First NIght, Pittsburgh 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2009


Contact: Lauren Bracey, 412-471-3591 / bracey@pgharts.org

Photos and the full program schedule are available at firstnightpgh.org



FIRST NIGHT® PITTSBURGH CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY

First Night® 2010 culminates The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's

year-long 25th anniversary celebration with more than 100 events,

including headliner Average White Band (AWB)



Thursday, December 31, 2009, 6 pm - Midnight

In the heart of the Cultural District



PITTSBURGH ... Celebrate New Year's Eve in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's First Night® Pittsburgh 2010. This family-friendly community event is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, with generous support from lead sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. The city will revel in a joyous celebration of the arts: dance, music, theater, comedy, magic, visual art and film, plus hands-on activities for children and adults.



"First Night brings our community together by offering an incredibly diverse selection of programming," said Deborah Rice, Executive Vice President, Health Services for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. "First Night serves the Pittsburgh region by presenting a creative, affordable, and healthy New Year's Eve celebration that makes the most of our city's wealth of artistic talent. Highmark is proud to mark its fourth year as the lead sponsor of First Night."



First Night® Pittsburgh festivities begin at 6 pm with the Dollar Bank Children's Fireworks Display and performances by Wizdom Band and Maddi Georgi on the Dollar Bank Stage, followed by the Target First Night® Parade at 8 pm. This year, the evening concludes with a live performance by Average White Band (AWB) and the First Night® tradition, The Countdown to Midnight and Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale atop Penn Avenue Place. The Highmark Stage, where all the First Night® revelry concludes, is located on Penn Avenue next to Fifth Avenue Place.



Among the 125 events and activities held in 50 venues throughout the Cultural District, other special First Night® Pittsburgh attractions include the First National Bank Family Tent; Equitable Gas Marquee Performances including Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and River City Brass Band at the Byham Theater and Johnny Angel and the Halos at the Benedum Center; Miami's Pied Piper of Percussion at the new August Wilson Center for African American Culture; and four floors of hands-on activities, dance lessons, music and more at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's new Arts Education Center, located at 805-807 Liberty Avenue. For a complete listing of events, please visit www.firstnightpgh.org or call (412) 456-6666.



First Night® 2010 also marks the closing of a year-long celebration of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's 25th anniversary. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has led the way for the creation and ongoing development of Pittsburgh's award-winning Cultural District. Utilizing the arts as a means for transforming a formerly blighted downtown, the Cultural Trust today welcomes over a million visitors annually to thousands of performances, gallery exhibitions and community events.



In addition to First Night® Pittsburgh, the Trust presents the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series; the Pittsburgh Dance Council; the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Festival; and Three Rivers Arts Festival among other events. Additionally, the Trust owns and operates 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; 707 and 709 Penn Galleries; and 937 Liberty, a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown arts facilities.



FIRST NIGHT® BUTTONS

To join the celebration, simply purchase an all-access First Night® Pittsburgh 2010 Button. A First Night® button costs only $8; children age 5 and under are admitted for free. First Night® buttons are available at participating Giant Eagle stores, at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.firstnightpgh.org, and by calling 412-456-6666.



Due to their overwhelming popularity and limited seating in Cultural District theaters, a free General Admission Seating Voucher is necessary to see the performances of Johnny Angel and the Halos, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, River City Brass Band, The Amish Monkeys, Hustlebot, the Pied Piper of Percussion and Magician David Lawrence's Magic Show. Vouchers are available at The Box Office at Theater Square. Simply show your First Night® button to obtain up one seating voucher per production. The Box Office at Theater Square is located at 655 Penn Avenue between the O'Reilly Theater and Katz Plaza.



There will be general admission waiting lines for performances at the Benedum Center, Byham Theater, CAPA High School and August Wilson Center. Patrons will be seated on a space-available and first-come, first-served basis once voucher holders have been accommodated. Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm and Sunday, noon to 6 pm.



VOLUNTEERS

First Night needs volunteers for numerous jobs--from button checkers to activity helpers to parade assistants. Families, co-workers, school groups and individuals of all ages are needed to help us ring in 2010 in a fun, alcohol-free, family-friendly way. To volunteer with First Night®, sign up at www.firstnightpgh.org.



SPONSORS & MEDIA PARTNERS

First Night® Pittsburgh 2010 Sponsors as of release date include: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as the lead sponsor, Dollar Bank, Equitable Gas, First National Bank, Giant Eagle, PNC and Target.



First Night® Pittsburgh 2010 Community Supporters include County of Allegheny, The Buhl Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation.



First Night® Pittsburgh 2010 Media Partners include Trib Total Media, KDKA TV, BOB 96.9 FM, Q 92.9 FM, STAR 100.7, WDUQ 90.5 FM, 91.3fm WYEP and Y108.



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