Entertainment category, Page 305
Historian Niall Ferguson warns of contagion, online and offVideo
Historian Niall Ferguson has a knack for timing his TV projects. He debuted his examination of the global financial system in “The Ascent of Money” just as the 2008 economic crisis was hitting. Now he has returned with a series that helps us better understand the conronaviris. “Niall Ferguson’s Networld”...
Garth Brooks plans acoustic concert on Facebook LiveVideo
Country superstar Garth Brooks will do his part to keep fans entertained during coronavirus shutdowns with a live Facebook concert. The singer said on his “Inside Studio G” Facebook Live show that he’ll livestream an acoustic set at 6 p.m. March 23 CST, 7 p.m. here in southwestern Pa. Brooks...
Rosie O’Donnell revives talk show for one time only
Rosie O’Donnell is reviving her old daytime talk show for one time only — and her guest list is impressive. A who’s-who of Broadway and Hollywood — including Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Neil Patrick Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Estefan and Barry Manilow — plan to join O’Donnell March...
Stuck-at-home cooks can channel Julia Child’s ‘The French Chef’Video
Cooks, or wannabe cooks, suddenly homebound due to the coronavirus pandemic can learn from the queen of television cooking. Julia Child’s cooking show, “The French Chef,” is still a fond memory for many who watched the live tapings. Child’s distinctive voice, easy-to-follow instructions and ability to laugh at her own...
Conan O’Brien to return to air, with an iPhone from home
NEW YORK — With iPhones and Skype, Conan O’Brien is going back on the air. The late-night host said he will resume putting out new episodes of TBS’ “Conan” on March 30. His staff will remain at home, and the show will be cobbled together with O’Brien on an iPhone...
Hallmark lightens virus mood with Christmas movie marathon
“Yes, we need a little Christmas/right this very minute.” So goes the Jerry Herman song from the musical “Mame.” And, boy, does that ring truer now than ever. Well, Hallmark heard the call and is delivering us from our coronavirus doldrums. Starting at noon Friday, the channel will air a...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre cancels season
Saint Vincent College has canceled the 2020 season of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre, citing travel and other gathering restrictions associated with covid-19. Plans were for the season to open May 21 with “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” “This is certainly a difficult and unfortunate decision as Saint Vincent Summer Theatre has been...
Kevin Bacon uses ‘six degrees’ to encourage social distancing to fight coronavirus
Actor Kevin Bacon is using his infamous “six degrees” fame to encourage people to stay home and keep themselves apart from crowds to help fight the spread of the coronavirus. The premise of six degrees of separation is that we are all linked by six or fewer people. The “Six...
‘Mamma Mia’ comes to Jeannette High School stageVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. It looks fun — Jeannette seniors Jada Bass, Kiara Frederick and Jenna Painter sing and dance together on stage to ABBA’s hit “Dancing Queen.” But perfecting the steps and lines has taken months for the trio who...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Here + Now’ includes a world premiere
Editor’s note: This event has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Most productions by Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre are full-length shows with a story told by one choreographer and one composer. Ideally, the experience has a coherence, whatever internal variety there is, that spans the whole evening. But the company...
Harry and Meghan urge ’empathy and kindness’ against virus
From finding ways to help others cope to sheltering in place to canceling events, here’s a look at some of the ways the entertainment industry is reacting to the spread of the coronavirus, which most people recover from but can cause severe illness in the elderly and those with preexisting...
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra plays on — onlineVideo
In an effort to provide music to its fans while on hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is introducing its new WSO to Go series. The orchestra website notes the series will “keep the music playing wherever we can.” ”We will be sharing videos from our...
Pittsburgh Symphony reschedules ‘Bugs Bunny,’ cancels other dates
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has announced new dates for its previously postponed PNC Pops “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” concerts, and has issued a new list of cancellations. The “Bugs Bunny” series has been moved to June 30-July 2 in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall. Information for current ticket-holders includes: March 20 tickets...
Latrobe Art Center seeks homemade art-making video tutorialsVideo
Latrobe Art Center wants to keep teaching and sharing art during its coronavirus-related closure. The center is asking anyone who would like to participate to share an art-making video tutorial via its social media accounts with the hashtag #HomeStudioLAC. The center is hoping to be able to share “a series...
With venues closed, bands turn to live streams to connect with fans
At their live shows, the Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers’ earning potential is typically limited by the size of the venue they’re playing. On the evening of March 14, the Stragglers live-streamed two sets of bluegrass from a band member’s living room that garnered about 20,000 views — and by inserting PayPal...
Bonnaroo postponed until the fall
Bonnaroo won’t be happening in June. The Manchester, Tenn., music and arts festival announced Wednesday that the annual event, originally set to take place June 11 to June 14, would be moved to the fall. Bonnaroo will be rescheduled to Sept 24-27, 2020. Updates to come. Can’t wait to see...
Lyle Waggoner, foil on ‘Carol Burnett Show,’ dies at 84Video
LOS ANGELES — Lyle Waggoner, who used his good looks to comic effect on “The Carol Burnett Show,” partnered with a superhero on “Wonder Woman” and was the first centerfold for Playgirl magazine, died Tuesday. He was 84. Waggoner, who was battling cancer, died peacefully Tuesday at his Los Angeles-area...
Judge hands major win to Katy Perry in ‘Dark Horse’ disputeVideo
A federal judge in Los Angeles handed a major victory to Katy Perry on Tuesday, overturning a jury’s verdict that found the pop superstar and her collaborators copied her 2013 hit “Dark Horse” from a 2009 Christian rap song. U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder said in her decision that...
Rolling Stones postpone Pittsburgh show, ‘No Filter’ tour
The Rolling Stones won’t be playing Pittsburgh, for now. AEG Presents/ Concerts West announced Tuesday that the Rolling Stones “No Filter” tour is being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Stones were set to play Heinz Field on June 23. pic.twitter.com/d6lbhVdXzK— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) March 17, 2020 “We’re...
Band Together Pittsburgh founders earn international Communitas Award for autism programsVideo
Music can be a stabilizing force and an anchor in one’s life. It’s certainly been that for Ron Esser of Frazer Township, whose longstanding love for live music — the blues in particular — led him to become the owner of Moondog’s and the Starlite Lounge in Blawnox. Esser and...
Where to see local and national music through live streamsVideo
The live performances may have been canceled (or postponed) out of an abundance of caution amid the coronavirus outbreak, but — as they love to say — “the show must go on.” And why not online? Many acts — local and national — are taking to the internet to perform...
Actors, actresses who’ve announced they have coronavirus
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, people from all walks of life have contracted the virus. Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, became the first high-profile faces of the outbreak last week when they said on social media that they had the virus. Their announcement came on the...
Opus One extends postponement, cancellation of Pittsburgh events
Area arts and entertainment venues and organizations are working to reschedule events that have been postponed due to coronavirus-related restrictions, along with continuing to announce cancellations. Following is a list of cancellations and new event dates: 3 Rivers Comicon 3 Rivers Comicon 2020, originally scheduled for May 30-31 in the...
Yough reprises popular ‘State Fair’Video
Editor’s note: High school musicals have been postponed due to the conronavirus. The auditorium stage at Yough High School will be transformed into the Iowa State Fair in “State Fair.” “You can’t go wrong with this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. We have done this show before,” and it was...
How ‘Brockmire’’s Amanda Peet shook off her stage frightVideo
The future didn’t look promising when Amanda Peet first thought she wanted to be an actress. While she’s gone on to impress in shows like “The Whole Nine Yards,” “The Good Wife” and “Brockmire,” which returns Wednesday for its fourth and final season, she suffered from paralyzing stage fright. When...
