Day 335- Spamilton: An American Parody- An Atomic Toast to Broadway-CLO

The January “ticket” in Pittsburgh was Hamilton and now we have a summer of CLO’s Spamilton: An American Parody at the intimate Greer Cabaret Theater.  This city, like others, was a bit crazed during the run of Hamilton and I wondered if this parody would just be a show riding on the coattails of a hit. Spamilton was more like an atomic bomb of action, song, wit, and dance that played homage to the birth of this musical and other Broadway shows. It was a cocktail of fun and laughter.

Day 334- Scuba Diving with South Florida Diving Headquarters – Underwater Exploration--Lauderdale by the Sea

My Blog inspiration book, Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book, reminds us to “dare to explore.” The ocean is one of  man’s last exploration frontiers. Although I have a quest for adventure, my fear of being several feet under a wall of water has kept me content as a land dweller viewing ocean life safely from behind the glass of the zoo or aquarium.  I never thought that I would have the courage to dive into the world below. Everything seemed to be in alignment for my first underwater expedition during my recent  trip to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea (Day 330) with its coral reefs and a shipwreck approachable in relatively shallow water (15 -30 feet) coupled with the friendly and reassuring staff of South Florida Diving Headquarters. 

Day 333 Mingled Visions-Photographic Exploration of Native Americans past and present-Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Edward Curtis dedicated his life to making a record of Native North Americans 

 As a lover of art, I am always looking for new venues to explore my passion. I recently discovered  the Westmoreland Museum of American Art  in Greensburg (Pennsylvania’s only museum dedicated  to American Art).  Admission is free in an effort to promote its mission to “share compelling and meaningful cultural experiences that open the door to new ideas, perspectives and possibilities.”  The exhibit, Mingled Visions, did just that by sharing the  Native American culture from both a historical and contemporary angle through the lenses of Edward Curtis  and Will Wilson.

Day 332 Billy Kidd "Bridging the Gap"-Liberty Magic Brings a Rainbow of Magical Experiences

Since February, Liberty Magic has  attracted distinguished slight of hand performers  to its intimate venue of 70 seats.  Entering a lobby that pays homage to Harry Houdini with a replica of his famous Chinese Water Torture Illusion, you are reminded that  your experience will take flight in the same block  where Houdini  captivated Pittsburgh crowds in 1916.

Day 331- Second Annual Cultured Cocktails at Benedum -A Toast to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust  recently hosted their second annual cocktail party, Cultured Cocktails.  This was Pittsburgh’s biggest cocktail party with entertainment, signature drinks paired with food samples from over 15 trendy restaurants, and more.  I was excited to raise a glass and  toast  the Trust that has enriched this city with inventive and diverse programming in music, dance, theater, art, jazz and even magic. 

Day 330-“Plunge In” at Lauderdale By the Sea- A Convenient way to Relax or Find an Adventure Anytime of the Year

 Lauderdale By The Sea (LBTS) is a gem of a place where you can get away from Pittsburgh and not break the piggy bank. Since my discovery, I have repeated my excursions in every season because it’s a place with the perfect cocktail of small town and adventure. The Plunge Beach Hotel with its artistic flair, location and amenities, makes it convenient to  “plunge into” some relaxation and fun at this destination. 

Day 329 -Pittsburgh Opera- Don Pasquale-Season Ends with a Party

I have become a new fan of  opera in this empty nest period and have added the Pittsburgh Opera to my list of repeated theatrical experiences.  I have learned that in most operas  the bold melodies accompany dramatic scenes and tragic endings. The Pittsburgh Opera  switches it up by ending the 2018-19 season with  the Italian opera, Don Pasquale -a show that replaces a tragic ending with a party.  

May Preview

Indecent-Pittsburgh Public Theater-April 18-May 19, 2019- O-Reilly Theater

Indecent is a play with traditional Jewish music that introduces the history of Yiddish Theater. It is based on a true story and tells the chronological highlights of a young Jewish writer’s 1906 play God of Vengeance written about the love between two women.  This play was wildly popular throughout  Europe but its edited  Broadway version caused controversy and jail time for the cast.

Join me for Indecent -a play with music- that introduces the Yiddish Theater experience. For tickets go to ppt.org.          .

Day 328- Easter Sunrise Service at Lauderdale By the Sea- Peaceful Reflection and Renewal

Spring and Easter are reminders that something new is happening. Spring revitalizes our northern surroundings with sprouts  of green and the season’s first  daffodils and hyacinths, as Easter for many is a holiday that brings  personal revitalization.  

A few years ago, I stumbled upon Lauderdale by the Sea,  a beach town sandwiched between Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale. It  is a  place that welcomes you and invites you to relax. I joined about 500 others at the town’s  annual  sunrise service on the beach for a few moments of peaceful refection and personal renewal.

Day 326-Pittsburgh Public Theater -A Doll’s House Part 2-A Period Comedy that Burst Open the Complexities of Marriage

A Doll's House Part 2 is an imagined sequel to Henrick Isben’s classic 1879 play, A Doll's House.  Isben ended his play (140 years ago) with Nora slamming the door as she left Torvald, her overbearing husband and three children. This was a gutsy and groundbreaking move for a character in the 1800’s. Many wondered what became of  Nora who was navigating

solo two centuries ago.

In  A Doll's  House Part 2 playwright Lucas Hnath picks up the story 15 years later. Nora not only survived on her own,but in many ways flourished. Her return stirs up the lives of those that she left behind in this comedic drama that contemplates the complex nature of marriage. 

Day 325-Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra-Hector Berlioz's Damnation of Faust- Musical Powerhouse of Good and Evil

I have experienced the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) in the past but never such a larger than life  production as  Hector Berlioz's  Damnation of Faust.   Manfred Honceck conducted 4 opera soloists, 170 choir members and the 98 piece Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.  It was a  musical powerhouse performance of good and evil.