Pittsburgh Owlscribe

  Christmas Eve Eve (no spell check, this is not a double entry, it's the eve of Christmas eve), I attended Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's production of "The Nutcracker," the third different Nutcracker I went to this month. What a great way to experience the holidays, such beautiful music, dancing costumes and sets! Here are some interesting facts I discovered about the PBT Nutcracker taken from an announcement to prepare patrons before the performance: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre makes its current version of the beloved classic uniquely Pittsburgh-connected by including more than 13 different “easter eggs” that only a true “yinzer” might catch. In 2002, former artistic director Terrence S. Orr conceived and choreographed this Pittsburgh-themed version of The Nutcracker and the company has performed this version each year since. Note: There is only 4 more PBT performances of the Nutcracker this month- December 26 - 28. 1. Kaufmann’s Clock Founded in the 1870s in downtown P...

The Adam Lee Morgan Band Credit: photo taken from website adamleemorgan.com For the second year in a row, I sat through a concert by the Adam Lee Morgan Jazz Band at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall in Carnegie. The 15-member ensemble performed Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s The Nutcracker Suite , not in the order Tchaikovsky wrote it but in the order Ellington or Strayhorn did, according to band leader Adam Lee Morgan.           The concert hall held one of the largest audiences I’ve ever seen in the space, and the crowd was definitely in a festive mood, which made everything even more effervescent. Morgan introduced each section of the concert, which made it more interesting and many members of the band had solos in which to display their talent. A quick review of the evening’s program showed that the caliber of the musicians is noteworthy. Many of the players teach at places like Duquesne University or Washington a...

  Now Available Seat naming opportunities are now available in the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) theater, offering supporters a legacy-giving opportunity to make a meaningful and visible investment in one of the nation’s largest Black multidisciplinary arts centers. Offered as part of AWAACC’s Fuel the Future Fundraising Drive supporting the Center’s mission and long-term sustainability, the seat dedication program invites donors to honor loved ones, commemorate milestones, or affirm their commitment to Black arts and culture. Each dedicated seat serves as a lasting tribute within AWAACC’s theater and reflects a shared belief in the power of storytelling, performance, and creative expression. “A seat dedication is both deeply personal and forward-looking,” said Janis Burley, President & CEO and Artistic Director of the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. “It’s a meaningful way to honor someone special and make a gift that continues to g...

        May your holidays be filled with peace and joy. Please note: Our office and galleries will be closed from December 24 through January 4 and will reopen on January 5, 2026. A Season of Making:  Reflections on 2025 Member Features from the  Touchstone Members Exhibition As the year comes to a close, we’ve been spending time listening — really listening — to the artists who make Touchstone what it is. Over the past several weeks, we’ve shared a series of  Member Features , each offering a glimpse into the creative lives, processes, and perspectives of artists with work in the  2025 Touchstone Members Exhibition . These conversations were conducted over email, thoughtfully and generously, with help from Touchstone Communications Committee members, Andrew Thornton and Erica Nuckles. They’ve become something we didn’t fully anticipate: a quiet archive of why people come to Touchstone, why they stay, and how making fits into their lives. If you missed the exhib...