Theater & Arts category, Page 10
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...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces return of ‘Hamilton,’ other shows for 2024-25 season
Pittsburgh will get another shot to see smash-hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” this fall. On Monday, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced their 2024-2025 PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season, which will kick off with “Hamilton” from Sept. 11-29, 2024, at the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. The season will also include shows...
Westmoreland Cultural Trust taps Penn Township native as new CEO
Twenty-one years ago, Penn- Trafford High School student Benjamin Luczak stood on the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg, performing for an audience in the musical “Brigadoon.” In a few weeks, Luczak, 37, will have the responsibility of overseeing operations of The Palace, now that the Westmoreland Cultural Trust has...
Seton Hill ships puppets to Florida middle school drama program left without props one week before showtime
When Seton Hill University professor Lisa Leibering’s theater design students created puppets for a local middle school production of “Finding Nemo Jr.,” they never expected their work would travel more than 1,000 miles away from Greensburg. But, when a middle school drama program director from Broward County, Fla., called about...
Pittsburgh Playhouse’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’ enchants with both drama and laughs
Nobody does tragedy or comedy like William Shakespeare did, and his play “The Winter’s Tale” has a little bit of both. Fortunately for audiences, Pittsburgh Playhouse’s Conservatory Theatre Company brought both the drama and the laughs at Wednesday’s opening night performance of the Bard’s classic. “The Winter’s Tale” is a...
NPR comedy news quiz ‘Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!’ to bring live show to Benedum Center
Since 1998, listeners have enjoyed NPR’s comedic news quiz show “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” On Thursday, the show, normally recorded in Chicago, is coming to provide live laughs and current event insights at the Benedum Center. “Wait Wait” is a weekly show that features host Peter Sagal and a rotating...
Pittsburgh CLO announces programs to remove barriers for theatergoers
People stressed about where they will park Downtown, how much they’ll spend on their children’s tickets or arranging for a babysitter so they can go to a Pittsburgh CLO show can give its summer season a try because of new programs. “We always say that (our shows are) by Pittsburgh,...
Pitt Stages’ ‘Spring Awakening’ is a raw portrait of adolescence with a big heart
The smash hit musical “Spring Awakening” is not for the faint of heart, but Pitt Stages at the University of Pittsburgh put on an amazingly heartfelt show at the opening performance Saturday night at the Charity Randall Theatre in Oakland. Based on an 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind, “Spring...
‘Welcome to Night Vale’ podcast brings live show to Roxian Theatre
Something strange will be happening at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks on Saturday night. “Welcome to Night Vale,” a popular scripted podcast, will bring its latest live show, “The Attic,” to town. The podcast is written as a series of radio station broadcasts from the fictional town of Night...
3rd annual comedy fundraiser will benefit Carnegie Library of Homestead
On Saturday night, the Friends of the Carnegie Library of Homestead will put on a night of laughs for a good cause at the Munhall venue. The third annual “Comedy at the Carnegie” benefit will be headlined by Mark Eddie and hosted by Aaron Kleiber, with a slate of local...
New play by Stoney Richards opens Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ 20th season
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is kicking off its 20th season this April with a slate of events for fans of the legendary playwright. The “Week of Will,” an annual tradition for Shakespeare in the Parks, begins on April 23, William Shakespeare’s 460th birthday. The weeklong program will include the...
Stage review: Pittsburgh Public Theater’s ‘Earnest’ is a timeless comedy with a fresh take
As spring comes to Pittsburgh, love — and laughter — is in the air with Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of Oscar Wilde’s classic play, “The Importance of Being Earnest.” The play, newly adapted and directed by Jenny Koons, and in collaboration with Baltimore Center Stage, premiered Wednesday night at the...
‘Mamma Mia!’ mixes endless laughs with ABBA hits at Benedum
After 25 years, “Mamma Mia!” still has audiences dancing in their seats to the timeless tunes of pop group ABBA. The 25th anniversary tour’s Pittsburgh engagement, presented by the Cultural Trust as a season special part of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series, opened Tuesday night at the Benedum Center....
Beaver County native, comedian Dan Rosenberg to bring laughs to the Lindsay Theater
On April 13, Chippewa native Dan Rosenberg will return to the Linsday Theater and Cultural Center in Sewickley for a night of stand up comedy with “The Coast to Coaster Tour.” Rosenberg’s comedy career spans more than three decades and includes stand up, writing, emceeing and radio hosting. He graduated...
Margaret Cho will be ‘Live and LIVID!’ at the Byham Theater
Margaret Cho, the Emmy- and Grammy-nominated stand-up comedian, actress, activist and musician, will be “Live and LIVID!” on Saturday at the Byham Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh. “I always love to go see The Andy Warhol Museum, which is really amazing, really really incredible,” Cho said about Pittsburgh in a phone...
