Entertainment category, Page 417
Tichina Arnold finds a new sitcom home in ‘The Neighborhood’Video
LOS ANGELES — Tichina Arnold knew as a tot she was meant to perform. “I told my mom at the age of 3, ‘I want to sing.’ And of course my mom being a mother, she said, ‘Well, my baby wants to sing.’ So they put me up on a...
West Deer’s John Vento uses music as force for goodVideo
For a guy who admits that he had a late start in taking original music seriously, John Vento certainly is making up for lost time. In the past 20 years, the West Deer singer-songwriter, who grew up in Penn Hills, has recorded three albums with his John Vento Band, five...
Mandy Moore says she’s ready to return to music
Actress and singer Mandy Moore said that she be making new music soon. “I’ll be recording music during the hiatus,” Moore told reporters at Paramount Studios last week, according to People.com. She said that she will be making music with new husband, musician Taylor Goldsmith. “Yes! With...
Trump says he found ‘real Collusion’ — on ‘Saturday Night Live’
President Donald Trump has gotten ahead of special counsel Robert Mueller III’s investigation, making one thing clear: There was collusion. Well, on “Saturday Night Live,” at least. In a Sunday morning tweetstorm, Trump blasted the previous night’s episode of “SNL,” which opened with Alec Baldwin portraying the commander-in-chief declaring a...
Country star Miranda Lambert reveals secret marriage
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country star Miranda Lambert celebrated Valentine’s Day weekend with the announcement that she secretly got married. A representative for the singer confirmed the marriage after Lambert posted photos on social media Saturday showing her in a white lace gown with her new husband, Brendan Mcloughlin. She wrote...
Chicago police: Jussie Smollett assault case has ‘shifted’
CHICAGO — Chicago police said Saturday the investigation into the assault reported by Jussie Smollett has “shifted” because of information received from two brothers questioned in the case, and attorneys for the “Empire” actor blasted reports alleging he played a role in his own attack. Chicago police had arrested, then...
Lee Radziwill, stylish sister of Jackie Kennedy, dies at 85
NEW YORK — Lee Radziwill, the stylish jet setter and socialite who found friends, lovers and other adventures worldwide while bonding and competing with her sister Jacqueline Kennedy, has died. She was 85. Anna Christina Radziwill told The New York Times her mother died Friday of what she described as...
Don Cheadle sports political shirts as he hosts ‘SNL’
NEW YORK — Don Cheadle delivered some political messages along with jokes as he hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the first time. The actor sported a T-shirt that said “Protect Trans Kids” as he introduced musical guest Gary Clark Jr. And in closing Saturday’s show, Cheadle wore a jersey with...
Academy reverses plans, will air all awards live at Oscars
NEW YORK — Bowing to a backlash that had threatened to engulf an already blunder-plagued Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday reversed its decision to present four awards during the commercial breaks of this year’s Oscar broadcast. All 24 categories will be shown live,...
GoFundMe effort wants to send female fans to see ‘Captain Marvel’Video
As part of an endeavor to help young girls and women see the new female super hero movie Captain Marvel, starring actress Brie Larson, the initiative #CaptainMarvelChallenge has launched on GoFundMe.com. A Pittsburgh effort, GoFundMe: Pittsburgh#CaptainMarvelChallenge, is one of 25 campaigns to receive a $100 donation, says GoFundMe’s Meghan Scripture....
Stan Gordon to discuss UFO, Bigfoot research at Ligonier museum
Greensburg resident Stan Gordon has been chronicling reported area encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot and other strange phenomena for 60 years. He’ll provide insight into his study of such topics during presentations on three consecutive nights next month at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley. Gordon will present...
Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society to host Black History Month program
The Allegheny-Kiski Valley Historical Society Heritage Museum in Tarentum is hosting a Black History Month event Sunday. Samuel Black, director of African American programs at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, will speak on “African American Migration to Pittsburgh 1900-1950.” Jim Thomas, president of the Allegheny-Kiski...
Pittsburgh Musical Theater brings mega laughs to West End with ‘Nunsense the Mega-Musical’
Pittsburgh Musical Theater continues the 2018-2019 Seize the Stage Season and Rockin’ West End Series with “Nunsense the Mega-Musical,” at the Gargaro Theater, 327 S. Main St. in the city’s West End. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. March 21-23, 28-30 and at 2 p.m. March 24 and 31. The show...
Review: ‘Happy Death Day 2U’ doesn’t learn from original’s mistakesVideo
The 2017 thriller “Happy Death Day” took a “Groundhog Day”-like concept — a young woman must relive the same day, over and over — and put it in service of a largely uninspired college-set horror movie. (Turns out the day in question is the day of the protagonist’s murder, which...
Review: ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ an ingenious parody of rom-com genre
The comic actress Rebel Wilson makes any movie better — and frequently steals the show. She did it in “Pitch Perfect,” among many other films in which she plays the second lead, with a combination of oddball line readings, out-of-left-field reactions and inspired slapstick. Finally, we can celebrate her elevation...
Secret to a successful high school musical? Picking the perfect show
It’s not all singing and dancing. A lot of work goes into staging a high school musical. From picking the show and securing the rights, to casting, rehearsing, building sets and creating costumes, to paying for the whole thing – it’s enough to earn the folks who do it a...
Review: ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ successfully melds human and machineVideo
Alita is just like a typical teenage girl. She loves chocolate, breaks curfew and crushes on a bad boy with floppy hair, a leather jacket and a motorcycle. But Alita isn’t typical in other ways. For one, she can slice apart a single falling tear with her ferocious battle sword....
Entertainment planner: Feb. 14-27
Thursday Feb. 14 “A Chorus Line,” Geyer Performing Arts Center, Scottdale. Through Feb. 17. 724-887-0887 or geyerpac.com “Damn Yankees,” Saint Vincent College, Unity. Through Feb. 17. stvincent.edu Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall, Munhall. 877-987-6487 or librarymusichall.com Jim Brickman, Byham Theater, Pittsburgh. 412-456-6666 or...
When did reality TV become … nice?Video
Ever since “The Real World” debuted on MTV in 1992, reality TV has given us so much anger: Accusations. Betrayals. Brawls. Plenty of chardonnay in the face. By 2006, when “The Real Housewives” reared its triple-processed blond head, the Mean Reality TV genre had clawed its French Tips into America’s...
50 years on, America looks back at freeze-frame moments of fameVideo
When Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley of America look back on half a century of freeze-frame moments, the highlights begin right out of the gate. “We have been very fortunate to be able to start our career with such success. Our very first album (‘America’) and single (‘Horse with No...
‘The Last Five Years’ opens in Stage Right Pittsburgh’s new home
Stage Right Pittsburgh has an idea for Valentine’s Day weekend that will combine seats to a stage show, complimentary bubbly, chocolate strawberries and a rose for that special someone. Does it get any better than that? Or theatergoers can forego the VIP package and just enjoy the first adult performance...
Fresh take on ‘Phantom’ promises to light up Benedum CenterVideo
It’s hard to imagine that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical masterpiece, “The Phantom of the Opera,” could be improved upon after 31 years of brilliant opening nights – yet Cameron Mackintosh’s new production features some changes that are said to be no less than dazzling. “Phantom” lights up the Benedum...
‘A Chorus Line’ dancing across Geyer stage
For Marina Stefano of Bullskin, Fayette County, performing in “A Chorus Line” at Geyer Performing Arts Center is a real test of her stamina. In addition to choreographing the musical, she also plays Diana, whom she describes as “a fun-loving and sarcastic character,” a part that requires her, among other...
Violinist joins Westmoreland Symphony for Valentine’s concert
Smart concert programming always takes the audience into account. That’s what Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra music director Daniel Meyer did when planning the special nature of the ensemble’s next concert. “We wanted a program that is immediately accessible, straight up the middle, because we know we get a lot of first-time...
Tommy James still draggin’ his line of hits, 53 years laterVideo
Tommy James was born in Ohio, raised in Michigan, now lives in New Jersey, recruited his band in Greensburg and calls Pittsburgh his second home. “I love coming back to Pittsburgh, where it all started for me,” he says. “I owe Pittsburgh a great deal, I truly do. It began...
