THE MAD MUSE – Brian Edward meets his Oracle Guide

Pittsburgh’s Mad Muse, performing artist and advice giver Lori Howsare melts the stresses of the world away and helps interpret Brian Edward’s Oracle Guide – and she can do the same for you! Find out how – as well as what’s up with the kitten with the Bette Davis eyes. We know you’re curious – watch it all unfold here! Listen to “The Full Martini” – the complete interview in audio podcast, and follow The Mad Muse at www.musegonemad.com. ‘Burgh Vivant films weekly at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation in beautiful downtown Pittsburgh.

ALSO SEE:

THE MAD MUSE, LORI HOWSARE: “I’m an emotional stripper.”

Continue reading “THE MAD MUSE – Brian Edward meets his Oracle Guide”

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The Buzz from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s (2/16 – 2/19)

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By Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Out of the Woods

Three original one-act plays bring fairy tales to life in “Fractured Fairy Tales.” Take a wacky trip to Fantasyland, or, in this case, the Avenue Theater, 158 Brighton Road, Rochester, PA 15074. For more information, click here.

 

Let’s be honest

Lesbian comedian Susan Westenhoefer comes to Pittsburgh this weekend, bringing her whip-smart, honest comedy to town. You can laugh with Westenhoefer at Cattivo, 146 44th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. For more information, click here. For more about Westenhoefer, click here.

 

Speak from your diaphragm

Don’t grab them, but do listen to them. Eve Ensler’s “Vagina Monologues” are back in town for a fundraiser for Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR). It’s a simple $10 donation at the door. Find the monologues and more at the Ace Hotel, 120 S Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Learn more by clicking here.

 

White-Livered and Red-Faced

Hoist a tankard of ale to William Shakespeare at “Much A-Brew About Nothing,” a drunken Shakespeare event. Actors and comedians will drink down all unkindness while reciting portions of the Bard’s plays , including passages about drinking. Get thee to Hambones, 4207 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. For more information, click here.

 

No Doubt About it

Does the brain see what it thinks it sees? The evocative works of Lenka Clayton, Lori Hepner, Melinda McDaniel, Gina Occhiogrosso, Diane Samuels and Mary Temple are on display in “Doubt,” a show curated by Nadine Wasserman at SPACE, 812 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

Standing Up and Standing Out with Suzanne Westenhoefer

Suzanne-Westenhoefer

By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Out comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer returns to her old stomping grounds when she hits Pittsburgh on Friday, February 17. Westenhoefer said, “My first time in Pittsburgh was during college. Back then I went quite often; because I attended Clarion University, and we would drive down to the gay bars.”

The lesbian comedian knows the lingo. She added, “Pittsburgh is where I learned about pop, gum bands, and I started calling people ‘jagoffs.’”

Westenhoefer has done many shows in Pittsburgh. She joked, “I like everything about the city EXCEPT downtown has been under construction for decades.”

P.S. It’s funny cause it’s true.

The comedian is from Pennsylvania. Westenhoefer grew up in Columbia, PA (Amish Country). She started doing comedy in the 90s. She was the first openly lesbian comedian to star in an HBO Special, and the first openly lesbian comedian on “Late Night with David Letterman.”

She’s been breaking barriers and splitting sides for more than twenty-five years. Transgender comedian and actor Ian Harvie, and star of his own comedy special on SEESO, “May the Best Cock Win,” said, “If it weren’t for tenacious queer comics like Suzanne, there wouldn’t be room for comics like me. She’s awesome. I love her.”

Westenhoefer tours all over the country, and plays a lot of Pride events. She said, “Obviously the best Prides are the huge ones in NYC, Toronto and San Francisco, but my favorite is Jersey Pride. I got to host the very first one and they adopted me as if I’d grown up there.”

She added, “Going to the teeny ones can be awe-inspiring. Last year I did Spencer, Indiana. It’s just a tiny festival in front of city hall, but the entire town comes out and supports it. It was very moving.”

Westenhoefer does have some indelible memories of her life on stage. She noted, “One of my favorite moments on stage was seeing myself on the Jumbotron in Yankee stadium back during the Gay Games closing ceremonies. I had only been doing stand-up about a year.  I felt like Madonna.”

She said, “Anytime someone tells me how seeing my show helped or changed their coming out. I’m honored. Sometimes I cry a little later at the hotel.”

The veteran comedian had some good advice to share with newcomers. She said, “For new comics I always say, find your unique voice. Don’t be like any other comic. Stand up is standing out. And make your own work. Waiting around to get on stage at the local comedy club is wasted time, offer to host or Emcee other shows in your town.  Host a contest or introduce musicians etc. Go. Find. Work. It’s the only way to learn and get better.”

She offered advice for LGBT comedians, “Let me take this moment to tell your audience to see ANY open LGBT stand-ups you can. We live and die by a live audience. Comics cannot get discovered on the internet. We need live people laughing. Go to live shows. Then tell people about it. Then go to another. Whatever you can afford whenever you can. Take people!”

Heed her advice, and catch her live at Cattivo, 145 44th Street, Lawrenceville, PA 15201 on Friday, February 17, 2017. For more information, click here.

-MB

 

 

 

The Buzz from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s ( 2/9 – 2/12)

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by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Hornswoggled

A widow’s 14 year old daughter forms a Gay/Straight Alliance in the high school of a small Texas town and it causes several upheavals in Elise Forier Edie’s play, “The Pink Unicorn.”  You can catch all the drama at the Carnegie Stage, 25 West Main Street, Carnegie, PA 15106. For more information, click here.

 

Warped

Friday, February 10, get ready for a monster mish-mash, when two campy rock musicals join forces for “Little Shop of Rocky Horror.” See androids fighting Brad and Janet. It’s perfect man vs. man-eater. The whole thing sounds warped. Time-warped.Check out all the action at Hambones, 4207 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201. For more information and tickets, click here.

 

Crazy for you

On Saturday, February 11, John McIntire has a great line up for his “Dangerously Live Comedy Talk Show.” He will be hosting Mayor Bill Peduto, WQED’s Rick Sebak and the Voice of the Pirates, Greg Brown.  McIntire will be asking the question, “Has the world gone crazy?” Find out the answer at the Oaks Theater, 310 Allegheny River Blvd., Oakmont, 15139. For more information, click here.

 

If I had a Hammer

The legend of John Henry comes to life in “JH: Mechanics of a Legend.” Hear the true story behind the African American tall tale. This original new musical about slavery, race and becoming larger than life is at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

Global Goodness

Sunday, March 12, fashion designer Tereneh Mosley champions a global view of fashion in “Tereneh Mosley: Globalization for Good.” In this talk, Mosley discusses her shared vision and collaborative process with the Maasai women of Kenya and their new fashion line released early this year.  You can see and hear Mosley at the Carnegie Museum of Art, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

– MB

The Buzz from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s (2/2 – 2/5)

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by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Gopher Madness

Thursday, February 2,  see “Groundhog Day” on Groundhog Day. See it at 7:00 and again at 9:00 and you can pretend you are also stuck in a time loop. It’s at the Arcade Comedy Theater, 811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

Cross-Gartered Lovers 

Christmas isn’t quite over. There’s time for the Christmas feast…in “Twelfth Night,” a grand Shakespearean comedy.  Come out and see Sir Toby Belch and his accomplices get the best of the egomaniacal Malvolio at the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

Brother, Where for art thou?

Ann Talman’s “Woody’s Order” opens at the Rep, Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse. It’s the story of a bright non-verbal boy with cerebral palsy who conjures up a sibling. Soon, Ann is born. But Ann wants to be an actor and she must decide if she’s Broadway bound or her brother’s keeper. It’s a one woman show at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 222 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, click here.

 

Coffee Talk

Make a Coffee Date with an artist. On Saturday, February 4, you can grab a cup of joe with Christopher Meerdo. It’s a chance to ask the artist anything and it’s free if you’re a member of the MFer (that’s Mattress Factory member for short). It’s all at the Mattress Factory,  500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Become a member here.

 

Ring my Bell

I have a hunch, you might like this next musical. It’s Victor Hugo’s classic tale “Hunchback of Notre Dame” done by Disney. The Disney animated version with songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz hits the stage over at Byham Theater, 101 6th Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

– MB

Review: POETRY UNPLUGGED: Music, Poetry & Activism

Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli drops in to chat about POETRY UNPLUGGED: MUSIC, POETRY, & ACTIVISM held on January 13th, 2017 at the August Wilson Center in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The event was hosted by Mahogany L. Browne (curator and host of NUYORICAN POETS CAFE) with DJ Jive Poetic, and special guests Gabriela Garcia Medina, Prentiss Powell, Nate James, the Brooklyn 2016 Slam Team, and W. Ellington Felton.   Continue reading “Review: POETRY UNPLUGGED: Music, Poetry & Activism”

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PURSUING HAPPINESS – with Pittsburgh’s Randy Gilson

Filmmakers Adam Shell (Director, Producer, Editor) and Nicholas Kraft (Producer, Editor) set out to find the happiest people in America for their newly released documentary PURSUING HAPPINESS – and it’s no surprise that their quest led them to Pittsburgh’s own Randy Gilson, proprietor of RANDYLAND; a beacon of joy that defies explanation and invites visitation. Randy and “LAND” are both prominently featured in the captivating new film which recently received a screening at City of Asylum’s Alphabet City on Pittsburgh’s North Side, with both producers and Pittsburgh’s “happiest resident” in attendance. Learn more about PURSUING HAPPINESS at www.pursuinghappiness.com, and visit RANDYLAND virtually at randy.land, and in person at 1501 Arch Street, Pittsburgh PA, 15212.  Continue reading “PURSUING HAPPINESS – with Pittsburgh’s Randy Gilson”

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TOM KOLOS – Personal Trainer, X Shadyside

We’re well into the new year but how are our resolutions faring? Namely, those of a fitness nature. Personal Trainer Tom Kolos of X Shadyside provides some insight on how to stay committed… despite temptation, and lends his fitness expertise to stationary talk show hosts and anyone else who may spend the better part of their day in a seated position. All this and a shout out to Prantl’s Bakery! Visit X Shadyside for all of your fitness needs – www.xshadyside.com – and watch/listen to the complete interview at www.burghvivant.org. ’Burgh Vivant comes to you weekly from Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation in beautiful Downtown Pittsburgh.   Continue reading “TOM KOLOS – Personal Trainer, X Shadyside”

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The Buzz from Buzzelli: Pittsburgh’s Top To Do’s (1/ 26 – 1/29)

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by Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant

Wrestle Mania

January 26, “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety” opens. It’s a drop-kicking, body-slamming, theatrical happening set in the larger-than-life world of professional wrestling. “Chad Deity” is a kick-ass serious minded comedy about wrestling, geopolitics, and raisin bread. It’s at the Ace Hotel, 120 S. Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. For more information, click here.

 

Fill ‘er up!

Rock out with the “Pump Boys & Dinettes.” Boys from a gas station and girls from a diner start singing, strumming and humming their way into your heart. Gas up at the Cabaret at Theatre Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

Sam I am (not!)

Catch Michael Phillip Edwards in a multi-character solo performance that highlights the current climate of race relations in America, eloquently depicting the psychological & spiritual damage sustained by men of color with “I Am Not Sam.” It’ at the August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.

 

Road to Nowhere 

BoxHeart Gallery presents “2017 Artist of the Year: Alice Raymond,” and her debut solo exhibition “Nowhere & Now Here” on exhibit in the main gallery While you’re at it, check out Heather Heltzenrater’s “Thresholds” on the second floor. It’s free and open to the public. You can get to “Nowhere” at BoxHeart Gallery, 4523 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224. For more information, click here.

 

Deadly Diamonds

The game is afoot in “Diamonds are to Die For,” an interactive murder mystery on Saturday, January 27.Solve the mystery and have a splendid Italian meal at Gaetano’s Banquet Center, 1617 Banksville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. For more information, click here.

– MB

ERIC LLOYD – Co-Founder, IQ Escape Pittsburgh

Escape rooms have become all the rage, and Eric Lloyd has assembled some of the most unique escape experiences to date. But when Burgh Vivant’s Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli and Lonnie The Theatre Lady rise to the challenge and attempt to pilfer the Mona Lisa from the Paris Louvre, will they make it out in time without being arrested? Find out! Listen to “The Full Martini” – the complete interview in audio podcast, and visit IQ Escape at www.pittsburgh.iqescape.com to book your next adventure.   Continue reading “ERIC LLOYD – Co-Founder, IQ Escape Pittsburgh”

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