Theater & Arts

Charles Dickens penned a Christmas story for the ages in 1843, spawning dozens of adaptations on stage and in film across the world (the Muppet version is, in my opinion, unmatched). It’s so ubiquitous that “Scrooge” as a description for a cantankerous anti-holiday crank has become a part of our...

The temperature just keeps dropping, but the ‘Burgh shows no sign of stopping! There’s lots to do and see this weekend all around town, so don’t miss out just because of a chill. Here are a few must-dos this weekend. Holiday storytelling show The holidays can be a complicated time...

This weekend, City Theatre and Carnegie Mellon University will partner for a celebration of new works for the stage. The Momentum Festival: New Plays at Different Stages will run Saturday and Sunday at City Theatre on the South Side. The four included works include “East Carson Street,” a jukebox musical...

The first time Kaylie Wallace saw her grandfather, Larry Cervi, direct a play was about a decade ago when Gateway High School performed “Almost, Maine” — the 2004 show written by John Cariani. Recently, Wallace stepped into Cervi’s (dancing) shoes as the artistic director and choreographer at the nonprofit East...

Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t buy into the whole “ ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas movie” thing. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy this 1988 action flick classic that (deservedly so) launched Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman into super-stardom. But “taking place at Christmas” does not,...

“The Nutcracker” is a Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre holiday tradition going back to the company’s inception in 1969. This year, they’re also continuing a more recent tradition of featuring local celebrities in cameos during the show. From football favorites to TV stars, PBT has tapped a wide variety of Pittsburgh’s famous...

Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School. Recently, The Oracle spoke with actor Adam Brett, who is making his national tour debut as Wadsworth in “Clue,” which is running...

The leftovers are packed in the fridge and the family is still hanging around for a couple more days. What to do? You can show them how fun and bright Pittsburgh is with these events. Enjoy! Beers of the Burgh’s Winter Warmer Get ready for some fancy holiday cheer and...

Other than “Wicked” (at the moment) and a handful of others, “Les Misérables” has to be one of the most well-known musicals in the modern canon. It’s the longest-running musical in the history of London’s West End, has won eight Tony Awards for its Broadway production — including Best Musical...

It’s Christmastime in the city! The holidays are upon us, and the streets are bright with colorful lights and alive with festive music. While family visits, gift shopping and weekend afternoons of baking are filling up the calendar for the next few weeks, the holidays wouldn’t be quite as special...

If Light Up Night isn’t your jam, that doesn’t mean having to hide in the house all weekend! Here are some other events to attend, sans twinkly trees and super-cold temps. Record Convention Fall Show Music collectors of Pittsburgh, here’s your chance to shop and meet like-minded people. The Record...

Brrr! It’s been a chilly week and it’s only going to get colder from here. It’s tempting to just curl up with a blanket and the streaming show of the week, but wouldn’t it be more fun to attend some of these events? Check them out. Phipps Holiday Magic Gear...

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson was the 1994 commencement speaker at Morgan State University in Maryland, and one of the graduates in the audience was Ed Gainey. “I look back on this, years later, because here’s a gentleman … who wrote ‘Radio Golf,’ where he talked about the first Black...

Asad Mecci had a theory that everyone was funny and creative — they just needed someone to unlock their mind. The famous master hypnotist decided to test this idea after taking several improv classes at Toronto’s Second City. “The instructors would always say, ‘get out of your head’ or ‘you’re...

Before things really gear up for the holiday season, take advantage of this less-busy weekend with tons of happenings around the city. Try these out! Pet Expo Do you have a pet? Do you want a pet? Do you have family or friends with pets? This would be a great...

Actress and singer Regina Gibson returns to her Pittsburgh-area stomping grounds for a one-night show on a relatable topic – dating angst – heightened by the comedic addition of opera music. The Fox Chapel Area High School alum brings her “Divina: A Fantasy Cabaret,” a one-woman original opera-comedy-cabaret, to the...

Quaker Valley Middle School musical producer Megan Mueller believes the power her student cast and crew are supplying will be electrifying when they present “Grease” later this month. “I’m extremely excited,” Mueller said on Oct. 29, nine days before opening night. “They’re very talented. I’ve enjoyed working with them. I’ve...

Fox Chapel Area High School performers are gearing up for this year’s fall play production. Students in all grade levels have been working diligently to present the Thornton Wilder classic “Our Town.” The play explores the relationship between two young Grover’s Corners neighbors, George Gibbs and Emily Webb, whose childhood...

While Halloween plans may dominate your Friday night, the rest of the post-spooky weekend still has a lot of treats to offer around Pittsburgh. Some events will keep the darker vibes going while others will be a respite for those sick of movie monsters and jack o’lanterns. Here are a...

What’s the first rule when choreographing a sword battle between high-school freshmen? “No improvising,” said Shelby Hostetler, English teacher and co-director for the Franklin Regional Thespian Club. Hostetler is choreographing not one but multiple battles as the club prepares to stage a production of “The Lion, the Witch and the...

It’s been 50 years since the first American audiences saw a giant pair of crimson lips gracing their silver screens, singing an iconic opening song about “the late night double feature picture show.” Since Sept. 26, 1975, fans around the world have embraced the quirky, raunchy and downright weird “Rocky...

Sewickley Academy Performing Arts Department presents “Brian the Comet” and “That’s Checkmate, Mary Gallagher,” two poignant one-act plays by award-winning playwright Emily Hageman. These emotionally resonant works explore the complexities of teenage life, tackling themes of fear, loss and hope with authenticity and heart. Performances will be held in Gregg...

Tyler Shaffer doesn’t know how many times he watched the 1988 Tim Burton gothic comedy, “Beetlejuice.” But it was a lot. “Watching it has been a Halloween tradition for my family forever,” said Shaffer, 16, of Jeannette, who will play the titular villain in the Theatre Factory’s production of “Beetlejuice...

If going to a midnight theater showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” would have you up way past your bedtime, I have a great solution — at least, for the next few weeks. While most are aware of the now 50-year-old cult classic film, not everyone knows that before...

While it’s still pretty warm outside — especially for late October — why not venture out and try something new? New music, new food and new fun await in Pittsburgh this weekend. Monster Pumpkins Festival You may have seen plenty of pumpkins already this October, but you probably haven’t seen...