Theater & Arts category, Page 36
‘Grease’ is the word for Monessen High School spring musical
It’s got groove, it’s got meaning. It’s “Grease,” the spring musical at Monessen High School. The auditorium will be rocking like Rydell High School when the musical comedy about 1950s teen love between greaser Danny Zuko and sweet Aussie Sandy Olsson hits the stage. The High/Middle School Group for Performing...
Join in the fun with Burrell’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’
Audience participation is not only expected as Burrell High School presents “The Mystery of Edward Drood,” it’s required says Burrell musical director Martin Connolly. “The audience gets to vote and decide who the murderer is at the end of the show,” Connolly says. “And then based on that we will...
Springdale takes a chance on ‘Mamma Mia’Video
The global sensation “Mamma Mia” lands on the Springdale Jr./Sr. High School stage March 29-31. “I like the fact that this musical is contemporary. We can do a lot with that,” says Emily Plunkett of her lead role as Sophie. The global smash hit musical takes place on a tiny...
Highlands High School presents ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’Video
Highlands High School presents the only Pittsburgh area high school musical production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” March 29-31. Based on the French novel by Victor Hugo and songs from the Disney animated feature, this production is the largest to grace the Highlands stage under the direction of Highlands...
‘Wiesenthal: Nazi Hunter’ spotlights tolerance, benefits Tree of Life fund
He is nicknamed the “Jewish James Bond.” Simon Wiesenthal survived 12 Nazi concentration camps and made a name for himself by doggedly hunting down and bringing to justice Nazi criminals, including Adolf Eichmann. Now he is the subject of a one-man, one-act play called “Wiesenthal: Nazi Hunter” opening Tuesday at...
Exhalations Dance Theatre to perform ‘Equinox’ at Kelly Strayhorn TheatreVideo
They are pharmacists, bankers, nurses, teachers, and digital strategists. They are also dancers and members of the Exhalations Dance Theatre, a nonprofit organization that was formed to create performing and choreography opportunities for non-professional dancers. The company will present “Equinox” at 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday at the...
Uniontown theater schedules auditions for two summer musicals
Auditions for two upcoming productions are planned April 7-8 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts, 37 E. Main St., Uniontown. Summer at the State’s 2019 season will feature “Mamma Mia” and another musical to be announced. Both productions will have ensemble casts of 30-35 actors, singers and dancers....
‘Mary Poppins’ to fly over Norwin stage
Mary Poppins, the magical English nanny made famous in the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews, will be flying across the stage at the Norwin High School auditorium. “We chose ‘Mary Poppins’ because we thought it would be a perfect show to showcase the students’ talents, especially in terms of the...
Greensburg Salem Middle School thespians stage spring musicalVideo
Due to contract regulations, Greensburg Salem Middle School is not using a particular, well-known name to advertise its spring musical. Suffice it to say, fans of a certain popular musical will want to be in attendance, however, in order to “read all about it.” Chorus teacher and musical director Melanie...
James Corden returns to host the 2019 Tony AwardsVideo
James Corden is returning to host the 73rd annual Tony Awards. The American Theatre Wing on Tuesday announced that the host of CBS’ “The Late Late Show” will preside over Broadway’s biggest night which honors the season’s best plays and musicals. Corden previously hosted the 70th annual Tonys. Corden won...
Kiski Area goes classic with ‘The Sound of Music’Video
Everyone’s favorite singing nun returns as Kiski Area High School presents “The Sound of Music” March 27-30. “Coming off the heels of a no-dialogue show like last year’s “Joseph,” this year’s show will provide audiences with a nice contrast as we return to a more traditional and classic musical favorite,”...
Sounds of Ireland come to the Palace for St. Patrick’s DayVideo
If a quick trip to the Emerald Isle is out of the question, the next best place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day just might be The Palace Theatre with the National Dance Company of Ireland’s Rhythm of the Dance. Traditional Irish songs, dances and music will comprise the program during...
Northern Lights illuminate Stage Right Pittsburgh’s ‘Almost, Maine’
The Northern Lights are in the sky and love is in the frosty air on a cold winter’s night in the mythical town of “Almost, Maine.” Stage Right Performing Arts and Education will present six performances of the romantic comedy comprised of nine short plays set at the same time...
Pittsburgh, Harlem dancers reunite on August Wilson Center stage
Encores are a natural response to successful performances. We all, audiences and performers, want more. Two seasons ago two great American ballet companies shared the stage for the first time to celebrate the reopening of the August Wilson Center. Now, each company celebrating its 50th birthday, they will team up...
‘The Q Ball: Get Your Heart On’ gala is about the power of love
“The Q Ball: Get Your Heart On” gala is from 6 to 11 p.m. March 23 at HIP at the Flashlight Factory, an old stamping factory on the North Side built in 1887 which manufactured goods from automobile grills to train parts. The evening is about the power of love...
Travel to ‘Neverland’ with Greasepaint Players
All it takes is an enthusiastic cast and maybe a sprinkle of pixie dust for Greensburg Civic Theatre’s Greasepaint Players to take theatergoers to Neverland in its production of “Peter Pan and Wendy.” The family play with three performances March 15 and 16 at Greensburg Garden and Civic Center features...
Fox Chapel tackles challenging ‘Les Miserables’Video
Fox Chapel Area High School presents “Les Miserables School Edition,” on March 14-17. This adaptation of the classic musical by Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schoneberg, based on the French novel by Victor Hugo, is the world’s longest running sung-through musical and the third longest running musical in Broadway history. Winner...
Pittsburgh native David Conrad talks about coming home for ‘Legend of Georgia McBride’Video
Of all the stage and screen actors the Pittsburgh area has produced, David Conrad is one of the most successful. He has starred on Broadway and in more than 30 movies and television series including “Wedding Crashers,” “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” and “Ghost Whisperer.” Conrad is back in the area appearing...
Leechburg Area High School presents ‘Anything Goes’Video
Leechburg Area High School sets sail with “Anything Goes.” Director Alyssa Bruno Walls said she chose “Anything Goes” because the student talent is “so there” this year for the nautically themed classic that includes music and lyrics written by Cole Porter such as “It’s Delovely,” “I Get a Kick Out...
‘Mean Girls’ opens PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh shows for 2019-20Video
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced the 2019-20 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season on Monday. Leading the seven touring Broadway shows, which have won more than 30 Tony Awards, is “Mean Girls,” the hit musical that included book writer Tina Fey. The others are “A Bronx Tale,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Miss...
‘Hamilton’ set to return to Pittsburgh in 2020-21 season
The megahit musical “Hamilton” is coming back to Pittsburgh during the 2020-21 Broadway season, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced Monday. The show opened to a sold-out crowd on Jan. 1 and continued its popular run through Jan. 27, performing before an estimated 88,000 theater-goers at the Benedum Center. Hamilton was...
Prime Stage Theatre hosts special guest for ‘Butterflies’ opener
Prime Stage Theatre welcomed a special guest for the March 9 opening night of “In the Time of the Butterflies” at the New Hazlett Theater Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh’s North Side. Joining the near-capacity audience was author Minou Tavárez Mirabal, daughter of one of the play’s subjects....
For Western Pa. high school musicals, big crowds and big expectations
Transporting the audience with the storyline of a high school musical isn’t enough for student casts these days. It’s also got to send them to Broadway — or at least the Benedum. Like students at Belle Vernon Area High School, most of these young performers want each year’s show to...
Freeport thinks pink with ‘Legally Blonde’Video
“Omigod! Omigod you guys.” Freeport Area High School thinks pink as it presents “Legally Blonde: The Musical” March 14-17 at the Freeport Middle School. Based on the smash comedy 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon, it’s the story of a rich sorority girl named Elle Woods and her creative mission to...
Stage Right apparently sets record with ‘Children of Eden,’ awaits official word from Guinness
As the Palace Theatre house lights went down Saturday night and Tony Marino stepped into the spotlight, he sang, “I woke up from a curious dream.” How dreamlike the day must have been as Marino and his Stage Right theater company sought to break the Guinness record for the fastest...
