March Madness arrives in Pittsburgh weekend. Here are some ways to spend it between games.

Penguin Palooza

The National Aviary on the North Side is hosting Penguin Palooza from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Learn what makes penguins unique through interactive activities and special talks and trivia. Guests can take home a penguin craft.

Visit with the African Penguins, and learn about the Aviary’s work to save penguins from extinction.

The event is included with admission.

Tickets are $17.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors, $14.95 for children. Children under 2 are free.

Facemasks are optional.

Details: aviary.org

‘Beautiful - The Carole King Musical’

“Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” is on stage at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Benedum Center. It tells the true story of Carole King’s rise to stardom, along with performances with husband Gerry Goffin. The show features songs such as “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and the title song, “Beautiful.”

Tickets start at $33.

Covid-19 vaccination and masks are required.

Details: trustarts.org

Happy Birthday, Carole! #BeautifulOnTour comes to the Benedum Center Mar. 18-20 ▶️ https://t.co/0E4U158xOQ https://t.co/FWZUXdL6U8

— Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (@CulturalTrust) February 9, 2022

Community Day

The August Wilson African American Cultural Center will host its Community Day “Growing Together” from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Downtown.

It’s a free, family-friendly day of activities.

Artist Cue Perry will discuss his current exhibition “Who Are You? (W.A.Y),” and the Black Urban Gardeners and Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-Op will have a Farmers Market with planting kits provided by Soil Sisters Plant Nursery.

There will be storytelling with Lytia Brock, who will read “Amber Learns the Alphabet,” and a performance by Cam Chambers and Band.

Masks are mandatory

Details: aacc-awc.org

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‘Lifting Our Voices’

The annual Center for Theater Arts spring show “Lifting Our Voices” will feature Broadway’s Norm Lewis and Hugh Panaro from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at Heinz Hall, Downtown.

An Emmy, Tony and SAG Award nominee, Lewis recently starred in Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” and in the FX series “Pose.” Panaro played the role of the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The event supports the non-profit performing arts school and will feature performances from the Center for Theater Arts faculty, students and alumni. Students in the Special Actors Program will showcase songs from Broadway musicals.

Limited tickets available starting at $44.25

Covid-19 vaccine required. Masks are optional.

Details: centerfortheaterarts.org

Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper, known for his theatrical brand of hard “shock” rock, will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at Heinz Hall, Downtown.

His latest album, “Detroit Stories,” is inspired by the garage rock music of Detroit, where he was born, in the late 1960s. Cooper’s radio show, “Nights With Alice Cooper,” airs in nearly 100 cities in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK. It features favorite classic rock songs along with his insider anecdotes about many of the artists.

Cooper, whose song “School’s Out” was a Top 10 hit, was discovered in 1969 by musician Frank Zappa. His 2020 tour, “Ol’ Black Eyes Is Back,” was cut short by the pandemic.

Tickets start at $69.75.

Details: alicecooper.com

Time is up, Minions. “Detroit Stories” has been unleashed on the world.

Grab your copy at https://t.co/bV1bjfq2fY#AliceCooper #DetroitStories #RocknRoll #Rock #NewMusic #NewMusicFriday pic.twitter.com/COeMcNHKuF

— Alice Cooper (@alicecooper) February 26, 2021

Related:

• Pittsburgh dining options aplenty during the NCAA Tournament • Pittsburgh sightseeing options

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