First Night Contestants Sought

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date: October 10, 2011

Media Contacts:

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

Equitable Gas, Scott Waitlevertch (412) 395-2314

Student Stars Sought for First Night Pittsburgh Sing-Off

First Night Pittsburgh 2012 - Saturday, December 31, 2012

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Equitable Gas Company is searching for musically talented students to audition for the company’s second vocal competition celebrating the New Year. The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is part of the upcoming 2012 First Night® Pittsburgh, a production of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and continues the company’s commitment to opening opportunities for young people in greater Pittsburgh.

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, then submit it to the contest. Additional contest information and the entry form are available on the First Night® Pittsburgh website, firstnightpgh.org. The application deadline is November 11, 2011.

“Equitable Gas is proud to sponsor the Equitable Gas Sing-off, a competition for young people to showcase their musical talents on New Year’s Eve”, said Bill Lucas, Executive Vice President of Equitable Gas “Once again, we are pleased to sponsor some of the key family-friendly activities of First Night Pittsburgh and support The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in its annual presentation of this premier holiday event.”

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Equitable Gas will select up to five finalists, and the community will be invited to vote on these five submissions. The popular vote will be held online from November 12 – 19, and will help to determine the winner. Award winners will perform live as the opening act for the Equitable Gas Marquee Performances at the Benedum Center during First Night® Pittsburgh. In addition, the winner will also receive a cash prize of $500, compliments of Equitable Gas Company. Finally, winners will receive complimentary First Night® Pittsburgh admission buttons to enjoy the numerous activities that night.

“First Night is a great forum for expressing and celebrating the vitality and youthfulness of our city through the arts. We’re thrilled to continue this new 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 First Night Pittsburgh and Manager of Education & Operations for The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “The Equitable Gas Sing-Off is a perfect complement to First Night Pittsburgh, powerfully depicting celebration, resolution, community and hope through song.”

In 2010, Equitable Gas and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust hosted the first Sing-off event and Nicoletta Giacchino, a senior from FranklinRegional High School, won the competition.

A production of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 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, 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. First Night® Pittsburgh is a licensee of First Night® USA, the national association of community-based New Year’s Eve arts festivals.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.

Equitable Gas Companyis 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.
# # #

Victorian Comedy Hobson's Choice at Stephen Foster

Media Contact: Melissa Hill Grande

Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
mgrande@picttheatre.org
412.561.6000 x203

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PICT presents “Comic King Lear” for the holidays

Canadian legend Michael Ball makes his PICT debut alongside former Shaw Festival colleague Simon Bradbury, Derdriu Ring and first-rate ensemble in hilarious Victorian comedy Hobson’s Choice

Pittsburgh, PA – November 1, 2010. Henry Horatio Hobson’s three bossy daughters are driving him to drink, and the end result is comedy in the PICT production of Harold Brighouse’s 1914 classic, Hobson’s Choice. The production runs December 2nd through the 18th in the Charity Randall Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland, and is sponsored by The Charity Randall Foundation and WDUQ-FM. First Niagara is the Opening Night Sponsor.

Under the direction of PICT Artistic Director Andrew Paul, Hobson’s Choice features Michael Ball, Simon Bradbury and Derdriu Ring, with scenic design by Gianni Downs, lighting design by Christopher Popowich and costume design by Joan Markert. Erik T. Lawson designs sound.

Set in 1880, the comedy is set in the industrial town of Salford, in the North of England. Hobson (Michael Ball) is a widowed boot-shop proprietor who is at his wit’s end raising three girls and keeping his business going. When he makes the mistake of telling his eldest daughter Maggie (Derdriu Ring) that she’s past marrying age, Maggie promptly retaliates by marrying Willie Mossop (Simon Bradbury), Hobson’s best boot-maker. A powerhouse of a woman, Maggie turns the shy, illiterate Mossop into a substantial business rival to Hobson and brokers marriages for her two younger sisters in the bargain. Hobson disowns the entire gaggle, but finds that living without them may be harder than living with them.

Harold Brighouse was a Salford native, born in 1882 to a manager of a cotton-spinning firm and a headmistress. He was a successful playwright and novelist, and wrote Hobson’s Choice in his spare time during World War I, as he served in the Royal Air Force’s Air Ministry Intelligence Staff. Although his other plays are relatively unknown, Brighouse was a leading member of the Manchester School, a literary movement of social realism that put the working class of Northern England on stage in central roles.

A film version of Hobson’s Choice directed by David Lean and starring Charles Laughton was released in 1954, and a 1983 made-for-television adaptation featured Richard Thomas, Jack Warden, Sharon Gless and (in her final role) the legendary Lillian Gish.

A long-time company member at the Shaw Festival, Michael Ball makes his PICT debut in Hobson’s Choice. Jamie Portman of CanWest News Service declared Ball “A national treasure,” and he has been hailed as one of the most experienced Shavian actors of the English-speaking theatre. His credits include more than forty productions for the Shaw Festival since 1976, including playing the role of Hobson alongside Bradbury in Shaw’s 1996 and 1997 productions of Hobson’s Choice. Other credits include productions at Canadian Stage Company, Tarragon Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, and Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Simon Bradbury returns to PICT to reprise the role of Willie Mossop. Bradbury won Canada’s Stage Door Award for Best Actor in a Comedy for his portrayal of Mossop in the Shaw’s 1996 production of Hobson’s Choice. His previous PICT credits include Chaplin (also playwright), multiple productions in BeckettFest including Endgame, The Shaughraun, King Lear, and Rock ‘n’ Roll. He directed last season’s smash-hit production of What the Butler Saw. He was a long-standing member of the Shaw Festival Ensemble and spent four seasons at Stratford.

Returning to PICT for her seventh season is Derdriu Ring. Her previous PICT credits include The Cripple of Inishmaan, Major Barbara, Portia Coughlan, Boston Marriage, James Joyce’s The Dead, Playboy of the Western World and other plays in the Synge Cycle. She is a graduate of Joe Dowling’s Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin and University College Cork.

Also featured in Hobson’s Choice are Kiley Caughey, Joe Domencic, Jon Farris (Synge Cycle), Kathleen Huber (An Ideal Husband), Roger Jerome (Faith Healer, The School for Scandal), Mary Liz Meyer, Laurel Schroeder (Jane Eyre), David Tabish, and John Wascavage (The History Boys).

Scenery is designed by Gianni Downs (Othello, Crime & Punishment, The History Boys, and Boston Marriage, among others.), lighting by Christopher Popowich (BeckettFest, Julius Caesar, among others), and costumes by Joan Markert (The School for Scandal, An Ideal Husband, Othello). Sound designer Erik T. Lawson makes his PICT debut.

Hobson’s Choice is sponsored by the Charity Randall Foundation, with additional sponsorship by WDUQ 90.5 FM and First Niagara. The production plays December 2nd through the 18th in the Charity Randall Theatre, located at the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Avenue on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. Tickets are $20 to $50 and are available by calling ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or online at www.proartstickets.org.

Special student matinee performances are scheduled for December 1st and 7th at 10 a.m. Teachers who are interested in bringing student groups can call Michelle Belan at 412.561.6000 x208 or email mbelan@picttheatre.org.

Free preshow discussions are scheduled for Wednesday December 8th and Thursday December 9th at 7 p.m., and a post-show talk-back with the company is scheduled for Sunday, December 5th.

For more information, visit the PICT website at www.picttheatre.org.

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.

Hobson’s Choice FACT SHEET

Hobson’s Choice by Harold Brighouse

Directed by Andrew S. Paul

The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland

4301 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Cast: Michael Ball, Simon Bradbury, Kiley Caughey, Joe Domencic, Jon Farris, Roger Jerome, Susan McGregor-Laine, Mary Liz Meyer, Derdriu Ring, Laurel Schroeder, David Tabish, and John Wascavage.

Design Team: Gianni Downs (scenic design); Christopher Popowich (lighting design); Joan Markert costume design); Erik T. Lawson (sound design), Cory Goddard(properties)

Performance Dates and Times:

First Week:

Thursday and Friday, December 2 and 3 – 8 p.m. previews

Saturday, December 4 – 8 p.m. opening night, followed by reception

Sunday, December 5 – 2 p.m. matinee, followed by talk-back

Second Week:

Wednesday – Saturday, December 8 - 11 – 8 p.m. performances*

Sunday, December 12 – 2 p.m. matinee

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

Third Week:

Tuesday, December 14 – 7 p.m. Professional Tuesday performance

Wednesday – Friday, December 15 – 17 – 8 p.m. performances

Saturday, December 18 – 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances

Student Matinees:

Wednesday, December 1 – 10 a.m.

Tuesday, December 7 – 10 a.m.

Ticket Prices:

Saturday nights: $50, Seniors $47

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday nights: $46, Seniors $43

Professional Tuesdays, Saturday & Sunday matinees: $42, Seniors $40

Preview Thursday and Friday: $34 for all seats

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



Call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit www.picttheatre.org

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. Great Stories. Well Told.

Melissa Hill Grande
Associate Artistic Director and Director of Marketing
Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre
PO Box 23607
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.561.6000 x203

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There's a Party in My City!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Veronica Corpuz
412-471-6082 / corpuz@pgharts.org

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Benedum Center
4 PM and 7 PM
90 Minute Show



PITTSBURGH, PA: Fresh off a triumphant sold-out tour debut, a headlining performance at The White House, a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album, and an appearance at Coachella that garnered rave reviews from spectators and media alike, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of YO GABBA GABBA! are heading back on the road with YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! to play to enthusiastic fans in Pittsburgh. Today’s hottest live show for families will be at the Benedum Center on Thursday, September 30, 2010, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! is produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with Wildbrain Entertainment and The Magic Store and is part of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents Series, co-promoted with Opus One Productions.

Tickets ($29.50-$47.50) are available at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at pgharts.org and by calling 412-456-6666. Groups of 10 or more may purchase discounted tickets by calling 412-471-6930. For complete tour, ticket information and VIP packages, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com. Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.

The state-of-the-art production features music, singing, dancing and animation. The show is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life. Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day”. Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.

Released in October, 2009, YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 1 topped kids and overall music charts at iTunes (#1 kids album), Amazon (top 5 kids album) and Target sales, which reached more than 40,000 copies in only 6 months since its release. YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME was picked as one of 2009’s top holiday gifts for toddlers by both PARENTS magazine and the popular Mom web destination MomLogic.com. YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 2 will be released on iTunes and will hit shelves nationwide this September. Dates, venues and ticket prices are subject to change.

Press materials available at: FTP site: ftp://s2bnent.com

Username: yggpress Password: YGGPr3ss1

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Yo-Gabba-Gabba/42220833615?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/yogabbagabba

About S2BN Entertainment

S2BN Entertainment is a diversified international family show and event entertainment company specializing in the acquisition, development and production of high caliber touring exhibitions, unique live music tours and events, theatrical performances, and consumer and multimedia product offerings. Our experienced management team executes activities across all types of global venues – from stadiums to theaters. S2BN Entertainment provides extraordinary experiences for our clients and our customers.

About Yo Gabba Gabba!

Yo Gabba Gabba! premiered in the U.S. on Nickelodeon in August, 2007 and currently ranks as one of the most popular children series on television. Yo Gabba Gabba!, was voted as one of the best new shows on television by TIME magazine, won a BAFTA Award in 2008, was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Television” Award by the Television Critics Association, and is a two-time Emmy nominee. The series airs three times a day, seven days a week on Nick Jr. and in several major international territories, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Latin America, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.K.

Yo Gabba Gabba! infuses retro-style and beat-driven music to teach simple life lessons through music. The series stars DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson) and a cast of colorful characters, including: Brobee, the little green one, Foofa, the pink flower bubble, Muno, the red Cyclops, Toodee, the blue cat-dragon and Plex, the yellow robot. Today’s most popular names in movies, television, music and sports flock to guest star in the groundbreaking show, including Jack Black, Rachel Dratch, Melora Hardin, Tony Hawk, Biz Markie, Jack McBrayer, MGMT, Mark Mothersbaugh, The Roots, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, The Shins, Amare Stoudemire, The Ting Tings, Jimmy Eat World and Elijah Wood, among others. Yo Gabba Gabba! toys, apparel and other merchandise are sold in stores nationwide in the U.S. and have skyrocketed in popularity. Yo Gabba Gabba! is recommended as a trusted program for preschoolers by The Smart Television Alliance, a non-profit organization comprised of leading non-profit children’s media organizations including Common Sense Media, Parents’ Choice Foundation, Parents Television Council and Coalition for Quality children’s Media: KIDS FIRST!. Visit www.yogabbagabba.com.



About WILDBRAIN

Wildbrain Entertainment is an award-winning entertainment company and one of the world’s foremost producers of animation. The studio develops and produces television, motion pictures, short-form programming, commercial content and licensed merchandise. Wildbrain has produced an exceptional slate of programming, including the critically acclaimed television series Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nick Jr.) and live touring show, Yo Gabba Gabba!: There’s A Party in My City, which is produced by S2BN, Wildbrain Entertainment and The Magic Store; The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO) and the hit Disney series, Higglytown Heroes. Wildbrain and its creative team have won top industry awards. In film, the studio won an Annie for its computer graphics short film, Hubert’s Brain. Wildbrain has received Clios, Addys, BDA Awards and Annies for their commercial work, reinvigorating classic brands for leading companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Honda, Kraft and Nike and has gained national attention for their animation work on behalf of Esurance, Ubisoft and Virgin America. Some upcoming television and short-form projects include Bubble Guppies, an animated series for Nick Jr., The Hard Times of RJ Berger, a series for MTV and Team Smithereen, the short-form stunt puppet show from Dan Clark. Wildbrain’s sister company, Kidrobot, creates limited edition toys, clothing, artwork and books, with stores in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami. Wildbrain is based in Los Angeles, CA.
# # #

Cheers, Pittsburgh Launches New Site

August 5, 2010

For immediate release.


CheersPittsburgh.com - a new website about where to go and what to do in Pittsburgh.


Cheers, Pittsburgh! launches a new website, CheersPittsburgh.com, a place that lists restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, shopping centers and shops, spas, gyms and more. Also listed are events of all kinds, from large scale concerts, sporting events and theater productions.

“We feel that there is a need for an all-encompassing site that informs visitors and Pittsburghers alike about what to do and where to go” says Shannon Martinez, owner of CheersPittsburgh.com. “Our site goes beyond restaurants and bars; it is the go-to place to find out what is happening and where.”

One of the attractions of the site is that it is “self maintaining” - any establishment or event can go on the site, submit a simple on-line form, and be listed free of charge. The listings are screened before they go online to prevent abuse and the dissemination of misleading information.

CheersPittsburgh.com also offers several forms of advertising to enhance an establishment’s or event’s presence on the site. “Our goal is to offer any business that can benefit from the opportunity to stand out from the crowd” says Shannon Martinez.

For a minimal charge an establishment can have a “Featured Listing” which gives the listing an enhanced presence and allows the entering of additional information such as atmosphere, entertainment, directions, hours of operation and link to a website; it also allows the uploading of photos, menus and coupons.

CheersPittsburgh.com also offers the opportunity to increase an establishment’s visibility even more: The site has seven rotating ads (196 x 75 pixels) which appear at random and include a featured listing as well as a link to either the advertiser’s website or featured page.

Even more exposure is offered by only three slightly larger ads (196 x 100 pixels) which appear on every page in the same location.

A page dominating large banner ad (596 x 100 pixels) is also available; it rotates with a small number of other ads.

To increase traffic the site is in the process of search-engine optimization.

“We are only at the beginning” says Shannon Martinez, “and the site is being populated daily. We expect to list at least half of all relevant places to go to and events to visit in the very near future.”

For further information contact:

Shannon Martinez

Cheers, Pittsburgh!

412-428-9570

shannon@cheerspittsburgh.com

###

Stomp Returns to Pittsburgh

STOMP
THE SMASH HIT RETURNS TO
PITTSBURGH, SEPTEMBER 15 – 20, 2009
WITH NEW SURPRISES

STOMP, the international sensation, is making its triumphant return to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center, September 15 – 20, 2009. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new surprises, with some sections of the show now updated and restructured and the addition of two new full-scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

“After creating new routines for STOMP OUT LOUD in Vegas, [co-creator] Luke Cresswell and I decided it was time to rework elements of our main production, STOMP,” said co-creator Steve McNicholas. “STOMP has evolved a great deal ever since its first incarnation at the Edinburgh Festival. Every reworking has involved losing some pieces and gaining new ones, but has always stayed true to the original premise of the show: to create rhythmic music with instantly recognizable objects, and do it with an eccentric sense of character and humor.”

The changes that can now be seen in the tour of STOMP are the biggest since the late 1990’s. A new piece “Paint Cans” evolved out of the “Boxes” routine in the Las Vegas show and “Donuts” is a piece that implements huge tractor tire inner tubes, worn around the waist on a bungee cord. For many years, the creators had looked for a STOMP equivalent of the Latin percussion instrument the guiro, a gourd-shaped open-ended instrument with ridges along the side that are rubbed by a wooden stick to create its sound. The climactic trashcan sequence “Bins” has been restructured to include a guiro-like new found instrument: strip-lighting recycling containers.

From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, STOMP has grown into an international sensation over the past fourteen years, having performed in over 350 cities in 36 countries worldwide. STOMP continues its phenomenal run with the ongoing sell-out Off-Broadway production at New York's Orpheum Theatre, a North American tour, and two productions overseas - a London company and a European tour.

STOMP, an overwhelming success marked by rave reviews, numerous awards and sell-out engagements, is the winner of an Olivier Award for Best Choreography (London's Tony Award), a New YorkObie Award, a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre Experience, and a Special Citation from Best Plays. The young performers “make a rhythm out of anything we can get our hands on that makes a sound,” says co-creator/director Luke Cresswell. Stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra; Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery fugue; wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion. STOMP uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – trashcans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots, and hubcaps – to fill the stage with compelling and infectious rhythms.

Critics and audiences have raved: “STOMP is as crisp and exuberant as if it had opened yesterday,” says The New York Times. The San Francisco Chronicle declares “STOMP has a beat that just won’t quit!” The Los Angeles Times exclaims: “Electrifying! Triumphs in the infinite variety of the human experience.” “A phenomenal show! Bashing, crashing, smashing, swishing, banging and kicking – a joyous invention!” says the Chicago Tribune.
STOMP is directed and created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.

The smash hit returns to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center from September 15 to 20, 2009. Performance schedule is Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30PM, Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 5:00PM and 9:00PM, and Sunday at 3:00PM and 7:00PM. Tickets range from $21.00 - $49.00, and are available by calling 412-456-6666, visiting the Box Office at Theater Square [665 Penn Avenue] or online at pgharts.org.
www.stomponline.com

# # #

Woodville Plantation Hosts Harvest Day

August 17, 2009



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rob Windhorst
412-221-0348

rwindhorst19@comcast.net



QUICK FACTS:

Event: Harvest Day

Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009

Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Place: Woodville Plantation, 1375 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Cost: $5.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Families



WOODVILLE PLANTATION HOSTS HARVEST DAY


BRIDGEVILLE, PA (August 17, 2009) – Step back in time at Woodville Plantation as this living history museum treats visitors to a special look at the gardens of Woodville. On Sunday, August 30, 2009, visitors are invited to join the gardeners of Woodville Plantation as they harvest crops grown at the site during the summer season. From 1 to 4 pm, guests can meet the head gardener and learn about 18th century crops, growing techniques and tools. Admission to this special event is $5.00 per person or $10.00 per family.



Woodville Plantation, the home of John and Presley Neville, is Western Pennsylvania’s link to the late 18th century. Built in 1775, this living history museum interprets life during the period of 1780-1820, the Era of the New Republic. Guided tours of the house are available every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.



Just 7 miles and 15 minutes south of Pittsburgh, Woodville is conveniently located 1/4 mile north of Interstate
I-79 Exit 55 (Kirwin Heights Exit) on Route 50, near the intersection of Thoms Run Road. For further directions or for more information, please visit Woodville’s website at http://www.woodvilleplantation.org or call
412-221-0348.

Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre, LiveStreaming History Boys

Media Contact: Stephanie Riso

412.561.6000 x201

sriso@picttheatre.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE





All Eyes on Pittsburgh – Regional theatre goes LIPLO™

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre first to secure rights to stream August 15th, 2009, 8:00pm performance of The History Boys “live and in person and live and online”



PITTSBURGH (August 4, 2009) — Mid-way through its 2009 season, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre (PICT) has been given the green light by authors and unions to test run its “live and in person and live and online” streaming web portal, allowing people across the world to witness the live production. On Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., anyone with a computer and high-speed internet connection can attend PICT’s live performance of the award-winning play The History Boys by Alan Bennett, being held at the Charity Randall Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pa., via LIPLO™ at www.LIPLO.com. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch the entire show live as it happens and comment on the performance. A customer service technician will be available to help troubleshoot technical problems.

LIPLO™ - the acronym for “Live and In Person and Live and Online” – was developed by PICT co-founder and operations director Stephanie Riso in conjunction with Alex Geis of 21 Productions. Between 2007 and 2008, they had great success using LIPLO™ to live stream cabaret entertainment. Riso proposed expansion of the trademarked web portal to include live theatre through her affiliation with PICT, and the idea was embraced by the staff, board, unions and authors.

Geis and Riso are both graduates of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU); Riso holds a degree in Music, and Geis holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Film and Digital Imaging. Geis returns to CMU this fall to begin studies for a Master in Music Technology – a new major offered by the School of Music, School of Computer Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

“I think this idea is genius” exclaimed Canadian actor Bernard Cuffling, who also plays the teacher in the production. “It is not easy to travel from Canada to see many of the theatres I’d like to see, so this option is terrific.”

Joe Warik, member of the AEA liaison committee, says “this is a great way to audition for agents and show off your work live as it is happening – nothing can beat the online option when you can’t get to the theatre.”

Christopher Lacey, Assistant Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s local chapter AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), a union which represents actors and stage managers, was enthusiastic from the start, citing the potential for this emerging medium to open up new and unique work opportunities for union members.

The History Boys LIPLO™ performance streams live on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at www.LIPLO.com. PICT will continue the program by streaming live performances of Crime and Punishment in September and Jane Eyre in December (dates to be announced). Those wishing to participate, must have a valid email address to access the LIPLO™ portal and the minimum computer requirements, which will be outlined on the website, to properly experience the performance as it was intended. Viewers are also encouraged to comment live during the trial period and will have the opportunity to purchase LIPLO™ signature events for PICT’s 2010 season. For more information about PICT visit www.picttheatre.org.

Behind the Scenes Look at Woodville Plantation

July 28, 2009 FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Windhorst

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 412-221-0348

rwindhorst19@comcast.net





QUICK FACTS:

Event: Above the Stairs: A Behind the Scenes Look At Woodville

Date: Sunday, August 2, 2009

Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Place: Woodville Plantation, 1375 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Cost: $5.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Families


WOODVILLE PLANTATION HOSTS
ABOVE THE STAIRS: A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT WOODVILLE


BRIDGEVILLE, PA (July 28, 2009) – Step back in time at Woodville Plantation as this living history museum treats visitors to a special tour of a rarely seen area of the plantation. On Sunday, August 2, 2009, the public is invited go above the stairs at the main house.



From 1 to 4 pm, visitors are invited to visit the second floor of Woodville Plantation. Tours will be given of the private rooms of the Neville and Cowan families. Of interest is an original painted checkerboard floor. Don’t miss this rare look into the private lives of Woodville’s residents.



Woodville Plantation, the home of John and Presley Neville, is Western Pennsylvania’s link to the late 18th century. Built in 1775, this living history museum interprets life during the period of 1780-1820, the era of the New Republic. Guided tours of the house are available every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.



Just 7 miles and 15 minutes south of Pittsburgh, Woodville is conveniently located off of Exit 55 on Interstate 79. For further directions or for more information, please visit Woodville’s website at http://www.woodvilleplantation.org or call 412-221-0348.

History Boys at Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre

Media Contact: Melissa Hill Grande

412.561.6000 x203

mgrande@picttheatre.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Rewriting “History” at PICT

Fantastic actors, multimedia elements inspire superb, life-enhancing play



Pittsburgh, PA – July 1, 2009. PICT artistic director Andrew S. Paul directs a cast of thirteen in the Pittsburgh professional premiere of Alan Bennett’s award-winning play The History Boys. Very funny and deeply moving, the play explores the anarchy of adolescence, the nature of history, and the methods and very purpose of education today. Featured in the production are Bernard Cuffling, Linda Kimbrough, Dave Droxler and Andy Lutz.



Bennett’s brilliant comedy follows the senior year of eight history students in the north of England as they try to crack admission to Oxford and Cambridge. Unruly, bright, talented and amusing, these boys are in natural pursuit of sex, sport and a place at a good university. They are guided in these pursuits by their overeager Headmaster (Martin Giles), a maverick, eccentric English teacher (Bernard Cuffling), and a new instructor (Sam Redford) whose mandate is to get the boys to think outside the box and get noticed.



The design team is comprised of Gianni Downs (set), Jim French (lighting), Pei-Chi Su (costumes), Jessi Sedon (projections) Elizabeth Atkinson (sound), and Cory Goddard (properties).



Canadian-based actor Bernard Cuffling makes his PICT debut as Hector in The History Boys. In addition to playing Hector to rave reviews for Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver in the play’s Canadian premiere, his stage credits include productions of Nicholas Nickelby, Dancing at Lughnasa, Sleuth, and Noises Off. Cuffling, who makes his American stage debut in PICT’s History Boys, is enshrined in the British Columbia Theatre Hall of Fame.



PICT regular and Pittsburgh favorite Martin Giles returns to PICT from his smashing success as Dr. Rance in PICT’s June production of What the Butler Saw. Giles’ other recent PICT productions include Rock ‘n’ Roll, Synge Cycle (as an actor and a director), and St. Nicholas. Other recent local appearances include Die Fledermaus with Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh and The Seafarer for City Theatre Company. His play Beautiful Dreamers, with the music of Stephen Foster, will receive its world premiere in a co-production between PICT and Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh in April of 2010.



British actor Sam Redford (Rock ‘n’ Roll) plays the young teacher brought in to give the boys polish and prepare them for college entrance examinations and interviews. Redford trained at London’s Guildhall School of Drama, and has been seen locally in City Theatre’s productions of The Seafarer and Mother Teresa is Dead.



Rounding out the teachers is Linda Kimbrough (Pride & Prejudice). A veteran of the Chicago stage, Kimbrough is a five-time Joseph Jefferson nominee whose credits include productions at the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens, and Chicago Shakespeare. Recent roles include Nora in the World Premiere of Better Late by Larry Gelbart at Northlight Theatre in Chicago and in Galway, Ireland, and Dottie in Noises Off at The Cleveland Play House. She has originated roles in five of David Mamet's plays: Edmond, Reunion, The Water Engine, Squirrels, and his adaptation of Chekov's The Cherry Orchard.



The boys are led by Dave Droxler (Dakin), a Point Park graduate who was recently featured in Mojo at The Rep. Other Pittsburgh credits include As You Like it (UnSeam’d Shakespeare), and The Normal Heart and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Pittsburgh Playhouse). Droxler is joined by Andy Lutz (Scripps) a graduate of Ohio University, whose credits include A Man for All Seasons on Broadway, and This Beautiful City at the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival. CMU graduate Jarid Faubel plays Rudge; he was recently featured in Quantum Theatre’s production of Yerma. Posner is played by John Wascavage, currently a third-year student at Point Park. The boys are rounded out by CMU students Eric Berryman, Ethan Saks, and Arya Shahi, and Allegheny College student Corey O’Connor.



The set is designed by PICT Resident Scenic Designer Gianni Downs. His previous PICT credits include:

Doubt, What the Butler Saw, Boston Marriage, Stuff Happens, Synge Cycle, and Salome, among others. Lighting is designed by Jim French (Rock ‘n’ Roll, Synge Cycle and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, among others), and sound by Elizabeth Atkinson (Rock ‘n’ Roll, Synge Cycle, BeckettFest, The Pillowman, Henry, and Copenhagen, among others).Long-time PICT costume designer Pei-Chi Su returns from New York for the production. Some of her many previous PICT designs include costumes for King Lear, Pride and Prejudice, Private Lives, and BeckettFest. Jessi Sedon (Rock ‘n’ Roll) returns to design projections, with multimedia elements including live and pre-recorded film.



WDUQ, 90.5 FM (www.wduq.org) is the media sponsor for the play. The History Boys plays August 6 through 22 in the Charity Randall Theatre, located at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland.



In conjunction with the play, PICT is hosting a panel discussion, “The Nature and Purpose of Education” on August 6th at 6:30 p.m., at the Stephen Foster Memorial in Oakland. Featured panelists include Chip Burke,
Chairman of the Grable Foundation and President of the Fox Chapel School Board, Saleem Ghubril,
Executive Director of The Pittsburgh Promise, and Melanie Brown, Program Officer for the Heinz Endowments. . Panelists will share thoughts on some of the questions about education raised by Bennett in the play. The panel discussion is free of charge and open to the public.



PICT will also host a post-show talk-back with the company following the Sunday, August 9 matinee performance, as well as two pre-show discussions beginning at 7:00 on Wednesday, August 12 and Thursday, August 13. The pre-show discussions are free of charge and open to the public.



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 Alliance. 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.



The History Boys FACT SHEET



The History Boys by Alan Bennett Joe Orton



Directed by Andrew S. Paul

The Charity Randall Theatre in the Stephen Foster Memorial, Oakland

4301 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh 15213eyHey





Cast: Eric Berryman, Bernard Cuffling, Dave Droxler, Jarid Faubel, James FitzGerald, Martin Giles, Linda Kimbrough, Andy Lutz, Corey O’Connor, Sam Redford, Ethan Saks, Arya Shahi, and John Wascavage



Design Team: Gianni Downs (scenic design), Jim French (lighting design), Pei-Chi Su (costume design), Elizabeth Atkinson (sound design), Cory F. Goddard (Properties), Natalie Baker Shirer (Dialects)



Performance Dates and Times:


First Week: Thursday – Friday, August 6, 7, Previews, 8 p.m.

(New! PICT PANEL DISCUSSIONS-, “The Nature and Purpose of Education Today” August 6 at 6:30 before the 8 p.m. preview, FREE!)

Saturday, August 8, Opening Night 8 p.m. (followed by reception)

Sunday, August 9, 2 p.m. (followed by talk-back with the company)



Second Week:
Tuesday, August 11, 7 p.m. (Professional Tuesdays performance)
Wednesday – Saturday, August 12 - 15, 8 p.m. *

Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m.
*Preshow lecture series

· Artistically Speaking – Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 p.m.

· Behind the Scenes – Thursday, August 13, 7:00 p.m.



Third Week:
Wednesday – Friday, August 19 - 21, 8 p.m.

Saturday, August 22, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.





Ticket Prices

Opening Night: $48 Adults, $45 Seniors
Fri. & Sat. Nights: $46 Adults, $42 Seniors

Wed. & Thurs. Nights, and Sun. Mats: $42 Adults, $40 Seniors
Tues. Nights & Sat. Mats: $42 Adults, $40 Senior
Preview Thurs. & Fri: $36 (all seats, no Senior discounts)
Youth under 25: $17 all performances, w/valid ID





For tickets, call ProArtsTickets at 412.394.3353 or visit http://www.picttheatre.org



Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre. Great Stories. Well Told.



Melissa Hill Grande

Director of Marketing and Artistic Associate

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre

PO Box 23607

Pittsburgh, PA 15222


mgrande@picttheatre.org

412.561.6000 x203



Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre.

Great Stories. Well Told.

Roof Top Party Held by Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082


Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh 2009
Rooftop Party Celebrates the Impact of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on the Downtown Landscape for 25 years
Friday, July 17, 2009, 9:00 pm – Midnight (VIP Party beginning at 8:00 pm)
Rooftop of Theater Square, in the Heart of the Cultural District
PITTSBURGH – Everything you need to mix up a spectacular night takes place high above the city streets in the heart of Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Enjoy a beautiful summer evening while celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and its impact on the Downtown landscape, at Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Partners Board presents the third annual summer party on top of the Theater Square Garage (Seventh Street and Penn Avenue in the heart of the Cultural District, downtown) from 9:00 pm until midnight, immediately following the Trust’s summer Gallery Crawl held from 5:30 pm until 9:00 pm. “This is a wonderful evening to celebrate what the arts mean to Pittsburgh, the vitality of the Cultural District, and this important milestone in The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s history,” says Lisa Newman, Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh 2009 Chair.
Tickets for Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh are now on sale. Prices are $35 for Trust members, $50 for non-members who will also receive a one-year Partners Membership with the purchase of a ticket and $100 for access to the VIP reception, beginning at 8 pm. VIP ticket holders will enjoy exclusive pre-party festivities featuring special entertainment, food by Eleven and complimentary parking at the Theater Square Garage.
Guests will enjoy a unique evening with a celestial ambiance conceptualized by artist and event architect, Thommy Conroy. Back by popular demand is Bricolage Production Company with their sensorial journey Mission: Delight. Art to create and explore, cosmic readings, dancing and music delivered by DJ Edgar Um are some of the evening’s entertainment. Refreshments will be provided by Absolut, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, August Henry’s City Saloon, Backstage Bar, Barefoot Wines, Bossa Nova, Café Zao, The Capital Grille, Dozen, F. Tambellini’s Ristorante, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Company and MolsonCoors Brewing Company, GIVE Water & GIVE Energy, Mahoney’s Restaurant, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Melange Bistro Bar, Palazzo Ristorante, Seviche and Sonoma Grille.
Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh is also the part of a 25-week celebration of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s 25th Anniversary. Founded in 1984, the Trust has led the way for the creation and ongoing development of Pittsburgh’s award-winning Cultural District. Utilizing the arts as a means for transforming a formerly blighted downtown area, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust today welcomes over a million visitors annually to thousands of performances, gallery exhibitions and community events.
In addition to Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh, the Trust presents the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series; Pittsburgh Dance Council; Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater; First Night Pittsburgh and Three Rivers Arts Festival among other events. Additionally, the Trust owns and operates Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O’Reilly, and Harris Theaters; Wood Street Galleries; SPACE, a visual arts gallery at 812 Liberty Avenue; 707 and 709 Penn Galleries; and 937 Liberty, a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown arts facilities.
Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh is presented with generous support from sponsors UPMC, Southwest.com, ALCO Parking Corporation and McCory & McDowell, LLC.
For a more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit pgharts.org/cosmopgh or call the Box Office at Theater Square at 412-456-6666.
###

Whiskey Rebellion Walking Tour at Woodville Plantation

June 18, 2009

>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

>

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rob Windhorst
412-221-0348

rwindhorst19@comcast.net

>

QUICK FACTS:

Event: A Unique Walking Lecture: The Whiskey Rebellion

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2009

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Place: Woodville Plantation, 1375 Washington Pike, Bridgeville, PA 15017

Cost: Free

>

WOODVILLE PLANTATION HOSTS SPECIAL EVENT
A UNIQUE WALKING LECTURE: THE WHISKEY REBELLION
>

BRIDGEVILLE, PA (June 18, 2009) – On Saturday, July 18, 2009, the public is invited to join the soldiers of Wayne’s Fourth Sub-Legion as they return to Bower Hill for the first time since 1794. This special event will verbally and visually recreate the momentous events that occurred during the Whiskey Rebellion on Bower Hill in July of 1794. The walk will be lead by re-enactors portraying the soldiers sent from Fort Fayette (Pittsburgh) to defend Bower Hill and the Neville family from local insurgents. These uniformed historians will discuss the dramatic events that culminated in the burning of one of the largest and well-furnished homes in Western Pennsylvania at the time.

>

Lasting approximately 1 mile, the walk will begin at 11 am at the Bower Hill state historical marker located on the peak of Bower Hill, near the parking lot between Our Lady of Grace Church and Kane Regional Nursing Center on Kane Blvd. The walk will continue along the Scott Conservancy trail adjacent to the Jewish Community Center, follow the Neville trail to the Whiskey Point trailhead and conclude at Old St. Luke’s Church. Topics covered include the Bower Hill plantation, Neville family, soldiers of Wayne’s Legion, whiskey rebels and the Whiskey Rebellion itself. The walk is free of charge, but donations can be made to the Scott Conservancy.

>

Following the walk, participants are invited join the soldiers of Wayne’s Legion at Woodville Plantation to experience camp life as it was lived by the U.S. Army in 1794. The camp will be open to the public on Saturday, July 18, from 1 pm to 5 pm, and on Sunday, July 19, from noon to 5 pm. Special admission price for the encampment and house tour is $3.00.

>

Woodville Plantation, the home of John and Presley Neville, is Western Pennsylvania’s link to the late 18th century. Built in 1775, this living history museum interprets life during the period of 1780-1820, the Era of the New Republic. Guided tours of the house are available every Sunday from 1 to 4 pm.

>

Just 7 miles and 15 minutes south of Pittsburgh, Woodville is conveniently located 1/4 mile north of Interstate I-79 Exit 55 (Kirwin Heights Exit) on Route 50, near the intersection of Thoms Run Road. For further directions or for more information, please visit Woodville’s website at http://www.woodvilleplantation.org or call 412-221-0348.

>


-END-