Friday, November 23, 2018

Day 309 Fiddler on The Roof- Family, Love, Faith, Traditions


Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964 winning 8 Tony awards, is one of those iconic musicals that many of us have either experienced on the stage (since it’s a favorite high school production) or at the movies (classic 1971 film). It tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, that tries to maintain his family’s Jewish religious and cultural traditions as his world and his community changes in 1905 Russia. It’s a play packed with masterful songs  that  celebrates family, love, faith, and the traditions that give a sense of belonging and stability during life changes and even hardships.


Monday, November 12, 2018

Day 308 Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra Wrapped Up The International Festival of Firsts with Liberation- A Jazz Explosion




On November 11, 2018, Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts  (Day 300) wrapped up 8 weeks of never before seen shows from around with world with  LiberationThis show featured The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra (PJO) together with trumpet player Sean Jones. PJO brought together an assembly of Pittsburgh’s best jazz artists for a celebration of jazz and to premier a new commissioned composition. This show was a jazz explosion and a dedication to all artists.  

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Day 307 Hansel & Gretel-Pittsburgh Opera-Tap Into Your Childhood




The opera, Hansel &Gretel, is based on the fairy tale by Brothers Grimm.  We all know the story of the siblings who become lost in an enchanted forest, encounter the gingerbread house and  must fend off the witch  who turns children into gingerbread before she eats them. This Opera by Engelbart Humperdinck (not the singer) was  originally written in the 1800’s in German but Pittsburgh Opera performed it in English. It was an evening to kick back and tap into your childhood as you enjoyed this playful night of music. 

Day 306-Beethoven on Period Instruments-Chatham Baroque- Early Classical Chamber Music



My blog inspiration book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book recommends that we “Take in some culture once in a while”.  That is just what  you get with the Chatham Baroque Concert Series  that showcases music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and Early Classical periods (roughly 1200 to 1800).  

The concert, Beethoven: the music for piano and cello was a rare opportunity to hear Beethoven’s music on the period instruments of his time with guests Dutch cellist Jasp ter Linden and historical fortepiano expert David Breitman. It was a night back in time with music played the way  that it was done in the 1700-1800’s!

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Day 305-Espaece-International Festival of First-Unique Canvas


For the last 7 weeks the International Festival of Firsts  has  brought  never before seen shows spanning the globe to Pittsburgh. This festival celebrates  the idea that "there is more that unites than divides us".

Espaece  was a US premiere work of origin from France created by theater director AurĂ©lien Bory. Spatial awareness was his canvas  for  this visual art. Using acrobatic dancers, actors, an opera singer, a flexible wall and more, he created a unique stage experience that focused on man's placement in a space.

Saturday, November 3, 2018

November Preview of Events

(This November I mixed in some of  Pittsburgh's most  unique shows to add fuel to my passion for new experiences. I hope that you will continue to join me on this journey of  "newness". )


Sweat-Pittsburgh Public Theater-Nov 8- Dec 9, 2018 at O’Rielly Theater




Sweat is a 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning play about the struggles of the Olstead’s Steel Tubing workers in Reading, Pennsylvania. This play dives into the lives of nine close friends in 2000 to 2008 as they face the consequences of the troubled economy. 


Join me for Sweat, a powerful drama, which runs from  Nov 8 through Dec 9th at the O’Rielly Theater. For tickets go to ppt.org

(Blog post here)