgettstown, PA 15021.  Find the full line up and more HERE.

– MB.

by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things To Do in Pittsburgh this weekend, August 22 – 25.

Raw!

The Bricolage is launching two very, very, very new plays. The premise of “Raw (R)evolution” is two acting ensembles, e ach with a writer, director and dramaturg, have one month to generate two workshop productions that are set to premiere at the Bricolage.  Their mission is to build a stronger bond between the creation of work and how it relates to the zeitgeist of the Pittsburgh community and beyond.  Bricolage is located at 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit the Bricolage website.

I Love a Parade

Front Porch Theatricals are presenting “Parade,” the true story of Leo Frank in 1913 Atlanta, Georgia. It is about how past history and the events of the Civil War perpetuated beliefs and feelings long after the actual event. 1913 Georgia remained in a mind-set of North versus South; wealthy versus poor; black versus white; and non-Jew versus Jew. It also looks at the unique relationship between Leo and his wife, Lucille, and how their love develops and soars during times of tragedy, ignorance and rage. Parade also reveals the heartwarming and persistent efforts of Lucille to reverse the injustice done to her husband.  March down to the New Hazlett, Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh (North Side). For more information, visit Front Porch online.

Hipster Doofus

John McIntire is back with “McIntire Dangerously Live – Hipsterization Of Pittsburgh Too – The 2nd One!” John and his guests will discuss beards, tattoos and Pabst Blue Ribbon and the strange hipsterization of Pittsburgh.  Panelists include Hipster in denial/lesbian/feminist/environmentalist/ride-sharing-enthusiast Ellie Gordon, City of Pittsburgh Hipster Monitor Mayoral Chief of Staff Kevin Acklin, Origins of Pittsburgh Hipsterism Chronicler PG Columnist Tony Norman, and Zack Keim from the hipster band “Nox Boys” will be representin’ teenage male hipsters. Plus a couple of live tunes!  Come down Saturday, August 23rd, 10:30 pm for the McIntire show. It’s at Cabaret Theater 655 Penn Ave. Downtown Pittsburgh. It’s $10.00 or Free with same night Cultural Trust ticket.  For more information, go to http://www.trustarts.org/visit/facilities/cabaret/ or check out the Facebook page here.

Four!

It’s the perfect weekend for golfing. If you don’t golf, you could always watch other guys golf.  Do it with aplomb at “The Foursome.” You have two weeks left to catch Norm Foster’s show about the world’s most scenic sport. It’s playing at a scenic little spot in Canonsburg.  Charge up your golf cart and head down to the Little Lake Theater, 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg, PA.

Freebies

On Sunday, August 24 and August 31 you can see a staged reading of three new short plays at the kickoff night for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. This week offers “The Art of Seduction,’ by Michael Wolfson, “The Double, Half-Broken Line” by Christopher Cotton and “The Wager,” by William Sikorski.  Readings start at 7:00 pm, and really there’s no need to miss them…they’re free! Come back next week for a list of the next batch of free staged readings.  They will be held at Off the Wall Theatre, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie.  For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghnewworks.org for more!

-MB.

Pittsburgh, August 14, 2014 – Launched in Pittsburgh in 2011 by five enthusiastic gay young professionals, Gay For Good has impacted many in its three years, having worked with 28 area non-profits ranging from Tree Pittsburgh to The East End Cooperative Ministry to The Cancer Caring Center. Gay For Good: Pittsburgh has clocked in over 4,800 volunteer hours.

 “Our organization is unique in that, while comprised of primarily LGBT members, it does not operate with the primary objective of benefiting the LGBT community.  We provide help wherever it is needed and welcomed.” said Jared Pascoe, co-founder of Gay For Good: Pittsburgh.

On Wednesday, August 27 from 6:00p – 8:00p, Spin Bartini (5744 Ellsworth, Shadyside) will host Gay For Good: Pittsburgh’s third year anniversary happy hour. G4G will be collecting item donations for the Ronald McDonald House of Pittsburgh’s wish list. The night will include a cash bar, raffle prizes and good people will be in attendance.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2008, Gay For Good aims to energize and mobilize the LGBT community to interact with the broader community by volunteering the time of its members to various social welfare and environmental service projects. Each month, Gay For Good members donate their time to a community service project that benefits a local non-profit organization. Participants do not need to be a member of the LGBT community to join Gay For Good or to participate in any of its community service projects.  Gay For Good has ten chapter cities across the country.

For further information about Gay For Good: Pittsburgh please visit www.gayforgood.org.

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh, August 14 through 17. This week you can go underground with the Underground Arts or go Underneath the Lintel, with lots of other stops in between.

Get Under

Brace yourself for some Day Bracey and “Underground Arts – National Comedy on a Local Scene” It will feature five funny men standing up telling jokes, including Terry Jones (of the YouTube sensation “Jello Pudding,” the tall, dark and hilarious John Dick Winters (emphasis on dark), James J. Hamilton, Harry Gilliand and hosted by Mr. Day Bracey himself!  There will also be music by Stationary Pebbles.  The Underground Arts event is above ground Saturday, August 16, at Club Café, 56 S. 12^th Street (right off Carson Street in the South Side), Pittsburgh, PA 15203.  For more information, call 412-431-4950 or visit their Facebook page.

Caped Crusaders

The South Side will be hopping August 16^th. There is also the Superhero Bar Crawl. The Heroes and Villains will gather at the Hofbrahaus for dinner. It’s like the Hall of Justice, but with food! Then, the caped crusaders will venture forth on East Carson Street drinking beers.  Grab a mask and a cape and join the fun! It’s strictly heroes and villains, no Doctor Who or Anime cosplay allowed.  Go up, up and away to the Southside Works. More information HERE.

Heart Emojis and lotsa LOLs

Love goes modern in “Virtually Yours: A Comedic Road Trip for the New Millennium.”  Mash up a 1930s romantic comedy with the reality TV craze and you’ll get “Virtually Yours.”  Local writer and performer Chuck Lanigan brings his madcap show to the Cabaret at Theater Square, Saturday August 16 at 10 pm.  The Cabaret at Theater Square is located at 655 Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information call 412-456-6666 or go to http://www.trustarts.org/visit/facilities/cabaret/

Middle Men

The Summer Reading series is on at 12 Peers. Up next, “The Middle Distance” by Sam Havens.  Ernie and A.J. hang out in lawn chairs on the campus of their old community college. Neither has figured out what to do with his life, so the guys while away the time dreaming up dubious schemes that range from heading for Alaska to creative ways of committing suicide. Then, the mysterious Peter comes along on a bicycle.  For more information, visit the 12 Peers website.

Under There!

It’s back. Glen Berger’s ‘existential detective story,’ “Underneath the Lintel” is down at Off The Wall Theater. If you missed it back when 12 Peers ran it at Pittsburgh Playwrights Theater earlier this year, you have another chance to see this amazing show.  Go “Underneath the Lintel” at Off the Wall Theater, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie.  For more information, call 724-873-3576 or click http://www.insideoffthewall.com/

-MB.

by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things To Do in Pittsburgh this weekend, August 7 through 10.

Magic Myq

The Last Comic Standing finalist Mike (Myq) Kaplan will be yukking it up down at the Arcade Comedy Theater, Wednesday, August 6th.  The small, dork and handsome comedian (hey, it’s the name of his one hour special on Netflix) will start your weekend off with laughs.  Arcade Comedy Theater is located at 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://www.showclix.com/event/3858747

Empiric Evidence

Continuum Dance Theater and Founding Artistic Director Sarah Parker is ready to dance at the 2014 World Premier of EMPIRE. Featuring Continuum Dance Theater 2014-2015 Company and guest artist LaMar Williams.  They’ll be whirling about over at the Off the Wall Theatre, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106.  For more information, go to http://www.showclix.com/event/3859402

Here’s the thing…

There’s an immersive theatrical experience over at Modern Formations Gallery August 8 through 10 with “Her Things: An Interactive Estate Sale.”  Search for clues among 100 touchable artifacts; interact with performers, both gracious and intimidating. The clever and the brave will be rewarded with the solution to a mystery!  This wacky show sold out in March, so now’s your chance to go to this crazy, innovative show.  You will find “Her Things” over at Modern Formations Gallery, 4919 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://www.uncumbertheatrics.com/

Today and Tamara

Quantum Theatre opens their season with John Krizanc’s “Tamara.” It’s another interactive, immersive theater event, where patrons get to follow along with their character of choice. Stalking as a theatrical event. Fun!  The action takes place at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, call 412-362-1713 or click https://quantum-tamara.squarespace.com/

Cover the Exits

Three strangers are brought together unaware that they’ll be spending a lot of time together. Eternity! Go see Jean-Paul Sartre’s classic existential tale about the afterlife, “No Exit.”  You can enter “No Exit” by going to Schenley Park, Panther Hollow Road, Pittsburgh. Look for the bubble on Flagstaff Hill.  For additional details, call 502-263-3326 or go to http://bubblepgh.com

-MB.