Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Stay Safe-Just an Intermission


Who would have thought  that a virus could cause such a life paradigm shift  in a few months. As we all navigate though this pandemic, I find comfort in the Pittsburgh Trust's sign- "This is Just Intermission".  I am looking forward to exploring the Trust's 2020-21 Broadway season (preview here), the Pittsburgh CLO and more, when its safe to be back.

 I took a small hiatus to regroup in March but stay tuned for upcoming blogs. We are all living a new experience each day during this pandemic but my hope is  that the upcoming blogs will help you  make the best of it each day.

Stay healthy and safe.

Blog post "This is Just Intermission..." here


The Book of Merman -January 30-March 8, 2020-Greer Cabaret Theater


The CLO at the Cabaret Theater is one of my favorite ways to experience musical theater at an affordable price. The light hearted shows always seem to produce an evening of fun and  laughter (see Day 335 and 254) . Sitting at intimate  tables of  four, you can make new friends, enjoy a bite to eat and sip a drink before the show.

 The Book of Merman, is sure to be another fun filled night when two Mormon missionaries  try to recruit  Ethel Merman. I am excited to see the merger of the hit Broadway musical (Book of Mormon) and  the powerhouse  Broadway diva, Ethel Merman, in this new musical comedy.  

Join me January 30 to March 8th at the Greer Cabaret Theater for a night of “no business like show business.” For Tickets go trustarts.org.

Cats-Feb 25, 2020 – March 1, 2020-Benedum Theater



Cats, based on T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats was one of my favorite shows in the 80’s.  It’s a musical that  energizes with non stop dancing, artistic costumes  and a beautiful musical score by Andrew Loyd Webber.

Join me for a night where the cats come out at the Jellicle Ball on February 25, 2020-March 1, 2020 at Benedum Theater. For tickets go to trustarts.org.

(Read blog post here)

Hollywoodland:Songs of the Silver Screen with Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch- Greer Cabaret Theater -Monday February 10, 2020.


Trust Cabaret Series brings top notch recording and Broadway talent to the cabaret for intimate evenings of music. Hollywoodland:Songs of the Silver Screen brings together three powerhouse vocalists, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso (originally from Pittsburgh) and singer-pianist Billy Stritch. The classic Hollywood musicals of the 1940's and 1950 where Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland and others sang and danced were magical entertainment.  


Join me for a night of cabaret and classic songs of the silver screen on Feb 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm or at 9:30 pm at the Greer Cabaret Theater. For tickets go trustarts.org.

(Read Blog Post here)


Medieval Music of Sequentia- “Charms, Riddles and Elegies of Medieval Northlands”- January 14, 2020-PNC Theater at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh’s Playhouse (350 Forbes Ave).

    Norbert Rodenkirchen (wooden and bone flutes, harp), Stef Conner (voice),
Benjamin Bagby (voice and Anglo-Saxon harp), Hanna Marti (voice and harps)

 This is a chance to experience something very unique in the new year-Medieval Music. The group, Sequentia (vocalists, harpists and flutist) will perform Old English riddles, charms, elegies (poems of serious reflection) and medieval songs. This collective performance will have humor and sometimes risqué  lyrics and songs “based on beats because music was never written down in any of the Anglo-Saxon and Old Germanic Languages.”

Join me for a little history and a unique experience with the sounds Medieval times with Sequentia “Charms, Riddles and Elegies of Medieval Northlands” on January 14, 2020 at PNC Theater at Point Park University's Pittsburgh Play House.  This concert is part of the Chatham Baroque/Renaissance Baroque series, for tickets  go here.

Read more in blog post here.

Phipps Conservatory- Holiday Magic-November 29, 2019-January 12, 2020


The Holiday Season often involves that panic rush feeling "to get it all done.” We forget as my blog inspiration book, “Everything I Learned About Christmas, I Learned From A Little Golden Book”, reminds us that Christmas should be a “time of wonder, a time like no other time of the year.”   At Phipps Conservatory,  the beauty brings back the wonder of the season as you navigate through the 8 rooms of nature infused with lights, Christmas trees and  poinsettias,  as well as 6 permanent  botanical  gardens.

Join me for Holiday Magic at Phipps Conservatory and share the wonder of the season (for Tickets go to phippsconservatory.org). 

Experience these festive events with me or in the blog posts that follow. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Read more in the blog post here.

Jesus Christ Superstar-December  31- January 5, 2020-Benedum Center


What better way to start off the new year than with this new production of Jesus Christ Superstar that that won the 2017 Olivier Award winning Best Musical Revival. This musical takes us back to the final weeks of Christ’s life as viewed by disgruntled Judas This iconic rock opera, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is full of “Superstar” music: “ Everything’s Alright,” “I don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Superstar.” (view here here)

Join me for this 50th anniversary production of Jesus Christ Superstar from December 31 to January, 5, 2020 (for tickets go to trustarts.org).

Forever Plaid -Pittsburgh CLO- October 31-December 29,2019- Greer Cabaret Theater


In this hit musical, the 1950’s male musical group “The Plaids” who met their demise in a car crash are revived to give the musical performance that never was. It’s a night of  laughs and classic harmonies with 1950’s hits: “Catch a Falling Star,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” “Magic Moments” and more.


Join me in for a nostalgic night or to hear these song for the first time in this hilarious comedy (for ticket go  trustarts.org). 

Read more in blog post here.

Highmark Holiday Pops-December 13-22-Heinz Hall


The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choir, Broadway star Ashly Brown and various other vocal soloists, come together for an explosion of holiday cheer at the yearly Highmark Holiday POPS.  There is nothing like the full sound of the orchestra to augment musical holiday favorites and I love a sing along!  This should be another perfect reprieve from shopping and all that preparing that we all seem to be doing this time of year.  

Deck the halls with me on weekends December 13-15 and December 20-22 at Heinz Hall (for tickets go to pittsburghsymphony.org.) 

Read more in Blog Post here.

Home For the Holidays-December 17, 2019 -Benedum Center 


Home for the Holidays is a concert featuring some of Pittsburgh’s best talent as they come home for the Holidays. This event benefits the Pittsburgh Food Bank and celebrates the season mixing rock, blues and soul in a night of Holiday musical classics with: 

Kevin  Garrett, Clinton Clegg, Scott Blasey, Lyndsey Smith, Billy Price, Margot Bingham, Joy Ike, Anthony Jardine, Jimbo Jackson, Morgan Erina and John Schisler  and more special guests.

Join me on December 17, 2019 for a musical celebration when Pittsburgh’s best come “Home for the Holidays” (for ticket go to trustarts.org).   

Read more in the blog post here.