PSO Perform Pixar in Concert

For Immediate  Release
June 7, 2013


PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY  ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM PIXAR IN CONCERT

PSO plays classic Pixar music along with visual movie clips; presented by First Niagara


PITTSBURGH – From Toy Story to their latest release, Brave, Pixar’s famous music will be performed  by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,  while movie clips play on an overhead  screen.

Resident Conductor  Lawrence Loh will lead the PSO in playing the music of Pixar favorites such as Finding Nemo, Cars, Up, WALL-E, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., and much more.  All 13 of Pixar’s feature films will be showcased in the performance, celebrating  all the characters  that audiences of all ages know and love.

Lawrence Loh

The show will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 21 and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 at Heinz Hall. Tickets, ranging in price from $19 to $75, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at
412-392-4900, or at  www.pittsburghsymphony.org.


The PSO would like to recognize  and thank First Niagara for its presenting  sponsorship  of these performances.


Pixar Animation Studios is located in Emeryville, California and has created  acclaimed  animated  feature and short films for over 25 years.  Pixar is also home to the RenderMan  line of software products.   In 1979,  George Lucas recruited  Ed Catmull from the New York Institute of Technology to head Lucasfilm’s Computer  Division,  a group charged with developing state-of- the-art digital computer technology  for the film industry.  And, in 1984,  the company  released  their first short film with groundbreaking technology,  The Adventures of André & Wally B.  Steve Jobs purchased the company  from Lucas in 1986 and renamed it “Pixar” and in the same year Pixar’s first short film and John Lasseter’s directorial debut,  Luxo Jr. was unveiled.  Luxo Jr. is the classic Pixar image of the “hopping lamp.”  Disney and Pixar announced an agreement  in 1991 to collaborate and by 1995 the first Toy Story was released.   The rest is history.


Resident  Conductor  of the  PSO and  music  director  of both  the Northeastern Pennsylvania  Philharmonic and  the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony  Orchestra,  Lawrence Loh is one of the most exciting young talents on the classical music scene  today.   He was brought  to national  attention  in February  2004,  when  he  substituted  last-minute  for an  ailing Charles  Dutoit  with  the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  Conducting  Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, Loh received enthusiastic  acclaim  from orchestra  players, audience members  and critics, alike. Since his appointment as music director  of the Northeastern Pennsylvania  Philharmonic in 2005,  the orchestra  has flourished  artistically, defining its reputation  as one of the finest regional  orchestras  in the country.  His leadership  has attracted  such artists as André Watts, Anne Akiko Meyers, Jon Nakamatsu,  Zuill Bailey and Sharon Isbin.

Editors Please Note: Friday, June 21 at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at 2:30 p.m.
Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LAWRENCE LOH, conductor
-30-

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


Contact: Louise Sciannameo, Associate Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4866 | email:  lsciannameo@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

WQED Celebrates Black History Month with Local and National Stories

WQED PRESENTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL STORIES TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 January 28, 2013

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

WQED PRESENTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL STORIES
 TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

PITTSBURGH—In its 59 year history, WQED Pittsburgh has produced various local, state-wide and national specials in regard to the significance of the African American community. This February, WQED-TV will air some annual favorites and new national productions from PBS in celebration of Black History Month. For a full list of programs go to www.wqed.org/tv.

• The Black Kungfu Experience
 Sunday, February 3rd at 3 p.m.
To meet the black pioneers and heroes who flourished at the connection of African American and Asian cultures, The Black Kungfu Experience traces the rise of black Kungfu in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. With the introduction of this emerging cultural phenomenon all over the world, this show demonstrates how different the Chinese and African American experience has evolved and converged unexpectedly. This film focuses on how a group of African American pioneers became respected masters in a subculture dominated by Chinese and white men.

• The Abolitionists: American Experience
 Sunday, February 3rd from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
 In this series, American Experience tells the story of how Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison and their abolitionist allies pushed a despaired fringe movement against chattel slavery into a force that literally changed the nation. In order to restore this historical moment, which is the climax of the civil rights movement in American history, this series exposes many private details of the abolitionists that illustrate the procedure towards freedom.

• An Evening with Berry Gordy
 Thursday, February 11th at 10 p.m.
 An interview of Berry Gordy to review his celebrated life as an entrepreneur, songwriter, record producer, movie director and producer who had an indelible influence nationally and internationally. This interview by Gwen Ifill in front of a studio audience includes performances from Valerie Simpson, KEM, Redfoo and LMFAO.

• Underground Railroad: The William Still Story
 Friday, February 15th at 10:30 p.m.
 This program tells the story of William Still and his work on building the Underground Railroad and details the accounts of black abolitionists’ plight of walking on thin ice to help the fugitives follow the North Star to Canada.

• Independent Lens: The Powerbroker: Whitney Young’s Fight for Civil Rights
 Monday, February 18th at 10 p.m.
 This documentary traces Whitney M. Young’s journey from segregated Kentucky to the National Urban League. Whitney is a celebrated and controversial leader of the civil rights movement who took the fight directly to powerful white elites.

• American Masters: Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock and Roll
 Friday, February 22nd at 9 p.m.
 This show introduces Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s legendary life and how she became the inspiration of many black and white musicians by utilizing her passion for gospel music to create popular Rock n’ Roll music.

• Slavery by Another Name
 Friday, February 22nd at 10 p.m.
 After Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, the perception of slavery still dominated the South with new forms of involuntary servitude. Spanning eight decades, this program exposes the interlocking forces in both the South and the North using archival photographs and dramatic reenactments, filmed in Alabama and Georgia.

• The Evolution of the Nation of Islam
 Sunday, February 24th at 6 p.m.
 This documentary uses chronicle narrative to recreate the scenario of Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam movement. By announcing the lost identity of black people, this movement advocates a do-for-self philosophy. With integrated dialogue with the original high-ranking member of the Nation of Islam, this show provides a deeper look on this remarkable journey.

WQED Multimedia presents these programs for Black History Month with support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Niagara and Pittsburgh Public Theater.

About Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield was created in the 1990's by the consolidation of two Pennsylvania licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association which now serves 49 of the state's 67 counties. With the mission that is to be the leading health and wellness company in the communities they serve and to ensure that all members of the community have access to affordable, Highmark dedicate their energy into quality health care with innovative products, programs and services they provide as well as through their community involvement. Highmark has consistently contributed charitably to organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. More information about Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is available on www.highmarkbcbs.com.

About First Niagara is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured regional banking corporation headquartered in the Larkin Terminal Warehouse in Buffalo, New York. As a wholly owned subsidiary, with billions in assets and deposits, thousands of employees and hundreds of branches across four states, First Niagara Bank built a trusted name in helping our customers, our employees and our communities. With specialized expertise across every facet of today’s financial world, First Niagara Bank can help you thrive personally and professionally. More information about First Niagara Bank is available on www.firstniagara.com.

About Pittsburgh Public Theater is a contemporary theater in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. With unique three-quarter thrust, it offers intimate, engaging, professional theater. By providing artistically experiences of the highest quality, Pittsburgh Public Theater has enhanced diversity theatrical performance through collaboration with famed directors, extraordinary actors and stunning production values, giving you a world class theater experience. More information about Pittsburgh Public Theater is available on www.ppt.org

About 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. 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

Sophocles' ELECTRA at Pittsburgh Public Theater

Contact Margie Romero, Communications Manager at Pittsburgh Public Theater


412.316.8200 ext. 707 or mromero@ppt.org

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

Electra

by Sophocles

adapted by Frank McGuinness

The fate of a family is revealed in 90 minutes of theatrical dynamite, directed by Ted Pappas.



Catherine Eaton Plays Electra


PITTSBURGH (September 1, 2011) Pittsburgh Public Theater launches its 37th season with Electra, written by ancient Greek master Sophocles and adapted by Frank McGuinness. After highly successful productions of Medea and Oedipus the King, Greek native Ted Pappas will now direct Electra. It runs September 29 – October 30, 2011 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. Electra is presented by First Niagara with production sponsors Jim and Electra Agras and Production Underwriters Jim and Kathe Patrinos.

Lisa Harrow/Clytemnestra

Electra brings to life the myths of ancient Greece while it tells a timeless story of one family’s tragedy. As the play begins, Orestes (Michael Simpson), his friend Pylades (David J.M. Bielewicz), and his faithful servant (Edward James Hyland) secretly return to the palace of Mycenae. Years before he had been sent into hiding after the murder of his father, King Agamemnon, by his mother Clytemnestra (Lisa Harrow) and her lover Aegisthus (David Whalen). Despite the passage of time his sister, Electra (Catherine Eaton), can’t get over their father’s death. Their other sister, Chrysothemis (Catherine Gowl), and the women of Mycenae (The Chorus: Glynis Bell, Shinnerrie Jackson, and Amy Landis), tell her to pull herself together. But that’s hard in the presence of her regal mother who proclaims her righteousness. Will fate give Electra her revenge? That answer will not be revealed until the play’s shocking conclusion.

The design team for Electra is James Noone (Scenic), Gabriel Berry (Costumes), Kirk Bookman (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Ruth E. Kramer is the Production Stage Manager and Fredric H. Orner is the Assistant Stage Manager.

About the Playwright

Sophocles was a leading dramatist during the Athenian Golden Age. Born in 495 BC near Athens, Greece, he was beloved in his day and is remembered more than two millennia later for his great works of tragedy. Sophocles wrote well over 100 plays but only seven have survived intact: Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. He is appreciated by modern audiences for his treatment of the individual and the complex issues he addresses. He died peacefully when he was over 90 years old, around 406 BC.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

What: Electra

When: September 29 – October 30, 2011

Performance Schedule

Tues. through Sat. at 8 pm (except Tues., Oct. 25 when the show is at 7 pm).

Sat. at 2 pm (except Oct. 1 & 8).

There will be an additional 2 pm matinee on Thurs., Oct. 27.

Sun. at 2 & 7 pm (except Oct. 30 when the final show is at 2 pm).

Press Night and Opening Night are Thursday, October 6.

Ticket Prices

$28.75 to $60.75.

$15.75 for students and age 26 and younger with valid ID.

For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org