The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Press Room

Tickets for PHANTOM Go On Sale Monday, May 10

2010-04-30T00:00:00Z

PITTSBURGH--PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh - presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Broadway Across America, proudly announces single ticket on sale information for the farewell engagement of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, to the Benedum Center from August 25th through September 19th, 2010, as a 2010/2011 Season Special.

Single tickets range from $24 - $125 and will go on sale Monday, May 10th at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets), online at phantom.pgharts.org or by calling 412-456-4800. Group orders may be reserved now by calling 412-471-6930.

With some of the most lavish sets, costumes and special effects ever to have been created for the stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA directed by Harold Prince traces the tragic love story of a beautiful opera singer and a young composer shamed by his physical appearance into a shadowy existence beneath the majestic Paris Opera House. Adapted from Gaston Leroux's classic novel of mystery and suspense, this award-winning musical has woven its magical spell over standing room audiences in more than 100 cities worldwide and is now longest running show in Broadway history. For his final overture in Pittsburgh, PHANTOM returns to the Benedum Center to take your breath away.

About Broadway Across America
Broadway Across America is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced the Broadway productions of HAIR, WEST SIDE STORY and Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Upcoming productions include MINSKY'S, PROMISES, PROMISES, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and the West End production of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. Touring productions include Nickelodeon's STORYTIME ADVENTURES featuring Dora the Explorer and DREAMGIRLS. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Media contacts
Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082
Jamie Cuba, 412-325-1201

Photographs
Click the images below to download high-resolution, print-quality jpg files.

Tim Martin Gleason as The Phantom
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Trista Moldovan as Christine Daaé
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Sean MacLaughlin as Raoul and Trista Moldovan as Christine Daaé
Photo credit: Cylla Von Tiedemann

Michael McCoy (left) as Monsieur Firmin and D.C. Anderson as Monsieur André
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

The company performs "Hannibal"
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

The company performs "Masquerade"
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Tim Martin Gleason as The Phantom and Trista Moldovan as Christine Daaé
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Tim Martin Gleason as The Phantom and Trista Moldovan as Christine Daaé
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Dollar Bank Becomes Premiere Presenting Sponsor of Three Rivers Arts Festival

2010-04-29T13:59:00Z

PITTSBURGH - Community champion Dollar Bank has extended its long-standing support of Three Rivers Arts Festival, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, by becoming the Festival's first-ever presenting sponsor. Dollar Bank's generous Festival sponsorship exemplifies the bank's commitment to Pittsburgh's rich cultural heritage and its visionary community partners.

"Dollar Bank is proud to support outstanding community partners," said Robert P. Oeler, President and CEO of Dollar Bank. "Like Dollar Bank, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has an exceptional track record with community events such as the Trust's First Night Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh International Children's Festival and now Three Rivers Arts Festival. Three Rivers Arts Festival is a time-honored tradition that provides Pittsburghers with a free summer destination and breaks down traditional barriers to experiencing art."

Key to Three Rivers Arts Festival's ongoing success is the strategic collaboration among the many community partners who work closely with the Festival on performing arts, producing exhibitions and curating Festival experiences, among other initiatives. According to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust President and CEO J. Kevin McMahon, Dollar Bank's substantive stake in the Festival will greatly contribute to collaborative efforts.

"Three Rivers Arts Festival is our city's largest public stage. Community collaboration is increasingly vital to the long-term survival of the Festival, which is the largest free festival of its kind in country." said McMahon. "We are grateful to Dollar Bank for its generous support, which will help us to build upon strategic community alliances for the ultimate benefit of Festival patrons for years to come."

The Festival's creativity is fueled by a growing consortium of more than 40 community partners including Sustainable Pittsburgh, Silver Eye Center for Photography, Carnegie Mellon University, Gateway to the Arts, Pennsylvania Resources Council, and Pittsburgh Filmmakers.

Among the more than 100 individual events and performances featuring more than 500 visual artists and musicians, highlights of the 2010 Festival include:

10 days and nights of live music featuring more than 50 individual acts and nightly headliners on the Dollar Bank Stage at Point State Park.
The traditional Artists Market, featuring 300 artists selling original artworks and handmade fine crafts. The 2010 Artists Market features 150 different artists each weekend, two-thirds of whom are new to the Festival this year.
The return of juried visual art and temporary public art.
Visual arts exhibitions in galleries throughout the Cultural District, including the New Juried Visual Art Exhibition, the Art of Technology, and many more.
The Creativity Zone at Point State Park, featuring hands-on activities for all ages and kid-friendly performances in the WQED Tent.

Demonstrating the convergence of art and sustainability, Three Rivers Arts Festival is a national leader in environmentally-conscious event production. With support from Colcom Foundation, over the past two years the Festival has diverted 83% of its garbage - more than 50 tons annually - from landfills through a comprehensive open-stream compost and recycling program. In 2010, as Pittsburgh has been selected as the North American Host City for the annual United Nations World Environment Day, Three Rivers Arts Festival will be the cornerstone of related activity including interactive and educational programming that complements the celebration's theme of "Water Matters" and related biodiversity issues.

In addition to Dollar Bank, Three Rivers Arts Festival is generously supported by the Pittsburgh community. The Trust is thankful for the generous contributions of Colcom Foundation; the Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of The Pittsburgh Foundation; The Buhl Foundation; The Grable Foundation; Henry L. Hillman Foundation; Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation; and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, in addition to corporate support from Giant Eagle and the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Media partners include City Paper, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, WQED Multimedia, and 91.3 WYEP-FM.

Complete programming details will be available May 6 online at artsfestival.net and by calling 412-456-6666.

Media Contact
Lauren Bracey, 412-471-3591

Click here to download Programming Highlights as of April 28, 2010
Click here to browse print-resolution photographs

About Three Rivers Arts Festival
A division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, the mission of Three Rivers Arts Festival is to connect the community to the arts. The 51st annual Three Rivers Arts Festival runs from June 4-13, 2010. For more information, visit artsfestival.net.

About The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh's 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.

In addition to the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the Pittsburgh Dance Council, Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Children's Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events.

The Trust owns Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O'Reilly, and Harris Theaters; Wood Street Galleries; SPACE, a visual arts gallery at 812 Liberty Avenue; and 937 Liberty, a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown arts facilities.

Pittsburgh International Children's Festival

2010-04-28T13:00:00Z

Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents the 24th annual Pittsburgh International Children's Festival from May 12-16, 2010, in the green spaces surrounding Schenley Plaza and the University of Pittsburgh, and at various indoor theaters in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. Giant Eagle is the lead sponsor of the 2010 Pittsburgh International Children's Festival.

The Festival will feature U.S. and world premieres by performers from Scotland, Kenya, Russia, Italy, Canada, and the USA. "The 24th International Children's Festival is full of great opportunities for children and adults to see. This year's featured performances touch on themes like conservation, imagination, family, friendship, love, and so much more," comments Pamela K. Lieberman, Executive Director - Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Manager and Children's Theater Programming - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The experience of live theater for a child is as extraordinary as it is unforgettable. Theater, puppetry, storytelling, sound-scapes, music, movement, and dance will open children's eyes to a world of new cultures and ideas. Each performance will be as educational as it is fun, and throughout the Festival children are encouraged to participate in the process.

In addition to the featured ticketed performances, the Festival will provide over 30 plus free hands-on academic, cultural, and international activities, as well as performances at the free outdoor Target Community Stage located in Schenley Plaza. New to the festival this year is a one-of-a-kind Interactive Technology Installation created by three local artists from Pittsburgh's East End: Fouad Bou-Joude, Amer Obeidah, and Jason Smith. The installation will consist of two Digital Harps that will allow children and adults to play sounds on laser light strings. The second installation is a Sound Pad that will create music from the nations featured in this year's Children's Festival when children and adults stand or move on top of the piece. The installation is free and will be located on the outdoor Festival grounds

During the Festival, free outdoor activities and performances will take place weekdays from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and weekend 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Performance schedule for the Festival will feature the following events, which require ticket purchase.

For tickets and information, visit www.pghkids.org or call 412-456-6666.

The Man Who Planted Trees
U.S. Premiere Tour, Puppet State Theatre Company, Scotland
Bellefield Hall Auditorium
May 12: 2:30 p.m.; May 13: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 14: 12:30 & 7:00 p.m.; May 15 & 16: 12:30 & 2:00 p.m.

Based on the beloved fable and book by Jean Giono, The Man Who Planted Trees is a unique blend of comedy and puppetry that tells the tale of a human being who recognized the destruction of our environment, decided not to ignore it, and set out on a mission "to put things right."

Bathtime
Théâtre Bouches Décousues, Quebec, Canada
Studio Theatre
May 12 & 13: 9:45 a.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 15 & 16: 10:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Featuring puppet, piglet, and Mrs. Fireball in this gentle, award-winning tale that depicts bath time as a great place for a child and their adult to reconnect and discover a sea of imagination.

Aga-Boom
Created by Dimitri Bogatirev, Russia/USA
Charity Randall Theatre
May 13: 9:45 a.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11: 15 a.m.; May 15: 12:30 & 2:00 p.m.; May 16: 3:30 p.m.

The Aga-boom trio will delight audiences of all ages using everyday items, a towering punch-away paper wall and even some brave audience members. Aga-Boom showcases the best traditions of circus arts, physical comedy and European avant-garde.

Droplets
U.S. Premiere, La Società Della Civetta, Italy
Studio Theatre
May 12: 12:30 p.m.; May 13: 11:15 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.; May 14: 12:30 p.m.; May 15 & 16: 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.

Through the use of storytelling, props and water, this adventurous tale transports audiences on a journey from the Western world to Africa in search of enchantment and magic. Along the way the story will inspire audiences to appreciate and learn that drop by drop water is an essential resource not to be wasted, and to be valued and loved.

Beppe's Elephant
World Premiere, Zany Umbrella Circus, Pittsburgh, PA, USA & recipient of the 5th annual Stanier Arts Award*
Charity Randall Theatre
May 12: 9:45 a.m.; May 13, 15 & 16: 12:30 p.m.; May 14: 12:30 p.m.

Through circus arts, masks, puppetry, video and music, audiences will be amazed by Zany Umbrella Circus' world premiere performance of circus extravaganza Beppe's Elephant. In this dream circus, the Italian circus artist believes he can be the first to train an elephant to walk on a tight wire!

Mapapa Acrobats
Kenya
Bellefield Hall Auditorium
May 12: 9:45 & 11: 15 a.m.; May 13: 12: 30 p.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 15 & 16: 10:00 & 11:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m.

The Mapapa Acrobats are a super circus show from the heart of Africa. The troupe performs to native African music while performing exhilarating acrobatics, tumbling, contortions, dance, juggling, and chair-balancing. With gravity-defying feats of strength, the energy and power of this performance will leave you breathless.

* About the Stanier Arts Award
Created in memory of William and Clarissa Stanier, devoted patrons of youth arts education, the Stanier Arts Award funds the development of new performing arts work for children by artists residing in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

About Pittsburgh International Children's Theater
Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming for children which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way. Pittsburgh International Children's Theater is one of only four international children's presenting organizations in the nation.

In addition to the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Children's Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Presents, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, and Three Rivers Arts Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events.

Guster headlines Three Rivers Arts Festival on United Nations World Environment Day

2010-04-12T19:30:00Z

Click here to download print-quality images for each performance.

PITTSBURGH -- Three Rivers Arts Festival, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, proudly announces the headline music schedule for the 2010 Festival, June 4-13. All headline concerts are presented on the Dollar Bank Stage at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh. The free live music series, a Pittsburgh tradition, is sponsored by Dollar Bank.

J. Kevin McMahon, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust notes, "Three Rivers Arts Festival is one of the largest, green events of its kind that remains free to the public. The Arts Festival is a true convergence of art and the environment and so this year as Pittsburgh serves as the North America host city for the United Nations World Environment Day celebration, we are honored to present Guster, one of the most environmentally engaged music groups in the country, on the Dollar Bank Stage in Point State Park. We're proud to show the world how Pittsburgh has successfully united arts and environmental sustainability, in addition to transforming its Cultural District through robust programming and bold vision."

"Guster is honored and excited to play Three Rivers Art Festival for World Environment Day," said Adam Gardner, guitar/vocals for Guster and co-director of Reverb. "We've been doing all we can to lessen our environmental impact on the road from fueling our bus with biodiesel to powering our shows with wind power. When we heard about the zero waste efforts of Three Rivers Art Festival, it made us all the more pleased to be playing this fun event!"

"Dollar Bank has a long history with quality concerts in Point State Park, so we are very pleased to again underwrite the main music stage at the Festival," said Joseph B. Smith, Senior Vice President Marketing, Dollar Bank. "The Festival's free programming on the Dollar Bank Stage contributes to Pittsburgh's reputation as a major destination for arts and entertainment, and underlines both the Cultural Trust and Dollar Bank's commitment to providing the Pittsburgh region with top-quality, affordable arts programming."

All concerts at Three Rivers Arts Festival are free and open to the public. Additional Festival details will be released in May, including information on the Artists Market, visual arts, family programming, performing arts and additional music programming. For information, call 412-456-6666 or visit artsfestival.net.

Friday, June 4: Alejandro Escovedo (7:30 pm)
After starting his solo career in the early 90s, critically acclaimed Alejandro Escovedo has gone on to release nine albums including his most recent Real Animal (2008). Since dabbling in rock and cowboy punk in the 70s and 80s, opening for bands ranging from The Sex Pistols to Los Lobos, and relocating to Austin, Texas, Escovedo has become a pioneer in Americana and alternative country.

Saturday, June 5: Guster (7:30 pm)
From humble beginnings at Tufts University, Guster has grown a massive fan base across the United States. In 1999, the band released their breakout album Lost and Gone Forever, produced by Steve Lillywhite, and has since had multiple songs hit the Adult Top 40 and the Billboard 200. Following their 2006 album Ganging Up on the Sun, Guster's sold-out eco-friendly Campus Consciousness tour featured busses fueled with biodiesel and performances powered by the wind. Guster has become a powerful advocate for environmental responsibility in the music industry, founding first the non-profit Reverb and then, this spring, the Green Music Group. This commitment to the environment, plus their poetic songwriting, unique instrumentation and fantastic vocal harmonies, make Guster the perfect World Environment Day concert.

Sunday, June 6: Dirty Dozen Brass Band (6 pm)
Hailing from New Orleans, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band has been mesmerizing audiences since 1977 with their raging horns and high-energy performances. The Dirty Dozen has performed at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and Bonnaroo, and has worked with musicians as diverse Dr. John, Dizzy Gillespie, Elvis Costello and DJ Logic. Their revolutionized brass-band sound has brought millions of listeners to their feet.

With special guest Nathaniel Rateliff (5 pm)

Monday, June 7: TBA

Tuesday, June 8: Jason Isbell (7:30 pm)
Jason Isbell's career took off after teaming up with fellow Alabama natives The Drive-By Truckers in 2001. After numerous songwriting credits for the band, Isbell left the Truckers in 2007 to pursue his solo career. Shortly following his departure, Isbell released his debut album, Sirens of the Ditch. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit is the follow-up effort, Isbell's first album with his backing band and even more of that classic Alabama sound.

With special guest Tift Merritt (6:30 pm)

Wednesday, June 9: Los Amigos Invisibles (7:30 pm)
This Venezuelan band has created a wholly individual sound by wrapping funk, disco and jazz in Latin rhythms. After releasing their debut album The New Sound of the Venezuelan Gozadera in 1995, it didn't take long for the band to gain international attention. In 2001, the group moved from Venezuela to New York, and since then has earned one Latin Grammy and two more nominations, including a nod for their most recent album, Commercial. Described as "Jamiroquai meets Santana," Los Amigos Invisibles' disco-funk will have everyone dancing.

Thursday, June 10: Ingrid Michaelson
You might not know Ingrid Michaelson's name, but you've probably heard her music. Since releasing her 2005 debut album, Michaelson's songs have appeared in numerous network television shows including Scrubs, One Tree Hill and Grey's Anatomy. This Staten Island native started playing piano at age four, and has since developed into a passionate artist and skillful songwriter. She will perform at the Festival just after touring with The Barenaked Ladies and a brief UK tour.

Friday, June 11: Kris Kristofferson (7:30 pm)

The multi-talented Kris Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar and an Army Ranger before he embarked on a prodigious musical and film career, producing a catalog of more than twenty albums and acting in dozens of films. Kristofferson started as a songwriter in the 1960s, writing hit songs for Ray Stevens, Roger Miller, Jerry Lee Lewis and Janis Joplin. He landed a gig at the Newport Folk Fest with an introduction from Johnny Cash, and despite limited initial sales went on to have enormous success as both a solo artist and a songwriter. Kristofferson swept the 1971 Grammys and has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Songwriters hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2007 received CMT's Johnny Cash Visionary Award. Still touring at 73 years old, his most recent album is Closer to the Bone, released in September 2009.

With special guest Justin Townes Earl (6:30 pm)

Saturday, June 12: TBA

Sunday, June 13: Patty Griffin (6 pm)
Patty Griffin was discovered in the early 90s playing coffee houses around Boston. In 1996, Griffin released her major label debut, Living with Ghosts, which showcased her raw talent, unique voice and skillful songwriting. After her third album, Griffin moved to Dave Matthew's ATO records where she has recorded four albums. This year, Griffin released the critically-acclaimed Downtown Church, a collection of mostly traditional gospel songs with a few originals. She has toured with Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch and her songs have been covered by acts including Martina McBride, Bette Midler, Kelly Clarkson, Solomon Burke and The Dixie Chicks.

With special guest Guggenheim Grotto (5 pm)

The 101 Dalmatians Musical to Close Tour in New York City

2010-03-25T13:40:05Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - The PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series announced today that the current tour of THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL will close after playing New York's Madison Square Garden April 7-18th. Dates previously scheduled for Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall from May 18-23, 2010 have been canceled.

Tickets for the Pittsburgh engagement had not yet been placed on sale to the public. Individuals who have previously purchased tickets for the Pittsburgh run through season ticket offers may call 412-456-1390 and groups who have reserved tickets may call 412-392-4819 for refund or exchange information.

Post-Gazette: The Trust offers a model for Pittsburgh's public radio stations

2010-03-10T16:24:57Z

According to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial:

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's shared services initiative, launched in 1999, could serve as a model for the city's three public radio stations if they decide to explore sharing support services to keep the stations financially vibrant.

Read the full article

Ahmad Jamal Headlines National Jazz Appreciation Month

2010-03-10T15:00:00Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in association with MCG Jazz presents a rare and unforgettable performance of big band arrangements and compositions with Ahmad Jamal featuring the MCG Jazz Orchestra. This special event, part of the Trust's National Jazz Appreciation Month celebration, takes place at the Byham Theater on Saturday April 9, 2010, at 8pm. BNY Mellon is the lead sponsor. Cohen & Grigsby is the lead sponsor of the Trust Presents series.

The celebration continues all month long with grooveMODERN, a series of Tuesday night jazz performances at the Cabaret at Theater Square presented by the Trust's Department of Education and Community Engagement. grooveMODERN is an exploration of jazz, soul and rhythm featuring Soul Cycle; Dwayne Dolphin and Sean Jones, the Orrin Evans Trio, and the Jeff "Tain" Watts Quartet. grooveMODERN is sponsored by BNY Mellon.

Tickets for Ahmad Jamal with the MCG Jazz Orchestra ($25.50 - $45.50) and all of the grooveMODERN performances ($20 - $25) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets, please call (412) 471-6930.

Soul Cycle
9pm, Tuesday, April 6, at the Cabaret at Theater Square. $20. Doors open at 8pm.

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Soul Cycle brings an infectious blend of jazz, funk, and world music to Mosaic, their eagerly awaited third release Inspired by artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Richard Bona, James Brown, Chopin and Bach, Soul Cycle has developed a distinctive brand of world fusion, incorporating sounds from jazz, funk, R&B, gospel, reggae, Latin, Jewish, African, and classical music.

Dwayne Dolphin/Sean Jones.... The Jazz Funk Sessions
8pm, Tuesday, April 13, at the Cabaret at Theater Square. $20.

Dwayne Dolphin is a veteran player of multiple basses - including the acoustic, electric, and piccolo bass - and has performed all over the world with the legendary masters of jazz and funk music. Dwayne's career began more than 25 years ago with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet. Most recently, Dwayne has been a regular member of the legendary funk outfit, Fred Wesley and the JB's. Fred Wesley was one of the founding member of James Brown's famous band, creating classics that have influenced generations of rhythm and blues enthusiasts.

Sean Jones has developed into one of jazz's top young trumpeters, known for both his lyrical fluidity and high-tier technical facility. Dolphin and Jones play together regularly, so this collaboration should be even more precision since they both know one another's strengths and performing styles. This collaboration will include new compositions by Dolphin and Jones, along with some classic soul jazz covers.

Orrin Evans Trio - Phillie Sounds
8pm, Tuesday, April 20, at the Cabaret at Theater Square. $20.

Orrin Evans has been recognized as one of the most distinctive and inventive pianist of his generation. In a short span of time Orrin has earned the titles of pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher, producer and arranger. The New York Times described the pianist as "...a poised artist with an impressive template of ideas at his command", a quality that has undoubtedly assisted in keeping Orrin at the forefront of the music scene. His recording and performing resume includes Wallace Roney, Pharoah Sanders, Antonio Hart, The Mingus Big Band, Roy Hargrove, Nicolas Payton, Brandford Marsalis, Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson, Sean Jones, Tim Warfield, and Ravi Coltrane

Jeff "Tain" Watts Quartet
8pm, Tuesday, April 27, at the Cabaret at Theater Square. $25.

One of the most in demand jazz drummers in the world today, Pittsburgher Jeff "Tain" Watts initially majored in classical percussion at Pittsburgh's Duquesne University, where he was primarily a timpanist. He later enrolled at the Berklee School of Music, where he pursued jazz studies alongside such talented players as Branford Marsalis and Kevin Eubanks.

Jeff played with the Wynton Marsalis Quartet from 1981-1988, winning three Grammy Awards with the ensemble. After working with George Benson, Harry Connick. Jr. and McCoy Tyner, he joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet in 1989. Along with explosive power, blinding speed and mastery of complex rhythms and time signatures, Watts brings a rare sense of elegance, tried-by-fire composure, and a gritty street funk to his music. A true jazz innovator, Watts never fails to deliver the percussive magic that has been his trademark since his emergence on the contemporary jazz scene.

Pittsburgher Dave Budway will also be part of the quartet. David Budway is one of the most distinctive pianists on today's international jazz scene. While deeply rooted in classical music and rock and roll music, his masterful command for the modern jazz vocabulary has propelled him into the midst of present-day jazz pioneers. He is quickly becoming a highly sought-after accompanist, arranger, film composer, and songwriter.

About Ahmad Jamal
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ahmad Jamal is an acclaimed virtuoso jazz piano and keyboard master, and composer. He began playing piano at the age of three, when his uncle Lawrence challenged him to duplicate what he was playing on the piano. Jamal began formal piano training at the age of seven with Mary Cardwell Dawson, whom he describes as greatly influencing him. Since 1960, he has been a Steinway Artist.

Miles Davis, Randy Weston, Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, and Gary Peacock all cite Ahmad Jamal as a major influence in use of rhythm and space as well as his innovative use of multi-tonal melodic lines and his unique extended 'vamps'. The element of surprise in his performances are an important part of Jamal's unique improvisational music style.

Clint Eastwood featured two recordings from Jamal's But Not For Me album - "Music, Music, Music" and "Poinciana" - in the 1995 movie The Bridges of Madison County. The French government has inducted Ahmad Jamal into the prestigious "Order of the Arts and Letters" by French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, naming him Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in June 2007.

About the MCG Jazz Orchestra
The MCG Jazz Orchestra is a 17-piece big band comprised of top musicians from the Pittsburgh region under the direction of executive producer Marty Ashby. MCG Jazz's mission is to preserve, present and promote jazz through their performances; and continue to strengthening the long time Pittsburgh jazz community and contribute to the overall cultural and artistic diversity of the region.

Media contact
Lauren Bracey: 412-471-3591, bracey@pgharts.org
Janis Burley Wilson: 412-471-6078, burleywilson@pgharts.org

Press Images
Click on the images below to download print-quality files.

Ahmad Jamal
Credit: Photo courtesy University Musical Society

Dwayne Dolphin
Credit: Courtesy of Dwayne Dolphin

Sean Jones
Credit: Courtesy of Sean Jones

Orrin Evans
Photo credit: Daniel Sheehan

Jeff "Tain" Watts
Photo credit:Oliver Link

Steppenwolf's August: Osage County

2010-03-08T21:15:14Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston Family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is coming to the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, PA from April 6-11, 2010. August: Osage County is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

The play stars Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet. Ms. Parsons played Violet in the Broadway production of August: Osage County from June 2008-May 2009, where The New York Times raved, "Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career."

Tickets ($21-$55) are available at the Box Office at Theater Square, by calling 412-456-6666 and online at pgharts.org. Tickets are on sale now for groups of ten or more at 412-471-6930. For subscriptions to the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series call 412-456-1390.

Joining Ms. Parsons are Shannon Cochran as Barbara Fordham, Jon DeVries as Beverly Weston, Libby George as Mattie Fae Aiken, Steve Key as Little Charles, Emily Kinney as Jean Fordham, Laurence Lau as Steve Heidebrecht, Marcus Nelson as Sheriff Deon Gilbeau and understudying Bill and Steve, Paul Vincent O'Connor as Charlie Aiken, Jeff Still as Bill Fordham, DeLanna Studi as Johnna Monevata, Angelica Torn as Ivy Weston, Amy Warren as Karen Weston, Avia Bushyhead, understudying Johnna, Jean, Ivy and Karen, Stephen D'Ambrose, understudying Beverly and Charlie, Barbara Kingsley, understudying Violet and Mattie Fae, Bryn Magnus, understudying Little Charles and the Sherriff and Kim Martin-Cotten, understudying Barbara, Karen and Ivy.

Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm.

Directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County is a rare theatrical event: a large-scale work filled with 13 unforgettable characters, a powerful tragicomedy told with unflinching honesty and the unforgettable breakthrough of a major American playwright. August: Osage County premiered and was produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 2007.

Nominated for seven Tony Awards and winning five, including Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Director, along with Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play, Best Director and Best Scenic Design, August: Osage County opened at the Imperial Theatre Broadway on December 4, 2007, to wide critical acclaim. The New York Times called August: Osage County "The most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years," and it was voted The #1 Play of the Year by Time, The Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, and TimeOut New York. After a sold-out engagement at the Imperial Theatre, the show re-opened at the Music Box Theatre on April 29th, 2008. August: Osage County closed on Broadway on June 28, 2009 after 648 performances and 18 previews, surpassing The Heidi Chronicles, Master Class, The Real Thing, and Doubt, among many others, to become one of the longest running plays in Broadway history.

The show, which the London critics hailed as "the must-see play of the year - possibly a lifetime," opened to rave reviews at The National Theatre on November 26, 2008, where it played a limited eight-week engagement featuring members of the original Broadway company. The London production was nominated for four Olivier Awards, winning one (Best Scenic Design).

The show's creative team includes Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), Ann G. Wrightson (lights), Richard Woodbury (sound) and David Singer (original music).

August: Osage County is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel.

Media Contact
Jamie Cuba: 412-325-1201, cuba@pgharts.org

Press Photos
Click the images below to download print-quality files.

Estelle Parsons as Violet
Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Clockwise from left: Angelica Torn, Libby George & Paul Vincent O'Connor.
Photo credit: © Robert J. Saferstein

Touring company of August: Osage County
Photo credit: © Robert J. Saferstein

From left: Libby George & Shannon Cochran.
Photo credit: © Robert J. Saferstein

Estelle Parsons & Shannon Cochran
Photo credit: © Robert J. Saferstein

2010/2011 PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh Season

2010-03-07T11:00:00Z

PITTSBURGH - PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh - presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Broadway Across America - today unveiled its "practically perfect" 2010/2011 season. One of the city's premier entertainment series, PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is generously sponsored by The PNC Foundation. The 2010/2011 season presents an array of must-see musical theater productions presented on the Cultural District's world-class stages.

The season starts with Lincoln Center Theater's lavish and flawless new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, followed by the new musical arena-rock love story, ROCK OF AGES. Broadway's "magical hit musical" - the roof-raising MARY POPPINS produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh - will fly into the Benedum Center for an extravaganza at the beginning of 2011. Then, the energetic musical revival that will set you in search of peace and love, HAIR, continues the season, and Pittsburgh will get a make-ogre with the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre, SHREK THE MUSICAL. Next up is what critics have rated among "the best of 2009," the emotional powerhouse musical, NEXT TO NORMAL. And finally - from the first notes to the final breath - Pittsburgh audiences will be captivated as the all-new production of WEST SIDE STORY rounds out this not-to-be-missed season of Pittsburgh premiere musicals.

"The PNC Foundation is proud once again to be the presenting sponsor of this series, which draws over 300,000 visitors to our city's vibrant Cultural District each year and generates an economic impact estimated at more than $30 million annually for the region," said James E. Rohr, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The PNC Financial Services Group. "The PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series contributes to the Pittsburgh's reputation as a major destination for arts and entertainment, bringing world-class Broadway productions close to home for residents of southwestern Pennsylvania."

Subscription packages range from $101 to $456, and information is available by calling 412-456-1390 (local), 800-828-9200 (outside Pittsburgh), or visiting www.pgharts.org. Information about discounted group tickets (minimums and discounts vary by production) is available by calling 412-471-6930.

Media contact
Mark Power - 412-471-8715, power@pgharts.org

PNC BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA - PITTSBURGH
2010/2011 SEASON

The Lincoln Center Theater Production of
Rodgers & Hammerstein's
SOUTH PACIFIC
November 2-7, 2010, at the Benedum Center
"A Flawless Production!" -The New York Times

A stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center Theater, SOUTH PACIFIC swept the 2008 Tony^® Awards, winning seven honors including Best Musical Revival and Best Director for Bartlett Sher. This breathtaking new production features a cast of 34 and a full orchestra of 26 members - the largest orchestra of any touring Broadway production. Set on a tropical island during World War II, this musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. The beloved score includes "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," and "There Is Nothin' Like A Dame."

ROCK OF AGES
November 23-28, 2010, at the Benedum Center
"Impossible to resist! As guilty as pleasures get!"
-The New York Times

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker in LA's most famous rock club, and they fell in love to the greatest songs of the '80s. It's five-time Tony^® Award nominee ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on!

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present
MARY POPPINS
January 5-23, 2011, at the Benedum Center
"Irresistible! Broadway has found a fresh fountain of youth that will make many a grown-up feel like a kid again! -USA Today

Get ready as the world's most famous nanny flies into the Benedum Center! Combining the best of the original stories by P.L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony^® Award-winning MARY POPPINS is everything you'd hope for in a Broadway musical - and more. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, this show includes such wonderful songs as "Chim Chim Cher-ee," "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Let's Go Fly a Kite" and, of course, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The New York Daily News hails MARY POPPINS as "a roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!" Let your imagination take flight at this magical hit musical!

HAIR
February 15-20, 2011, at Heinz Hall
"Thrilling, emotionally rich production delivers intense, unadulterated joy!" -The New York Times

New York's Public Theater's new Tony^® Award-winning production of HAIR is the most electric celebration on Broadway! This exuberant musical about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a turbulent time has struck a resonant chord with audiences young and old. HAIR features an extraordinary cast and dozens of unforgettable songs including "Aquarius," "Let the Sun Shine In," "Good Morning, Starshine," and "Easy To Be Hard." Its relevance is undeniable. Its energy is unbridled. Its truth is unwavering. It's HAIR, and it's time.

SHREK THE MUSICAL
March 15-20, 2011, at the Benedum Center
"A triumph of comic imagination, altogether irresistible!" -USA Today

SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar^®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life on the stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre--not a handsome price--shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won't shut up, a bad guy with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand...and his name is Shrek. Featuring a terrific score of 19 all-new songs, big laughs, great dancing and breathtaking scenery, USA Today proclaims SHREK THE MUSICAL, "A big fat hit!"

NEXT TO NORMAL
April 5-10, 2011, at the Benedum Center
"It is the best musical of the season - by a mile.
It'll pin you to your seat." -Rolling Stone

From the director of RENT comes NEXT TO NORMAL, an emotional powerhouse of a musical with a thrilling, contemporary score about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Winner of three 2009 Tony^® Awards including Best Score, NEXT TO NORMAL is the most talked about new show on Broadway having recently been chosen as "one of the year's best" by major critics around the country. The New York Times calls NEXT TO NORMAL "a brave, breathtaking musical. A work of muscular grace and power. It is much more than a feel-good musical; it is a feel-everything musical."

WEST SIDE STORY
May 17-22, 2011, at the Benedum Center
"So exciting it makes you ache with pleasure."
-The New Yorker

More than 50 years ago, one musical changed theater forever. Now it's back to mesmerize audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by Tony^® Award winner Arthur Laurents, WEST SIDE STORY remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

2010/2011 SEASON SPECIALS

Subscribers are able to purchase the best seats to these four specials at the best price before they go on sale to the public. Tickets will go on sale 4-6 weeks prior to each production's opening date. These special presentations are in addition to and not part of the 2010/2011 subscription series.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
August 25 - September 19, 2010, at the Benedum Center

BURN THE FLOOR
December 28, 2010 - January 2, 2011, at Heinz Hall

RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
January 11-16, 2011, at Heinz Hall

MAMMA MIA!
April 19-24, 2011, at Heinz Hall

SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS

The 2010/2011 PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Broadway Across America. The PNC Foundation is the sponsor of this series. Season subscription packages are available now at prices ranging from $101 to $456. For subscription information call 412-456-1390 (local) or 800-828-9200 (outside Pittsburgh). To subscribe or renew online, visit www.pgharts.org. To purchase discounted tickets for groups (minimums and discounts vary by production), please call 412-471-6930.

Subscriber benefits include:

Select seat locations
Exclusive ticket exchange privilege
Guaranteed same great seats as previous season for renewing subscribers
Priority ticket offers
A ticket replacement service if you lose your tickets
The Broadway Subscriber Handbook, which includes important phone numbers, parking information, exchange policies and dining discounts to some of Downtown Pittsburgh's finest restaurants
Guaranteed parking all season for an additional price

About The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh's 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the Cultural District, and is an impetus for additional development in Downtown Pittsburgh.

In addition to the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Presents, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Children's Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events.

The Trust owns Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O'Reilly and Harris Theaters; Wood Street Galleries; SPACE, a visual arts gallery at 812 Liberty Avenue; and 937 Liberty, a multi-purpose performance and exhibit space, among other Downtown Pittsburgh arts facilities.

About The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Heinz Hall is the home of The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, which has been a vital part of the City of Pittsburgh's heritage for more than 100 years. With its noble history of the finest conductors and musicians and its strong commitment to artistic quality and excellence, audiences around the world have claimed the PSO as their orchestra of choice. In September 2008, the PSO welcomed its ninth Music Director, Manfred Honeck.

Beginning in the early 1900s with frequent performances in Canada, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra confirmed its ranking as a world-class orchestra, earning critical acclaim for each tour abroad. Its 32 international tours include 17 European tours, seven trips to the Far East and two to South America. In January 2004, the PSO became the first American orchestra to perform for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican as part of the Pontiff's Silver Jubilee celebration.

About Broadway Across America
Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. It is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced the Broadway productions of HAIR, WEST SIDE STORY and Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Upcoming productions include MINSKY'S, PROMISES, PROMISES, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and the West End production of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S. Touring productions include Nickelodeon's STORYTIME ADVENTURES featuring Dora the Explorer and DREAMGIRLS.

The Wizard of Oz

2010-03-05T16:36:01Z

Pittsburgh, PA - The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ, is coming to Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall for six performances March 30 - April 4, 2010, as a special presentation in the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

This magical production, based on the Royal Shakespeare Company's celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, is presented with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas to the finale.

Director, Nigel West; choreographer, Leigh Constantine; and set and costume designer, Tim McQuillen-Wright feature the glamour and elegance of art deco Hollywood with their visually stunning Technicolor backdrop in this musical stage production of The WIZARD OF OZ. Following the story plot, Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow are transported "Over the Rainbow" to adventures in Munchkin Land, the Haunted Forest, and the Emerald City. Featuring the classic songs by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, "Over the Rainbow," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," and "Merry Old Land of Oz," along with the beloved characters, THE WIZARD OF OZ will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable evening at the theater.

Twelve local children, all students at Michele's Dance Center in Wexford, will perform the roles of "munchkins" while this beloved classic is live on stage in Pittsburgh. The children were selected through an audition process by the National Tour. The children who will perform in the Pittsburgh engagement are Madison Bittner, Megan Carcaise, Victoria Carcaise, Payton Carroll, Michael Caye, Elena Diulus, Hannah Feldhues, Josselyn Fester, Alexis Meckler, Savannah Nasse, Olivia Tarchick and Heather Walter.

Tickets ($21 - $59) to THE WIZARD OF OZ at Heinz Hall, March 30-April 4, 2010, are available at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue); by calling the Heinz Hall box office 412-392-4900 and online at pgharts.org. To purchase 10 or more tickets, please call 412-392-4819.

Media Contact
Lauren Bracey: 412-471-3591, bracey@pgharts.org
Diana Roth: 412-471-8717, roth@pgharts.org

Production Photos
Click the images below to download print-quality files.

Dorothy and Friends (Adam Jepsen, Cassie Okenka, Dusty as Toto, Jesse Coleman and Peter Gosik)
Photo credit: © Peter Coombs

Internationally-Acclaimed Golden Dragon Acrobats

2010-03-02T16:57:09Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - "The impossible can be achieved, and once achieved surpassed, then surpassed again," raves the Associated Press. Direct from Cangzhou, Hebei province in China, the Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time honored tradition that began more than 27 centuries ago. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Golden Dragon Acrobats, for only two performances at the Byham Theater on Saturday, March 13, 2010, at 2pm and 8pm. Cohen & Grigsby is the lead sponsor of the Trust Presents series.

With performers trained in the rigorous art of acrobatics since early youth, Golden Dragon Acrobats, founded by producer and director Danny Chang, has garnered international acclaim, and has been presented with several major awards over the company's history including the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA) "Entertainer of the Year" award and the Campus Activities Today's "Performer of the Year" award. Since 1978, the troupe has traveled to all 50 states and to over 65 countries on five continents. The program will feature an exciting line up of acrobatic artistry such as Thousand Hands Dance, Lion Dance, Tower of Chairs and Bicycle Family, among many more not to be missed! "Good old fashioned razzle dazzle...Ripples of amazement all the way to the back row..." -The Dallas Morning News

The ancient art of Chinese Acrobats is an old and long running tradition that began in China more than two thousand years ago. Over its long and rich history it has developed as one of the most popular art forms among the Chinese people. The citizens of China continue to present their acrobatic art to the world today, hoping to portray the hard working nature of their people and the rich traditions of the Chinese culture.

Tickets ($20 - $37) for the March 13 performances of Golden Dragon Acrobats may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Media Contact
Lauren Bracey, (412) 471-3591; bracey@pgharts.org
Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717; roth@pgharts.org

Click the images below to download print-quality files.

Caption: Contortion Balancing Act
Credit: Golden Dragon Acrobats

Caption: Pink Balancing Pyramid
Credit: Golden Dragon Acrobats

Caption: Spinning Color Wheels
Credit: Golden Dragon Acrobats

Caption: Traditional Bicycle Pyramid
Credit: Golden Dragon Acrobats

Grease starring Taylor Hicks as "Teen Angel"

2010-02-19T21:47:41Z

Pittsburgh, PA - The new Broadway production of the Tony Award nominated musical GREASE™, comes to Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center, March 9-14, 2010. Time Magazine claims, "#1 MUSICAL OF THE YEAR- GREASE is getting a new generation excited about the theatre again. But, you don't have to be an impressionable 13-year-old to get a kick out of Kathleen Marshall's exuberant and winning new revival - IT'S THE ONE THAT I WANT." GREASE™ is part of the PNC Broadway Across America -Pittsburgh Series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

The new production features songs from the 1978 motion picture for the first time in a Broadway production including "Sandy", the Academy Award nominated song "Hopelessly Devoted to You", and #1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list, "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want". The audience will also enjoy "Summer Nights", "Greased Lightning" and "We Go Together", famous songs from the original stage production.

This rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady attracted the talented Platinum-selling recording artist and "American Idol" winner, Taylor Hicks, to star as "Teen Angel. Hicks made his Broadway debut in the role of "Teen Angel" and has been on the road with GREASE™ since the tour began on December 2, 2008. Originating in Chicago in the early 70's, GREASE™ quickly transformed into one of the world's most popular musicals. GREASE™ was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its initial run.

Tickets ($22-$66) and are available at the Box Office at Theater Square, by calling 412-456-6666 and online at pgharts.org. To purchase 10 or more tickets, please call 412-471-6930, PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh subscribers at 412-456-1390.For more information regarding PNC Broadway Across America- Pittsburgh Series please visit www.pgharts.org.

Josh Franklin has joined the cast as "Danny." The tour continues to star Lauren Ashley Zakrin as "Sandy," Will Blum as "Roger," Bridie Carroll as "Jan," Kate Morgan Chadwick as "Frenchy," Laura D'Andre as "Rizzo," Kelly Felthous as "Marty," Allison Fischer as "Patty Simcox," Dominic Fortuna as "Vince Fontaine," Jesse JP Johnson as "Doody," Roxie Lucas as "Miss Lynch," David Ruffin as "Kenickie," Jamison Scott as "Eugene," and Nick Verina as "Sonny."

Drected and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), GREASE™ features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon. Scenic design by Tony Award nominee Derek McLane (The Pajama Game), costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Kiss Me Kate), lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Wicked) and sound design by Brian Ronan (Spring Awakening, Curtains). GREASE™ is produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

Media Contact
Jamie Cuba: 412-325-1201, cuba@pgharts.org

Press Photos
Click the images below to download print-quality files.

Born to Hand Jive
Dominic Fortuna and Company
Photo by Joan Marcus

GREASE on Tour
Company
Photo by Joan Marcus

Freddy, My Love
Bridie Carroll, Allie Schulz, Kelly Felthous and Kate Morgan Chadwick
Photo by Joan Marcus

Greased Lightnin'
Will Blum, Brian Crum, David Ruffin, Eric Schneider and Nick Verina
Photo by Joan Marcus

Teen Angel
Taylor Hicks
Photo by Larry Busacca

Traditional Irish Music with Cherish the Ladies

2010-02-18T09:00:00Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - Irish-American Celtic music sensations Cherish the Ladies return to the Byham Theater for one performance! Cherish the Ladies blends virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating original arrangements and stunning step dancing in an entertaining, humorous and lively celebration of traditional Irish culture. Cherish the Ladies will perform at the Byham Theater on Friday, March 5, 2010 at 8pm. Cohen & Grigsby is the lead sponsor of the Trust Presents series.

"It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn't enjoy what they do," says the Boston Globe.

Taking their name from the name of a traditional Irish jig, Cherish the Ladies initially won recognition as the first and only all-women traditional Irish band. In a relatively short time, they soon established themselves as musicians and performers without peer and have won many thousands of listeners and fans through their music. With their unique spectacular blend of virtuosi instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing, this powerhouse group combines all the facets of Irish traditional culture and puts it forth in an immensely humorous and entertaining package.

Cherish the Ladies has been named "Best Musical Group of the Year" by the BBC, "Entertainment Group of the Year" by the Irish Voice Newspaper, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's "International Group of the Year Award" at the Celtic Connections Festival in Scotland and voted the "Top North American Celtic Act" by NPR Radio's Thistle and Shamrock.

They have shared the stage with such noted entertainers as James Taylor, Joan Baez, Emmy Lou Harris, The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, The Chieftains and dozens of symphony orchestras. The "Celtic Album", their collaboration with the Boston Pops Symphony led to a 1999 Grammy nomination.

Cherish the Ladies has appeared on CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Evening at Pops, C-Span, PBS and National Public Radio in the United States and on BBC and RTE radio and television overseas. At the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, they were chosen to represent Irish music and culture at the Official Cultural Olympiad.

Tickets ($20 - $32) for the March 5, 2010, 8pm Cherish the Ladies performance may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Media Contact
Lauren Bracey, (412) 471-3591; bracey@pgharts.org
Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717; roth@pgharts.org

Click the image below to download a print-quality file.
Photo credit: Larry Shirkey

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

2010-02-15T22:19:06Z

PITTSBURGH, PA - Described as "a breath of fresh air" by The New York Times and "a company to be reckoned with" by Dance Magazine, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet brings its critically-acclaimed athleticism and grace to the Byham Theater stage in Pittsburgh's Cultural District on Friday, February 26 for a one-night performance.

The evening's program includes dance works by four internationally recognized chorographers: Jorma Elo's Red Sweet, Nicolo Fonte's In Hidden Seconds, William Forsythe's Slingerland, and Twyla Tharp's Sue's Leg - with roller-rink-like music and witty songs by Fats Waller.

Founded on the idea of acquiring repertoire and inviting top choreographers in the field to create works for the company, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet boasts a sophisticated repertoire and broad appeal, combined with a successful blend of entertaining and engrossing contemporary dance. The company is one of the true success stories in American dance today.

Tickets ($19 - $42) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at pgharts.org, or by calling 412-456-6666. First Commonwealth is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh Dance Council. WDUQ 90.5fm is the media sponsor.

About Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
In 1990, accomplished dancer Bebe Schweppe founded the Aspen Ballet Company with hopes of infusing dance education into Colorado culture. Within the next 10 years, she had created professional companies in both Aspen and Santa Fe with the help of Jean-Philippe Malaty and Tom Mossbrucker. Fusing the two company names together, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet was born.

The small ensemble has performed to critical acclaim both nationally and internationally at The Joyce Theatre, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, The Kennedy Center as well as at venues in Canada, France and Italy. The diversity of the group is magnified by the companies it has supported through Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Presents: The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Pilobolus, Hubbard Street Dance, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris Dance Group, Sydney Dance Company, Ballet "Quetzalli" de Veracruz, Tango Danza, Peking Acrobats, Les Ballets Africains and India's Nrityagram Dance Ensemble to name a few.

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has grown to become one of the largest dance presenters in the country, but has nonetheless maintained its fresh and unique signature style. Currently, Tom Mossbrucker serves as Artistic Director for the company with Jean-Philippe Malaty serving as Executive Director.

About Sue's Leg
A tribute to the world of 1930s dance and the music of Fats Waller, the nine-part suite titled Sue's Leg is one of Twyla Tharp's earliest commissioned pieces. Originally performed in 1990 by Chicago's Hubbard Street Dance, Sue's Leg was pulled from Tharp's repertoire until February 2009 when she began to collaborate with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. The piece was created for a dancing quartet with soloists featured throughout - with the accompanying Oldies/jazz musical track perfectly complemented by the sounds of the dancers' tap shoes as though a natural element of the music.

About Pittsburgh Dance Council
Each year the Pittsburgh Dance Council, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, showcases a world-class season of dance. As the largest presenter of international performances in the city, Pittsburgh Dance Council continues to help make Pittsburgh's Cultural District one of the country's leading arts and entertainment destinations.

Media Contact
Mark Power: 412-471-8715, power@pgharts.org

Showcase Noir & Ladysmith Black Mambazo

2010-02-15T21:57:20Z

PITTSBURGH, PA -- The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust culminates Black History Month with its regular Showcase Noir: African American Artist and Designer Exhibit and Sale and the special presentation of Grammy-award-winning South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Showcase Noir opens at 11am on Sunday, February 28, at the Byham Theater. Ladysmith Black Mambazo performance closes the evening with their 7 p.m. performance. Cohen & Grigsby is the season sponsor of the 2009-2010 Trust Presents series.

Admission to Showcase Noir is free until 6pm. After 6pm, tickets for the Ladysmith Black Mambazo performance are required. Tickets ($20 - $37) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930. For more information on both programs, visit pgharts.org.

Media Contacts
Lauren Bracey, (412) 471-3591; bracey@pgharts.org
Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717; roth@pgharts.org

ABOUT LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO
"It isn't merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention, but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being," raves composer, musician, singer and producer Paul Simon.

For more than forty years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural and ethnic landscape. Their musical efforts over the past four decades have garnered praise and accolades within the recording industry and have solidified their identity as a cultural force to be reckoned with. The group borrows heavily from a traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya). Isicathamiya singing style originated from the South African Zulus. In Europe this singing style is known as a capella. The word itself does not have a literal translation; it is derived from the Zulu verb -cathama, which means walking softly, or tread carefully.

Assembled in the early 1960s, in South Africa, by Joseph Shabalala - then a young farmboy turned factory worker - the group took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ladysmith being the name of Shabalala's rural hometown; Black being a reference to oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo being the Zulu word for axe, a symbol of the group's vocal ability to "chop down" all things in their path. Their collective voices were so tight and their harmonies so polished that they were eventually banned from competitions - although they were welcome to participate strictly as entertainers.

A radio broadcast in 1970 opened the door to their first record contract - the beginning of an ambitious discography that currently includes more than forty recordings that have garnered three Grammy Awards and fifteen nominations, including one for their most recent recording "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu". Their philosophy in the studio was - and continues to be - just as much about preservation of musical heritage as it is about entertainment.

In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated Ladysmith Black Mambazo's rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his Graceland album - a landmark 1986 recording that won the Grammy Award for Best Album and is considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences. In addition to their work with Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLaughlin, Emmylou Harris, Natalie Merchant, Mavis Staples, Ry Cooder and Ben Harper.

The ensemble is regarded as South Africa's cultural emissaries at home and around the world. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been invited to perform at many special events including events for the Queen of England and the Royal Family, two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a concert for Pope John Paul II in Rome, and the South African Presidential inaugurations.

Click the images below to download print-quality photos.

ABOUT SHOWCASE NOIR
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Department of Education and Community Engagement presents the fifth Showcase Noir: African American Artist & Designer Showcase, on Sunday, February 28. An event that celebrates and provides exposure to the many talented artists and designers of African descent in our region, Showcase Noir has developed a reputation for presenting exceptional pottery, jewelry design, watercolor painting, sculpture, and art of various media. Works will be available for sale; all proceeds will benefit the artists. This free event is complimented with live jazz music featuring Dwayne Dolphin and acid jazz and rare funk grooves spun by DJ SMI.

Showcase Noir opens at 11am and remains open to the public until 6pm. After 6pm, a ticket to Ladysmith Black Mambazo is required.

Participating artists include Firdausi Bey, Roberta Ellis, Kendrah Foster, Rita Gregory, Joseph Holtz, Charlotte Ka, Laverne Kemp, Mary Martin, Harriette Merriweather, Saihou Njie, Errol Reynolds, Charles Smith, Solomon Steelpan Company, Susan Tankersley/Ethnic Designs, Ken Thomas and Richelle Wilson.

Click here to download a zip file of images of work by Showcase Noir artists and designers (12 MB)