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  Isn’t it amusing to think that the 12 damsels who trod the boards at Pittsburgh Playhouse’s Highmark Theater last evening weren’t even alive yet when composer lyricist Jerry Herman penned his string of hits for the Great White Way. Yet the jejune student cast, all Gen Z I’d guess, acted, danced and sang like they were quite at home performing music that dates from 1960 to 1983. And they seemed to be having a wonderful time at it to boot. Herman (1931-2019) wrote a dozen musicals for Broadway, plus five more for off-Broadway. Some, like Hello, Dolly!, Mame and La Cage aux Folles, were blockbuster hits. Others like Mack and Mabel and Parade not so much. In 1981, Herman and Larry Alford created Jerry’s Girls , a review of some of his songs that was expanded three years later to include hits from La Cage aux Folles . The latter expanded review is what is now playing at the Highmark Theatre in Downtown Pittsburgh. Jerry’s Girls opens with the entire cast on stage, dres...

  Space is Limited - Register Today! Artists: Abigail Huang, Emry Amoky, Anya Chiu, Amelia McGravey, Nathan Smith Photos: Anita Buzzy Prentiss & Justin Merriman PBT APPRENTICE SHOWCASE Saturday, March 1, 2025, 6PM Byham Center for Dance, PBT Studios 2900 Liberty Avenue , Pittsburgh RSVP by February 26. Join us for a special event showcasing PBT's Apprentices. Witness the future of the company in a one performance only showcase, held in the intimate PBT Studios.   Due to the nature of the event, space is limited and seating is granted on a first come, first served basis .   Please fill out the form in order to secure your spot. REGISTER *Refreshments served after the performance LEARN MORE PBT’s Apprentice Program provides emerging PBT company artists with opportunities to grow and excel  in their burgeoning professional dance careers. With the goal of acting as a vital bridge between formal training and careers in professional ballet, PBT apprentices re...

  making the music of the past present This Week: Catch the Excitement for Pittsburgh's World Premiere of Bach's  Markus Passion  with Free Panel Discussions  Bach, Brats, & Beer Thursday, February 20  • 6:00-7:15 PM Teutonia Männerchor, Deutschtown Join Chatham Baroque and our expert panelists for an engaging discussion about the world premiere of Johann Sebastian Bach's Markus Passion in Pittsburgh. We'll explore the intriguing story of how the work was lost by Bach's publisher, how editor Malcolm Bruno recreated it using Bach's original music, and consider the work from a Baroque music perspective. Enjoy a mix of history, music, beer, and brats in the cozy Ratskeller of Teutonia Männerchor for an informative and fun evening. Food and beverage service available for purchase. PANELISTS James Cassaro, Musicologist and University of Pittsburgh Music Librarian Emeritus Pascale Beaudin, soprano and Baroque music specialist Andrew Fouts, Chatham Baroque Co-...

I've never before felt any sort of jealousy for actors. I've been enlightened, thrilled, entertained, intellectually challenged, sorrowed and overwhelmed with emotion by their craft. But I've never felt jealousy before seeing "Trouble in Mind," the current offering at Pittsburgh Public Theater. The emotion struck me when the cast came back on stage for their curtain call and a feeling of jubilation washed over the theater. You could see it in the faces of the actors and hear it in the applause and shouts of approval and appreciation from the audience. The actors seemed to realize they were a part of a magnificent theatrical effort and were jubilant (there's that word again) awash in the ecstasy created by the excellence of their collaborative endeavor. For at least a minute, an electric wave of Dionysian energy swept over the crowd, and I, too, was caught up in the moment.     Then came the emotional segue in which I realized that I had never (and probably nev...

  The cast of Birthday Candles (L to R): Deena Aziz, Gavin Lawrence, José Perez, Andrew William Smith, Saige Smith, Robin Walsh.      Cast includes returning veterans with City Theatre credits spanning decades—   perfect for this generation-traveling play.      City Theatre announces the fourth show of the 2024/2025  season, Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle   and directed by Marc Masterson. Masterson, who retired as co-artistic director in June, after returning to the organization after 20 years in 2018, will direct his 51st City Theatre production in his career (he most recently directed Andy Warhol in Iran by Brent Askari in 2024).      Birthday Candles premiered on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on April 10, 2022. This hilarious and heartwarming 90-minute play follows one woman’s life, one birthday at a time.      "This beautiful play celebrates rituals and connections o...