Dreamweaver Marketing Associates News and Views: October 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Turn of the Screw at The New Hazlett Theater

Prime Stage Theatre Opens Season With A Ghost Story
Turn of the Screw hits the Stage at The New Hazlett Theater

PITTSBURGH – Prime Stage Theatre is excited to open its 2013-2014 season with Turn of the Screw, adapted by Jeffery Hatcher, from the novella by Henry James.

Directed by Joe Warik, Turn of the Screw is “a total theatrical experience, a challenge for the imagination.” An old English Manor House is filled with secrets, strange movements flicker in the underbrush, unidentifiable cries are heard in the moonlight, and abrupt coldness and breezes touch your imaginations. Do the ghosts haunt the children? Or is it just her imagination?

The lead of the Governess will be played by Lissa Brennan. Brennan is an actor, director and playwright. She was most recently seen in Don Juan Comes Home From The War and The Vibrator Play with Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre.

George Saulnier will play the narrator, Uncle, Mrs. Grose and the boy, Miles. He recently made his Pittsburgh debut in Same Time, Next Year at the South Park Theater, directed by Wayne Brinda.

The performance will run from Nov. 2-10 at The New Hazlett Theater, with a preview performance on Friday, Nov. 1.

Following the 8 pm performance on Nov. 8, join us for the premiere event of 2nd Stage at Prime Stage. Celebrate the 45th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead with readings of tales of terror hosted by David Crawford as the master of the macabre himself, Edgar Allan Poe.

Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

For more information on the season or to buy tickets, visit www.primestage.com.

Like us on Facebook (Prime Stage Theatre) and follow us on Twitter @prime_stage.
Our mission is to entertain, educate and enrich families, students, and educators in the discovery of live theatre and literature.

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Samantha Stonebraker
Social Media Manager
sstonebraker@primestage.com

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

Sam Shepard's True West at The O'Reilly

Contact Margie Romero, Communications Manager at Pittsburgh Public Theater
412.316.8200 ext. 707 or mromero@ppt.org

The Public’s MASTERPIECE SEASON Continues with

True West

Pamela Berlin directs maverick American playwright Sam Shepard’s rowdiest work about two battling brothers at the edge of the desert.

PITTSBURGH (October 22, 2013) Pittsburgh Public Theater’s MASTERPIECE SEASON continues with a brand-new staging of Sam Shepard’s most famous play, True West. Directed by Pamela Berlin (last season’s Clybourne Park), True West runs Nov. 7 – Dec. 8, 2013 at the O’Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s home in the heart of Downtown’s Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.

Ken Barnett as Austin

True West debuted in 1980 at San Francisco’s Magic Theater. In the play, Austin (Ken Barnett) comes to his mother’s house in southern California to water her plants while she’s away on vacation. He’s left his wife and kids up north while he works on his screenplay and gets ready to meet with Saul (Dan Shor), a Hollywood producer. Austin’s solitude is shattered when his long-lost brother Lee (David Mogentale), a drifter and thief, shows up unexpectedly. Soon Lee announces that he, too, can write a movie. This role reversal leads to an epic battle filled with action, humor, and famously, dozens of slices of toast. When Mom (Mary Rawson) returns, she hardly recognizes either her house or her sons. Described as Sam Shepard’s most accomplished play, True West reflects on authenticity, myths of the American desert, and what it means to be a real man.

David Mogentale as Lee

The design team for Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production is Michael Schweikardt (Scenic), Michael Krass (Costumes), John Lasiter (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound).Randy Kovitz is the Fight Director. Casting is by McCorkle Casting. Fred Noel is the Production Stage Manager; Kelly Haywood is the Assistant Stage Manager.

About the Playwright
Sam Shepard, now age 70, has been described as the greatest playwright of his generation. He has written almost 50 plays as well as numerous books of poetry. In addition to True West, his most famous plays include Buried Child (Pulitzer Prize), Curse of the Starving Class, Tooth of Crime, Fool for Love, Lie of the Mind, and Cowboy Mouth. Shepard is also a screen actor who received an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Right Stuff. He will appear in the upcoming films Out of This Furnace and August: Osage County and also on the Discovery Channel’s first scripted mini-series, “Klondike.”

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents
True West
November 7 – December 8, 2013
Performance Schedule
Tues. at 7 pm; Wed. thru Sat. at 8 pm
Sat. at 2 pm (except Nov. 9 & 16) also 2 pm on Thurs., Dec. 5
Sun. at 2 & 7 pm (except Sun., Dec. 8 when the final performance is at 2 pm)
There will be no performance on Thanksgiving, Thurs., Nov. 28
Press Night is Thursday, Nov. 14. Opening Night is Friday, Nov. 15.
Ticket Prices: $23 to $55. Students and age 26 and younger $15.75 with valid ID.
For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org

Threaded Colors//Drawing Lines at 707 Penn Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST PRESENTS
THE VISUAL ART EXHIBITION
THREADED COLORS // DRAWING LINES

November 15–December 31, 2013 | 707 Penn Gallery

Pittsburgh, PA—The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the presentation of an exhibition of three-dimensional drawing, threaded colors // drawing lines by artist Nicole Czapinski. The exhibition is on view at 707 Penn Gallery in the Cultural District November 15–December 31, 2013.

Threaded Colors//Drawing Lines
Image Courtesy of the Artist

Czapinski constructs wooden frames enclosed by sheer fabric, creating semi-transparent, two-sided screens. Varicolored thread is woven between the two fabric panels, effectively creating three-dimensional drawings of polygons that appear to float in space. Through backlighting the structured string and sheer fabric, the negative space within the frames becomes palpable. The work—an exploration of sculpture, painting, and drawing—investigates perception.

Nicole Czapinski, a Pittsburgh native, graduated with a bachelor of arts from Bennington College in Vermont. She has held solo exhibitions in Pittsburgh and has been included in group shows throughout the northeastern United States. Best know for her lightbox constructions, Czapinski currently resides in San Francisco, California.

About 707 Penn Gallery
707 Penn Gallery is a project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. The gallery is located at 707 Penn Avenue, in downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. Gallery Hours: Wed. & Thurs. 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun.11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information about all gallery exhibitions featured in the Cultural District, please visit www.TrustArts.org.

About The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Cultural Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.

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WQED Presents Live Forum Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys

PORTRAYAL AND PERCEPTION: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS
Multi-Part Series to Encore in Advance of New Episode and Live Forum on November 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 2, 2013

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

PORTRAYAL AND PERCEPTION: AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN & BOYS
Multi-Part Series to Encore in Advance of New Episode and Live Forum on November 14

PITTSBURGH -- Building on the success of last year’s Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys initiative, WQED will continue sharing the many stories of African American men and boys who are accomplished members of the community throughout western Pennsylvania.

Past episodes of Portrayal and Perception: African American Men & Boys will re-air on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. starting October 1 through November 11.

• 10/1 – “Owning It”: Michael Bartley shows how local African American entrepreneurs, often overlooked by commercial media, are not only experiencing financial success, they are inspiring future business leaders.
• 10/8 – “Pitch Perfect”: Minette Seate profiles leaders and members of Pittsburgh's Afro American Music Institute, which goes beyond teaching music to foster a culture of pride and community responsibility.

• 10/15 – “Game Changers”: Chris Moore reveals how One Hood Media combats negative images by urging young men to define themselves using available media, rather than allowing others to do it for them.
• 10/22 – “Teaching Success”: How do you teach an African American boy to become a leader? "Teaching Success" looks at three different on ramps to the road to success: a program for young entrepreneurs and one of its star pupils; the commitment of African American educators at Pittsburgh's Manchester K-8 school on the North Side; and, the Black Male Leadership Development Institute, a seven-day leadership training collaboration between Robert Morris University and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
• 10/29 – “Media Men”: Focusing on communications careers, featured profiles include: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman; WQED/PCNC/KDKA Radio host Chris Moore; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review photographer Sidney Davis; and social media networker Alex Simmons.
• 11/6 – “Journey to Medicine”: Following middle school students, medical school students and seasoned professional physicians, this episode looks at local black males who are pursuing careers in medicine.
• 11/11 – “The New Trailblazer”: After the turbulent 1960s and 70s, the torch has been passed to a new generation of leadership in Pittsburgh’s African American community. Featuring attorney Blaine Jones and Pennsylvania Representative Ed Gainey, this program shows how they are making their mark in law and politics and offers perspective from those who once walked in their shoes.

On Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. “Have You Ever Considered Teaching?” premieres. This episode encourages African American males to explore a teaching career. For the past twenty years there has been a steady decline of black males in the profession.

Immediately following LIVE at 8 p.m. will be Portrayal & Perception: A Community Forum. During the broadcast, western Pennsylvania community leaders, activists and concerned citizens will discuss how the media portrays African American males and how society views them as a result. The broadcast will engage a studio audience as well as people commenting via social media. The forum is the culmination of eight WQED documentaries that reported on people and organizations working to spotlight positive rather than negative images of black men.

As part of the partnership with BMe (which piloted projects in Philadelphia and Detroit to highlight black males engaging with and leading others in service to their communities), WQED plans to identify and recognize local men and boys who are serving Pittsburgh’s communities with an awards ceremony in 2014. Over 200 stories about Pittsburgh men and boys may now be seen at bmecommunity.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. WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains and inspires. 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.wqedfm.org; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).

SPARKLEJOLLYTWINKLEJINGLEY ELF the Musical

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh
Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: 412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: 412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org

ELF THE MUSICAL ANNOUNCES

ITS “SPARKLEJOLLYTWINKLEJINGLEY”

NATIONAL TOUR CAST

Pittsburgh, PA – NETworks Presentations, LLC is pleased to announce casting for the Pittsburgh engagement of ELF THE MUSICAL. The show will play November 26-December 1 at the Benedum Center. Tickets go on sale to the general public on October 18. ELF THE MUSICAL is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

Buddy

The cast will feature Matt Kopec (Buddy), Tyler Altomari (Michael), Jane Bruce (Emily), Jacqueline Grabois (Deb), Gordon Gray (Santa), Kate Hennies (Jovie), Kevin Rockower (Mr. Greenway), Matthew Alan Smith (Walter), and Clyde Voce (Store Manager).

Buddy and Jovie

The cast will also feature Austin Brannan, LilyAnn Carlson, Mara Gabrielle, Timothy Grady, Dan Higgins, Caitlin Leary, Ryan Patrick Lingle, Nick Lorenzini, Kyle McIntire, Elyse Niederee, Jacqueline Nuzzo, Lauren Palmeri, Christopher Timson, Amy Van Norstrand, and Tanner Wilson.

ELF Sparklejolly

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin(The Drowsy Chaperone). The production will feature direction by Sam Scalamoni and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

ABOUT THE SHOW
ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their innerELF.

Christmastown

The New York Times says that ELF is “A SPLASHY, PEPPY, SUGAR-SPRINKLED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT!” USA Todaycalls ELF “ENDEARINGLY GOOFY!” Variety proclaims, “ELF is happy enough for families, savvy enough for city kids and plenty smart for adults!”

Additional information about ELF is available at www.ElfTheMusicalOnTour.com.

TICKETS
The performance schedule is Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $20 and will be available at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by visiting TrustArts.org, or by calling 412-456-4800.
Pre-show lecture: Know The Show Before You Go, will take place on Tuesday, November 26, at 6:30pm, Trust Arts Education Center, 805-807 Liberty Avenue (just around the corner from the Benedum Center) and is free and open to Broadway ticket holders.
To register: visit: http://www.trustarts.org/events/series/pnc-broadway-across-america/know-the-show-before-you-go

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA
A leading Broadway producer and the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America. BAA operates in 40 cities, bringing first-class touring musicals and plays to audiences across the US and Canada in markets such as Costa Mesa, Fort Lauderdale, Tempe, Boston, Minneapolis and New Orleans. As a producer, current and upcoming productions include Million Dollar Quartet, Pippin, Big Fish, Betrayal, Bullets Over Broadway, Little Miss Sunshine and Bull Durham. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. A major catalytic force in the city, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.
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Principal Biographies

MATT KOPEC (Buddy). National tour: Elf The Musical (Buddy, First Nat’l), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Msr. D’Arque), All Shook Up. Regional: Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Joseph... (Butler/Levi), 42nd Street, The Full Monty(Dance Captain). Other favorites include Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy); Lady, Be Good (Bertie Bassett); Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Matt is a proud alumnus of The Muse Machine in Dayton, OH, and holds a BFA in Acting, Musical Theatre from Wright State University.

TYLER ALTOMARI (Michael) is thrilled to be on his first tour! Favorite roles: Oliver (Oliver), Bye Bye Birdie (Randolph), Miracle on 34th St (Tommy Mara). Tyler would like to thank the production team for this opportunity.

JANE BRUCE (Emily) is thrilled to be making her touring debut with the cast of Elf! Previous roles include Jo March (Little Women), Meredith Parker (Bat Boy), and Judy Garland (Beyond the Rainbow). Proud University of Michigan graduate. www.janebrucemusic.com

JACQUELINE GRABOIS (Deb) was last seen in the national/international tours of Avenue Q (Kate Monster), Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle) and Shout! The Mod Musical (Red Girl). Regional: Peter Pan at Northern Stage (Mrs.Darling).Voiceovers: Stage Star Productions (Spring Awakening, The Wizard of Oz, Urinetown). Nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Avenue Q.www.jacquelinegrabois.com

GORDON GRAY (Santa) is delighted to be reprising his role of Santa in Elf for his seventh tour with NETworks. Formerly a professor of Theatre at Barnard College, he has more recently been a “road warrior,” performing in numerous tours of Broadway musicals. Favorite roles include Max in The Sound of Music, Herr Schultz in Cabaret, Strauss in Titanic, and Pop Carnes in Oklahoma. A frequent performer with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare festival, he is also coauthor and director with Isy Monk, of the one woman play and PBS teleplay “We Ain’t What We Was.”

KATE HENNIES (Jovie) spent last Christmas “falling in love with an Elf” and is thrilled to be back! BFA, Millikin University. Credits: Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), Biloxi Blues (Rowena), Shape of Things (Jenny). Many thanks to Sam, Connor, and the Elfteam. www.katehennies.com

KEVIN ROCKOWER (Mr. Greenway). Recent opera roles include Marcello (La Bohème), Germont (La Traviata), and Robert (Iolanta). Kevin has performed at Symphony Space (32nd Bloomsday on Broadway), with Opera Slavica, Regina Opera Company, and with the Gateway Classical Music Society.

Producer Biography
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS, LLC (Producer). Since 1995, NETworks has produced and managed over 55 touring productions in the US., U.K. and internationally. Current productions include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot the Musical, Blue Man Group National Tour, Elf The Musical, Flashdance the Musical, The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, Mary Poppins, Shrek The Musical and National Theatre of Great Britain’s production ofWar Horse. Future productions include Memphis the Musical, We Will Rock You, the musical by Queen and Ben Elton, and Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Wicked Returns to the Benedum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh
Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: 412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust: 412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org

BROADWAY’S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER TO RETURN TO PITTSBURGH

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
* * *

WICKED

BY STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND WINNIE HOLZMAN
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GREGORY MAGUIRE

JANUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 9, 2014 | BENEDUM CENTER

PITTSBURGH, PA – After breaking box office records in 2011, WICKED, Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, will return to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center January 15 through February 9, 2014. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Monday, November 4, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. WICKED is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

Jenn Gambatese & Alison Luff (Photo: Joan Marcus)

“The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to bring back the national tour of WICKED to the Benedum Center in January,” said Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Vice President of Programming, Paul Organisak. “The PNC / Broadway Across America series is the perfect partner with WICKED and it is a pleasure to present, and provides unbridled excitement to audience members, both young and young at heart. Hats off to this timeless treasure of a production. We look forward to seeing our Cultural District teaming with people seeking to journey through this untold story of the witches of Oz.”

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Academy Award®-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…).

John Davidson (Photo: Joan Marcus)

Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED, winner of 50 major awards, including a Grammy® and three Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.

TICKETS
The performance schedule is Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. There will be a special matinee performance on Thursday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets begin at $39 and are available at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by visiting www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-4800. Groups of 20 or more may also purchase tickets in advance by calling 412-471-6930.

ABOUT THE SHOW
Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One – born with emerald-green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Original Broadway Cast

As WICKED approaches its 10th Anniversary this October 30th, there are currently nine productions of the musical worldwide: New York, London, Japan (Tokyo), Australia/New Zealand (Auckland), South Korea (Seoul), Latin America (Mexico City), a U.K. Tour, and two concurrent North American National Tours. Broadway’s #1 show for an unprecedented nine consecutive years, WICKED has been declared “A Cultural Phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly.

Wicked Broadway Company

WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® nominee Kenneth Posner (The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show’s musical director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.

Wicked Touring Company

Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on towww.wickedthemusical.com.

*As a note to all calendar listing editors, the title of the show is WICKED (not WICKED: A New Musical or WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz).

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA
A leading Broadway producer and the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America. BAA operates in 40 cities, bringing first-class touring musicals and plays to audiences across the US and Canada in markets such as Costa Mesa, Fort Lauderdale, Tempe, Boston, Minneapolis and New Orleans. As a producer, current and upcoming productions include Million Dollar Quartet, Pippin, Big Fish, Betrayal, Bullets Over Broadway, Little Miss Sunshine and Bull Durham. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. A major catalytic force in the city, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.
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Rock Rolls Over Kutztown

Rock football team clobbers Kutztown, 58-10

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Slippery Rock University accumulated 611 yards in total offense Saturday afternoon en route to an easy 58-10 win over hosting Kutztown University in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference “crossover” football action.

Barksdale

Senior quarterback Nigel Barksdale led the offensive effort with a 13-for-19, 307-yard, four-touchdown passing effort. Two of Barksdale’s TD tosses went to sophomore wide receiver Jaimire Dutrieuille, who finished the game with 171 pass receiving yards on five catches.

Jaimire Dutrieuille

Behind their lead, The Rock, who won for the second consecutive week and fourth time in five games this fall, collected 423 yards passing and 188 yards passing, while the winless (0-5) Golden Bears had 257 passing yards and only five rushing yards on 24 carries.

Saturday afternoon’s point total marked the fourth time in five games this fall The Rock eclipsed the 50-point mark.

Barksdale and backup QB Zack Newsock (7-of-8, 116 yards, 1 TD) combined to complete passes to 10 different receivers as The Rock continued its season-long pattern of spreading the wealth.

Senior wide receiver John Schademan caught three passes for 89 yards and one TD to complement Dutrieuille’s receiving effort.

The Rock defense picked off Kutztown freshman quarterback Alec Werner three times, sacked him twice and held him to 181 passing yards.

SRU, which had only three INTs in the first four games this fall, also intercepted two pass attempts by the Golden Bears’ backup QB, Josh Luckenbaugh to finish the day with five picks.

Werner, who entered the game ranked ninth nationally in passing yards per game with at 344.5, completed 14 of 39 pass attempts before being pulled early in the third quarter of action. Luckenbaugh was 8-of-15 for 76 passing yards in a relief role.

Kutztown freshman wide receiver Alex Tonnies was held to only two catches for 19 yards Saturday after recording a nation-leading 47 catches for 321 yards and two TDs in the first four games this fall.

SRU will look to ride the momentum of Saturday’s effort into next Saturday’s showdown with nationally-ranked PSAC-Western Division rival Indiana (Pa.). Kickoff at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

The Rock needed only two plays to move 55 yards on the opening drive of Saturday’s game at Kutztown. Barksdale climaxed the drive, which was set up by a 45-yard return of the opening kickoff by senior Jimmy Zubik, with an eight-yard TD toss to Dutrieuille.

The scoring drive marked the fifth time in as many games this fall The Rock scored a TD on their first possession and the fourth time the scoring drive involved two or less plays.

Two Rock possessions later, junior running back Teddy Blakeman capped a six-play, 62-yard Rock scoring drive with a seven-yard TD run that gave SRU a 14-0 lead with 9:32 left in the first quarter.

The Rock defense got the ball right back for the offense four plays later via an interception by redshirt sophomore free safety Derek Morgan, but the attack was unable to do anything with the opportunity.

Kutztown got on the scoreboard two possessions later thanks to a 21-yard field goal that capped a 13-play, 64-yard drive aided by Rock personal-foul penalties on back-to-back plays. Thanks to the penalties, the Golden Bears had the ball first-and-goal at The Rock 6-yardline before spinning their proverbial wheels and settling for the field goal.

The Rock responded with scoring drives on each of their next three offensive possessions to take a 31-3 lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half.

Dutrieuille took a screen pass from Barksdale and rambled 64 yards to the end zone scored the second of his three TDs on the second play from scrimmage after the Kutztown field goal to put icing on a 64-yard scoring drive.

Two Rock possessions later, after junior Mike Wainauskis had converted a five-play, 47-yard drive into points with a 35-yard field goal, Dutrieuille and Barksdale connected for a 75-yard screen-pass TD to cap a two-play, 74-yard drive.

Sandwiched between the first Barksdale-to-Dutrieuille TD pass and the Wainauskis field goal was The Rock defense’s second INT, a pick junior cornerback Admire Carter returned for an apparent TD that was negated by an illegal-block penalty against The Rock.

Four plays after the second Barksdale-to-Dutrieuille TD pass, junior starting free safety Austin Miele recorded The Rock’s third INT, which he successfully returned 22 yards for a TD that gave SRU a 38-3 lead with 7:56 left in the first half.

Senior middle linebacker and co-captain Gary Allen and redshirt backup weakside linebacker Mike Grata each recorded second-half INTs to complete the list of takeaways.

Senior Brian Shaw hooked a 40-yard field attempt wide left on the next Rock possession following the second Barksdale-to-Dutrieuille TD toss before Barksdale concluded the first-half scoring outburst with a four-yard run with just over two minutes left before the intermission.

Barksdale, who played only one series in the second half before giving way to Newsock, finished the first half with 12 completions in 17 pass attempts, 305 passing yards and three passing TDs, while Dutrieuille had all five of his catches in the opening two quarters.

As a team, The Rock enjoyed a 429-175 total offense advantage in the opening two quarters of action.

Barksdale threw his fourth TD pass, a two-yard toss to senior wide receiver LaQuinn Stephens-Howling, on The Rock’s initial second-half possession to extend the Green and White’s lead to 51-3 with 12:45 left in the third period. A bobbled snap from center negated the extra-point attempt following the six-play, 43-yard scoring drive.

Newsock threw his first TD pass of the season on The Rock’s second closing-half possession as he hit Schademan for a 33-yard score that pushed SRU’s lead to 58-3 with 10:24 left in the third period. The TD toss came on the fourth play of a 54-yard Rock drive.

Kutztown got its only touchdown of the game with five minutes left to play, two plays after Newsock lost a fumble at The Rock 1-yard line.

Notes:

The Rock set a school record for points scored in the first five games of a season. This year’s squad has scored 252 points, which bettered the mark of 197 set one year ago … Barksdale ranks sixth on The Rock’s career TDs list with 32, seventh in career passing yards with 3,180, is tied for eighth in single-season TDs with 18, ranks 10th in both career completions (196) and attempts (344) and 12th in season passing yards (1,765) … Schademan moved into a tie for 10th place on the career TDs list, 11th place on the career pass receiving yards chart and 13th place on the career catches chart.

Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Fax: 724.738.4761
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu

Monday, October 28, 2013

PSO Concertmaster Obtains Pedigreed Violin

For Immediate Release: Oct. 16, 2013

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERTMASTER OBTAINS 1732 BERGONZI VIOLIN

PITTSBURGH – What’s in a name? For Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley, it’s a violin with tremendous sound and a historic pedigree.

Bendix-Balgley recently purchased a 1732 Carlo Bergonzi violin from J&A Beare, a dealer in London, after more than a year of searching for a new instrument.

“Everywhere I went, I tried violins—I tried more than 50 top-quality instruments,” Bendix-Balgley said. “This one really intrigued me and spoke to me. It has a unique sound.”

Bergonzi was an Italian luthier (a craftsperson who makes or repairs stringed instruments) and is considered the greatest pupil of Antonio Stradivari. This violin was one of the few Bergonzi made, as the high demand for his repair services as part of Stradivari’s business left him little time to create his own instruments. In fact, only about 55 Bergonzi violins are known to exist today.

Bendix-Balgley’s maple and spruce Bergonzi violin has impressive former owners. Its last was British violinist Nigel Kennedy, and it was owned for nearly 50 years by Margot MacGibbon, a well known British musician renowned for her quartet and involvement with the London Mozart Players. Bendix-Balgley purchased the violin this summer with the assistance of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He played it while in Europe with the symphony during its recent tour of European Festivals.

“I am so happy to be able to purchase an instrument of this quality at this time in my career with the help of the Pittsburgh Symphony,” Bendix-Balgley said.

Bendix-Balgley will perform a solo on the Bergonzi during Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy on Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nikolaj Znaider. This BNY Mellon Grand Classics performance will be the first solo performance for Bendix-Balgley on the Heinz Hall stage since performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in October 2012.

Tickets to “Noah Bendix-Balgley Plays Bruch” (Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.) are available through the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or www.pittsburghsymphony.org.

Noah Bendix-Balgley is a laureate of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and also won third prize and a special prize for creativity at the 2008 Long-Thibaud International Competition in Paris. Bendix-Balgley won the first prize at the 2011 Vibrarte International Music Competition in Paris and was awarded first Prize and a special prize for best Bach interpretation at the 14th International Violin Competition “Andrea Postacchini” in Fermo, Italy. As a soloist, he has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre National de Belgique, I Pomeriggi Musicale of Milan, Orchestre Royal Chambre de Wallonie (Belgium), the Binghamton Philharmonic and the Asheville Symphony (USA). In 2011, Bendix-Balgley was appointed concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. His Pittsburgh debut recital in January 2012 was named the “Best Classical Concert of 2012” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Bendix-Balgley has also performed his own version of The Star-Spangled Banner for solo violin in front of 39,000 fans at the Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day at PNC Park.

He is a passionate and experienced chamber musician and has performed on North American tour with the Miro String Quartet. From 2008 to 2011, he was the 1st violinist of the Munich-based Athlos String Quartet, which won a special prize at the 2009 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Competition in Berlin, and performed throughout Europe. Bendix-Balgley has appeared at numerous festivals in Europe and North America, including the Verbier Festival, Sarasota Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, Brevard Music Center, and Chamber Music Connects the World in Kronberg, Germany. Bendix-Balgley graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Munich Hochschule. He recently joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University School of Music as an artist lecturer and coaches several student string quartets there.

Photo captions:
• The 1732 Bergonzi violin obtained by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley
• Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley performs on his Bergonzi violin at a Music & Wellness event at St. Anna’s Children’s Hospital in Vienna during the symphony’s 2013 European Festivals Tour.
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Contact: Louise Sciannameo, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4866 | email: lsciannameo@pittsburghsymphony.org
Contact: Joyce DeFrancesco, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: jdefrancesco@pittsburghsymphony.org

Behind Our Scenes Photo Exhibit

For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST PRESENTS THE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

BEHIND OUR SCENES

November 8, 2013–January 26, 2014 | SPACE | 812 Liberty Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA—The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the presentation of the photographic exhibition Behind Our Scenes at SPACE in the Cultural District. Guest curated by Jen Saffron, the exhibition features works by five photographic artists exploring the relationship between the two-dimensional form and physical space through photographic installations and constructions. The exhibition is on view November 8, 2013–January 26, 2014.

“This conceptual exhibition of photography explores the fundamental relationship of what cameras really do, which is translate the three-dimensional world into something flat, a two-dimensional world,” says exhibition curator Jen Saffron. “Each photographer explores the tension between the built landscape and flatness through their installations, videos, and photography.”

Jen Saffron is a photographer and writer primarily focused on contemporary issues in documentary photography, exhibiting her own work, teaching, and curating exhibitions in both the United States and abroad. Saffron is the director of communications for the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, currently teaches documentary photography at Grove City College (formerly at the University of Pittsburgh’s Film Studies Program), and writes for Afterimage. She earned a BFA in fine art from Carnegie Mellon University and an MFA in photography from Bard College.

Nancy Andrews is an award winning journalist and the managing editor for the Detroit Free Press. She is a former staff photographer of 10 years for the Washington Post, covering the salient issues of our time. She was the White House Photographer of the Year in 1998, and she was named Newspaper Photographer of the Year by the University of Missouri and the National Press Photographers’ Association in 1997. Andrews is a published author of two books, “Family: a Portrait of Gay and Lesbian America” (1994) and “Partial View: an Alzheimer’s Journal” (1998). Andrews is married to photographer Annie O’Neill.

Leo Hsu’s interests surround the intersection of documentary and fine art photography in contemporary photographic practice. He is a regular contributor to the online magazine Fraction, an independent curator whose projects include HomeFrontLine: Reflections on 10 Years of War Since 9/11, and a former news photographer. Hsu holds a PhD in anthropology from New York University, where his dissertation Hacking Development: How Geeks Do Good in the Digital Age explored nonprofit development organizations formed by technology experts at the end of the 20th century. Hsu is an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

Dennis Marsico’s photographic projects relate physical, mental, and sexual age-sensitive issues. His project Age-Specific was exhibited at the 2013 Armory Shown as part of a special exhibition curated by Eric Shiner of The Andy Warhol Museum. A former engineer, Marsico has been a professional photographer since the late 1970s and spent years as a travel photographer for such publications as The New York Times andTravel & Leisure. He is the author of limited edition artist books, which are included in such collections as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Getty.

Annie O’Neill is a veteran photojournalist for such publications as LIFE Magazine and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and she currently shoots commercial work and personal projects around the world. Her work focuses on capturing the “parade of humanity” at events and importance occasions, such as Oprah’s week-long staff celebration in Hawaii or the Presidential Inauguration. She currently lives and works in both Pittsburgh and Detroit, and she is married to photographer Nancy Andrews.

Barbara Weissberger creates photographic collage and installations with play at the center of her process. She has shown at such venues as PS1/MoMA, New York; DUMBO Art Center, New York; White Columns, New York; Hallwalls, Buffalo; The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, Pittsburgh; Artist Image Resource, Pittsburgh; Artspace, New Haven, CT; Holter Museum, Helena, MT; ADA Gallery, Richmond, VA; and Harnett Museum of Art, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA.

About SPACE
SPACE is located at 812 Liberty Avenue. Gallery Hours: Wed & Thurs: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. SPACE is a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. For more information about all gallery exhibitions featured in the Cultural District, please visit www.TrustArts.org.

About The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.

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Students Sought for First Night Sing-Off

Shaunda Miles, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org
Scott Waitlevertch, Equitable Gas
(412) 395-2314

STUDENT STARS SOUGHT FOR EQUITABLE GAS SING-OFF
AT HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH 2014
CASH AWARDS AVAILABLE FOR WINNER AND SCHOOL MUSIC PROGRAMS

October 18, 2013 (PITTSBURGH, PA) – Equitable Gas Company is searching for musically talented students to audition for the company’s fourth vocal competition celebrating the New Year. The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is part of the upcoming Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and continues the company’s commitment to opening opportunities for young people in greater Pittsburgh.

The winner will perform live as the opening act for the Equitable Gas Marquee Performances at the Benedum Center during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014. In addition the winner will receive a cash prize of $500 and the winner’s school will receive a cash prize of $1,500 designated to the music department, compliments of Equitable Gas Company. Finally, the winner will receive complimentary Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 special edition 20th anniversary admission buttons.

Similar to a number of talent shows currently popular on television, students from grades 6 through 12 who are affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania may submit a video audition performance of a song that conveys the spirit of the New Year. Individual students and groups of 20 or fewer should upload a video up to 5 minutes in length to YouTube, and then submit it to the Equitable Gas Sing-Off contestant page on the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 website. Additional contest information and the entry form are available on the Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 website, TrustArts.org/FirstNightPgh. The application deadline is November 15, 2013.

“Now in its fourth year, the Equitable Gas Sing-Off provides students an opportunity to showcase their musical talents,” said Bill Lucas, President of Equitable Gas. “Last year’s record number of applications demonstrates there are many talented young people in greater Pittsburgh waiting to be discovered or looking for that first big break. The Equitable Gas Sing-Off winner performs on one of Pittsburgh’s biggest stages on New Year’s Eve helping an aspiring singer take a major step towards a career or a dream. We look forward to even more applications this year and it remains our privilege to sponsor First Night Pittsburgh 2014, with its many family-friendly activities, as well as the Equitable Gas Sing-Off.”

“Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a great forum for expressing and celebrating the vitality and youthfulness of our city through the arts. We’re thrilled to continue this tradition of showcasing the talented students of our region and are grateful to Equitable Gas for their dedication to infusing energy into the Cultural District,” said Darcy Kucenic, Director of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh and Manager of Education & Operations for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is a perfect complement to Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, powerfully depicting celebration, resolution, community and hope through song. We are particularly excited about the 20th year anniversary of this event, and look forward to celebrating this milestone within the region.”

A production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a unique, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration focused on the arts. Held in more than 200 cities worldwide, the festival is a wonderful way to bring in the New Year in an uplifting, alcohol-free atmosphere. Centered in the Cultural District, Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a joyous celebration of the arts, featuring everything from children’s activities to performances by nationally-known musicians to installations by local artists and a spectacular fireworks finale. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is a licensee of First Night® USA, the national association of community-based New Year’s Eve arts festivals.

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Equitable Gas Company is a provider of safe and dependable natural gas service to approximately 275,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located mainly in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Its customer base also includes more than 200 municipalities in nine other counties in western Pennsylvania, 12 counties in central and northern West Virginia, and nine counties in eastern Kentucky. Additional information about Equitable Gas can be obtained through its website at www.equitablegas.com.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.