Category: The Shaker

Inside dish on interviews, editorials, events listings, musings from the minds of BV’s contributors, viewer mail, and other bits of fabulousness — It all goes into The Shaker, ‘Burgh Vivant’s bacchanalian bulletin board. Saddle up to the bar, and get ready for another round of what’s shakin’!

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (1/30 – 2/1)

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh in the last week of January.

 

Brush Up Your Shakespeare

Start your weekend really, really early…i.e. Monday January 26. See a lively troupe of actors from Pittsburgh’s Shakespeare in the Park will read monologues from William Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. Brush up your Shakespeare, because audience participation is welcome. Get thee to “Bring Your Own Bard,” at Te Café, 2000 Murray Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghshakespeare.com/

 

A Righteous Babe Returns

Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Ani DiFranco comes to Pittsburgh on Wednesday, January 28. You can catch the feminist icon at The Rex, 1602 South Carson Street, Pittsburgh (South Side). For more information, go to http://www.rextheatre.com/

 

Opera Queen

You have only one more weekend to catch Handel’s “Rodelinda” at the CAPA Theater. It’s a classic story of love and betrayal told in Italian with English text. The opera is at the CAPA Theater, 9th Street & Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh (Downtown). For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/40598/rodelinda

 

I believe in Claude!

It’s the Age of Aquarius in Greensburg this weekend. It’s dawning all over again over there. The rock musical “Hair” opens at the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center. Talk about a far out show, literally and figuratively! The Greensburg Garden and Civic Center is located at 951 Old Salem road, Greensburg. For more information, go to http://www.splitstage.com/

 

Get out of Jail Free Card

Eisenstein delays his jail sentence one day to attend a fancy ball, and gets into a lot of trouble in Johann Straus II’s opera “Die Fledermaus.” The Undercroft Opera will present the opera this weekend at Carlow College, 3333 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh (Oakland). For more information, go to http://www.undercroftopera.org/community/die-fledermaus/

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (1/23 – 1/25)

Mike Buzzellipodcast logo
by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of January 23 – 25.

 

Circus: Part One

King Charlemagne has a son he can’t control. That kid is “Pippin,” and they made a Broadway play about the boy who wanders the wild world in search of his own corner of the sky. It’s a high-flying, death defying musical. “Pippin” is at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/41419/pippin

 

Circus: Part Two

The Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow comes to town on Friday, January 23. It’s a mix of music, freak show, dancing, sword swallowing, aerial, burlesque and body modification.  There’s no big tent, it’s at the Smiling Moose, 1306 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh’s Southside. For more information, go to http://www.smiling-moose.com/

 

Rain in Spain

Henry Higgins beats the Bravo to the punch and performs the first makeover in “My Fair Lady.” It’s the return of a Broadway favorite at the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/40792/my-fair-lady

 

Joy Boy

A Harlem community is disrupted when the Chinese immigrant’s shoe repair shop doesn’t open its doors in “Mr. Joy.” It goes down at the City Theater, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh’s Southside.  For more information, go to http://www.citytheatrecompany.org/

 

Heating up

Michele Bensen and the Bensen Burners return to Carnegie in “Turn up the heat,” a sizzling night of jazz. Bensen and company turn up the heat to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Musical hall, 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie on Saturday January 24 at 8:00 pm.  For more information, go to http://www.carnegiecarnegie.org/

 

– MB.

 

 

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Sisters are doing it for themselves: A review of “The Sisters Sorella”

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

A very Italian, dysfunctional family has moved into the neighborhood, and things will never be the same. No Name Players, fresh from their gore-fest musical, “Evil Dead – the Musical,” are back with the “The Sisters Sorella,” a live situation comedy, complete with commercials. It’s performed in front of a live studio audience, it’s just not filmed. It’s a madcap romp of an evening.

A greeting card author Raffie, short for Raphaela (Maggie Carr), and her slacker sister, Ernie, short for Ernestine (Julianne Avolio), dread a visit from their uptight, older sister Cetta (pronounced Chetta), short for Concetta, (Tressa Glover). The visit goes horribly awry. The two roomies can’t wait to jettison their big sis back to her husband, but somehow, against their better judgment, they keep extending her stay. Lucky for us! Because the comedic tension between the three of them sizzles with energy.

But wait! There’s more. Longtime Pittsburgh improvisational troupe Hustlebot provides filmed commercial spots (Trust me; you’ll never be able to look at, or hear, Sarah McLaughlin without laughing).

One of the founding members of the Hustlebot troupe, John Feightner, and singing improviser Connor McCanlus provide additional, live interstitial material as well. When Feightner is presented with a strange contraption, the audience gets to decide what the device does. Then, he hawks the product; riffing on the item, its function, and its moving parts. His huckster is slick, oily, brash, yet lovable and befuddled. It’s a joy to watch him figure it out as he goes along.

McCanlus plays the king of the Jingle. The audience yells out the name of some types of commonly sold commercial products, ranging from dog food to tampons, and McCanlus sings about them. He’s able to pull it off with equal parts lunacy and brilliance.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program. When we last left the sisters, Raffi and Ernie learn a terrible secret from Cetta. Though, it’s not as horrible as their insane guesses. Cetta finally opens up to them in one of the few poignant moments of the production. Almost everything is played for laughs, and they are plentiful, but these sitcom sisters are more than caricature. Glover is especially adept at mining the softer, more vulnerable moments.

Avolio is the mistress of the funny face. She is also the most awkward. She chews the sparsely decorated scenery. It’s a joy to watch her face contort and twist.

Carr is the most relatable; a struggling writer trying to keep the family together (her greeting card ideas, however, are 100% nonsensical).

The three actors, Glover, Avolio and Carr, also share the writing credits for “The Sisters Sorella.” None of the humor is too raunchy, but there is some sexual innuendo and allusions to male genitals. “The Sisters Sorella,” takes place smack dab in the middle between “The Facts of Life” and “The Golden Girls.” Actually, Saturdays at 8:30 pm in the mid-80s would have been the perfect time slot for them.

The show is directed by Don DiGiulio (now, that’s Italian!). The show’s pace is fast, frenetic and high energy. It’s a DiGiulio specialty.

Like the Bolognese the sisters are trying to perfect, every ingredient is the absolute best, making a delicious, delightful meal. I can’t wait to tune in to the next episode.

Note: You have one more chance to the first episode; January 17 at 10 pm at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://www.nonameplayers.org/index.php/2015-season/the-sisters-sorella
Episode 2 goes live February 27th and 28th at 10 pm at the Arcade.

Episode 3 will “air” March 27th and 28th same bat time, same bat channel.

 

-MB.

 

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (1/15 – 1/18)

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of January 15 to January 18.

 

Pilot Season

The No Name Players are back with some big names in local theater! Tressa Glover, Julianne Avolio and Maggie Carr team up for the pilot in the “The Sisters Sorella: A Live Sitcom” on January 16. Three Italian sisters share one apartment. Glover and her No Name Players are launching this live sitcom event with live music and commercials.  It all happens live at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to http://arcadecomedytheater.com/

 

Important People

Get your rock on, with The Meeting of Important People and Lohio at the Thunderbird Café. It’s a reunion show for Lohio. The show is presented by Hughshows and there will be special guests, sing-alongs and more (including a guest set by the Wreckids).  Party with important people at the Thunderbird Café, 4023 Butler Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville)  http://www.showclix.com/event/MeetingOfImportantPeopleLOhio

 

Family Rate

Steve Solomon’s one mane show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy” comes to the Byham Theater on January 17 & 18. Take your parents and yell, “We were just like this!” after the show. It’s at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street, Pittsburgh (Downtown). For more information, go to http://www.trustarts.org/

 

Look Again

You have a few days left to go see Sebastian Errazuirz’s first solo museum exhibition at the Carnegie Museum. He’s show “Sebastian Errazuriz: Look Again” closes on January 19. In the show, the artist takes common everyday items and repurposes them into art; a discarded taxidermy duck becomes a desk lamp, a coffin becomes a motor boat, etc. You can view the collection at the Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh (Oakland).  For more information, go to http://www.cmoa.org/ExhibitionDetail.aspx?id=22221

 

Good Fridays

Each Friday in January The Andy Warhol Museum is free after 5:00 pm. Go see the multicolored Mao’s, the silver balloons, and all the wonderful weirdness of Andy Warhol for free. It’s a good deal, and a good deal of fun.  Andy Warhol Museum, 117 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh (North Side). For more information about exhibits and such, go to http://www.warhol.org/museum/

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (1/7 – 1/11)

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are Five Fun Things to do the week of January 7 to 11.

 

 Close by

Seven artists use photography to explore different notions about home as a physical place with deep emotional connections in “Close to Home,” at the Silver Eye. January 10 is the last day of the show, so don’t miss it! It’s at the Silver Eye Center for Photography, 1015 E. Carson Street, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://silvereye.org/

 

Twelfth Night

The 16th Annual Twelfth Night Gala takes place Saturday, January 10. The event pays homage to one of the greatest patrons of the arts, Louis XIV, upon the 300th anniversary of his death. Enjoy the sumptuous cuisine of E2 and the delicious libations of Bar Marco all while enjoying the company of fellow revelers and a silent art auction curated by TheAssociated Artists of Pittsburgh. Chatham Baroque will delight the audience with music that echoed through the resplendent halls of Versailles. The party gets going at the Pittsburgh Cultural Arts Center 805-807 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information and tickets, go to: http://www.showclix.com/event/3896984/listing

 

Second City goes Pittsburgh

Pittsburgher’s love references to Pittsburgh. Want to hear a bunch of Chicagoans make fun of Pittsburgh? Go see The Second City show, “N’at’s All Folks!” I’m betting on at least one reference to Primanti’s! The show runs from January 6 to January 10 at the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.  For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/42455/the-second-citys-nats-all-folks#tab=buy_tickets&performance=42463

 

Black all over

Comedian Lewis Black is in town on January 10. The comedian is known from his Comedy Central appearances, most notably from “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He’ll bring his rage-infused comedy to Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/43586/lewis-black#tab=buy_tickets&performance=43587

 

Big Gay Show 

Arcade Comedy Theater is welcoming improviser Alex Tracy back to Pittsburgh for special performance at “Argayde.” He will be half of the comedy duo the Pegusluts and he will be performing with LGBTQ*Bert, Pittsburgh’s first all LGBT improv troupe. It’s happening at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://arcadecomedytheater.com

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/31 – 1/4)

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five things to do in Pittsburgh the weekend of December 31 – January 4

 

First of the Night

There’s music, comedy, dance and magic at Highmark’s First Night. Ring in 2015 with Arcade Comedyt Theater, Gemini Theater, Belly Dancers, Caricaturists, Tania Grubbs, Joy Ike, River City Brass, Magician Chris Ruggiero, Comedian Aaron Kleiber, the Pirate Parrot and FIREWORKS! Am I the only one who loves fireworks?!? The event takes place all over Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday, December 31 into January 1. For more information, go to http://www.firstnightpgh.org/fest_events/

 

Murder on NYE

If you’re looking for a mystery on New Year’s Eve you can go to the New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Spectacular for an Murder Mystery dinner titled, “It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I want to,” it’s improve, murder and champagne at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 164 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park, PA. For more information, go to http://www.eatdrinkmurder.org/

 

Uproarious

The FireWALL dance troupe is causing an “Uproar” over at the Off the Wall Theater in Carnegie. Choreographer Elisa Marie Alaio and the brand new troupe will be dancing up a storm. There show runs concurrently with “Or” also on the Off the Wall stage. “Uproar” will be performed at a matinee at 3:00 pm on January 3 and an evening show on January 4 at the Off the Wall Theater, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA. For more information, go to http://www.insideoffthewall.com/

 

Motown in town

Berry Gordy goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul in “Motown the Musical.” Gordy helped launch the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Ease on down to Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/41408/motown

 

A Night in the Museum (sort of)

There are two movies about being inside a museum this month, we recommend “The National Gallery.” Critically acclaimed film from master documentarian Frederick Wiseman goes behind the scenes of the National Gallery, a London institution, a museum inhabited by masterpieces of Western art from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century. It is the portrait of a place, its way of working and relations with the world, its staff and public, and its paintings.  Through January 1st at The Harris Theater, Downtown.  www.pghfilmmakers.org

 

– MB.

 

 

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/25 – 12/28)

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by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli

Here are the Five Top Things to do in Pittsburgh December 25 to December 28.

 

Shepherd’s Pie

It’s Christmas time! Start your weekend early and go to “Fearless: A Shepherd’s Story.” It’s the retelling of the story of a shepherd who came to Bethlehem (not the city in Pennsylvania). The performance has original music and dance with special guests Sheila Beasley and Linda Ross Brown. It’s at the New Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh (North Side). For more information, go to http://www.newhazletttheater.org/

 

Ali Oops!

Ali Spagnola is saying farewell to Pittsburgh, but she’s going out with a bang! Friday, December 26 you can say goodbye to this talented lady. She’s going to do 60 one-minute covers in one huge drinking game concert, “Ali’s Farewell Power Hour.” It goes down at Club Café 56-58 12th Street, Pittsburgh, PA (South Side). Tickets and more information, can be found at http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=5481885&pl=opus

 

Star Power

When you hear “Christmas Star” most Pittsburgher’s think of that little star from the Eat N Park commercial. Ray Werner wants to make you think about war. Father and sons, veterans from two very different American wars (Iraq and Vietnam) gather together on Christmas Eve. It’s at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh (Downtown).

 

Dynamic Duos

It’s not too late to catch “Murder for Two.” Two pianists (pause for a Beavis and Butthead moment) play all the characters in a murder mystery. It’s comedy! It’s music! It’s murder! Two out of three ain’t bad. It’s at that previously mentioned Cabaret at Theater Square. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/42671/murder-for-two

 

Living Dangerously
Reality TV star and mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, will join John McIntire on his Dangerously Live Talk Show on Saturday, December 27. John’s other guests include Post-Gazette cartoonist, Rob Rogers, and some comedian that writes this column (Hint: his gianormous head is at the top of this page). It’s the Dangerously Live Talk Show’s Year in Review episode at the Cabaret at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Downtown).  For more information, go here: https://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/event/3303/the-john-mcintire-dangerously-live-comedy-talk-show:

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/18 – 12/21)

 

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by Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the week of December 18 through 21.

Or what?

It’s getting bawdy up in here. John Shepard is back at Off the Wall Theater directing “Or,” a raucous adult comedy about the first female playwright in Europe. The show opens on December 19.  “Or,” is at the Off the Wall Theater, 25 W. Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, go to http://www.insideoffthewall.com/

Three Stooges

Unplanned Comedy presents THESE ARE COMEDIANS. A live comedy podcast hosted by Woody Drennan. Three local comedians, Jesse Irvin, John Dick Winters and Alex Stypula will discuss comedy with Drennan. It’s happening Saturday December 20 at Hambones, 4207 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/408489685942960/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming&sid_reminder=6942600439669981184

Set your phasers on Fun!

Steel City Improv is going where no improviser has gone before. Deep space funny for the “USS Improvise.” Its comedy for all your Sci-Fi and Sy-Fy friends. It’s at the Steel City Improv Theater, 5950 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. For more information, go to http://steelcityimprov.com/

Kim’s Kwanzaa

Move over,  Christmas. Scooch in a bit, Hanukah. It’s Kwanzaa, too, and Kim El’s play, “Ubuntu Holiday,” is all about the Kwanzaa celebration. It opens December 21 at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA For more information, go to http://www.pghplaywrights.com/

The Elf on the Slab

When one of Santa’s newest elves ends up with a toe tag on one of his curly shoes, it’s up to you to solve the mystery in “Elf’ed.” Attend a Christmas themed interactive murder mystery dinner at Gaetano’s Restaurant, 1617 Banksville Road, Pittsburgh. More information, and tickets, are available here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/880119

-MB.

 

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His Holiness, Honeck: PSO Music Director to conduct at Vatican

 

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PITTSBURGH—For the first time, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Music Director Manfred Honeck has been invited by Pope Francis to conduct music during the Papal Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on December 24.

Honeck will lead the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Et Incarnatus Est from Mozart’s Mass in C minor, a piece that was specifically requested by Pope Francis and about which he said, “It lifts you to God.”

Tens of thousands are expected to participate in the mass at the Vatican with many more tuning in via television, radio and internet. The Mass will be broadcast live beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST on EWTN TV and radio, Vatican Radio and the Vatican Youtube channel, among others.

“What a sacred honor to be invited to be part of such a blessed event, especially by Pope Francis himself,” said Honeck. “Leading this glorious musical exploration of the Incarnation of Christ in St. Peter’s Basilica during Christmas Eve mass is an experience I will treasure forever.”

During his time in Rome, Honeck will have an audience with the Pope.

Manfred Honeck has served as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since the 2008-2009 season. After two extensions, his contract now runs until the end of the 2019-2020 season. To great acclaim, Honeck and his orchestra perform regularly for European audiences. Since 2010, annual tour performances have led them to numerous European music capitals and major music festivals, including Rheingau Musik Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, Musikfest Berlin, Grafenegg Festival, Lucerne Festival and the BBC Proms. Several recordings, amongst them Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, which won a 2012 International Classical Music Award, are available on Japanese label Exton. Honeck’s successful work with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is now captured by Reference Recordings. The first SACD — of Strauss tone poems — was released in fall 2013 and received rave reviews. The second recording, of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 and the Symphonic Suite from Janacek’s opera Jenufa, conceptualized by Honeck himself, followed in summer 2014 and was likewise enthusiastically received.  Several additional recordings are completed and it is expected that two releases will be issued per year. Born in Austria, Honeck received his musical training at the Academy of Music in Vienna. Many years of experience as a member of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and at the helm of the Vienna Jeunesse Orchestra have given his conducting a distinctive stamp. He began his career as assistant to Claudio Abbado in Vienna. Subsequently, he was engaged by the Zurich Opera House, where he was bestowed the prestigious European Conductor’s Award in 1993. Other early stations of his career include Leipzig, where he was one of three main conductors of the MDR Symphony Orchestra and Oslo, where he assumed the post of music director at the Norwegian National Opera on short notice for a year and was engaged as principal guest conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra for several years. From 2000 to 2006, he was music director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Stockholm and, from 2008 to 2011, principal guest conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he has resumed for another three years at the beginning of the 2013-2014 season. As a guest conductor, Honeck has worked with leading international orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Accademia di Santa Cecilia Rome and the Vienna Philharmonic. Orchestras he conducted in the United States include New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also is a regular guest at the Verbier Festival. In February 2013, he had his successful debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the direct result of which was a CD recording together with Anne-Sophie Mutter (works of Dvorak). The current season sees returns to Bamberg, Stuttgart, Rome and New York as well as to the Vienna Symphony (a CD of works by the Strauss family was released in summer 2013) and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He also will conduct Tonhalleorchester Zürich and Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, amongst others. Honeck has received honorary doctorates from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., and, most recently, from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He has been artistic director of the “International Concerts Wolfegg” in Germany for more than 15 years.

 

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The “Buzz” from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To-Do’s THIS WEEKEND (12/11- 12/14)

Mike Buzzellipodcast logo
by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant.

 

Here are the Top Five Things to do in Pittsburgh the week of December 11 to 14.

 

Purple Rain

The kids from Dreams of Hope have a brand new show, “The Lavender Spell.” When powerful magic forces have torn a hole in the fabric of this world, leaving it vulnerable to the mortal realm, a young witch stands trial. Can the Fey, a group of bodiless magical beings, explain what led to this disaster, and why they cast the Lavender Spell? The Lavender Spell is at the Alloy Studios, 5530 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to http://www.dreamsofhope.org/

 

Cratchit it up a notch

A holiday favorite returns to the Byham Theater. It’s time for “A Musical Christmas Carol.” The story of Scrooge comes to life with song! The Dickens you say! Scrooge and his ghosts get together at the Benedum Center, 719 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh through December 21. For more information, go to http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org

 

Bailey’s No Cream

Bricolage is serving up another Live Radio Play. Catch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Another Christmas classic comes to the Pittsburgh stage. See Brett Goodnack lasso the moon at the Bricolage, 937 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, go to http://www.bricolagepgh.org/

Making Water

While you’re in town, see “Urinetown.” When the Earth’s water supply is diminished, an evil corporate empire charges admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Basically, pay toilets come back in a big way in “Urinetown,” at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Avenue. For more information, go to http://www.pittsburghplayhouse.com/

 

Pop goes the Concert

The Pittsburgh Symphony teams up with the Mendelssohn Choir and Santa Claus to put on a spectular holiday show. This week, Jim Cunningham narrates a Christmas tale. The following week, Rick Sebak will narrate. Illustrator Joe Wos will be on hand to draw up some additional surprises. It’s happening at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For more information, go to http://culturaldistrict.org/venues/heinz-hall

 

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