Saturday, July 30, 2011

Late Night Cabaret Series August Lineup

For immediate release…


The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces August Schedule for its

Late Night Cabaret Series

Thursdays - Saturdays at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

www.pgharts.org



PITTSBURGH…The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust continues to bring nightlife downtown with plenty of high-energy programming in the Late Night Cabaret series. For more information or hi-resolution pictures on any Late Night Cabaret event, please contact Randy Kirk at 412-325-6766, or at kirk@pgharts.org.

Scheduled Events – August 2011

 
Thursdays Pittsburgh Improv Comedy Jam 10:00pm / $3.00

Hundreds of laughs. Dozens of scenes. One word suggestions. Watch Pittsburgh’s best improv comics mix it up every week in this endlessly inventive and surprisingly sophisticated comedy series!


Fridays Salsa Fridays 10:00pm / $5.00

The Cabaret at Theater Square becomes one of the city’s hottest late night dance floors every Friday from 10pm until 2am. DJ Jeff Shirey, DJ Carlton, DJ Paul Mitchell and other guest DJs spin the hottest Latin dance music to keep the crowd moving.

Saturdays

Sat. August 6th 10:30pm / $5.00

CLO Cast Cabaret: 2011 Edition

You’ve seen their fast tapping, high kicking antics at the Benedum Center this summer. Now, don’t miss these gifted performers as they take the spotlight to present their own Broadway song and dance favorites. This is your chance to catch a glimpse of these rising stars before they make it big!

Sat. August 20th 10:30pm / $5.00

Pittsburgh Improv All*Stars

This improvisational evening features the best troupes, special guests and performers from Thursdays’ Pittsburgh Improv Jam.

Sat. July 27th 10:30pm / $5.00

The John McIntire Dangerously Live Comedy Talk Show

A comedic exploration of stuff that matters... and some stuff that doesn't... featuring Pittsburgh's Top Alternative Comic Gab Bonesso and other opinionated punks. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the advertising and performance of The John McIntire Dangerously Live Comedy Talk Show are not necessarily those of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, its officers, employees or agents. Performance may include adult subject matter and language. Enjoy!


** There is no Late Night Saturday scheduled for August 13th.


Late Night Cabaret

Ticket holders from any earlier show downtown gain free admission (based on seating availability; must show ticket stub for free admission).

All Late Night Cabaret events are 21 & Over

Late Night Happy Hour, from 9:00-11:00pm!

Contact Randy Kirk at 412-325-6766, or kirk@pgharts.org for more information or hi-res pictures.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Mon Ducky Race Prizes Announced

3rd Annual Mon Ducky Race


BROWNSVILLE, Pa. - The time has come for the Mon Ducky Race, August 6 at 3:30 p.m., held at the Brownsville Riverside Wharf. The Mon Ducky Race, hosted by the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. (BARC), will be held in conjunction with the Brownsville Annual Community Festival.

To participate in the Mon Ducky Race, one must purchase a numbered $5 ticket. Purchases can be made directly from Rt. 40 Classic Diner, Fayette Podiatry, Pixel's Restaurant, the BARC office at 69 Market St. in Brownsville, at any BARC-sponsored events including Music on the Mon and the Brownsville Farmers Market, during the Brownsville Annual Community Festival at the BARC membership booth or by calling 724-785-9331.

There will be approximately 1,000 ducks dropped off the Inter-County Bridge into the Monongahela River and racing up to the Brownsville Riverside Wharf. Prizes will be given to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 'lame' ducks.

Prizes:

1st- A weekend in Pittsburgh including lodging, dinner, and a gas card

2nd- A $250 gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods

3rd- One $25 gift card to Route 40 Classic Diner, one $25 gift card to TJ Enterprises, and two tickets to the Brownsville Drive-in

4th- One $25 gift card to Wal-Mart

'Lame Duck'- A BARC gift basket

BARC is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve economic development through historic preservation, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, community stewardship, education, youth advancement and the arts.
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For additional information or arrange interviews:
Dennis Cremonese, 724.785.9331



Late Night Cabaret Series July Schedule

For immediate release…




The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces July Schedule for

The Late Night Cabaret Series

Thursdays - Saturdays at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue

www.pgharts.org



PITTSBURGH…The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust continues to bring nightlife downtown with plenty of high-energy programming in the Late Night Cabaret series. For more information on any Late Night Cabaret event, please contact Randy Kirk at 412-325-6766, or at kirk@pgharts.org.



Scheduled Events – July 2011



Thursdays Pittsburgh Improv Comedy Jam 10:00pm / $3.00

Improv comics from all over the 'Burgh take the stage every Thursday night, performing unscripted scenes in this fast & frenetic improv jam. Each night features randomly-generated teams and truly unpredictable comedy.

Fridays Salsa Fridays 10:00pm / $5.00

The Cabaret at Theater Square becomes one of the city’s hottest late night dance floors every Friday from 10pm until 2am. DJ Jeff Shirey, DJ Carlton, DJ Paul Mitchell and other guest DJs spin the hottest Latin dance music to keep the crowd moving.

 
Friday, July 29th 10:00pm / $10.00

Salsa Fridays LIVE with Azucar, Western PA’s top Latin dance band! .


Saturdays

Sat. July 9th 10:30pm / $5.00

Gene Collier, “I’m Just Tellin’ Ya…”

Spend an evening with one of the most unique and entertaining voices in Pittsburgh! Gene Collier has written sports, politics and media criticism for over thirty years - bringing vast fame and fortune to those around him. A staple of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Sports section Gene is, along with Rob Zellers, also co-author of the one-man play, "The Chief" which is, to date, the most successful production The Pittsburgh Public Theater has ever mounted. Sean Collier - standup comic, WDVE movie reviewer and son of Gene - will open this performance.

Sat. July 16th 10:00pm / $5.00

Mystery’s Most Wanted presents…Mobsters, Molls & Marinara!

Come join the party at this gin joint set in the roaring twenties where every night was New Years Eve. But "speak easy" because the bathtub gin ain't the only think that'll kill ya. Solve the murder of a local Chicago crime boss. Who knows, you may even be the mug who saves the day.

Sat. July 23rd 10:30pm / $5.00

Pittsburgh Improv All*Stars

The last Saturday of every month features the best troupes, special guests, games and performers from Thursdays’ Pittsburgh Improv Jam.

Sat. July 30th 10:30pm / $10.00

Jenn Lederer and Elliot Roth, “Anthems”

Pittsburgh natives' Jenn Lederer and Elliot Roth bring their bold lyrics and soulful vocals to the steel city for a one night only event; debuting new music from their upcoming release, Anthems. Composer/pianist/vocalist and MAC award winner Elliot Roth with his 'silky smooth voice' (New York Times) hails from New York's prestigious Manhattan School of Music's Jazz Arts program and has made a name for himself in the big apple as a pianist, jazz vocalist and personality; headlining at such venues as Birdland, The Living Room, Manhattan Theater Source, and the legendary Oak Room at the Algonquin hotel (most recently seen in Off-Broadway's "Our Sinatra"). Vocalist and talent manager Jenn Lederer (talent featured on Law&Order: SVU, HBO's Boardwalk Empire, and others) finds her inspiration from encouraging and motivating others to do what they truly love; she has also made a name for herself in NYC with her riveting stage command and powerhouse vocals. Jenn has been collaborating with Elliot since their sold out limited engagement of their original New York debut tour de force, "MidTwenties''. Join them at this one night only concert as they present to you a roof raising night of jazz, funk and R&B originals, with full band...this is an event that you do not want to miss.



Late Night Cabaret

Ticket holders from any earlier show downtown gain free admission (based on seating availability; must show ticket stub for free admission).

All Late Night Cabaret events are 21 & Over

Late Night Happy Hour, from 9:00-11:00pm!





Contact Randy Kirk at 412-325-6766, or kirk@pgharts.org for more information.

Visual Arts Show "Memory Shredder" at 707 Penn Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-6082



Felipe Garcia-Huidobro: “Memory Shredder”

707 Penn Gallery, 707 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District

July 15 - September 11, 2011


Pittsburgh, PA: You have to be a little destructive to get really creative. Destruction, and the subsequent transformation of materials, is at the heart of Felipe Garcia-Huidobro’s new show “Memory Shredder” at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s 707 Penn Gallery located at 707 Penn Avenue in the Cultural District. Tearing apart layers of collective consciousness -- ad posters, film strips, maps -- Felipe Garcia-Huidobro is reconstructing a personal geography through collage, sculpture, and video.

Felipe Garcia-Huidobro was born in Santiago de Chile in 1975. He received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Universidad Finis Terrae, and his Master of Arts degree from Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya. He lives and works between Santiago, Chile and Pittsburgh, PA.

With interdisciplinary approaches to the creation of works, Felipe has experimented with different traditional techniques, such as drawing, photography, music, collage, painting and carpentry, and is now integrating digital technologies, such as video and audio recording and postproduction.

“Memory Shredder” opens on Friday, July 15, 2011, with an artist reception as part of the Cultural Trust’s Gallery Crawl from 5:30-9 p.m. The show concludes on Sunday, September 11, 2011.



Gallery Details:

707 Penn Gallery is a Visual Arts project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Located at 707 Penn Avenue in the Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District, 707 Penn Gallery is free and open to the public



Gallery Hours:

Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Experience the Contemporary Art Scene of Iceland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-6082


Long Are The Days, Short Are The Nights

April 15 – September 11, 2011

Wood Street Galleries, 601 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District





Opening reception during Gallery Crawl 5:30-9 p.m.



PITTSBURGH, PA: Curated by Murray Horne, “Long Are The Days, Short Are The Nights” is a survey of videos, installations and photographs that characterize the dynamic contemporary art scene in Iceland.



Participating artists:

Bryndis Hrönn Ragnarsdóttir

Darri Lorenzen

Egill Saebjörnsson

Elin Hansdóttir

Finnbogi Petursson

Hekla Dögg Jónsdóttir

Hrafnkell Sigurdsson

Kolbeinn Hugi Höskuldsson

Snorri Ásmundsson

The exhibition includes a special installation by Elin Hansdóttir entitled “Path.” The mazelike structure will be installed at 943 Liberty Avenue. Hours of operation are Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Support for Wood Street Galleries has been provided by the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Additional support provided by the Port Authority of Allegheny County and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Special thanks to i8 Gallery, Reykjavik, Iceland.


GALLERY DETAILS:

Long Are The Days, Short Are The Nights

April 15 – September 11, 2011

Opening reception during Gallery Crawl 5:30-9 p.m.

Wood Street Galleries, a project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is located at 601 Wood Street above the T-Station in the Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District.



Hours:

Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Free and open to the public

For more information, call 412-471-5605 or visit woodstreetgalleries.org
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Stephanie Armbruster: In Search of Something More at 709 Penn Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-6082


Stephanie Armbruster: In Search of Something More

July 15 – September 11, 2011

709 Penn Gallery

709 Penn Avenue at Seventh Street

Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District

Artist reception on [July 15, 2011 5:30-9:00p.m.]



PITTSBURGH, PA -- Cheap rent. Budget glam. Demolition. Artist Stephanie Armbruster embraces the challenges and opportunities as a rustbelt city native in her solo exhibit, In Search of Something More. Influenced by street art, design and documentary photography, Stephanie Armbruster’s new series of encaustic paintings, is a self-described “reckless commentary inspired by the absurdities of urban life, random encounters and the tension of the city in a state of flux.”

Recollections of urban living come together in a stream of consciousness rant of vibrant layers riddled with overbearing typography and architectural elements. That her art studio is located in gritty, survivalist Braddock provides an added layer of inspiration. Founded upon her various urban-centric experiences, the city depicted in Stephanie Armbruster’s work is informed as much by fiction as reality; the urban environment portrayed in films, books, and song lyrics merges with memory and documentation. Hip-hop and electronic music provide the soundtrack to her work, while street art inspires a playful merging of images and architecture.


About Stephanie Armbruster

Stephanie Armbruster firmly believes that buildings and other structures have relationships with each other. She is deeply amused by pictures of people dressed up in costumes, has an obsession with goldfish, and never sleeps as well as she’d like. Stephanie is in love with typography and architecture and finds endless inspiration in exploring urban spaces, populations and visual textures. Stephanie received her BFA in painting and printmaking from Carnegie Mellon University in 2006, has a studio at UnSmoke Artspace in Braddock, PA and grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH. Her recent projects and exhibits include the Flight School for Artists Residency and Mattress Factory Gestures 13.

Visit stephaniearmbruster.com for more information.

GALLERY DETAILS

709 Penn Gallery is located on 709 Penn Ave. / Downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District

Hours: Wed. & Thurs. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun.11 a.m.–5 p.m.



709 Penn Gallery is a Project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Education & Community Engagement department. Funding for In Search of Something More has been provided in part by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Artist Opportunity Grant.

EXHIBIT DETAILS

July 15 – September 11, 2011

Artist reception [July 15, 2011 5:30-9:00p.m.]

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Cultural Trust Legal Society Pledge Support for the Arts

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz,
412-471-6082
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust



The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces new funding support: The Trust’s new Legal Society to raise $1,200,000 in support for the Trust


PITTSBURGH, PA: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced the commencement of the “Cultural Trust Legal Society,” a group of the Pittsburgh region’s most prominent law firms that has collaborated on a visionary program to support the mission of the Cultural Trust. The Legal Society consists of 18 of Pittsburgh’s leading law firms that have pledged $240,000 in annual support to the Cultural Trust through 2015.


Spearheaded by volunteer board members Chester R. Babst and Thomas L. VanKirk, the Cultural Trust Legal Society was created in response to the shifting landscape of the economic environment and financial support for the arts. The Legal Society is one initiative among many that the Cultural Trust has instituted to balance its $51-million operating budget.


"The Legal Society members recognize the tremendous contribution the Cultural Trust has made to the quality of life in our region—for residents, visitors and members of the business community,” said Mr. Babst, a founding shareholder of Babst Calland. “The member firms of the newly-formed Legal Society recognize the significant benefits created by the Trust and have joined together to pledge their financial support so that this wonderful organization can continue to provide the region with world-class performing and visual arts events, as well as redevelop major sections of downtown Pittsburgh.”


“We’re extremely grateful for the generosity of the Legal Society Members,” noted J. Kevin McMahon, President and CEO, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “Having such a significant and meaningful financial commitment come from a collective group made up of competing businesses is truly unique and clearly shows the commitment of the members of the Legal Society to this region and its residents. It is an extraordinary example of the Pittsburgh legal community taking the initiative to help support the important mission of the Cultural Trust.”


Members of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Legal Society include:

Babst Calland

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney P.C.

Cohen & Grigsby, P.C.

Dickie McCamey & Chilcote, P.C.

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC

Flaherty & O'Hara, P.C.

Goehring Rutter & Boehm

K & L Gates LLP

Littler Mendelson P.C.

Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Pepper Hamilton LLP

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP

Reed Smith LLP

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP

Sherrard, German & Kelly, P.C.

The Webb Law Firm, P.C.

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

(As of July 5, 2011)



Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust offers a wide range of performing and visual arts, has restored the Cultural District in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh through the acquisition and development of real estate and serves as a steward of the investments and collaborations that continue to enhance the Cultural District neighborhood.
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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Importance of Being Earnest Breaks New Ground for PICT

Media Contact:
Melissa Hill Grande
Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
412.561.6000 x203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



PICT offers lavish, hilarious, all-male Importance of Being Earnest



Irish director Conall Morrison helms spectacular production he originally created for Dublin’s famed Abbey Theatre

Pittsburgh, PA – July 25, 2011. The Importance of Being Earnest, one of the greatest comedies of all time, opened on Valentine’s Day, 1895. For playwright Oscar Wilde, it was the moment of his greatest triumph and the beginning of his downfall.

Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre pays tribute to the great playwright and his masterpiece with a vibrant and stylish production of his comic masterpiece, anchored by two of Ireland’s favorite sons – Conall Morrison and Alan Stanford – and featuring a cast comprised entirely of gentlemen. Director Morrison’s landmark production, which was a sell-out hit at the Abbey Theatre for two consecutive seasons, begins in The Brasserie Dauphine, Paris, 1900, three months before Wilde's death. In the brief prologue (written by Morrison), we find Wilde breakfasting on champagne and absinthe. Surrounded by the splendor of Art Nouveau and the beauty of the young waiters, he recalls the glory of Earnest, casting the play from the café’s elegant male clientele and assaying the plum role of Lady Bracknell himself.

Morrison joins PICT for the first time this summer, but his credits are legendary. He is a former associate artist with Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, where his adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh’s novel Tarry Flynn and production of Dion Boucicault’s The Colleen Bawn began before transferring for acclaimed runs at Britain’s Royal National theatre. This year, Conall has directed the Abbey’s revival of Brian Friel’s Translations and Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible, which was the grand opening production at the new Lyric Theatre in Belfast. He directed the American premier of Boublil and Schoenberg’s musical Martin Guerre for Cameron Mackintosh at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis along with many other productions for the Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the English National Opera.

Stanford is well-known to PICT audiences as the director of the stunning 2008 production of Salome and the Pinter Celebration’s much-lauded productions of Betrayal and Celebration. He makes his PICT acting debut as Oscar Wilde/Lady Bracknell in Earnest, though local audiences may remember Stanford for his portrayal of Pozzo in the Gate Theatre’s touring production of Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece, Waiting for Godot, which visited Pittsburgh in 2006. This critically-acclaimed performance has toured the world, and is featured as part of the “Beckett on Film” series. A prominent actor at Dublin’s Gate Theatre for more than three decades, Alan has received, among many other awards and accolades, a Harvey’s Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance as Salieri in Amadeus, and nominations for his performances as Astrov in Uncle Vanya, Higgins in Pygmalion, and Valmont in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. As director and actor, he is widely considered to be one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the plays of Oscar Wilde.

PICT’s 2011 Actor in Residence Leo Marks will play the suave Algernon Moncrief. A company member in PICT’s extraordinary Pinter Celebration, Marks was also featured in PICT’s recent productions of Antony & Cleopatra and House & Garden. The OBIE award-winning actor has appeared at some of the most respected theatres in the country, including The Shakespeare Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Actors Theater of Louisville, the Old Globe, and Intiman. He is also a founding member of New York’s acclaimed Elevator Repair Service.

David Whalen returns to PICT this season to play the charming Jack Worthing. His PICT credits include Pinter Celebration, Doubt, President George W. Bush in Stuff Happens, Julius Caesar, An Ideal Husband, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore. For his work in four PICT productions, David was named Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2007. The Lieutenant of Inishmore was remounted at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis in 2008, winning David that city’s Kevin Kline award for Best Actor. He has performed with some of the country’s most respected companies, including South Coast Repertory, the Shakespeare Theatre of D.C., Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, as well as Pittsburgh’s excellent City, Public, and Quantum Theatres.

CMU alumnus Will Reynolds and young New York-based character actor Matthew Cleaver were chosen for the plum roles of Gwendolen and Cecily following an extensive national search. Reynolds was in the PICT 2004 production of Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance and recently played Frank Churchill in the pre-Broadway production of Paul Gordon’s musical version of Jane Austen’s Emma at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. His other credits include productions with West Virginia Public Theatre, Goodspeed, and the national tour of Mamma Mia. Cleaver is a recent graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance. His one-man show Gay Blues has been performed off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theatre.

The production also features James FitzGerald as Miss Prism, David Crawford as Canon Chasuble, Martin Giles as Merriman, and Dan Derks, Luka Glinsky, Dylan Marquis Meyers and Jordan Matthew Walsh as rent boys and gardeners.

PICT’s production retains the original scenic and costume designs from the acclaimed Abbey theatre production. The Art Nouveau Parisian café set is designed by the brilliant French scenic designer Sabine Dargent, who makes her PICT debut with The Importance of Being Earnest. The costumes are by acclaimed Irish designer Joan O’Clery, with additional costumes by Pittsburgh designer Joan Markert. The lighting design is by Jim French (Pinter Celebration, Rock ‘n’ Roll), sound design by Erik T. Lawson (Hobson’s Choice), and properties by Cory F. Goddard. The Importance of Being Earnest plays August 4-27 in the Charity Randall Theatre.



The Importance of Being Earnest Fact Sheet


The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde


Adapted and directed by Conall Morrison


The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland


4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213


Cast: Matthew Cleaver, David Crawford, Dan Derks, James FitzGerald, Martin Giles, Luka Glinsky, Leo Marks, Dylan Marquis Meyers, Will Reynolds, Alan Stanford, Jordan Walsh and David Whalen.

Design Team: Sabine Dargent (scenic design); Gianni Downs (associate scenic design); Jim French (lighting design); Joan O’Clery (original costume design); Joan Markert (additional costume design); Erik T. Lawson (sound design), Cory F. Goddard (properties)


Performance Dates and Times:

First Week:

Thursday -- Friday, August 4 - 5; 8 p.m. previews

Saturday, August 6; 8 p.m. opening night, followed by reception

Sunday, August 7; 2 p.m. matinee, followed by talk-back

Second Week:

Tuesday, August 9; 7 p.m. Professional Tuesday performance

Wednesday – Saturday, August 10 - 13; 8 p.m. performances*

Sunday, August 14; 2 p.m. matinee

*pre-performance discussion at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday

Third Week:

Wednesday – Saturday, August 17 - 20; 8 p.m. performances

Sunday, August 21; 2 p.m. performance

Fourth Week:

Tuesday, August 23: 7 p.m. performance

Wednesday – Friday, August 24 – 26: 8 p.m. performance

Saturday, August 27; 2 p.m. AND 8 p.m. performances

Ticket Prices:

Fri. and Sat. nights: $50; Seniors $48

Tues., Wed., Thurs. nights, and Sat. & Sun. matinees $46, Seniors $44

Preview Thurs. and Fri.: $40 for all seats

$20 tickets available for youth under 25, with valid ID

Call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. Great Stories. Well Told


Brownsville Community Festival and Mon Ducky Race August 6

Brownsville Annual Community Festival and Mon Ducky Race Announces Schedule



BROWNSVILLE, Pa. - The Brownsville Borough and the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. (BARC) are joining forces once more to host the Brownsville Annual Community Festival and Mon Ducky Race August 6, starting at 11 a.m. The festival will be held in downtown Brownsville and the Brownsville Riverside Wharf.

The schedule for the festival is as follows:

11:00 AM- Parade

11:30 AM- Rotary Talent Show

12:30 PM - Brownsville Area High School Cheerleaders

1:00 PM- Dee Dee's Dance Studio

2:00 PM- Terry Sheehan School of Dance

3:30 PM- The Mon Ducky Race

4:00 PM- Nancy McKeen Bluz Machine

5:00 PM- Car Show Awards

All day activities include carnival games, a petting zoo, a car show, a bounce house, food and craft vendors and a dunk tank. This year's dunk tank will give Brownsville the opportunity to dunk Charlie Perkins (Brownsville Borough Council), Rocky Brashear (BASD director), Andy Dorsey (BASD director), Jason Novak (local business owner), Troy Rice (Redstone Police Officer), Mike Mucy (constable), and John Brant (police officer).


BARC is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve economic development through historic preservation, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, community stewardship, education, youth advancement and the arts.







Monday, July 18, 2011

Brownsville's Rose Mansion Landmark Selected for 2011 Collectible

GREATER BROWNSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


For immediate release:

July 18, 2011


Rose Mansion



Brownsville Chamber Featuring Rose Mansion

For 29th Year of Limited Edition Collectibles

The 2011 collectible will be available November 1

BROWNSVILLE, Pa. – The Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce has selected the Rose Mansion, built in 1873, as the featured historic property for its 29th consecutive issue of limited edition collectibles of landmark structures in Brownsville Borough.

The Rose Mansion at 320 Market St. is a contributing structure to the North Side Historic District, an eye-catching reminder of Brownsville's rich history visible to roughly 10,000 vehicles per day traveling Route 40, the Old National Pike. The Italianate design was the original Monongahela National Bank, which was relocated about 1900 to the downtown. The structure was transitioned to residential use after Brownsville's prominent Rose family acquired it, sometime between 1903 and 1917.

The 2011 collectible will be available Nov. 1. The ornaments, $8 each, have been issued by the chamber since 1983, with the inaugural piece featuring Nemacolin Castle. In 2010, the featured property was the former Brownsville Hospital's School of Nursing.

"The real value is if you have the entire collection," says Frank Ricco, president of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce. A limited number of collectibles are still available for 1997, 1998 and 2000 through 2010 at the chamber's 325 Market St. office.

Ray Koffler, project chairman, acknowledges the challenge has been to come up with a new property each year. But, it was the Rose Mansion's commanding presence in the oldest intact commercial and residential district west of the Alleghenies – and the current owner's redevelopment plan – that planted the seed to feature the building on the 2011 limited edition ornament.

Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. is considering a bed-and-breakfast adaptive reuse project for the structure, which was donated in 2010 by the Rose heirs to the non-profit organization. Peter Frederick Rose, the home's sole occupant for decades, died in July 2006.

The in-stock inventory of collectibles from previous years features the Flatiron Building, Brownsville Hospital, Inter-County Bridge, Bridgeport Mine, Riverside Wharf and Park, North and South Side fire halls, the Veterans Memorial, Brashear House, Patsy Hillman Park, the Monongahela Railroad Museum and the nurses' school. In addition to being available at the chamber office, the limited edition ornaments will be sold at the Brownsville Community Festival, slated for Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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FOR INTERVIEWS:

Frank Ricco, 724-785-3600

Ray Koffler, 724-785-4978; ray@tru-copy.com

Friday, July 15, 2011

Health, Wellness and Relaxation at The Ultimate Beauty Spa

SQUIRREL HILL'S THE ULTIMATE BEAUTY SPA'S

'GRAND RE-OPENING'

This Spa teaches while you relax!

Pittsburgh, PA -- The Ultimate Beauty Spa has a new look and a new commitment to teaching it's clientele about Spa benefits...and health and wellness. The home away from home, just got better!

A visit to the Spa is much more than a massage! Along with the exceptional Spa Enhancements, the tranquil atmosphere and attention to detail, the owner, Leslie Askerneese, insists that her clients understands these services are a necessity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. She also recommends dietary changes, exercise and above all 'listening' to your body. Women have been devotees of the spa benefits, but men are learning that it's also a necesscity for them as well. Grooming is more than a shave and a haircut, but should also includes receiving a facial, body treatments, waxing and a whole lot more. Spa 'grooming' is healthy and beneficial.

The Grand Re-Opening, this Saturday, July 16, 10:00AM - 7:00PM, welcomes the public to experience The Ultimate Beauty, Health and Wellness Spa. New Guests will truly enjoy this escape, nestled in the heart of Squirrel Hill.

Stop in and meet Guest Speakers: Lorraine Starsky from the American Diabetes Association and Lora Ann Bray from the Center for Minority Health. These ladies will offer an informal question and answer period.

Leslie Ezera Smith the Host of "Relax Your Vibe Fridays" will also be avaliable. He is one of the hottest spoken word artist in Pittsburgh. We are encouraging all budding and veteran poets to attend.

Monthly events and discounts will be presented, along with seminars that will teach about the correlation between the body and the selected spa service. The Grand Re-Opening is right in the middle of the Spa's month-long Christmas in July Celebration and various weekly specials.

About The Ultimate Beauty Health and Wellness Spa

The Ultimate Beauty, Health and Wellness Spa is in its 11th year of operation and constantly brings the best of the industry to the Pittsburgh and tri-state area. Conveniently located in Squirrel Hill, near the Parkway, many of the clients come to the Pittsburgh Spa to enjoy an outing with friends or relatives. Spa parties, for adults, children and teens can be arranged for practically any special occasion.

CONTACT:

Leslie Askerneese
2015 Murray Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412-421-7100
http://www.theultimatebeautyspa.com/
theultimatebeautyspa@verizon.net
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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Dinner Cruise on the Mon July 18th

The Gateway Clipper Fleet's Majestic

GREATER BROWNSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


For Immediate Release:

July 13, 2011

Backyard Fun: Dinner Cruise

On the Monongahela River

Monday's cruise will feature an evening of fun, fine dining and entertainment aboard the Majestic

BROWNSVILLE, Pa. – Join residents of the region as they come together for an evening of fun, fine dining and entertainment aboard the Gateway Clipper Fleet's Majestic.

Tickets for Monday's summertime cruise down the Monongahela River are available through the sponsors: Greater Brownsville Area and Fayette chambers of commerce (724-785-4160, Brownsville; 724-437-4571, Fayette). The July 18 event is open to the public. The Majestic will leave Brownsville's downtown wharf at 6:30 p.m. for a 2.5-hour cruise down the Monongahela River. Boarding begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person, including dinner and entertainment.

As part of the evening's activities, the chambers will honor two local residents and businessmen. The Brownsville chamber's honoree for the 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award is Pat Ballon, owner of Brownsville Hardware Do It Best. The Fayette chamber is honoring Christopher Kennedy, sales representative for Halo Branded Solutions, as the 2011 Volunteer of the Year.

Tickets are available at select sites in addition to the chamber offices. In Brownsville, tickets are being sold at NAPA Auto Parts, 600 Market St., 724-785-3800, and Brownsville Bus Lines, 525 National Pike East, 724-785-3600.

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FOR TICKETS OR AN INTERVIEW:

Frank R. Ricco, president of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, 724-785-3600 or e-mail, cgore1@att.net.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Pat Ballon Named Distiguished Citizen Brownsville Chamber

GREATER BROWNSVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


For immediate release:

July 11, 2011



Brownsville Chamber Honoring Ballon

With Distinguished Citizen Award



BROWNSVILLE, Pa. – The Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce has selected Brownsville native and businessman, Pat Ballon, as its 2011 Distinguished Citizen.

The award will be presented July 18 as part of the festivities of the "Meet Me at the River" Cruise, a first-time joint initiative of the Greater Brownsville Area and Fayette County chambers of commerce. Each chamber has selected an honoree, with Fayette naming Christopher Kennedy of Hopwood as its 2011 Volunteer of the Year.

"Pat has been a faithful community supporter," says Frank Ricco, president of Brownsville's chamber.

Ballon is a self-made businessman whose longstanding reputation for giving back to the community is what merited the Distinguished Citizen Award. He is a 35-year member of the Hiller Fire Co., where he served as chief for 12 years; member of the board of directors for Mon-Vale Health Resources Inc. and its executive board for non-acute care and the Fayette County Area Vocational Technical School; chairman of the Luzerne Township Sewage Authority; and executive board member for the Patsy Hillman Park Foundation and the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is the 2009 recipient of Mon-Vale Health Resources' Gibbons Award for Dimensions in Service for the Health, Social and Civic Well-Being of Area Residents.

"I have always learned from Day 1 that you help people," Ballon says. "Neighbors help neighbors. That's instilled in you … and you do whatever you can to help the community." He and his wife of 22 years, Susan, are known throughout the area for their lifelong commitment to community service.

Ballon graduated from Brownsville High School in 1970 and attended California State College, predecessor of California University of Pennsylvania. He started in the business world during high school by opening a television repair shop in his parent's basement. Four years after he graduated from high school, he bought Brownsville Hardware, building it through the years into the largest independent business of its type in Fayette County – a 19,000-square-foot Do It Best store being expanded by 6,800 square feet this year and a 29-employee workforce.

Tickets for the July 18 dinner cruise are available through both chambers: 724-785-4160, Brownsville; 724-437-4571, Fayette. The Gateway Clipper will leave Brownsville's downtown wharf at 6:30 p.m. for a 2.5-hour cruise down the Monongahela River. Tickets are $65 per person, including dinner and entertainment.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Cutline information, Pat and Susan Ballon. For additional information or an interview, contact the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, 724-785-3600.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Carnegie Library Foundation Center NonProfit Programs

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Foundation Center


July 2011

To register for any of the following programs, please call the Foundation Center at 412-622-6277.



Building a Major Gift Program

Date: Saturday, July 9, 2011

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Major gifts are contributed by individuals, foundations, and corporation, and play a significant role in an organization’s fundraising success. They are most commonly secured through personal solicitation and form an essential component of a successful nonprofit fundraising program. In this class, you will find out what characteristics major gift prospects share, how to tell the difference between suspects and prospects, and how to secure larger contributions for your nonprofit organization. You’ll discover the important steps to a successful solicitation and have the opportunity to role-play in a safe environment.

The speaker, Teresa A. Gregory, CFRE, is a Senior Partner of Pinnacle Fundraising Consultants, LLC. Teresa has a 25 year track record as a high-level, results oriented fundraiser with extensive experience in all aspects of development and nonprofit management. She has directed campaigns of $200,000 to $20 million for a wide variety of organizations. Teresa is also a Professional-in-residence at Point Park University in the Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management Program.

Event fee: $20 *

Location: Mt. Lebanon Public Library, 16 Castle Shannon Blvd. – Meeting Room A





Computer Resources for Nonprofits (Free)

Dates: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

This hands-on session introduces attendees to the electronic databases that are available for free at the Foundation Center, including: Guidestar, NOZASearch, Foundation Grants to Individuals, and Foundation Directory Online. Sample searches are conducted in each database to demonstrate the capabilities of each application. A brief introduction to the highlights of the main Foundation Center home page is included.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – PC Center, 4400 Forbes Avenue (3rd Floor)





Demystifying the 990 PF (Free)

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011

Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

This workshop provides an in-depth look at the 990 PF, the tax return filed by private foundations with the Internal Revenue Service. The most crucial components of the 990 PFs for grantseekers will be discussed, as well as how to easily access these documents on the Internet.


The speaker will be Jim Lutton, Foundation Center manager for 11 years, until retiring in 2009.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – PC Center, 4400 Forbes Avenue (3rd Floor)





Foundation Center Orientation (Free)

Date: Friday, July 22, 2011

Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM


Our one-hour Orientation introduces attendees to the kinds of resources and services available through the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Foundation Center, a Cooperating Collection of The Foundation Center in New York City. This monthly session is recommended specifically for those who are new to grantseeking or just unfamiliar with what we offer.

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Foundation Center, 4400 Forbes Avenue (2nd Floor)





Effective Marketing for Nonprofits

Date: Friday, July 29, 2011

Time: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM


While there are myriad new marketing tools to tempt today’s professionals, but don’t get too starry-eyed about the means without considering the end -- effectiveness! Is your message clear? Do you have a true picture of your audience? What do they value? This training will stress the key themes of: Identifying your goals/audiences; Crafting a compelling message; Knowing & evaluating your communication options; Target, target, target! One size generally doesn’t fit all. Examples and exercises will provide the tools you can immediately put to use as soon as you get back to the office.

The speaker, Diane Wuycheck, has 35+ years of corporate, nonprofit and agency experience in public and media relations, community relations and business development/marketing, crisis and issues management.

Diane has developed integrated marketing communications plans for a broad range of clients and her portfolio features clients in more than 60 local nonprofit organizations. In addition to her role as consultant, Diane has been an adjunct professor of nonprofit public relations at Duquesne University and La Roche College.

Event fee: $20 *

Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Downtown & Business, 612 Smithfield Street

* Fees can be paid at the door with either cash or check made payable to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

# # #
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Foundation Center

is a Cooperating Collection of The Foundation Center in New York City.

Brownsville Hosts An Afternoon of Arts






For Immediate Release
7/6/11


Contact:
Blake Fisher
AmeriCorps VISTA
Phone: 724.785.9331

Fax: 724.785.8626
E-mail: barcinfo@barcpa.org



An Afternoon of Arts in Brownsville, PA


BROWNSVILLE, Pa. –

Join us for an afternoon of arts events in Brownsville, PA on July 17th.

First, visit the Gazalie Building (131 Market Street) from 1pm-4pm to view our newest ‘Images of Yesterday: A Peek into Brownsville’s Past’ photography exhibit. Take in the river from the Gazalie Building’s second level windows and enjoy photographs documenting the development of a portion of Market Street as well as Brownsville’s 1914 ‘Old Home Week’.

After the photography exhibit, grab a bite to eat at any number of local Brownsville restaurants, and then be sure to meet us on the lawn at Nemacolin Castle from 6pm-8pm to enjoy an evening of acoustic rock and blues with The Dave Iglar Band. The Dave Iglar Band has been touted as one of the best rock and blues bands in the region. The concert is free and open to the public.

Music on the Mon is supported by the Fayette County Hotel Tax through the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through its regional arts funding partnership, Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) and the Community Foundation of Fayette County.

‘Images of Yesterday, A Peek Into Brownsville’s Past: The Gazalie Building’ is sponsored by The Sprout Fund Seed Award for Greene and Fayette counties. All proceeds will help BARC to continue its revitalization efforts in Brownsville.

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For additional information:

Blake Fisher, 724.785.9331

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. (BARC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to achieve economic development through historic preservation, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, community stewardship, education, youth advancements and the arts. Contact the BARC office, 724.785.9331, for additional information about programs and upcoming events.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Brownsville Annual Community Festival Lineup Announced

Brownsville Annual Community Festival Lineup


BROWNSVILLE, Pa. - The Brownsville Borough and the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. (BARC) would like to put a 'final call' out to any organizations or businesses interested in renting vendor space at this year's Brownsville Annual Community Festival. We'd also like to remind all the classic car owners in the area to contact Charlie Perkins (724-970-7462) to enter their vehicles in the festival's annual classic car show. The festivities will be held August 6, starting at 10 a.m., in downtown Brownsville. Vendor space is $25.00 plus $5.00 for electricity (if needed).

Please contact BARC before July 15th to ensure your organization (or your classic car) a place in this year's festival!

BARC is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve economic development through historic preservation, heritage tourism, outdoor recreation, community stewardship, education, youth advancement and the arts.
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Friday, July 1, 2011

Operation Troop Appreciation Tickets Fore Charity at the Mylan Classic





Dear OTA Supporters and Golf Enthusiasts!


Although OTA is not hosting a golf outing this year, no summer would be complete without a day on the links with OTA!

That is why we are proud to announce our partnership with the Mylan Classic’s ANSYS TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program.



Through this program, friends of OTA have the opportunity to purchase tournament tickets for the Mylan Classic which in turn donates 100% of the purchase price to our charity.

The Mylan Classic is one of 26 events on the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour schedule for 2011.

It will be held August 29 – September 4 at Southpointe Golf Club in Canonsburg, PA.

The event will draw 156 Nationwide Tour professionals from as many as 20 countries vying for one of the 25 PGA TOUR cards that will be awarded to the leading money winners at the end of the year.

Also visiting Washington County during tournament week will be the players’ families, caddies, Pro-Am participants, corporate guests, television crews, Tour staff members, volunteers and over 20,000 spectators.

Tournament Ticket Prices:

Weekly Grounds Pass: $25

Permits access to the tournament grounds all week as well as concerts, clinics, and evening entertainment.

Weekly Clubhouse Pass: $50

Permits access to the tournament grounds, concerts, clinics and evening entertainment all week as well as the luxurious clubhouse dining area (Thur- Sun) shared by the players, their families and sponsors.

10-Pack Weekly Grounds Passes: $200 (discounted rate)

10-pack Weekly Clubhouse Passes: $400 (discounted rate)

Please use the following link to purchase tickets so that we will receive 100% of your ticket sale.

https://www.mylanclassic.com/buytix/OPERATIONTROOPAPPRECIATION/

The Mylan Classic, through the ANSYS TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program, will donate 100% of all ticket sales to local charities including OTA.

In addition, OTA will also earn a percentage of the $35,000 Bonus Pool, which will be distributed evenly among the participating non-profits based on the program’s total ticket sales.

This is an exciting and unique event for Washington County and we are thrilled to be able to offer tickets as a great way to enjoy an incredible week of golf, concerts, clinics and nightly entertainment while supporting a great cause!

Thank you, and see you on the greens!

Kristen Holloway

Founder and CEO, Operation Troop Appreciation