Theater & Arts category, Page 35
Derek Hough brings solo show to Benedum CenterVideo
The last time professional dancer Derek Hough went out on the road with a live show two years ago, he shared the stage with his sister Julianne Hough as part of their 48-city “Move – Beyond – Live on Tour.” This time around, it’s all Derek. The six-time “Dancing with...
Westinghouse Arts Academy ready to cut loose with ‘Footloose’
Mallory Mousseau Grantz admits it took quite a while to pick and finalize a musical for the Westinghouse Arts Academy. But when the decision was made, it’s become quite apparent ever since that “Footloose” was an apt choice. Mousseau Grantz, the director and music director, believes the skill set of...
Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Oakland Catholic take audience to ‘Chicago’ in musical
Nicole Joyce has always admired the work ethic of the students at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, and their ability to embrace the challenge that might come with whatever musical the school is performing. This time around, Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic actors and actresses will perform the high school edition of...
Greater Latrobe students stage Seussian fable of friendship
A host of Dr. Seuss characters will tread the boards in “Seussical JR.,” the spring musical from the Greater Latrobe Junior High theater program, now in its 17th season. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat (Ben Federico) narrates the story...
Deer Lakes singing, dancing to the strains of ABBA in ‘Mamma Mia’
Deer Lakes High School drama students are preparing to transport the audience to Greece with their performance of “Mamma Mia.” The musical takes place in Greece and tells the story of Sophie and Donna. Sophie is getting married and wants her dad to walk her down the aisle, but has...
Valley set to put on colorful ‘Dreamcoat’
Valley High School Drama Club junior Adam Richardson will be making his stage debut in the lead role of Joseph, donning the iconic coat of many colors in the musical in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” April 11-14 at Valley High School. “I love the coat. I love how...
Pitt-Greensburg raises curtain on ‘Young Frankenstein’
“Young Frankenstein,” the Pitt-Greensburg Theater Company’s spring musical production, opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ferguson Theater on the Hempfield campus, 150 Finoli Drive. Other show times are 7:30 p.m. April 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. April 7. Tickets at the door are $10, or $5 for students,...
Shakespeare troupe sets auditions for all-female ‘Julius Caesar’
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is planning an all-female cast for its September production of “Julius Caesar.” Female performers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are needed to fill both male and female roles. Cold-read auditions will take place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27, with callbacks 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April...
Kindness of strangers on 9/11 exemplified in ‘Come From Away’Video
“Come From Away” is a heartwarming story that’s even more special because it really happened. The first national tour of the new Broadway musical, coming to Benedum Center April 9-14 for eight performances, takes a look at the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, from the perspective of nearly 7,000 stranded...
‘Superstar’ is an Easter tradition for Stage Right
Stage Right! Theater Company ends its 20th anniversary season on Palm Sunday weekend, April 12-14, with a retelling of the last week of Jesus Christ’s life in the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice 1970 rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The musical at The Palace Theatre – loosely based on the Gospels...
Jeannette students to perform classic ‘Annie’Video
The popular tale of Annie, determined to find the parents who dropped her off at an orphanage years ago, is in regular rotation among high school musicals. Jeannette City School District students believe their production of “Annie,” showing at the junior/senior high school auditorium April 5-7, will be familiar to...
Hempfield Area musical is in the pink with ‘Legally Blonde’Video
The Hempfield Area High School spring musical, “Legally Blonde,” holds special significance for senior cast members Anthony Marino and Jenna Salvatore. “It’s always fun playing opposite Jenna,” says Marino, who is double cast with senior Nick Fry in the role of Emmett, a schoolmate and admirer of the lead character,...
Mt. Pleasant presents the classic, feel-good ‘Annie’
Two cast members sure to capture the hearts of audiences at the Mt. Pleasant Junior/Senior High School spring musical are a father-son pair named Gio and Wallie. What makes them stand out in crew of about 50 actors? They’re Shetland sheepdogs, commonly called Shelties, and they will share the role...
Seton Hill’s ‘The Seagull’ delves into love in all of its forms
Russian playwright and author Anton Chekov once described his classic comedy, “The Seagull,” as having a cast of nine, four acts and “five tons of love.” Robyne Parrish, who is directing the Seton Hill University Theatre production of the play written in 1895 and first produced in 1896, agrees the...
St. Joseph High School stages Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘In the Heights’
St. Joseph High School tackles a “new classic” — “In the Heights.” Before “Hamilton” swept the musical theater world by storm there was “In the Heights.” Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the music and lyrics, starring in both. “In the Heights” garnered numerous top industry honors including Best Musical, Choreography, Original Score...
Pittsburgh Youth Chorus gets little singers some big experience
A few years ago, Olivia Laubham and Evelyn Maiman were just starting out with the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus and were a little nervous about getting onstage. Today, they might not be considered stage veterans yet, but after performances with the Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Pittsburgh Public Theater, they’re...
Queen-inspired rock musical to tour North AmericaVideo
LOS ANGELES — A musical inspired by Queen’s music is preparing for a North America tour following the popularity of the Academy Award-winning movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Producers announced Monday “We Will Rock You” will open in Winnipeg, Canada, on Sept. 3. The tour will stop in other cities including New...
Allderdice students hit high notes with iconic ‘60s pop hits in ‘Leader of the Pack’
When the lights go down at Pittsburgh Allderdice High School and the music starts, James Rankin hopes to hit all the right notes from his place in the orchestra pit. “There’s something magical about being a part of the live performance,” says the junior who lives in Greenfield. About 30...
Pittsburgh Public Theater brings ‘Indecent’ to the O’Reilly Theater
Pittsburgh Public Theater announced it will present Paula Vogel’s Tony Award-nominated play, “Indecent,” April 18 to May 19 at the O’Reilly Theater, in Downtown Pittsburgh. The production is directed by Carnegie Mellon University graduate Risa Brainin. In the play, an ensemble of 10 actors and musicians follow the trajectory of...
‘Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical’ to make Pittsburgh debut at Byham Theater
The popular 1999 film “Cruel Intentions” has been transformed into a stage musical and a touring production of“Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical,” will make a stop at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St., Pittsburgh, for an 8 p.m. April 20 show. Tickets start at $49. Based on the French novel,...
Pittsburgh New Works Festival seeks 1-act plays
Time is running out. Playwrights with one-act stories, never before produced, may submit to the Pittsburgh New Works Festival through April 5. Twelve, one-act plays will be selected for performance as mainstage productions for the festival’s 29th season, which begins in September. An additional six plays will be chosen for...
Brashear High School hopes to thrill audiences in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’Video
Cass Wilkes is a senior at Carrick High School, but she’s been spending a lot of time this spring at Brashear High School. Her school doesn’t have a spring musical. So she auditioned for Brashear’s “Little Shop of Horrors,” a science-fiction, horror mashup with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and...
Penn-Trafford Drama Guild prepares to stage ‘The Addams Family’Video
The Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild will stage “The Addams Family” as its spring musical this year. However, it’s actually more like the Addams Extended Family. “We had the talent this year to double-cast all of our lead roles,” director Tom Bekavec said. Moving the story of the old black-and-white...
‘La Boheme’ is the opera for everyone
Some operas are great introductions to the art form. Others appeal more to connoisseurs. But Giacomo Puccini’s “La Boheme” is both, an experience to be eagerly anticipated for just about anyone. The powerful story is about young artists living together because they are poor, one of whom find true love...
CAPA will perform the musical ‘Sister Act’ for 2 weekends
In a three-piece suit, accessorized with lots and lots of jewelry, Eli Yaroch commits murder. “I have never played the villain before,” says Yaroch, a junior at Pittsburgh CAPA, Downtown Pittsburgh, who plays Curtis Jackson in the musical “Sister Act.” “I like playing a part that is so far from...
