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Theater & Arts category, Page 31

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
John Noble to take final bow with ‘Night of the Stars’
Greensburg attorney and champion of high school musicals John Noble is a pretty humble guy when it comes to taking credit for the success of his “Westmoreland Night of the Stars.” The event held at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg has grown to a two-night celebration of local students representing...
Celebrate Shakespeare’s 455th birthday with Pittsburgh troupe 
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is celebrating the 455th anniversary of the renowned playwright’s birth with a week-long schedule of special events throughout the city. The Bard’s Birthday Bash includes: • April 23: Shakespeare statue salute, 12:15-1:30 p.m. in front of the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Actor Yvonne Hudson,...
Greensburg Central Catholic tells the tale of the ‘Children of Eden’ 
As Greensburg Central Catholic Junior-Senior High School students rehearse for their spring musical, “Children of Eden,” performing arts teacher and musical producer/director Joette Salandro is on the lookout for any needed changes in lighting, sound and actor positions. It’s her 29th year directing school musicals, her third time at the...
‘Dance Spectrum 2019’ showcases Seton Hill students
Dance students at Seton Hill University have spent the current semester perfecting their skills and techniques in tap, contemporary and ballet – and now’s their time to shine in “Dance Spectrum 2019.” The program April 26-28 at Seton Hill Performing Arts Center in Greensburg will feature original choreography by Seton...
Review: New Broadway play about Clintons’ marriage is fascinating — and sad
NEW YORK — Nevertheless, they’ve persisted. And how? And why? These thoughts and questions form the thematic basis of “Hillary and Clinton,” Lucas Hnath’s riveting portrait of a couple of days in one of Hillary Clinton’s failed quests to be president — and more fascinatingly, of an enduring, turbulent marriage...
Discounted ticket lottery for ‘Book of Mormon’ at Heinz Hall
Want to see the “Book of Mormon” this weekend but don’t have your tickets yet? Producers of the show are offering low-priced lottery seats for every city on the national tour, including Pittsburgh’s performances at Heinz Hall, Downtown. The show, a winner of nine Tony awards, including best musical, is...
Franklin Regional Thespians Club prepares for ‘Pride and Prejudice’ 
Lauren Thompson thought she was pretty good at speaking English. But she’s not used to pronouncing it this way. “I’ve never had to speak such ‘proper’ English before, so that’s exciting,” said Thompson, 17, a Franklin Regional senior and one of the leads in the FR Thespian Club’s spring production...
Pitt ‘geek theater’ production travels to downtown Pittsburgh
How do you get to know someone after she’s died? In Qui Nguyen’s play, “She Kills Monsters,” the quest is accomplished through a game of Dungeons & Dragons. The University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts will present the award-winning play at 8 p.m. April 18 in the August Wilson...
The Flying Karamazov Brothers dazzle with wild theatrics 
Anyone that knows a person – or may themselves be – so uncoordinated they “can’t chew gum and walk at the same time” can appreciate the talents of The Flying Karamazov Brothers, who are just the opposite. The entertainers that started out as street performers in Santa Cruz, Calif., have...
Musical message of ‘Godspell’ especially meaningful now
The message of the musical is appropriate any time of the year, but “Godspell” is especially meaningful during the Easter season. “It is the perfect time of year for this show,” says Kaleb Oswald of Connellsville, who portrays both John the Baptist and Judas in the Actors and Artists of...
Pittsburgh Festival Opera recognized for ‘A Gathering of Sons’
The Pittsburgh Festival Opera was awarded the bronze world medal for excellence in a production dealing with society and societal issues at the New York Festivals International TV & Film Awards on Tuesday. The honor was for “A Gathering of Sons,” an original work commissioned by the opera, and was...
‘The Book of Mormon’ makes Pittsburgh stop to spread the message 
In the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon,” Elder Kevin Price is a young devout missionary that believes if he prays hard enough, he will be sent to spread the Lord’s word where he’s needed most — in Orlando, Fla. Instead, he and fellow Elder Arnold Cunningham are recruited for...
Derek Hough brings solo show to Benedum Center 
The last time professional dancer Derek Hough went out on the road with a live show two years ago, he shared the stage with his sister Julianne Hough as part of their 48-city “Move – Beyond – Live on Tour.” This time around, it’s all Derek. The six-time “Dancing with...
Westinghouse Arts Academy ready to cut loose with ‘Footloose’
Mallory Mousseau Grantz admits it took quite a while to pick and finalize a musical for the Westinghouse Arts Academy. But when the decision was made, it’s become quite apparent ever since that “Footloose” was an apt choice. Mousseau Grantz, the director and music director, believes the skill set of...
Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Oakland Catholic take audience to ‘Chicago’ in musical
Nicole Joyce has always admired the work ethic of the students at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, and their ability to embrace the challenge that might come with whatever musical the school is performing. This time around, Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic actors and actresses will perform the high school edition of...
Greater Latrobe students stage Seussian fable of friendship
A host of Dr. Seuss characters will tread the boards in “Seussical JR.,” the spring musical from the Greater Latrobe Junior High theater program, now in its 17th season. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat (Ben Federico) narrates the story...
Deer Lakes singing, dancing to the strains of ABBA in ‘Mamma Mia’
Deer Lakes High School drama students are preparing to transport the audience to Greece with their performance of “Mamma Mia.” The musical takes place in Greece and tells the story of Sophie and Donna. Sophie is getting married and wants her dad to walk her down the aisle, but has...
Valley set to put on colorful ‘Dreamcoat’
Valley High School Drama Club junior Adam Richardson will be making his stage debut in the lead role of Joseph, donning the iconic coat of many colors in the musical in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” April 11-14 at Valley High School. “I love the coat. I love how...
Pitt-Greensburg raises curtain on ‘Young Frankenstein’
“Young Frankenstein,” the Pitt-Greensburg Theater Company’s spring musical production, opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Ferguson Theater on the Hempfield campus, 150 Finoli Drive. Other show times are 7:30 p.m. April 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. April 7. Tickets at the door are $10, or $5 for students,...
Shakespeare troupe sets auditions for all-female ‘Julius Caesar’
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is planning an all-female cast for its September production of “Julius Caesar.” Female performers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are needed to fill both male and female roles. Cold-read auditions will take place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 27, with callbacks 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April...
Kindness of strangers on 9/11 exemplified in ‘Come From Away’ 
“Come From Away” is a heartwarming story that’s even more special because it really happened. The first national tour of the new Broadway musical, coming to Benedum Center April 9-14 for eight performances, takes a look at the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, from the perspective of nearly 7,000 stranded...
‘Superstar’ is an Easter tradition for Stage Right
Stage Right! Theater Company ends its 20th anniversary season on Palm Sunday weekend, April 12-14, with a retelling of the last week of Jesus Christ’s life in the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice 1970 rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The musical at The Palace Theatre – loosely based on the Gospels...
Jeannette students to perform classic ‘Annie’ 
The popular tale of Annie, determined to find the parents who dropped her off at an orphanage years ago, is in regular rotation among high school musicals. Jeannette City School District students believe their production of “Annie,” showing at the junior/senior high school auditorium April 5-7, will be familiar to...
Hempfield Area musical is in the pink with ‘Legally Blonde’ 
The Hempfield Area High School spring musical, “Legally Blonde,” holds special significance for senior cast members Anthony Marino and Jenna Salvatore. “It’s always fun playing opposite Jenna,” says Marino, who is double cast with senior Nick Fry in the role of Emmett, a schoolmate and admirer of the lead character,...
Mt. Pleasant presents the classic, feel-good ‘Annie’
Two cast members sure to capture the hearts of audiences at the Mt. Pleasant Junior/Senior High School spring musical are a father-son pair named Gio and Wallie. What makes them stand out in crew of about 50 actors? They’re Shetland sheepdogs, commonly called Shelties, and they will share the role...


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