Ballet Under the Stars Performance at Hartwood Acres

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                          
July 17, 2012

Contact: Meghan McNamara
Marketing Coordinator
412-454-9117
mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Sets Stage for 2012-2013 Season 

with Free “Ballet Under the Stars” Performance at Hartwood Acres 

(Pittsburgh, PA) –  Gather your blankets and picnic chairs, and relax under the stars for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 24th annual open air  performance at the Hartwood Acres Middle Road Concert Area on Thursday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. with pre-performance activities beginning at 5 p.m.

As part of the Allegheny Summer Concert Series, PBT will perform a free evening of mixed repertoire by August Bournonville, George Balanchine and Dwight Rhoden. Prior to the performance, PBT will host a variety of free, family activities and  a VIP picnic dinner under the PBT tent.

Sponsored by the County of Allegheny, PBT’s Hartwood Acres performance sets in motion the anticipation of a new ballet season, which this year premieres with Giselle with the PBT Orchestra, onstage Oct. 26-28, 2012 at the Benedum Center. During Ballet Under the Stars, audience members will have access to an exclusive pre-sale for single tickets to 2012-2013 Season productions before individual tickets officially go on sale Sept. 4.

Free Performance — 7:30 p.m.

For the first time, PBT will bring the Mediterranean color of Napoli Variations to the stage with choreography from Act III of August Bournonville’s classic romantic ballet set to music by E. Helsted, Gade and Paulli.

In Sylvia Pas de Deux, George Balanchine keeps the tradition of a grand pas de deux in the French style, with an adagio, variations and a coda. Set to a sumptuous composition by Léo Delibes, this is the ideal vehicle for virtuoso performances.

The company also will perform the cutting-edge Chromatic, a 2012 Pittsburgh world premiere created on PBT dancers by choreographer Dwight Rhoden. Set to music by Johann S. Bach, Rhoden melds the classical ornamentation of the Baroque era with contemporary and athletic movement in an abstract piece that mirrors the constant motion of modern life.

Free Pre-Performance Family Activities — 5 p.m.
PBT invites audience members to arrive at 5 p.m. for  free family activities, including a ballerina dress up station, character greetings and photo opportunities, themed crafts by PBT and the Boyd Community Center and dance activities with PBT School instructors.

Annual VIP Picnic — 5 p.m.
PBT will host a savory summer barbecue under the PBT Tent sponsored by Yelp and Clique Vodka in celebration of the upcoming 2012-2013 Season.  While mingling with PBT’s company dancers, guests will enjoy live music and cocktails before heading to reserved stage-front performance seating. Tickets are available for $75 for adults and $20 for children. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Shayne Souleret at 412-454-9137.

For photos or interviews, please contact Meghan McNamara at 412-454-9117 or mmcnamara@pittsburghballet.org.
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Pittsburgh Blues Festival Line-Up Announced

Line-Up for 17th Annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival Announced


Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has completed the 2011 musical line-up for the Pittsburgh Blues Festival, presented by First Commonwealth. The 17th Annual Festival is scheduled for July 22-24, 2011, once again at Hartwood Acres.


Since Saturday night’s headliner, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, was announced April 14th, their tour has been garnering rave reviews at every stop. Also playing on Saturday will be the 2011 Blues Caravan “Girls With Guitars” tour, this year composed of hot new blues talents Dani Wilder, Samantha Fish and Cassie Taylor. Lionel Young is known for a “blues boogie-woogie” sound made unique by his virtuoso blues violin. John Nemeth, Blues Festival Guide’s 2011 cover artist, is another blues up-and-comer, who one critic says is “Hands down the toughest young harp player I’ve ever heard.”

On Sunday the Blues Festival welcomes the legendary Tommy Castro, making a return appearance at the Blues Festival fresh from winning 2010 Blues Music Awards for Band of the Year, Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Best Contemporary Blues Album (Hard Believer), and being named B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. One more act on Sunday is in final negotiation and will be posted on the website as soon as possible.

Finally, the one and only Johnny Winter will close the Festival on Sunday night. Since his first self-titled album in 1969, Winter has made “blues rock music for the angels.” He has just finished his newest studio CD, is touring in Japan and headlining Blues Festivals from coast to coast.

The Blues Festival also retains its free* Friday opening night. This year’s theme is “Girl’s Night Out,” featuring Janiva Magness, Kelly Richey, and a collection of some of Pittsburgh’s favorite women of the blues. Magness was just nominated for 4 awards at the 2011 Blues Music Awards, including Best Album, which was also Living Blues magazine’s #1 title on the chart of blues albums of the year. Richey is a songwriter and powerful, provocative guitar player whose music is “a thrilling mix of blues-powered rock.”

Pittsburgh Blues Festival also features a host of local blues talent, an active and creative KidZone, and food and merchandise vendors. Fans used to attending the regular Hartwood Sunday night free concerts with their coolers are asked to remember that the Pittsburgh Blues Festival is a fundraiser for Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and all proceeds go to providing food assistance for those in need.

Pittsburgh Blues Festival takes place July 22-24 at Hartwood Acres. Visit the Blues website at www.pghblues.comfor ticket information; tickets are on sale now.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is indebted to Blues Festival sponsors First Commonwealth, David A Tepper Family Foundation, Allegheny County, FedEx Ground, Direct Energy, Del Monte Foods, Children’s Hospital, UPMC Health Plan, Giant Eagle, Bay Valley Foods, WDVE, WPXI-11, Comcast, Chemistry Communications, Sodexo, Armstrong Cable, Moondog’s, White Diamond Vodka, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and WYEP.

* Friday, July 22 admission to the Pittsburgh Blues Festival is free with the donation of a bag of non-perishable groceries for the Food Bank. ###