Theater & Arts category, Page 10
Comedian and ‘MadTV’ alum Aries Spears to perform at Pittsburgh Improv
Longtime stand up comedian, impressionist and veteran of sketch comedy show “MADtv” Aries Spears will bring his edgy, no-holds-barred comedy to the Pittsburgh Improv in Homestead this weekend. With five shows — a 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, a 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and a 7 p.m....
Pittsburgh Public Theater’s ‘The Coffin Maker’ is a challenging, hilarious look at history
”The Coffin Maker” is an exciting play for a number of reasons. It serves as the finale for Pittsburgh Public Theater’s current season, and it is also a world premiere, written by Pittsburgh playwright — and founder of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company — Mark Clayton Southers. Inspired by August Wilson,...
Nonprofit group forms to pursue rebirth of Derry theater
Joan Reynolds wants to bring the arts back to downtown Derry. She achieved the first part of her plan when she repurchased the former theater building she owned more than two decades ago. Local bands took to the stage of the Gem Theater in the 1990s while Reynolds operated a...
‘Wonderettes’ brings back song hits of ’50s, ’60s for Saint Vincent Summer Theatre
A high school prom and reunion, set to a string of popular songs, will unfold on stage for those who purchase tickets for “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” the first production in Saint Vincent Summer Theatre’s upcoming season. This season marks Greggory Brandt’s 10th as producing artistic director of summer theater at...
Local high school musicals highlighted by Gene Kelly Award nominations
Since 1991, the Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater have recognized the hard work and passion of music educators and high school students throughout Allegheny County. This year’s nominees — in a variety of categories — were announced on May 8, and the awards will be...
Pittsburgh CLO’s ‘Lady Day’ is a beautiful, raw evening spent with a legend
Billie Holiday will undoubtedly — and deservedly — be a household name for generations to come. The revered jazz singer was just 44 years old when she passed in July 1959. “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” the first musical of Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s summer 2024 season, takes...
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s ‘Cinderella’ is magical
Friday night was an enchanted evening at the Benedum Center with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “Cinderella.” The show, which runs through Sunday, marks the United States premiere of this production, choreographed by Jayne Smeulders. The ballet features music by Sergei Prokofiev, performed by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Orchestra. Every moment sparkled...
Meet the CMU alumni who are nominated for this year’s Tony Awards
Carnegie Mellon University has plenty to brag about now that this year’s Tony nominations have been announced. The 77th Tony Awards, which honor the season’s best efforts on Broadway, will take place June 16. When nominations were announced April 30, six alumni of Carnegie Mellon netted 11 nominations. In addition,...
2 Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre dancers perform onstage with their daughters in ‘Cinderella’
Audiences at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s production of “Cinderella” will get to share in some sweet family memories. Two dancers — William Moore and Danielle Downey — will perform with their young daughters in the production, which runs Friday through Sunday. Even more poignant, both dancers have just announced their retirement...
Area organizations offer creative and performing arts summer programs for kids of all ages
For kids with a creative streak, the summer can be a great chance to expand their horizons and learn new skills. In the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, many arts organizations are offering programs for the summer of 2024 that will entice and engage students, from 2-year-olds all the way up to...
Steve Solomon brings hilarious family tales to the Palace Theatre
Steve Solomon would like to tell you about his wacky family. He will perform his comedic one-man show, ‘My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy!” at the Palace Theatre on May 19. Attendees will be in good company — more than a million people worldwide have seen...
‘Kite Runner’ is an emotional, unflinching story of survival and redemption
Khaled Hosseini’s 2003 novel “The Kite Runner” was a massive hit in the United States, selling more than 10 million copies in this country to date. In 2022, the stage adaptation of that book, adapted by Matthew Spangler, premiered on Broadway. And on Tuesday night, the epic, devastating touring production...
Franklin Regional goes down the rabbit-hole with ‘Alice in Wonderland’
It might not be accurate to say Riley Bain was born to portray Alice from “Alice in Wonderland,” but there’s no doubt that she’s done plenty of research for the role. “I have an obsession,” said Bain, 17, a Franklin Regional junior. “I had an ‘Alice’ party for my 16th...
Former Ringling Bros. clown will perform 1-man show at New Hazlett Theater
Mike Perry just wanted to have fun when he was growing up in Buffalo. He found a unicycle and taught himself to ride it at the age of 12. Later, a friend taught him how to juggle, and he thought that was fun, too. He couldn’t have guessed that it...
Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson’ is a performance to remember
At the close of Pittsburgh Opera’s production of “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson,” the titular character sings, “Remember me, remember me.” As for this show, it’s easy to heed. Despite being a Pittsburgh Opera production, “Passion” is a play, although it does include original music sung operatically, as well...
‘Hell’s Kitchen’ and ‘Stereophonic’ lead Tony nominations, shows honoring creativity’s spark
NEW YORK — Two Broadway shows celebrating the origins of sonic creativity — the musical “Hell’s Kitchen” fueled by Alicia Keys songs, and the play “Stereophonic” about a ’70s rock band at the edge of stardom — each earned a leading 13 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, a list that also...
City Theatre’s ‘Andy Warhol in Iran’ is a compelling culture clash
In the final production of its 2023-24 season, City Theatre Company has brought a compelling, thought-provoking and — at times — humorous play to life with “Andy Warhol in Iran.” Marking a Pittsburgh premiere, Brent Askari’s play is masterfully directed by Marc Masterson. The setting is 1976, when iconic pop...
Stage Right’s ‘Jersey Boys’ finds harmony with Broadway actor
A little slice of Broadway is coming to Greensburg. Russell Fischer, who first played the role of young Joe Pesci on Broadway in “Jersey Boys,” will star in Stage Right’s upcoming rendition of the award-winning jukebox musical — this time as lead vocalist Frankie Valli. The show, scheduled at Greensburg’s...
Sensory accessibility: Theaters create a welcoming space for guests
When Amy Hart caught a glimpse of daughter Sophie jumping up and down in her seat in the theater, she began to tear up. Artists from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker” were dancing on stage in a sensory-friendly performance in 2021, and 14-year-old Sophie and her friend were smiling...
Want to see live theater on a budget? The region offers plenty of options
Live theater has a reputation for being an expensive night out. The prices of tickets alone can easily cause sticker shock, especially if it’s an outing for the whole family. As it turns out, there are a lot of options for discounted tickets, even from the area’s biggest names in...
Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ a thrilling snapshot of rock ‘n’ roll history
On Dec. 4, 1956, rock ’n’ roll history was made. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash gathered at Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., for a recording session the likes of which would never again be repeated. That evening is revisited in the musical “Million Dollar Quartet,”...
‘Apis’ tells environmental story with a cast of mostly puppets
The last creature on Earth travels through time in order to try and change history in “Apis,” the final production in the New Hazlett Theater’s 11th season of Community Supported Art productions. And who is that last creature? He’s a little blue bee named Bob. And he’s one of several...
Review: ‘Company’ is a heartfelt musical comedy in shiny new wrapping
Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company” may be a classic at this point, but the production in the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season opened Tuesday night with a fresh take. The show’s original Broadway run began in 1970, with music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by George...
Upper St. Clair graduate’s cabaret show celebrates friendship with Elizabeth Taylor
In 1981, Ann Talman placed a call from New York City to her hometown Upper St. Clair, announcing: “Dad! I got the Broadway show. And guess what? Guess who’s playing my mother? Elizabeth Taylor!” What followed was 18 months of touring with a cast that also included Maureen Stapleton and...
Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim’s Connecticut home sold for $3.25M
NEW YORK — The Connecticut home of Broadway songsmith Stephen Sondheim has sold for $3.25 million. Sondheim, the composer and lyricist behind “West Side Story,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Gypsy” and many other classic musicals, died at his Roxbury estate in 2021 at age 91. He moved to Connecticut in 1984. Klemm...
