Be our guest on this episode about Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s production of Beauty and the Beast, at the Byham November 7th to the 10th.
Resident Music Director of Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Dr. Francesca Tortorello discusses her role in the show conducting 40 musicians from Pittsburgh Public’s Creative and Performing Arts Magnet school (CAPA). Francesca also talks about the 79 young artists from Pittsburgh Musical Theater performing on stage, and how working with all the students is fun.
Francesca highlights her start at PMT over 9 years ago, and how merging her background as a collaborative pianist with musical theater has been amazing. She also just recently performed a Brahms trio with her husband, Pittsburgh Symphony cellist Michael DeBruyn, and PSO clarinetist Ron Samuels.
Visit https://pittsburghmusicals.com/beautyandthebeast/ to learn more and find tickets for this fantastical show!
Join us while we sit down with artist Jason LaCroix to talk about his upcoming exhibition, Night Shifts, opening Friday, November 1st at PULLPROOF Studio.
Jason graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art in 2002, then made his way to Pittsburgh in 2009. He talks about being a stay at home dad, First Fridays, and his relationship with PullProof Studio in Garfield.
Visit https://www.pullproof.studio/ to learn more about the exhibition, and find Jason at https://www.jasonlacroix.com/bio or on Instagram.
Carnegie Mellon University student harpist, Arilyn Mitchell, and flutist, Evan Curatolo, talk about their upcoming concert with the Pittsburgh Concert Society on Sunday, November 3rd at 2 pm at the Kresge Theater.
They discuss the three short French pieces for flute and harp they will perform during the concert, and how they started performing together two years ago after Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra harpist, Gretchen Van Hosen, put them together.
They also talk about their transition into their instruments at a young age. Arilyn switched from the flute to the harp, and never looked back. Evan transitioned from piano and saxophone to the flute in high school, starting out on a homemade flute made from pvc pipe. Both are looking forward to being back on the Kresge stage together.
Visit https://pittsburghconcertsociety.org/ to learn more.
Chairman of the Farina Foundation, Frank Farina III, spoke about the success of the fall fundraising effort which involved WQED-FM listeners in contributing to the plan to repair musical instruments for young musicians in schools around Western Pennsylvania.
Frank accepted the check from WQED-FM for over $1000 and spoke about the latest work of the Foundation. He remembers his late father who was in charge of music at North Allegheny High School and inspired his students.
Visit https://farinafoundation.org/ to learn more!
Artist Cory Bonnet is at it again!
Cory and owner of ZYNKA Gallery, Jeff Jarzynka, discuss their collaboration in an upcoming exhibition entitled WORK(S), opening on November 2nd and going until December 22nd. There is an opening reception on November 2nd from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Cory talks about how he created this artwork that is very different from his usual work, that includes sketching on butcher paper. Jeff talks about seeing these pieces on social media, and wanting to create an exhibition from this new work.
Jeff also highlights why he started the gallery in Sharpsburg, and Cory teases his work in an exhibition for the upcoming 250th birthday of America in 2026.
Visit zynkagallery.com to learn more. The gallery is free and open to the public from Thursdays – Saturday between 11am and 4pm, and on Sundays from 12 pm – 4 pm.
Today we draw the curtain back to hear about Quantum Theatre’s adaptation of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: An Out of the Box Theatrical Experience. This show runs from November 1st to the 24th at the Union Trust Building.
Actors Sara Lindsey and Nick Lehane talk about the play, the play within the play, and how they both were drawn into this show. They also talk about their characters, Franz and Hannah, navigating the world amidst a sudden and dark disappearance.
Conversation abounds with highlights in the show, and a quick side conversation about Primanti Bros. Nick, being a life-long Pittsburgh, asks kindly for vegan options.
You can find this unique theatrical event at https://www.quantumtheatre.com/caligari/. Tread lightly, this tale might haunt you long after the curtain draws to a close.
Prime Stage Theatre is taking us deep into the Victorian age with Charles Dickens as our guide.
Artistic Director, Wayne Brinda, and PR Director Lawrence McCullough, spoke about their upcoming production of Great Expectations at the New Hazlett Theater from November 1st to the 10th.
Wayne talks his hunt for finding a British adaptation of the great novel, and about November 2nd’s virtual post-show discussion with the great great grandson of Charles Dickens, Mark Dickens. Lawrence talks about his play First Mothers: The Women Who Raised America’s Presidents, which will premiere on Monday, November 4th when Great Expectations is off the stage for the night.
Visit https://primestage.com/ to learn more.
Looking for some Vegan events coming up soon in Pittsburgh?
Look no further than The Original Pittsburgh Vegan Festival and Expo! Founder, Amy Cottrill, and paranormal investigator, Randall Cole, talk about their upcoming collaboration in The 2nd Annual Pittsburgh Halloween Festival at the South Park Fairgrounds on November 1st from 5 to 11 pm.
Randall talks about the paranormal group his is a part of called the Bump in the Night Society. They will be offering a paranormal workshop and investigation during the Halloween Festival. Randall also shares his most spookiest story of hearing a disembodied voice singing.
Amy also talks about the many other various events that the Original Pittsburgh Vegan Festival and Expo do throughout the rest of the year, including a German market with a gingerbread house competition and Monday Night Chill Lounge at Antonio’s Pizzeria in Brookline every Monday night.
Visit https://pittsburghvegan.com/other-events/ to see all of the amazing events happening in the Vegan community, and visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1634027234060690 for more information about the Halloween Festival. You can find Bump in the Night Society on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bumpinthenightsociety.
Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, Rebecca Catelinet, spoke in this episode about a new project in Johnstown called Hope Springs Eternal: The Holocaust Project. As a part of this project, there will be a community performance of the Broadway smash hit Fiddler on the Roof on November 1st and 2nd at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.
Dance along to this toe-tapping performance, and make sure to visit From Darkness to Light: Mosaic Art of Hope from Tragedy at the Pasquerilla Center. This exhibition features a mosaic that pays homage to the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in 2018.
Rebecca also discusses the mission of the project, and what she hopes people will gain from this project.
Visit https://hopespringseternalproject.com/ to learn more about the project and find tickets for Fiddler on the Roof.
The Confluence Ballet Company is back with some new faces.
New Co-Artistic Directors Adrian Green and Elena Cvetkovich, and new company artist Autumn B-C, discuss their two performances this year, and the new direction of the company. Their first performance, Confluence, will be October 25th and 26th at the Glitterbox Theater, with their second performance, the Jazz Nutcracker, on December 14th and 15th.
Autumn talks about her choregraphed pieces in the show, and her love of the company after joining and graduating last year. Adrian highlights his choreographed piece that takes inspiration from the name, Confluence, and how working with a Pittsburgh musician, Chris Catone, for this piece has been rewarding yet challenging. Elena talks about her vision for the ballet company, and focusing on artists first in creating shows throughout the season.
Visit https://www.confluenceballet.org/ to learn more about Confluence Ballet Company.
It’s the magical world of Peter Pan, brought to life on the stage!
Performers Jonathan Breight and Colin McCaslin, spoke with host Jim Cunningham about the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s upcoming production of Peter Pan, from October 25th to the 27th at the Benedum Center.
Jonathan talks about the challenging choreography as a ‘feral’ Peter Pan, while Colin discusses his larger than life portrayal of Captain Hook. They both talk about the expressive dance that conveys a child’s spirit, and the lessons of balancing adulthood and childlike wonder that this timeless tale imparts. Both highlight their background as performers, and what it means to them to perform with PBT.
Visit pbt.org/ to learn more and find tickets for Peter Pan! Journey to Neverland!
Sit down with Debbie Jacknin of Songbird Artistry to talk about the shop’s most recent exhibition, Flight of Empowerment: Celebrating the Journey and Strength of Women. Debbie talks about the start of Songbird Artistry, and the eclectic pieces of art they have in their shop. Debbie highlights the Flight of Empowerment exhibition that features 13 different artists and captures the complexities of balancing work and life, honoring the legacies of the women who came before, and encouraging the women who follow.
Visit https://www.songbirdartistry.com/ to learn more about the shop and Flight of Empowerment.