Friday, November 30, 2012

Anne Akiko Meyers Debuts Bates' Violin Concerto


For Immediate Release
Nov. 27, 2012

VIOLINIST ANNE AKIKO MEYERS MAKES PSO DEBUT WITH WORLD PREMIERE OF MASON BATES’ VIOLIN CONCERTO

Principal Guest Conductor Leonard Slatkin leads PSO in program that includes Haydn, Saint-Saëns

Anne Akiko Meyers
PITTSBURGH – Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers makes her debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) when she performs the world premiere of Mason Bates’ Violin Concerto in a weekend of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts next month.

Principal Guest Conductor Leonard Slatkin returns to Heinz Hall to lead the PSO in the two concerts that also will feature Haydn’s charming Symphony No. 68 and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 (“Organ Symphony”),

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $93, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or by visiting the PSO online at www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

Bates’ Violin Concerto was commissioned by Meyers with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

“I am thrilled to premiere Mason Bates' first violin concerto-actually his first concerto for any instrument,” she remarked. “I have been very interested in his work for some time and asked him to write some cadenzas for the Beethoven Violin Concerto, several years ago.”

Meyers said she enjoys collaborating with composers because “we can discuss technical aspects to help achieve the storyline the composer has so deeply in mind. Understanding the soul of the piece is what's important, and we have done a lot of work via Skype. The premiere feels much like giving birth to a child. I look forward to sharing this beautiful work with audiences soon.”

Added Bates, who is the PSO’s Composer of the Year: “Every note is written with Anne in mind, and Leonard Slatkin who will be at the helm. … I have known (Meyers) for a long time. She has a fiery personality and is an incredible player.”

The PSO would like to recognize and thank BNY Mellon for their 2012-2013 title sponsorship of BNY Mellon Grand Classics. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the PSO. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the PSO.

Bates is the Music Alive Composer-in-Residence with the PSO. Music Alive is a national residency program of the League of American Orchestras and New Music USA.  Anne Akiko Meyers is one of the world’s premiere concert violinists. A celebrated and versatile soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and educator, she has collaborated with world-class musicians from both the classical and popular worlds, commissioned and premiered new works, and showcased under-performed works to new audiences. In February 2012, Meyers's eagerly anticipated Bach Air album, recorded with the English Chamber Orchestra, will be released on eOne. Air features Bach’s violin concerti and the double concerto, for which Meyers recorded both parts, on  her two Stradivari violins, the 1697 “ex-Napoleon/Molitor” and the 1730 “Royal Spanish.”

Leonard Slatkin
Internationally acclaimed American conductor Leonard Slatkin began his appointment as Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in September of 2008. August of 2011 marked the start of his tenure as Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL), France. In addition, Mr. Slatkin continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, a post that began in the fall of 2008. Following a 17-year tenure as Music Director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Slatkin became Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. in 1996. Other positions in the United States have included Principal Guest Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he founded their “Sommerfest”; first Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra’s summer series at the Blossom Music Festival, a post he held for nine years; Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl for three seasons; and additional positions with the New Orleans Philharmonic and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

Mason Bates (Photo Credit:  Mike Minehan)
 The music of Mason Bates fuses innovative orchestral writing, imaginative narrative forms, the harmonies of jazz and the rhythms of techno. Frequently performed by orchestras large and small, his symphonic music has been the first to receive widespread acceptance for its expanded palette of electronic sounds, and it is championed by leading conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, and John Adams. He has become a visible advocate for bringing new music to new spaces, whether through institutional partnerships such as his residency with the Chicago Symphony, or through his classical/DJ project Mercury Soul, which has transformed spaces ranging from commercial clubs to Frank Gehry-designed concert halls into exciting, hybrid musical events drawing more than a thousand people.





Editors Please Note:
Friday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2:30 p.m.
Heinz Hall

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
LEONARD SLATKIN, conductor
ANNE AKIKO MEYERS, violin

Franz Joseph Haydn                                Symphony No. 68 in B-flat major
I.                    Vivace
II.                  Menuetto: Allegretto
III.                Adagio
IV.                Presto
Mason Bates                                          Violin Concerto (World Premiere and PSO Co-commission)
Camille Saint-Saëns                                Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Opus 78, “Organ Symphony”
I.                    Adagio – Allegro moderato –  Poco adagio
II.                  Allegro moderato – Presto – maestoso

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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pgh Jazz Orchestra Annual Holiday Celebration




Saturday, December 22  |  7:30pm

Manchester Craftsmen's Guild

Take a break from your busy holiday prep with The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra Annual Holiday Celebration!  The PJO swings into the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild for the first time with their annual holiday celebration.  Artistic Director of the Orchestra, Sean Jones, says, “We want to try to recreate the spirit of what the holiday is all about.”  This very popular concert spreads Christmas cheer and old favorites receive a jazz makeover, as the skilled musicians of the PJO render a new treatment on holiday classics, and turn the holiday season into a unique celebration of wonder, bliss and merriment the whole family will enjoy.

To Buy Tickets:
Online at mcgjazz.org


Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Brownsville Hosts Historic Holiday House Tours


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Brownsville's Historic Northside
Hosting Holiday House Tours

BROWNSVILLE, Pa. – Decked out in the grandeur of the holiday season, six historic homes on Brownsville's Northside will be open for guided walking tours Dec. 15-16 for the first time since 2008.



514 Market Street

Interior: 514 Market Street
See inlaid handmade parquet floors and 12 unique bevel-shaped stained-glass windows in an 18-room mansion built in the late 1800's by lumber proprietor George Dawson and soon to be Brownsville's first "bed and breakfast." Step back in time to one of the oldest banks west of the Alleghenies when it opened in 1812, the Monongahela Bank, which was converted in 1882 to a residence. Tour a stately three-story home, built on property once owned by Brownsville's founder Thomas Brown, featuring original stained-glass windows, grand staircase, mahogany wainscoting and third-floor ballroom that's been masterfully transitioned into a "man cave" as part of the top-to-bottom restoration and renovation by the current owners. Gaze at the Monongahela River from the turret of "the Captain's House," the only residence left standing along lower Front Street, built c. 1850 with a spiral staircase and architecturally noteworthy "painted glass" window that frames Nemacolin Castle.

Proceeds from the two-day event will seed a fund earmarked for the acquisition of pole banners for Market Street/Route 40. House tours in 2007 and 2008 funded the purchase and maintenance of flower planters for the Northside as did the 2009 tour of historic churches.

The guided tours will begin at Brownsville Volunteer Fire Co. 1, 520 Market St., where light refreshments will be served after the tour. Tickets will go on sale 30 minutes prior to the start of the tours, which are $15 per person, including a chance to win a wine gift basket. To ensure the best possible experience, there is only one start time each day, with the Dec. 15 tour getting underway promptly at 4 p.m. and Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. Homeowners will welcome each tour group and be available to answer questions about their restorations during the 20-minute stop at each property. Tours will last approximately three hours.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:

For more information, contact Jeff Wilhelm, 724-880-6528, owner of 514 Market St., the featured photo. The historic home was built in the late 1800's by George Dawson.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Monday, November 26, 2012

Mothership, Tchaikovsky Featured in Concert


For Immediate Release
Nov. 20, 2012

MANFRED HONECK LEADS PSO IN PERFORMANCES OF MASON BATES’ IMAGINATIVE ‘MOTHERSHIP,’ TCHAIKOVSKY’S SYMPHONY NO. 4

PSO Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek is featured soloist, performs Mozart’s Concerto in A major for Clarinet and Orchestra
Manfred Honeck

PITTSBURGH – Music Director Manfred Honeck introduces the music of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Composer of the Year Mason Bates and revisits classics from Tchaikovsky and Mozart in a weekend of BNY Mellon Grand Classics concerts this month.

The concerts will begin at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. Tickets, ranging from $20 to $93, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or at www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
Mason Bates (Photo: Mike Minehan)

The program begins with Bates’ Mothership, commissioned and premiered by the YouTube Symphony at the Sydney Opera House. Bates says this “fast-paced opener imagines the orchestra as the mothership that is ‘docked’ by several virtuosic soloists.”

PSO Principal Clarinet Michael Rusinek will be the featured soloist, performing Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra. He was last featured as a soloist in November 2010.

The program’s second half features Honeck leading the PSO in Tchaikovsky’s vibrant Symphony No. 4.

The PSO would like to recognize and thank BNY Mellon for their 2012-2013 title sponsorship of BNY Mellon Grand Classics. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the PSO. Delta Air Lines is the official airline of the PSO.

Manfred Honeck was appointed the ninth Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in January 2007, and began his tenure at the start of the 2008-2009 season. After a first extension in 2009, his contract was extended for the second time in February 2012, now through the 2019-2020 season. Following their successful European Tour in 2010 and the European Festival Tour 2011 with appearances at the major music festivals, such as BBC Proms, Lucerne, Grafenegg, Rheingau, Schleswig-Holstein or Musikfest Berlin, Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will return to Europe in October-November 2012. This year’s tour took them to Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Luxembourg, and Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart in Germany. During a week-long residency at the Musikverein in Vienna, the orchestra performed four concerts. Honeck's successful work in Pittsburgh is captured on CD by the Japanese label Exton. So far, Mahler's Symphonies Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 and Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben have been released to critical acclaim. Their recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 won a 2012 International Classical Music Award (ICMA). Honeck was born in Austria and studied music at the Academy of Music in Vienna. An accomplished violinist and violist, he spent more than 10 years as a member of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra.

The music of Mason Bates fuses innovative orchestral writing, imaginative narrative forms, the harmonies of jazz and the rhythms of techno. Frequently performed by orchestras large and small, his symphonic music has been the first to receive widespread acceptance for its expanded palette of electronic sounds, and it is championed by leading conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, and John Adams. He has become a visible advocate for bringing new music to new spaces, whether through institutional partnerships such as his residency with the Chicago Symphony, or through his classical/DJ project Mercury Soul, which has transformed spaces ranging from commercial clubs to Frank Gehry-designed concert halls into exciting, hybrid musical events drawing over a thousand people.

Michael Rusinek joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 1998 as Principal Clarinet. Born in Toronto, Canada, his early studies were with Avrahm Galper at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He later attended The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Upon graduation, he was appointed by Mstislav Rostropovich to the post of Assistant Principal Clarinet with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. In addition to his position in the Pittsburgh Symphony, he has performed as guest Principal Clarinet with the National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada, the St Louis Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Rusinek has performed as a soloist with many orchestras and as a recitalist across Canada, on CBC Radio, and throughout the United States and Israel, including appearances with the Czech Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Belgrade Philharmonic, Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra, National Symphony, Aspen Chamber Symphony, the Grand Teton Music Festival, and the Symphony Orchestra of The Curtis Institute of Music.

Editors Please Note:
Friday, Nov. 30  at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MANFRED HONECK, conductor
MICHAEL RUSINEK, clarinet

Mason Bates                              Mothership for Orchestra and Electronica

Wolfgang Amadé Mozart            Concerto in A major from Clarinet and Orchestra, K. 622
I.                    Allegro
II.                  Adagio
III.                Rondo: Allegro

Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky                         Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Opus 36
I.                    Andante sostenuto
II.                  Andantino in modo di canzona
III.                Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato
IV.                Finale: Allegro con fucco

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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

PSO Performs Music of Michael Jackson


For Immediate Release
Nov. 21, 2013
PSO PERFORMS MUSIC OF ‘THE KING OF POP’ AT HEINZ HALL


‘The Music of Michael Jackson’ concert is Tuesday, Nov. 27

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) will bring the music of “The King of Pop” to Heinz Hall in a concert of fabulous music spanning 40 years of Michael Jackson's influential and celebrated career.

The concert, “The Music of Michael Jackson,” will begin at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27. Tickets, ranging from $25 to $85, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

From his early years with the Jackson 5 to his mega-hit album, Thriller, and beyond, Michael Jackson stormed the music industry with hit after hit. “The Music of Michael Jackson” takes concertgoers through each era of this storied performer, from ABC, I'll Be There and Got To Be There through Beat It, Thriller, Rock With You, The Way You Make Me Feel and many more hits.

Brent Havens

The PSO will be led by conductor Brent Havens in a program he scored to extend the listening experience of Jackson’s exceptional tunes performed by an orchestra and amplified with a full band and vocals. James Delisco will be the lead vocalist.

Berklee-trained arranger/conductor Brent Havens has written music for orchestras, feature films and virtually every kind of television. His TV work includes movies for networks such as ABC, CBS and The Family Channel, commercials, sports music for networks such as ESPN, and even cartoons. He worked with the Doobie Brothers and the Milwaukee Symphony, arranging and conducting the combined group for Harley Davidson’s 100th Anniversary Birthday Party Finale attended by over 150,000 fans. Havens’ most recent film work includes the score for the film Quo Vadis, a Premier Pictures remake of the 1956 gladiator film. Havens is arranger/guest conductor for five symphonic rock programs – the Music of Led Zeppelin, the Music of Queen, the Music of Pink Floyd, the Music of the Eagles, the Music of The Doors, and the Music of Michael Jackson.
James Delisco

Crowned "The Entertainer" by Wayne Newton himself on the E! Network's reality TV series, James Delisco has proved he is more than worthy of that title. After completing his $1 million contract at the Las Vegas Hilton, where his show opened to rave reviews, Delisco continues to receive critical acclaim in every market and venue on his recent world-wide tour. An iconoclastic showroom performer, Delisco emanates old-school charm with contemporary charisma. He has crafted his own style of music he calls RaGaBaR, a synthesis of the elements of 20th century music such as Rhythm and Blues, Gospel, Rock and Ragtime. He plays to sold out audiences everywhere he appears.

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Contact: James Barthen, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4835 | email: jbarthen@pittsburghsymphony.org

Contact: Ramesh Santanam, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: rsantanam@pittsburghsymphony.org
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration with the PSO



IRISH SENSATION ‘CELTIC WOMAN’ JOINS PSO FOR SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

PITTSBURGH – Following a sold-out concert last year, the enchanting Irish music sensation Celtic Woman returns by popular demand to Heinz Hall to join the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for two special Christmas concerts in December.

The concerts, “Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration with the PSO,” will be at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 3, and Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Heinz Hall.

Tickets, ranging from $40 to $125, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412.392.4900, or visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org. Prices are subject to change.


Celtic Woman performs holiday favorites underscored by the stirring sound of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. This holiday spectacular presents a dazzling live music experience that showcases the dynamic voices of Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, Susan McFadden, along with vibrant inventiveness from Celtic Violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.

Some of these Christmas classics and more can also be heard on Celtic Woman’s new holiday album, Home For Christmas.  Since Celtic Woman’s inception in 2004, the unique ensemble has emerged as a spectacular commercial success and a genuine cultural phenomenon thanks to their evocative, uplifting music. The group’s albums and DVDs have gone multi-platinum, sold more than 7 million units worldwide (including their 2012 project BELIEVE), notched two Top 10 album debuts on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart and four Top 5 releases on the Top DVD Music Video chart. The group has sold more than 2.2 million concert tickets. All seven Celtic Woman album releases have debuted at the top of the Billboard World Music Chart.

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

JEWISH LES MISERABLES STAR TO HOLD CONCERT IN PITTSBURGH






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 November 20, 2012

CONTACT:
 George Hazimanolis
 412-622-1366
 ghazimanolis@wqed.org
David "Dudu" Fisher

JEWISH LES MISERABLES STAR TO HOLD CONCERT IN PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH—David “Dudu” Fisher’s (best known for his role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway) Dudu Fisher: in Concert from Israel will premiere Monday, November 26 at 8 p.m. on WQED-TV.

This program is a collection of Broadway tunes and traditional and contemporary Israeli songs performed by Dudu at the Beit Sha’an amphitheater in Israel including selections from: Les Miserables; Fiddler on the Roof; Exodus and Yentl (“Papa Can You Hear Me?”); Hatikvah (the Israeli national anthem); and Kol Nidrei (a traditional Jewish prayer and cantorial melody.

David "Dudu" Fisher
Dudu will perform in concert Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh. Tickets are available exclusively from WQED and can be obtained by calling 1-800-232-8813 or by going online to www.wqed.org/support/.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Rick Sebak Celebrates 25 Year Anniversary


RICK SEBAK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AT WQED PITTSBURGH
Specials, contests and an app to honor Pittsburgh's favorite documentarian this November



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 November 12, 2012

CONTACT:
 George Hazimanolis
 412-622-1366
 ghazimanolis@wqed.org

RICK SEBAK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS AT WQED PITTSBURGH
 Specials, contests and an app to honor Pittsburgh’s favorite documentarian this November

PITTSBURGH --WQED will honor popular producer Rick Sebak with special programming, contests and an app this November for 25 years of documenting all things Pittsburgh.

 “Rick Sebak is Pittsburgh. His ability to show us the best our region has to offer makes everyone proud to call this place home,” said Deborah L. Acklin, WQED’s President and CEO. “WQED is truly fortunate to have someone who loves and appreciates this city as much as our viewers do.”

WQED will air the following programs by and about Rick Sebak in November:

On Sunday, November 18 at noon on WQED-TV watch It’s Pittsburgh & A Lot of Other Stuff: Best of Season One and revisit the people, places and things Rick covered during the show’s first season in 2010.

On Monday, November 26 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV producer Pierina Morelli profiles Rick with a new EXPERIENCE episode.

• What Makes Rick Tick?
Rick Sebak’s award-winning documentaries have entertained and educated local and national viewers for 25 years. Take a look at Rick’s history, his memorable programs and some of the stories behind them, hear about what inspires him, and hear from his colleagues and fans as they share their thoughts on his appealing and timeless body of work.

Sebak himself also produced a new documentary for the occasion called, 25 Things I Like About Pittsburgh that premieres Thursday, November 29 at 8 p.m. on WQED-TV.

• 25 Things I Like About Pittsburgh
 Rick’s newest documentary to celebrate his 25th anniversary at WQED looks at 25 things he likes about Pittsburgh – not his top 25, just 25 aspects of living here that surprise and delight him and make him happy to be a Pittsburgher. “Because the word ‘I’ is in the title, I’m allowing myself to be a bit more personal,” said Rick recently. “I’m trying to cover an assortment of stuff from retaining walls and short cuts to the love that people feel for their houses and neighborhoods. Of course, we’ll also celebrate fish sandwiches at Emil’s in Rankin and other tasty treats.” This program was underwritten in part by The Buhl Foundation and PNC.

The program will also be streamed LIVE from 8-9 p.m. at www.wqed.org and encore Friday, November 30 at 1 a.m. and Sunday, December 2 at noon on WQED-TV. Viewers are invited to let WQED know what they think of the specials, share what their favorite Sebak programs or congratulate Rick by using hashtag #SEBAK25 with posts and tweets on Facebook® and Twitter®. Those with mobile phones can participate in register-to-win DVD giveaways and receive special messages regarding the anniversary by texting SEBAK25 to 94253.

This past summer Rick’s image became a local icon of sorts when it went viral with an iPhone application called Yinztagram that took iconic Pittsburgh images like a Primanti’s sandwich, the Duquesne Incline and Rick’s torso and made it possible to “add a little Pittsburgh to your photos.” For a limited time, WQED is partnering with Matt Pegula (who developed the app) to offer new images of Rick for Yinztagram users. The new images include one of Rick donning a Santa suit and picture of Rick eating a plate of breakfast food while shooting his latest PBS special called Breakfast Special 2: Revenge of the Omelets, which premieres on stations nationwide (and on WQED-TV) Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) at 8 p.m.

Since 1987, Rick has produced more than 50 local and national television programs about Pittsburgh, the surrounding area and numerous All-American subjects like amusement parks, cemeteries, farmers markets, hot dogs, and ice cream. A native of Bethel Park, Rick was nominated for two prime-time Emmy® Awards for his work on Fred Rogers: America’s Favorite Neighbor. He has received numerous local awards and recognitions, including ten regional Emmy® Awards and an honorary doctorate from Seton Hill University.

All the programs in the Pittsburgh History Series, It’s Pittsburgh & A Lot Of Other Stuff: Best of Season One, and 25 Things I Like About Pittsburgh are available on DVD from SHOP WQED by calling 1-800-274-1307 or online at www.shopwqed.org.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Pgh Opera's Auld Lang Syne Gala and Concert


For Immediate Release      November 15, 2012

Contact: Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera rings in 2013 with Auld Lang Syne IV
What:       Pittsburgh Opera’s Auld Lang Syne IV, a New Year’s Eve Gala and Concert

When:       Monday, December 31:
                   6:30 PM VIP cocktail reception with Maestro Walker
                   7:30 PM dinner in the Grand Foyer
                   9:30 PM concert in the Music Hall; New Year’s celebration following          

Where:     Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland: 4400 Forbes Avenue, 15213

Tickets:      $75 (concert only) - $500 (VIP Package). Call Samuel Badger
                 at 412-281-0912, x 225, or visit www.pittsburghopera.org
         
Pittsburgh, PA… A concert of Viennese bonbons with Music Director Antony Walker and the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra anchors this new favorite year-end event in the Pittsburgh social scene. Featuring numbers such as Strauss’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” and “Thunder and Lightning Polka” as well as selections from Lehar’sThe Merry Widow and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, the concert also showcases the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists. The evening begins with a VIP cocktail reception, continues with dinner, and concludes with a New Year’s party after the concert, with dancing to the music of Finesse, all in Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. Pittsburgh Opera Board members Rose M. Kutsenkow and Roseanne Wholey serve as chairs of this year’s event.

Tickets start at $75 for the concert only. The $500 VIP Package includes cocktails, dinner, concert, party, and valet parking. Tables of eight are available for $3500. For information or tickets, call Samuel Badger: 412-281-0912, x 225 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.
Auld Lang Syne IV: New Year’s Eve Gala is generously supported by Kathy White and other Opera benefactors.

Photo: scenes from Auld Lang Syne III at Carnegie Music Hall on December 31, 2011. Shown are Music Director Antony Walker (background, with orchestra);   front left to right, Resident Artists Stephanie Lauricella, Adam Fry, Alexandra Loutsion, and Suzanne Vinnik. Photo by David Bachman.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2012-2013 season continues a 74-year tradition of excellence in opera. As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2012-2013 season again start at $10.

2012-2013 Season
Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto January 26, 29; February 1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February 22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

Single tickets for as little as $10
Subscriptions for as little as $22
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Passport to Brownsville Program Announced


Sara Goots
BARC Americorps Participant
work: (724)-785-9331
cell: (216)-272-4611
manager@barcpa.org
www.barcpa.org

PRESS RELEASE

This year's annual Brownsville Light-Up Night is shaping up to be one of the biggest events the town has seen in recent memory.  On November 23, Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Nemacolin Castle, after leading a parade from the Hiller Fire Hall,through the Greater Brownsville Area and ending at the castle grounds.  Along with the Chamber of Commerce's time honored event, there will be a new addition this year; local business owner Brianne and Mitch Mitchell are hosting horse-drawn carriage rides, a petting zoo, and carolers at Mitchell's Cafe. Additionally, contests for cookie decorating,gingerbread houses, and hand-decorated ornaments will be judged at Mitchell's Café.

BARC will join in the festivities by keeping the Heritage Center Museum and Gift Shop, as well as the Frank L. Melega Art Museum, open to the public from 5 until 9 PM. On the lower level, an art exhibit at Jeff Jones'Capture, Inc. Gallery will be featuring art from Brownsville Area High School students and three local artists, Bethany Anderson, Joe Materkowski, and Jeff Jones.

In order to bring all these events together and support our community, Mitchell's Cafe has partnered with BARC and several local organizations on our Passport to Brownsville Program. Eight locations that will be open to visitors during Light-Up Night are highlighted and mapped on a "passport."  Visitors will receive a stamp when they visit any of these locations.  Any passport turned in with five or more stamps will enter into a drawing for a gift basket filled with jewelry, gift cards, and other prizes.  Passports will be available at the following locations: Nemacolin Castle, Flatiron Heritage Center, Frank L. Melega Art Museum, Capture Inc., Mitchell's Café, Brownsville Free Public Library, Nonna's Trunk, and the offices of Team Humanity.Passports can be turned in at the Flatiron Building or Mitchell's Café.

Please stop by Brownsville and join us for the festivities! The Light-Up Night celebration will be held from 4-10pm.   Please call the BARC offices at 724-785-9331or Mitchell's Café at 724-364-7001 for any further details.
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

WQED Holiday Programming Announced


WQED OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Holiday listings for WQED-TV, Classical WQED-FM 89.3 & SHOP WQED


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 November 19, 2012

CONTACT:
 George Hazimanolis
 412-622-1366
 ghazimanolis@wqed.org


WQED OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

PITTSBURGH—This December, WQED will celebrate the holiday season by offering an abundance of programs for viewers of WQED-TV, listeners of Classical WQED-FM 89.3 and resources on WQED Interactive at wqed.org.

These will include traditional and first time programs that will allow people of all ages to enjoy the holidays. From the premiere of PBS’s brand new children’s Christmas program, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas! to traditional favorites like Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas and Arthur’s Perfect Christmas, children will find something to keep them interested. Of course, we won’t just be airing children’s programs this holiday season; there is plenty for the more seasoned viewers as well. For the mature audience, we have Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone which explores the wonders of nature blanketed in a winter snowfall. An annual tradition returns with Rick Sebak’s Happy Holidays in Pittsburgh. Classical WQED-FM 89.3 also has an exciting lineup for sharing the holidays with family and friends.

A complete rundown of WQED’S holiday offerings is attached.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 134 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Holiday Brown Bag Concert


For Immediate Release        November 19, 2012

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera spreads holiday joy in annual family-friendly Brown Bag concert December 8

What:           Family-Friendly Holiday Brown Bag concert

Who:            Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists

Where:         Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue

When:          Saturday, December 8, 12 pm – 1 pm. Doors open at 11:30 am.

Tickets:         Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

Parking:        Ample parking available on Penn Avenue or in surface lots in the Strip

Pittsburgh, PA… For the past four holiday seasons, Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists have surprised and delighted audiences at the December Brown Bag concert with breathtaking renditions of holiday classics like “O Holy Night” as well as unexpected charmers such as “It must have been the mistletoe” and “Snow” from the film White Christmas. The concert is free and open to the public, and guests are encouraged to bring a friend and a lunch; there will be goodie bags and activities for the kids. Doors open at 11:30. No reservations are required except handicapped parking requests. For more information, call 412-281-0912, x 0 (zero) or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2012-2013 season continues a 74-year tradition of excellence in opera. As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2012-2013 season again start at $10.

2012-2013 Season
Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto January 26, 29; February 1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February 22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

Single tickets for as little as $10; season subscriptions for as little as $22.
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Moliere's Wit with Modern Sensibilities


Media Contact: Michelle Belan
Marketing Director Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre mbelan@picttheatre.org
412-561-6000 x203


PICT’S THE SCHOOL FOR LIES ADAPTS MOLIERE’S WIT FOR A HILARIOUS COMEDY WITH MODERN SENSIBILITIES.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pittsburgh, PA – November 13, 2012. David Ives’  The School for Lies honors the comedic and linguistic mastery of Moliere’s The Misanthrope in a hip, hilarious update that exploits the English language to the maximum. The School for Lies features an ensemble cast led by Leo Marks as Frank, Nike Doukas as Celimene, Joel Ripka as Philinte and Robin Abramson, making her PICT debut as Eliante. Also starring Martin Giles as Oronte, Helena Ruoti as Arsinoe, Ben Blazer as Acaste, James FitzGerald as Clitander, and Matt DeCaro as Dubois/Basque. This ribald comedy opens in preview November 29th and runs through December 15th.

With a nod to Moliere, The School for Lies portrays the life of Frank, a disillusioned curmudgeon who decides to tell the absolute truth at all times, no matter the consequences.  As Frank insults nearly everyone he meets — the pompous poet Oronte, the heartsick Philinte, the pandering Clitander — he stays true to his convictions.  His resolve begins to waver, however, once he meets beautiful artistocrat Celimene, who is more than a match for his rapier wit. Will Frank continue his commitment to absolute truthfulness, or will love soften his resolve?

Frank is played with rock-star bravado by PICT veteran Leo Marks, who, like many of The School for Lies cast members,  spent the summer in Pittsburgh for PICT’s Chekhov Celebration.  He played  Baron Tuzenbach (Three Sisters), and Dr. Lvov (Ivanov), and as Luka in the Funny Chekhov short, “The Bear” he played opposite his wife and current co-star Nike Doukas. Mr. Marks also directed the Funny Chekhov short “Swan Song.” Other PICT credits include The Importance of Being Earnest, House and Garden, and Antony and Cleopatra. Mr. Marks has performed to critical acclaim around the country at theaters including Berkeley Rep, Seattle Rep, D.C.’s Shakespeare Theatre, and South Coast Rep. He was a founder of New York’s Elevator Repair Service and is a member of LA companies Evidence Room and Antaeus. TV work includes “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Prison Break,” “K-Ville,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “Law and Order,” “Six Feet Under,” “NYPD Blue,” “The Practice,” “Frasier,” and “Gilmore Girls.”

Nike Doukas returns to PICT, where she last appeared in the this summer’s Chekhov Celebration, as Olga in Three Sisters, Anna in Ivanov, and as Popova in Funny Chekhov’s “The Bear.”  Previous PICT credits include House and Garden, the Pinter Festival ("Betrayal" and "Celebration");  Mrs. Cheveley  in An Ideal
Husband. She is a member of the Antaeus Company, and has an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre. She is also a regular at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Southern California, most recently in the world premieres of The Prince of Atlantis and The Happy Ones. Ms. Doukas is the recipient of the 2011 Lunt-Fontanne fellowship and is widely known for her recurring role on "Desperate Housewives."

James FitzGerald (Clitander) rejoins his fellow cast members from Funny Chekhov’s “The Bear.” He played Nikita in “Swan Song” and Pyotr in Ivanov. Mr. FitzGerald has numerous credits with PICT as well as Pittsburgh Public Theater, Quantum Theater and Bricolage, and has performed 16 seasons with Chicago Shakespeare Theater as well as many other nationally-acclaimed theatres. James teaches acting at Point Park University.

Martin Giles (Oronte) is in his eleventh season with PICT, most recently as Lebedev in Ivanov and Andrei in Afterplay, both part of PICT’s Chekhov Celebration. His turn as Dr. Watson in last season’s The Mask of Moriarty helped make that show one of PICT’s highest grossing shows ever. Other PICT credits: House and Garden and The Importance of Being Earnest (2011); Beautiful Dreamers (playwright/director, 2010); What the Butler Saw and The History Boys (2009). Mr. Giles teaches acting at Point Park and Carnegie Mellon Universities.

Helena Ruoti (Arsinoe) finishes her sixth season with PICT. She played Zinaida Lebedev in Ivanov and Sonya in Afterplay, both a part of the Chekhov Celebration this past summer. Previous PICT credits include Trish in House and Garden, Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra, Isabel Desmond in The Seagull, Getrude in Hamlet, Hesione in Heartbreak House, Goneril in King Lear, Mrs. Prentiss in What the Butler Saw, and Eleanor/Esme in Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Matt DeCaro (Dubois/Basque) returns to PICT after Chekhov Celebration as well, where he played Borkin in Ivanov and Chubokov in the Funny Chekhov’s “The Proposal.” His previous PICT credits also include The Lieutenant of Inishmore and King Lear. He recently potrayed Gutman in Camino Real at Chicago’s Goodman Theater, and has performed with this company in The Play About the Baby, Romance, Heartbreak House, Boy Gets Girl and Spinning Into Butter, reprising his roles in the last two at Lincoln Center and The Manhattan Theater Club. Additional credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theater, Northlight Theater, and TV credits for “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “House,” “CSI: Las Vegas,” and perhaps most notably, as Officer Geary in “Prison Break.”

Joel Ripka (Philinte), who earned his BFA at Point Park University, returns to Pittsburgh and the PICT stage, where he performed in the world premiere of Beautiful Dreamers, as well as Jane Eyre, Crime & Punishment, Pride and Prejudice, The School for Scandal, and Henry. Other local credits include  The Clockmaker, Mezzulah, 1946 (The City Theater); Harry's Friendly Service, Amadeus (Pittsburgh Public Theater); Cymbaline, Le Grande Meaulnes, The Wild Duck (Quantum Theatre); Ah, Wilderness!, The Real Thing, FBI Girl, A View From The Bridge, Hamlet, One Flea Spare, King Lear (Pittsburgh Repertory Company). Mr. Ripka now resides in New York City.

Robin Abramson, also a Point Park alumna, makes her PICT debut as Eliante. Ms. Abramson was most recently seen at City Theatre in Maple & Vine. Her work in Blackbird and Mary’s Wedding (both at City Theatre) earned her the 2009 Performer of the Year award from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the youngest performer to receive such an honor. Other noteworthy credits include: The Electric Baby, When the Rain Stops Falling, and Twelfth Night (Quantum); Othello (Unseam’d Shakespeare Company); FBI Girl (Playhouse Rep) and Orange Flower Water (No Name Players).

Ben Blazer (Acaste) is returning for his 5th season with PICT, previously appearing in The Mask of Moriarty, Othello, Playboy of the Western World & Synge Cycle, and Henry IV, parts I&II. Mr. Blazer is a native of Pittsburgh and has worked with several local companies over the years as an actor, director, and scenic carpenter. Ben holds an MFA in Acting from the University of South Carolina and is currently teaching at Point Park University and CCAC South Campus Theatre’s actor training programs, at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

Scenic design is by Gianni Downs, costumes by Joan Markert, sound composition by Elizabeth Atkinson, and lighting design by Andrew Ostrowski.

The 2012 Media Sponsors are WYEP and Essential Public Radio. Single tickets and flex passes are available now through PICT’s new online ticketing system at www.picttheatre.org, or by calling PICT at 412.561.6000 ext. 207 (phone fee may apply). Patrons are welcome to email tickethelp@picttheatre.org with questions or concerns.

PICT receives arts funding support through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, an agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as funding from the Allegheny County Regional Assets District.

The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre was founded in 1996 to diversify the region’s theatrical offerings by providing Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania audiences with high-quality, text-driven, affordable productions of classical theatre and the works of classical and contemporary Irish playwrights and to significantly improve employment opportunities for local talent in all facets of theatrical presentation and production.  PICT is a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, and a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. PICT is the Professional Theatre in Residence at the University of Pittsburgh and PICT productions at The Charity Randall and Henry Heymann Theatres are presented in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh – Department of Theatre Arts.

Pittsburgh Premiere

FACT SHEET -  The School for Lies by David Ives

Directed by Andrew S. Paul
The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial
4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cast: Robin Abramson, Ben Blazer, Matt DeCaro, Nike Doukas, James FitzGerald, Martin Giles, Leo Marks, Joel
Ripka, Helena Ruoti.

Design Team: Gianni Downs (scenic design); Joan Markert (costume design); Andrew Ostrowski (lighting design); Elizabeth Atkinson (sound design); George DeShetler (properties)

Performances
First Week: Wednesday, November 28, 10:00 a.m. - Student Matinee
Thursday – Friday, November 29-30, Previews, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 1, Opening, 8:00 p.m. (followed by reception)
Sunday, December 2, 2:00 p.m. (followed by talk-back)

Second Week: Wednesday, December 5, 8:00 p.m. (Pre-show lecture at 7 p.m. Lecture is free.) Thursday, December 6, 8:00 p.m. (Pre-show lecture at 7 p.m. Lecture is free.) Friday, December 7, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 8, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 9, 2:00 p.m.

Third Week: Tuesday, December 11, 7:00 p.m. (Professional Tuesday performance) Wednesday, December 12, 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, December 13, 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 14, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

For student matinees, call 412-561-6000: Gale McGloin (x. 204) or Michelle Belan (x. 203)


2013 Season subscriptions now available – call 412-561-6000 ext. 207 or email tickethelp@picttheatre.org

Pick, purchase and print your tickets online at www.picttheatre.org, or call PICT at 412.561.6000 x. 207
PICT - Great Stories. Well Told.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2012                                                      

Liz Fetchin                                                                                  Meghan McNamara
Director of Marketing and Communications                                 Marketing Coordinator
412-441-4442 x3801                                                                      412-454-9117
lfetchin@phipps.conservatory.org                                                 mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org




Phipps and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Celebrate the Season with Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes
Evening of Dance and Botanical Delights Features Excerpts from The Nutcracker and Winter Flowers

Pittsburgh, Pa.—Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) are pleased to combine two Pittsburgh traditions on Friday, November 30, for Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes —a special family-friendly event bringing the magic of The Nutcracker ballet to the public garden’s 1893 glasshouse.



Inviting guests to “come home for the holidays” with colorful poinsettias, elaborate wreaths and a Victorian hearth, Phipps’ festive Winter Flower Show will complement a sampling of ballet vignettes—including the Sugarplum Pas de Deux—from PBT’s annual performance of Terrence S. Orr’s The Nutcracker. One of ballet’s most cherished stories, this classic with an iconic score by Tchaikovsky has enchanted audiences since its 1892 premiere in Russia—one year before Henry Phipps opened his conservatory in Pittsburgh. Each year, PBT brings the magic of The Nutcracker to our city, drawing inspiration from local landmarks, vistas and traditions.

This season, two sessions of Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes will be offered with performances at 6 and 7:30 p.m. A meet and greet with the Sugarplum Fairy—as well as other costumed dancers—will serve as the perfect ending to each show. Registered guests can also get into the holiday spirit by exploring Phipps’ Winter Flower Show and new Winter Light Garden, an outdoor wonderland with glowing orbs, “dripping” snowballs, luminous trees and a fountain of light. Café Phipps will be open too, serving wine and other themed fare.

Poinsettias and Pointe Shoes costs $25.75 for adults and $12.75 for children, and includes an exclusive 50-percent off ticket special to attend PBT’s full-length performance of The Nutcracker at the Benedum Center. Reservations are required and can be made by visitingwww.pbt.org/events or calling 412-454-9107.

Finally, Phipps and PBT are thrilled to present Saturdays with the Sugarplum at 10:30 a.m. on December 15 and 22. These 30-minute creative movement dance classes and story time sessions with the Sugarplum Fairy held at Phipps are perfect for children all ages. These events are open to the public and free with Phipps admission, which is $12 for adults; $11 for students and seniors; $9 for children 2-18; and free for members and children under 2. All participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes in which they can easily move.

ABOUT PHIPPS
Established in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa. stands as an eco-champion among America’s 500 public gardens with a mission to inspire and educate visitors with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and worldwide biodiversity through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.


Winter Flower Show and Winter Light Garden (Nov. 23, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013)
Starting on November 23, 2012, Phipps invites the public to “come home for the holidays” as the guests of honor at Winter Flower Show, one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved family traditions. And, beginning on November 25, a brand new outdoor Winter Light Garden exhibit will shine with scores of whimsical LED light forms, adding even more enchantment to the public garden’s spectacular seasonal displays. Winter Flower Show, designed by Bob Vukich, and Winter Light Garden, designed by studio i, run through January 6, 2013 and will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. as of November 25. Visit Phipps online for November 23 and 24 show hours. (Note: Phipps will close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and reopen at 9:30 a.m. on December 26).

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh