By Michael “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh In 431 B.C., Euripides shocked theater-goers in Athens with a sympathetic portrayal of one of Greece’s great mythological characters, Medea, a woman who decides to enact vengeance after her husband spurns her for another woman. But playwright Allison Gregory revisits this story in a unique and unusual way in “Not… Read more »
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’!
Inked in Blood – a review of “Evil Dead: The Musical”
by Tiffany Raymond, ‘Burgh Vivant Pittsburgh Musical Theater brings “Evil Dead: The Musical” to life – or is that to death? “Evil Dead: The Musical” (book and lyrics by George Reinblatt) was first performed in 2003. It’s an amalgamation of the four-film series written and directed by Sam Raimi, which spanned 1978 to 1992. Not… Read more »
Semper Fi – a review of “A Few Good Men”
By Claire DeMarco, ‘Burgh Vivant Lance CPL Harold Dawson (Ryan Patrick Kearney) and PFC Louden Downey (Michael Patrick Trimm) are in jail, accused of murdering one of their fellow marines, PFC William Santiago (Ryan Bergman). Santiago dies as a result of a hazing meant to “get him back in line,” not to kill him in… Read more »
Opposites attack – a review of “True West”
By Tiffany Raymond, ‘Burgh Vivant In a city where people are oddly resistant to crossing bridges, it’s easy to wonder if a drive to Braddock for theater is worth your time. Barebones Productions unequivocally affirms the answer is a resounding “Yes!” with their newest production, Sam Shepard’s “True West.” Their Black Box Theater is an… Read more »
Soap Opera on Steroids – A review of “A Comedy of Tenors”
By Claire DeMarco, ‘Burgh Vivant Add three tenors, one wife, two girlfriends, and a hotel bellhop who sings. Multiply misunderstandings, mistaken identities, assumed infidelities. Divide loyalties among friends and partners. Subtract any semblance of sanity. And you have a formula for disaster in Ken Ludwig’s zany “A Comedy of Tenors!!!” In 1936, Henry Saunders (Dewayne… Read more »
Small show, big laughs: BUBBLE BOY THE MUSICAL at Arcade Comedy Theater
by Brian Edward, ‘Burgh Vivant. We are all of us living in a bubble. That bubble may be our fears, our insecurities, or other such chains of our own making. This is the theme that resounds from the fast-paced, hilarious misadventure that is Bubble Boy The Musical. The book is by Cinco Paul and… Read more »
Return, Forgetful Muse – a review of “Welcome to Moonside”
By Mike “Buzz” Buzzelli, ‘Burgh Vivant Dusk (Anna Failla) and Dawn (Saige Smith) have come with dire warnings for the Earth and beyond in Sean Collier’s “Welcome to Moonside,” an immersive theater piece staged inside the former Lava Lounge in the Southside. The aforementioned ghosts, Dusk and Dawn, whisk a select group of humans (i.e…. Read more »
French Exposures – a review of Tartuffe
Tiffany Raymond, ‘Burgh Vivant We sometimes assume classic theatre, by virtue of its age, will be stodgy or dated. However, Cup-A-Jo’s skillfully executed production of Moliere’s 1664 French satire, “Tartuffe” (adapted by Richard Wilbur), reminds us that in the right hands, the classics are just as fresh as any contemporary play. “Tartuffe” follows the wiles… Read more »
7 with Sue: JILL SOBULE
by Sue Kerr, ‘Burgh Vivant. Welcome to the second edition of Seven with Sue, a Q&A series with local creators and artists. Each edition will ask seven questions (plus demographics) exploring the creator’s experience and views on all things arts and culture in Pittsburgh. The questions are crafted by our in-house Q&A contributor, Sue… Read more »
Salutations Dolores – a review of “Hello Dolly!”
By Claire DeMarco, ‘Burgh Vivant Dolly Gallagher Levi (Betty Buckley) is a middle-aged widow. She supports herself in a myriad of ways but most importantly as a matchmaker in “Hello Dolly.” She likes to say she meddles in other peoples’ affairs but one might say she surpasses that adjective and progresses to “Budinski-level.” Her current… Read more »
