Day 384 Hadestown-Greek Myth Set in a Speakeasy-Like an Tragic Opera, Music Enchants

Hadestown kicks off the second show of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season. This is not your typical feel-good musical but akin to a tragic opera. Like watching an opera, my focus was drawn not to the story, but the music and elaborate set. Hadestown is loosely based on a Greek myth. The songwriter, Opheus, falls in love with Eurydice and tires to rescue her from underworld where Hades, god of the dead, rules with Perephone, goddess of the seasons and flowers. The kick is that the myth is set in a speakeasy. The gospel and  jazz ballads like opera’s arias, tell the story and enchant (listen here).

Day 383- November 19, 2022 -Pittsburgh Light up Night- The City dazzles, Make Holiday Traditions and Be a Kid Again

 

Pittsburgh's Light up Night does just that, it illuminates this city’s Golden Triangle which is a spectacular sight from the top of Mt Washington. This year is the 61^st Anniversary Celebration of Highmark Light Up Night 2022, Presented by Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. This official kick off to the holiday season  started on November 21, 1960. It continues to dazzle with lights, music, food and a blast of fireworks. Make it  a  Holiday tradition and  it will make you feel like a kid again.

Day 382 A Bronx Tale, One Man Show-Palminteri’s Tale- Those Who Mold Us

 

 In this one one man stage play, actor Chazz Palminteri born, Calogero Lornezo Palminteri, brings to life 18 characters.  It is his narrative of growing up in a tough New York neighborhood in the 1960’s where the flashy Italian Mob ruled the streets. In contrast, the working man had just enough money to make ends meet.  I did not know that the 1993 film, "A Bronx Tale" was born out of Palminteri’s one man show with the same name. He also wrote the hit "Bronx Tale-The Musical" which debuted in 2016.  This is one powerful story that can successfully capture so many genres. Maybe it is so impactful because it resonates with the relational influences in our young lives, our heroes and those who help mold us into adults.