Tag: Culture

It’s the last weekend in September and boy, it’s a big one! There’s a duck, a Big Bird, a Bard and one Bad Bunny!

Duck, Duck, Gallery!

This is it, folks! The big event of the season! A giant duck lands in the waters of Pittsburgh. You heard it here first, folks, during Phil Salvato’s ‘Burgh Vivant interview. Watch the world’s biggest bathtub toy from a party on the bridge! And then prepare yourself for the Festival of Firsts!

Witness the historic launch of a big, yellow ducky from the Sixth Street Bridge. Festivities include food, art and more. DJ Scottro will be spinning tunes from the bridge. It’s a Gallery Crawl Night in Pittsburgh so there will be lots and lots of stuff to see and do.

The duck is just the first step in a series of things going on in Pittsburgh during the Festival of Firsts. Keep watching this space for more information and take a gander at all of the fun over at  www.trustarts.com

Shakespeare in Space!

Come out to the ToonSeum Thursday September 26 for the live reading of “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars,” retelling the cult-classic film in iambic pentameter. Don’t miss this mash up between the Bard of Avon and the Bearded Man of Modesto.

Let’s just lay the end of the opening stanza on you: “In time so long ago begins our play, In star-cross’d galaxy far, far away…”

Thou shan’t miss the tale epic! Even the groundlings can’t pass up this price; ‘tis free! ‘tis free!

Let the Force guide you over to the ToonSeum website for more information: www.toonseum.org

Shakespeare the Sequel

If you miss the ToonSeum event (don’t), you can still get your Shakespeare on at the Bricolage. They’re celebrating Midnight Radio: Shakesburgh! Season five of Midnight Radio doth begin anew! Though it’s not at midnight and it’s not radio; it’s a bunch of whacky fun with Tami Dixon, Jeffrey Carpenter and friends. Fun, laughs, interactive games and prizes!

If you’ve never been to a Midnight Radio show, get thee hence!

Consult thy binary oracle, to learn more; www.bricolagepgh.org

Hey Kids, Comics!

The Pittsburgh Comicon is here September 27, 28 and 29. Get your Geek on!

Hundreds of comic book creators like George Perez (the Avengers), James O’Barr (the Crow) and many more will be there. Catch local legends in Scott McDaniel (Daredevil, Batman) and Pat Olliffe (Thor, Spider-Girl). Also, you can meet Big Bird! Yes! Caroll Spinney the voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch will be in town for the festivities.

Put on your best cape and fly over to their site to learn more: www.pittsburghcomicon.com

Fright Night

This is Halloween! This is Halloween! At least, every day will be Halloween at the Scare House. One of season’s scariest attractions starts up again this weekend opening on September 27.

There are plenty of frights per night. The Forsaken! Pittsburgh Zombies! Creepo’s Christmas in 3D! All this and a deranged man in a dirty bunny costume.

Also, check out the basement. You have been warned!

It takes a brave soul, but you’re a Shakespeare-loving Super-Hero from a galaxy far, far away riding on a giant duck! I have faith in you!

Dare to enter the ScareHouse; for chills and thrills hit them up on their website at www.scarehouse.com

– MB

Adding to your weekend

Start your weekend early and come out Thursday, September 19 for a special live broadcast of Add It Up podcast. Listen, laugh and learn with host Addi Twigg and her special guests, Valiant & Valiant and live music from The Wreckids. There will be audience participation, too; all for a measly sawbuck (five dollars, kids!).

One Night Only Thursday, September 19, at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh PA at 8:00 p.m. For more information, check out www.arcadecomedytheater.com

Face Off

Thursday, September 19 you can attend an art gallery reception for Faceburgh: Portraits of a City.  Take a gander at Matte Braidic’s intriguing portraits of fellow Pittsburghers going about their daily lives.

You’re welcome to attend at the South Side Welcome Center, 1100 E. Carson Street, South Side.

You can call 412-431-3360 or Facebook Faceburgh (just because it’s fun to say out loud) at https://www.facebook.com/faceburgh?fref=ts

Skullduggery

You want a guaranteed skull-cracking good time? Head (and I do mean head) to “A Skull in Connemara.” You don’t even have to go all the way to Ireland, just up Forbes Avenue for the Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre’s take on Martin McDonagh’s modern classic. It’s a story of a hard-working grave digger who may or may not have killed his wife.

Wednesday through Sunday to September 28, at the Charity Randall Theater, 4301 Forbes Avenue, Oakland. Call 412-561-6000 or 412-624-PLAY. You can also click over to www.picttheatre.org

Too, Too Twain

Think you’ve seen everything by Mark Twain? You are wrong; unless you’ve already seen “Is He Dead?” a recently discovered comedic work by Samuel Clemmons AKA Mark Twain.

Everyone knows that artists work sell better when they’re dead. So, a young Parisian painter fakes his own death and passes himself off as his own twin sister. Its art and cross-dressing! Take that RuPaul!

Art DeConciliis directs this merry comedy at the Little Lake Theater in Canonsburg, Thursday through Sunday until September 21. Hop down 19 or hit the Parkway to 500 Lakeside Drive, Canonsburg. For additional information call 724-745-6300 or hit them up at www.littlelake.org

Could Have Been A Contender

When Marlon Brando said, “Charlie, I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender,” he probably never thought people would imitate him forever. See the original movie, “On the Waterfront,” ironically not at the Waterfront but at the Melwood Screening Room in Oakland.

Learn more at http://theaters.pittsburgharts.org/theaters-about

-MB

Wigle it, just a little bit

Wigle Whiskey is having an Organic Whiskey Bitters Release Party. Go Green; just don’t drink so much that you actually turn green. Wigle releases its organic whiskey to the world Friday, September 13 in two shifts, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Drink responsibly or bring a designated driver over to 2401 Small Street in the Strip District.

For additional details call 412-224-2827 or hit them up at www.wiglewhiskey.com

Ebony and Ivory

If you think whiskey is for the birds, head over to the National Aviary’s Black and White Party.

This fundraiser is for the birds (literally). The Aviary will have fortune-tellers, strolling magicians and more. There’s a cash bar for those of you who are opining for the Wigle Whiskey event but let your girlfriend pick.  If you get a little tipsy, you can dance it off.  DJ Midas will be spinning some solid gold hits.

The National Aviary’s Black & White Party is also Friday, September 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the National Aviary, Allegheny Commons West, Pittsburgh (North Side).

For more details, fly over to www.aviary.org

Where for art thou, Romeo?

Thou art in Arsenal Park? Come catch the tale of the original star-cross’d lovers, “Romeo and Juliet” in Lawrenceville this weekend. It’s presented by Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks this weekend in Arsenal Park, Arsenal Park, Pittsburgh on September 14 and 15.

Remember to brink a hanky, because there was never a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

Get thee to their website at www.pittsburghshakespeare.com for the details.

Putting the Burger in Pittsburgher

Head down to the River Casino on Saturday, September 14 and taste the best burgers in Pittsburg at the Pittsburgher 2012 Gourmet Burger Competition and Music Festival. Each ticket to the event includes a chance to win an Disney World Getaway, which includes airfare, accommodations, 2 five day Park Hopper passes to Disney World and more.

Find out who makes the best burgers and listen to live music. The event is from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Try your luck at picking the best burger at 777 Casino Drive, Pittsburgh, PA (North Shore). For more information consult the midnight guru herself high atop a mountain, or easy to reach here: www.midnightguru.com/thepittsburgher

Jazz It Up

Things are getting jazzy in Carnegie. Swing down to Jazz on Third on Sunday, September 15. Be there for the history-making proclamation, whereas Carnegie will declare September 15 Carnegie Celebrates Jazz Day!

The Carnegie Arts Initiative welcomes the The St. John Affair, the Don Aliquo Quartet, Michele Bensen and Friends. There will be silent auctions, raffles and more! There will be some great food from Oasis Pasta, Suzi’s Deli, and A Ward’s Cheesecakes!

Go down to 220 Third Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. All the cool cats are doing it.

You can reserve tickets at www.dddmore.com or call Bonita Farinelli at 412-331-1047. Be there or be square!

Bonus Track (i.e. shameless self-promotional plug)

After the weekend is over, you can make your Monday a fun day! Come back out to Carnegie for Third on Third’s special event, a live reading of “Shakespeare in Love,”

The critically acclaimed screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard will be read by the cast of South Park Theater’s “Romeo and Juliet,” which wrapped earlier this summer.

Get thee to the art gallery at 220 Third Street, Carnegie, PA 15106 at 7:00 p.m. Monday, September 16 all for the low, low price of $5.00.

– MB

‘Burgh Vivant contributor Mike Buzzelli’s hot picks for this weekend, August 30 – September 1st, 2013:

Hit the Heights

Lights go up on Washington Heights, and you don’t have to be there at the break of day, like Usnavi. You can get down to your favorite bodega and hang out with the colorful residents of a tight-knit urban community, in “In the Heights.”  Front Porch Theatricals and Carnivale Theatrics bring Tony Chiroldes back from Broadway, reprising his role as Kevin Rosario.

There may not be “Hundreds of Stories” in Washington Heights, but this is by far the best one. Tony award-winning is down at The New Hazlett Theater through September 1.

Tickets and more information are available by calling (888) 718-4253 or visiting carrnivale.com or showclix.com/event/IntheHeights.

The Other Side of Pittsburgh Dad

You might not know this but Pittsburgh Dad, Curt Wootton, is not just Yinzer with a ‘tude, he’s also a fine actor. You can see for yourself in Duquesne University’s production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Justin Sines directs one of Tennessee Williams’ finest plays.

Find out why Maggie (Cassandra Hough) is as prickly as…well…a cat on a hot tin roof.

Catch the “Cat” August 29-31, at 8:00pm in the Peter Mills Auditorium at Duquesne University. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. More information can be found at thesummercompany.com.

Collegiate Hop

All the kids are back in school and they’re showing off. You can hop over from Duquesne to Point Park and watch Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” directed by the playwright’s son, Robert A. Miller.

Joe Keller (Philip Winters) is having a more ups and downs than an elevator salesman. One son is about to propose to his girlfriend and the other is presumed missing in the war. Did I mention that the aforementioned patriarch is harboring his own dark secret?

“Sons” runs from now until September 22 with a “Pay what you will” performance at 2:00 p.m. Saturday September 7, and a special “Talk Back” Session after the 2:00 p.m. Saturday September 14 performance.

For more information call the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-392-8000 or online at http://www.pittsburghplayhouse.com/current-season/the-rep/all-my-sons-1

Saturday Night Special

If you’re looking for laughs, head downtown for “The John McIntire Dangerously Live Comedy Talk Show.” Saturday McIntire presents, “Carlos Danger: The Rise and Fall of Anthony Weiner,” where the comedian will not only roast Weiner, but he will be discussing political sex scandals both past and present with special guests Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cartoonist Rob Rogers, therapist Natalie Bencivenga, and mayoral candidate Bill Peduto’s press secretary Sonya Toler. All this for a mere sawbuck (five dollars) or FREE if you have a ticket stub from a same-night Cultural Trust event.

The late night talk show starts at 10:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Ave., Downtown. For more chatter about the chat show call 412-325-6769 or visit www.trustarts.org

And now for something completely different…

Summer is almost over, but before the community pools are drained of their beautiful blue, albeit chlorinated water, you have a chance to throw your pet into the deep end at the Labor Day Doggie Dip at the Dormont Pool.

Take your dog for a swim at 4:00 p.m. September 2, treat them to an ice ball or soft pretzel and enjoy some fun in the sun with man’s best friend. Dormont Pool and the Western PA Humane Society cohost the fifth annual Doggie Dip.

For more information contact http://www.boro.dormont.pa.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B3AA27979-B5AF-4773-B414-2816CFD18C9B%7D

Bonus Track

Here’s a special sixth fun thing to do in the ‘Burgh this weekend. Join Stacey Keene, Davon Magwood, Tim Ross, Zach Simons, Tim Sommers, Todd Shaffer and some other guy (ME!) at the True Story Beach Party at the Arcade Comedy Theater on August 30^th.

The storytellers will be making waves on stage, because the show’s theme is “Making Waves.” You can also hear DJ Zombo spin some surf rock music. The event is BYOB, so liquor up and come on down to the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Downtown.

For more information surf over to http://arcadecomedytheater.com/

– MB

Silver screen legend Marlene Dietrich is discussed (and perhaps even scandalized) in this week’s episode of ‘Burgh Vivant.  Did you know that Dietrich starred opposite John Wayne in a 1942 film entitled “Pittsburgh?”  And it was partially shot on location here in our fair Steel City!  The film is worth a look – especially to see how the city has transformed (not to mention, cleaned up) since then.

– B.

THE END OF THE WORLD COMES NOT WITH A BANG OR A WHIMPER BUT A GUFFAW

by Michael Buzzelli, ‘BURGH VIVANT Contributor

The end is near. It actually came and went, but you have another chance to catch the end of the world at “The End of The World Show” at the Arcade Comedy Theater.

Director Brian Gray’s premise is inspired. A ragtag group of humans sneak into an alien council meeting. The aforementioned aliens are about to blow up the Earth, but our heroes have 45 to sixty minutes to save the world (Okay Madonna and Justin Timberlake can probably do it in four minutes, but it wouldn’t be much of a show, would it?).

Our stalwart humans have to teach the aliens about our culture, our lives, and our humor to prove that we’re worth saving. That’s where the audience gets involved. The audience gets to be the aliens. As comic strip creator Walt Kelly would attest, “We’ve met the enemy and he is us.”

Before the show, you get a chance to get dolled up in alien attire (thanks to Cassie Brehmer, manager at Artist and Craftsman Supply in Squirrel Hill). There’s make-up, jewelry, antennae, etc. As you enter the theater, you join the alien council led by their evil overlord, Brett Goodnack. Brett’s character, sporting a curly blue wig, high bedazzled collar and other alien accoutrement enters and gets this party started. His character is part Mork, part Mathesar (Enrico Colantoni from “Galaxy Quest”) and all evil. Goodnack is a ray gun of awesome, he shoots off some of the best zingers in the show. Unfortunately, the Evil Overlord sits in a large recliner at the back of the theater. Audiences had to crane their necks to see him deliver said zingers. He’s worth the potential neck strain (here’s hoping Gray moves the recliner to the side of the stage in future performances).

When thin, gangly, improvisational actor Krish Mohan spouts off a line of dialogue, Goodnack retorts, “Is anyone else annoyed by the little one?” Goodnack later pointed at Mohan and said, “I’m going to throw you like a javelin.” The banter was brilliant, and Mohan’s reactions were worth the price of admission.

After the premise is set up, the rest of the show follows a pretty standard Improv format. Goodnack takes suggestions from the other members of the alien council (i.e. the audience) and runs the troupe through their paces.

Some games were standard faire (games you would see on “Whose Line is it, Anyway?”). Games such as “Change,” where the actors have to make a new choice each time the group leader (or alien overlord in this case) shouts out “Change.” Members of the talented cast pulled it off with aplomb. Special shout outs to Mohan and Tessa Karel for their rapid fire wit. Another special mention should go to George Aivaliotis, a last minute replacement who slid into the team deftly.

The show could be improved with a little more elucidation. Audiences unfamiliar with improvisational games could have used the standard speech, “These guys are going to show me how they would eat break up with a lover, fire an employee, or eat spaghetti in space.”

At the end of the show, audience members with smart phones are instructed to vote on the fate of the world using an App. The votes are tabulated on a graph ala the ask-the-audience question on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” with animation provided by Spencer Diaz and Nico Zevallos.  On opening night, the ruthless alien overlords decided to “thumbs down” the globe. You may have missed the earth-shattering KABOOM, but you have a few more chances to save the planet with three performances left; Aug 30, Sept 6, & Sept 13 at 10:00 p.m. at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. You may be our only hope!