Entertainment category, Page 309
‘Thomas & Friends’ coming to Netflix
Children’s animated series “Thomas & Friends” — based around the adventures of a talking, “cheeky” blue train engine — has reportedly chugged over to streaming, according to reports. Toy and entertainment company Mattel, which owns the brand, announced Thursday that the series will be moved to Netflix. Netflix has picked...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 51st season opens with ‘Cinderella’
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 51st season will feature five productions running from October through May 2021. The season is anchored, as always, by “The Nutcracker” for the Christmas season — in more than three weeks of performances. The company also will present a version of “Cinderella” it hasn’t danced before, the...
Rolling Stones, Sam Hunt, Justin Bieber tickets on sale Friday
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, yes, but more importantly, there’s some big shows coming to the Pittsburgh area that are going on sale. Here’s a breakdown of what shows you can buy tickets for Friday, Feb. 14. The Rolling Stones Show: June 23 at Heinz Field Tickets on sale here at...
DA deciding whether to investigate James Brown’s death
ATLANTA — A prosecutor in Atlanta will decide whether to open a formal investigation after meeting with a woman who says she has evidence legendary singer James Brown’s death was caused by another person, his spokesman said. Brown, known as the Godfather of Soul, was 73 when he died of...
Which romantic comedy is most popular in Pennsylvania?Video
One way to avoid the crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day is to stay home, cook a meal, add a little champagne and a romantic movie. The folks at Comparitech dug into some Google Trends data and found the rom-coms that are most popular in each state. Pennsylvania’s favorite is “Silver...
Review: Retooled ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ a treat for kids and adultsVideo
If the Hollywood mantra for making blockbusters is “faster, faster, faster,” then the creators of “Sonic the Hedgehog” have wisely ignored it. The little blue alien who can sprint quicker than the speed of light has ironically benefited from slowing it down, taking a pit stop to retool and emerge...
Entertainment planner: Feb. 13-26
Thursday Feb. 13 “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” PICT Classic Theatre production, WQED Fred Rogers Studio, Oakland. Through Feb. 29. 412-561-6000 or picttheatre.org Pittsburgh Improv Jam, teams create comedic scenes from audience suggestions, Greer Cabaret Theater, Downtown Pittsburgh. Thursdays through July 30. 412-456-6666 or trustarts.org “A Touch of Blue Art Show,”...
‘The Sunshine Boys’ light up latest Greensburg Civic Theatre production
Neil Simon’s original “The Sunshine Boys” on Broadway featured Sam Levene as Al Lewis and Jack Albertson as Willie Clark, two stubborn ex-vaudevillians – formerly partners in a comedy-duo – who haven’t spoken to one another in many years. In other versions of Simon’s play, the 1975 feature film had...
Westmoreland Symphony serves up a ‘Parisian Valentine’
Good concert programming naturally seeks diversity and contrast, but better programming also seeks common threads between pieces. Westmoreland Symphony music director Daniel Meyer says the orchestra’s next program will look at how great composers play with the idea of classicism in music. Meyer will conduct the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra in...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents ‘Valentine’s Romance’
Audiences love virtuosity because the flair which exceptional skill permits is exciting. It’s one of the reasons concertos for solo instruments are so popular. But the orchestra itself can be the virtuoso when great orchestration is achieved by a composer with something to say. The next set of Pittsburgh Symphony...
‘The Queen of Cardistry’ settles in at Liberty MagicVideo
Anna DeGuzman is a whiz with a deck of playing cards. With an Instagram following of more than 90,000 and a popular YouTube channel where she posts her latest card tricks, she is affectionately known as “The Queen of Cardistry.” Her brand of close-up magic will be on display during...
Looking for love at the Geyer with ‘Sweet Charity’
A classic Broadway musical with a lot of heart is a perfect Valentine’s Day weekend treat on stage Feb. 13-16 at Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale. Neil Simon’s “Sweet Charity,” directed by Rachael Szabo and Tyler Handford of Connellsville, features Vanessa Clarke-Deaver of Greensburg as hopeless romantic Charity Hope...
Rick Moranis set to return in ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ sequelVideo
Here’s some big news about a small matter: Rick Moranis will return as Wayne Szalinski in Disney’s latest sequel to “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” According to an exclusive on Deadline, the comedic actor will star in “Shrunk.” The movie also will star Josh Gad as Moranis’ son, whose attempts...
Review: ‘Downhill’ is a strange, prickly piece of film-makingVideo
Watching Swedish director Ruben Östlund’s deeply uncomfortable absurdist relationship drama “Force Majeure,” one can’t help but think that this bleakly obtuse and existentially unbearable film is the type that would never be greenlighted in the United States. So it’s a bit of a shock that the award-winning 2014 film has...
‘Pittsburgh’s Lost Outpost’ author to speak at Fort Ligonier
As part of Fort Ligonier’s six-part Speaker Series, author Jason Cherry will discuss his book, “Pittsburgh’s Lost Outpost: Captain Trent’s Fort,” in the fort’s history education center at 2 p.m. Feb. 16. In 1754, before a young George Washington sets the world on fire in the glen, Ohio Company Factor...
Pearl Jam items being auctioned to benefit Miracle League of the South Hills
The Miracle League of the South Hills is gearing up for its annual Miracle Bash on Feb. 21, and grunge rock band Pearl Jam is not only donating autographed items for the auction, but they also are tweeting about the event — giving it quite the publicity boost. But how?...
Saint Vincent student troupe to present musical ‘Into the Woods’
Saint Vincent College Players are gearing up for four performances of the award-winning musical fantasy, “Into the Woods.” Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20-22 and 2 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Performing Arts Center of the Robert S. Carey Student Center on the Unity campus. Written by Stephen...
The Spinners bring musical valentine to Greensburg stage
Whether their tunes bring back memories, or listeners find them by cruising classic or satellite radio, the music The Spinners play gets all ages toes tappin’. Try listening to “Working My Way Back to You,” “Rubberband Man,” “I’ll Be Around” or “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” without singing...
Pittsburgh Ballet’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ showcases the power of love
Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to celebrate the transformative power of love. “Beauty and the Beast” is an old French fairy tale which was turned into a magnificent ballet in 1958 by Lew Christensen and the San Francisco Ballet. “The old moral reads that beauty is only skin deep....
Live episode of ‘The Conners’ takes on New Hampshire primaryVideo
Veteran TV producer Bruce Helford knows how unpredictable a live sitcom episode can be. He has a vivid memory of the moment on “The Drew Carey Show” when an extra mooned the camera with a cheery “Hi Mom” scribbled on his behind, a broadcasting milestone that Helford figures gave network...
Simone Johnson, daughter of The Rock, starts with WWE
The daughter of the most electrifying man in sports entertainment is stepping into the ring. Simone Johnson, daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, has started training with WWE, according to the wrestling promotion. She has reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, a massive training facility for the company....
Noted jazz keyboardist Lyle Mays dies at age 66
LOS ANGELES — Lyle Mays, a jazz keyboardist whose work, chiefly with the Pat Metheny Group, won nearly a dozen Grammy Awards, died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 66. Mays had a “long battle with a recurring illness,” according to Pat Metheny’s website. “Lyle was one of the greatest...
‘Pennsylvania Pipes’ organ concert set for Saint Vincent Basilica
Three noted Pennsylvania organists will perform for the next installment of the Saint Vincent College Concert Series. “Pennsylvania Pipes,” set for 7 p.m. Feb. 15 in Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica on the Unity campus, will feature Donald Fellows, J. Christopher Pardini and Wesley Parrott. Fellows is organist and director of...
Pittsburgh’s Yaro and the Static plan album release party at Mr. SmallsVideo
Soon after releasing an EP in May, Yaro and the Static are back, with what Eli Yaroch calls a “surrounding, solidified band,” and their debut album, “The Art of Adolescence.” The Pittsburgh-based alternative folk rock band features Yaroch, vocals and rhythm guitar; Aedan Symons, lead guitar; Mike Stolarz, drums; and...
Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala dies at 78Video
JOHANNESBURG — The founder of the South African multi-Grammy-Award-winning music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, has died at age 78, the group and the government announced Tuesday. Shabalala died at a hospital in the capital, Pretoria, Tuesday morning, his family told local media. He was globally known for his...
