Entertainment category, Page 320
Ben Platt named Hasty Pudding’s 2020 Man of the YearVideo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Award-winning actor and musician Ben Platt was named 2020 Man of the Year by Harvard University’s famed Hasty Pudding theater troupe on Monday. Platt, 26, is the youngest recipient in the 54-year history of the award, handed out annually by the troupe that dates to the late...
‘Hamilton’ by original cast coming to a film screen near you
NEW YORK — Next year, you’ll be able to see the original Broadway cast of “Hamilton” perform the musical smash from the comfort of a movie theater. The Walt Disney Co. said Monday it will distribute a four-year-old live capture of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s show in the United States and Canada...
Guns N’ Roses announces summer 2020 U.S. tour
Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan and the rest of Guns N’ Roses are heading out on a stadium tour through the U.S this summer. The band announced Monday a 19-date tour kicking off July 4 at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisc. A Pittsburgh date was not included, but several cities within...
Opus 2 Orchestra prepares for winter concert in Trafford
Members of the Opus 2 Orchestra are gearing up for their winter concert set for Feb. 22 in Trafford. “An International Affair: Music from Around the World” will begin at 4 p.m. at Christian Life Church, 900 Seventh Street Ext. It will feature musical styles from different countries including Soon...
Award-winning writers kick off Pitt-Greensburg series
Writers curious about publishing, performing and getting their work into print can learn more on Feb. 4 as the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg opens its Written/Spoken Series. The program at 7 p.m. in the Hempfield Room at the 150 Finoli Drive campus includes several award-winning writers and the editors...
Country singer Martina McBride schedules Palace Theatre showVideo
Award-winning country singer Martina McBride will play The Palace Theatre in Greensburg on April 30. A four-time Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year, McBride is known for hits like “This One’s for the Girls” and “Independence Day.” Tickets from $69-$135 go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 7...
Watch the best and worst of Super Bowl adsVideo
During advertising’s biggest night, Super Bowl Sunday, marketers battled it out to bolster their brands and promote new products. Advertisers paid up to $5.6 million for 30 seconds, and almost 100 million people tuned into the big game. This year, Hyundai and Jeep scored with whimsical humor by poking fun...
Tickets available soon for country-pop act Lady AntebellumVideo
Tickets will go on sale Friday for country-pop trio Lady Antebellum’s performance at S&T Bank Music Park near Burgettstown this summer. Musicians and songwriters Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley will make a stop there on July 17 as part of their Ocean 2020 tour. Tickets go on sale...
Netflix becomes aggressive in courting first-time filmmakers
Stefon Bristol had a clear vision of his first feature project. As a graduate film student at NYU, he had already shot a short version of a movie called “See You Yesterday,” a story about a science-obsessed New York City teen who masters time travel to save her loved ones....
Stephen King quits Facebook over political ads
Horror writer Stephen King has quit Facebook, saying he is not comfortable with the political advertising on the platform. In a post on Twitter on Friday, King stated, “I’m quitting Facebook. Not comfortable with the flood of false information that’s allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in...
Week 2 at Weinstein trial: Four accusers and a chihuahua
NEW YORK — The second week of testimony at Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. The woman he’s charged with raping testified Friday, giving an often vivid account of fraught interactions with this once revered Hollywood producer and a much talked-about description of his genitalia....
For ‘Fast and Furious’ cast, Walker’s memory remains strong
MIAMI — Vin Diesel says it’s the spirit of Paul Walker that motivates him to continue starring in the “Fast and Furious” saga. Diesel and the cast spoke of the memory of their late screen partner at a special event surrounding the upcoming release of the franchise’s ninth chapter, “F9:...
Netflix’s ‘Gentefied’ a love letter to Los Angeles’ Latino culture
It was around this time three years ago when “Gentefied,” a bilingual web series exploring gentrification in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights, had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in the Short Form Episodic Showcase. But the series, which originally consisted of seven 10-minute episodes, never actually hit the internet....
Author Mary Higgins Clark, ‘Queen of Suspense,’ dead at 92
NEW YORK — Mary Higgins Clark, the tireless and long-reigning “Queen of Suspense” whose tales of women beating the odds made her one of the world’s most popular writers, died Friday at age 92. Her publisher, Simon & Schuster, announced that she died of natural causes in Naples, Florida. “Nobody...
Elizabeth Banks honored with parade, roast at HarvardVideo
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Actor and director Elizabeth Banks was honored Friday as Woman of the Year by Harvard University’s famed Hasty Pudding theater troupe with a parade and a celebratory roast. The “Hunger Games” star rolled through through Harvard Square in the back of a black convertible as students dressed...
Woman says Weinstein yelled, ‘You owe me!’ before raping her
NEW YORK — A key accuser in Harvey Weinstein’s trial testified Friday that he raped her twice, once bellowing, “You owe me!” as he dragged her into a bedroom. The first time, the heavyset Hollywood tycoon trapped her in a New York hotel room in March 2013, angrily ordered her...
Pittsburgh Dad spins wheel on ‘Price is Right’ stageVideo
Pittsburgh Dad finally made his appearance on “The Price is Right.” Sort of. Curt Wootton, the man behind “Pittsburgh Dad,” and his crew were in the audience for an episode of the game show that aired Friday on CBS. The show was taped in December. Thanks for stopping by #PriceIsRight,...
Adam Sandler signs deal with Netflix to make 4 more films
LOS ANGELES — Expect more Adam Sandler in your Netflix feed. The streaming giant announced Friday that Sandler and his Happy Madison Productions have reached a new deal with Netflix to make four more films. He’s had five films with the studio along with the stand-up special “Adam Sandler: 100%...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County this weekend: Jan. 31-Feb. 2Video
This weekend you can celebrate women’s contributions to art or make your own, rock to live music and enjoy the sweet soundtrack of a princess and her prince. This weekend is a full one. Let’s get started. The art of women Jeannette art gallery You Are Here will host “Women’s...
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ new season focuses on characters, issues
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” — starring Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, Andre Braugher, Dirk Blocker and Joel McKinnon Miller as a ragtag group of NYPD officers — returns for its seventh season with an hourlong premiere on Feb. 6. The season will see recently demoted Capt....
Jennifer Lopez and Shakira vow ’empowering’ Super Bowl halftime show
MIAMI — Jennifer Lopez and Shakira said Thursday their upcoming Super Bowl halftime show will pay homage to Latin culture, promising a joint performance that has an empowering message and also one that “spreads love.” “It’s a lot of energy. It’s very entertaining. There’s heartfelt moments. I think we run...
Writers to sign books, read work at Greensburg session
Seven area writers will attend a Feb. 8 book-signing in Greensburg. Ligonier Valley Writers will host the free event from 1-3 p.m. at Craftique Collections, 770 E. Pittsburgh St. Refreshments will be available. Participating authors and their genres, as follows, also will read short excerpts form their work and answer...
Cello, piano recital at Seton Hill Performing Arts Center
A Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cellist and Duquesne University instructor, along with a pianist and Seton Hill University instructor, will perform a recital Jan. 31 at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center, 100 Harrison Ave., Greensburg. The 7 p.m. recital will feature cellist Adam Liu and pianist Josiane Merlino. The program...
Review: Blake Lively kills it in thrilling ‘The Rhythm Section’Video
When you think of top-notch movie assassins, there’s a good chance you conjure up Samuel L. Jackson or Keanu Reeves or Matt Damon. You might not immediately think of Blake Lively. But now you should. Lively makes a startlingly effective killer in ” The Rhythm Section,” a moody international thriller...
Donnie Iris will keep playing ‘as long as the fans keep coming’Video
Do you remember when rock was young? It was all about youth culture and rebellion against the older generation’s status quo. Like The Who said in 1965, “I hope I die before I get old.” But those rockers turned 30, then 40 and 50 and 60 … and 70. And...
