Friday, May 5, 2017

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Paris Comes to Pittsburgh via Broadway



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh Contact: Diana Roth, 412-471-8717, Roth@TrustArts.org
Pittsburgh CLO Contact: Aja Jones, 412-281-3973 ext. 224, ajones@pittsburghclo.org
PCT Images: TrustArts.org/Press
CLO Images: Press Room
User: pressroom Pswd: pittstadium


American in Paris Production Number





AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
THE MOST AWARDED NEW MUSICAL OF 2015
ANNOUNCES CASTING FOR PITTSBURGH

COMING TO PITTSBURGH CLO & PNC BROADWAY IN PITTSBURGH
MAY 30 - JUNE 11, 2017
Pittsburgh, PA • May 4, 2017  AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards®, will open in Pittsburgh on May 30 for a two-week engagement at the Benedum Center May 30 - June 11.
Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin will be played by McGee Maddox and Sara Esty. Joining them are Etai Benson (Wicked) as Adam Hochberg; Emily Ferranti (WickedDreamgirls) as Milo Davenport; Gayton Scott (Gypsy, The Women) as Madame Baurel; and Nick Spangler (The Book of MormonRogers + Hammerstein’sCinderella) as Henri Baurel.

Leigh-Ann Esty (Miami City Ballet) and Ryan Steele (NewsiesMatilda) join the cast as the Lise and Jerry alternates. Rounding out the company are: Karolina BlonskiBrittany BohnStephen BrowerRandy CastilloJessica CohenJace CoronadoAlexa De BarrAshlee DupréErika HebronChristopher M. HowardWeston Krukow, Marina LazzarettoNathalie MarrableTom MattinglyCaitlin MeighanDon NobleSayiga Eugene PeabodyAlexandra PerniceDavid ProttasDanielle SantosBradley Schlagheck,Lucas SegoviaKyle VaughnLaurie WellsDana WinkleErica Wong and Blake Zelesnikar.

American in Paris,  Arc De Triomphe


Inspired by the Academy Award-winning film, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is the romantic story about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war. Directed and choreographed by 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, the show features the music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, and a book by Craig Lucas.
The creative team also includes Tony Award-winners Bob Crowley (set and costume designer) and Natasha Katz (lighting designer); Jon Weston (sound designer); 59 Productions (projection designer); Rob Fisher (musical score adaption, arrangement and supervision); Todd Ellison (musical supervisor); David Andrews Rogers (musical director/conductor); Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott (orchestrations); Sam Davis (dance arrangements); Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman, C.S.A. (casting); Rick Steiger (production supervisor); Dontee Kiehn (associate director and associate choreographer); and Sean Kelly (associate choreographer and resident director).

The score of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS includes the songs "I Got Rhythm," "Liza," “’S Wonderful," "But Not For Me," "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise," and orchestral music including "Concerto in F," "Second Prelude," "Second Rhapsody/Cuban Overture" and "An American In Paris."
The production opened to widespread critical acclaim at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in April 2015 after its world premiere at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The New York production closed in October 2016 after playing more than 600 performances. A West End production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opened March 21, 2017 at the Dominion Theatre.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS won four 2015 Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Award for Best Musical, three Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and two Theatre World Awards. The musical was included on the Year’s Best lists of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker, the Associated PressThe Hollywood Reporter, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Masterworks Broadway Original Broadway Cast recording of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS was nominated for the Best Musical Theater Album Grammy Award.
The producing team includes Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan and Roy Furman by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical, Pittsburgh CLO and Théâtre du Châtelet.
For more information, visit www.AnAmericanInParisBroadway.com.

American in Paris Cast on Bicycles



TICKETS
Individual tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 412-456-6666, by visiting CulturalDistrict.org/Paris online or in person at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh.  Groups of 10 or more should call 1-844-PGH-SHOW (844-744-7469) and press option 2 or 3.

PITTSBURGH CLO





Since 1946, Pittsburgh CLO has been the driving force behind live musical theater in Pittsburgh and the entire Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Under the direction of Van Kaplan since 1997, this not-for-profit arts organization appreciates the support of nearly 200,000 patrons yearly who attend its performances at three venues in the Cultural District: a seasonal subscription series at the Benedum Center, A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater and year-round shows at the CLO Cabaret. Its dedication to the musical theater art form includes educational programs such as the CLO Academy for Performance and Art, the CLO Mini Stars, the Gene Kelly Awards, the Richard Rodgers Award and The National High School Theatre Awards. As part of its new works development, the organization has been involved with 22 Broadway shows (29 Tony Awards®), and in 2014 produced the world premiere of An American in Paris in Paris on Broadway, where it won 4 Tony Awards® and was the most awarded musical of the season. For more information please visit pittsburghCLO.org.




Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners.  Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization.  A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity.  Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life.  Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. TrustArts.org


Broadway Across America
Broadway Across America is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com and The Broadway Channel.  Led by 9 time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 41 markets, with over 270,000 subscribers. Current and past productions include BeautifulCats, Chicago, Fiddler on the RoofFinding NeverlandMillion Dollar QuartetHairspray, On Your Feet!School of Rock and The Producers. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.
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About this Blog:  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates provides this blog as a service to the community, friends, clients and business associates.  Feel free to use this blog as a resource and also to send in your press releases.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is a full service marketing company that specializes in online and digital branding.  Run exclusively by Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny and specializing in organic search content, like blogs, video and audio podcasts and searchable social media.  For additional information you can contact the host of this blog, Joanne Quinn-Smith at 412-444-5197.Podcasts that come under the umbrella of Dreamweaver Marketing are PositivelyPittsburghLive, TheTechnoGrannyShow ,MondayMorningMarketeer

Dreamweaver Marketing News, Ten Day Three Rivers Arts Festival Line Up




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Diana Roth, Senior Communications Manager, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Roth@TrustArs.org / 412-471-8717


Complete programming schedule, visit: TrustArts.org/TRAF 
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Announces



2017 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival
10 Days of Free Music + Art

Friday, June 2 Through Sunday, June 11, 2017
Point State Park / Gateway Center/ Cultural District
Pittsburgh, PA— The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce the 2017 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festivalwill take place Friday, June 2 through Sunday, June 11 in Point State Park, Gateway Center and the Cultural District.  This 10 day Festival, now in its 58th year of presenting free music + art, will bring together over 500,000 festival goers and award winning artists from a variety of genres.  The Festival offers an exciting schedule of events where everyone can share cultural and global exchanges and experiences in celebration of the arts.  The Festival provides artists- locally, nationally and internationally- an opportunity to share their talents with all of us. 


The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival has been a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust since 2009.  During that time the Cultural Trust has organized reduce, reuse and recycle initiatives as part of the Festival’s programming goals.  Through the generous support of Colcom, these initiatives have been recognized for green practice achievements, receiving the Outstanding Green Event Award from the Pennsylvania Resources Council.  In 2015, USA Today 10 Best readers selected Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival second in the top ten winners’ category of Best Arts Festival.  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is grateful to Dollar Bank for its support and long-time commitment of bringing this unique Festival to our City that welcomes everyone to enjoy 10 days of free music + art.  
This year’s Festival will offer daily music, theater and dance performances, visual art exhibits, public art interactive installations, Giant Eagle Creativity Zone activities for all ages, plus food trucks, the ever popular Artist Market presented by Peoples Natural Gas and more. 


2017 DOLLAR BANK THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL
HIGHLIGHTS: MUSIC, ART, PERFORMANCE
For a complete listing of events and information about the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, please visitTrustArts.org/TRAF; or call 412-456-6666.  The Festival is free and open to the public from 12 – 8 pm (unless otherwise noted) for each of the Festival’s 10 days. Some attractions are open on an ongoing basis daily, though others have limited or specific hours of operation. There’s always something going on. Check the schedule for complete details! 

FEATURED MUSIC LINEUP
The Dollar Bank Three Rives Arts Festival 2017 Featured Music Lineup was announced on 91.3 WYEP throughout the day on March 30.  These Featured Musicians (+ Supporting Acts) will be performing on the Dollar Bank Stage located in Point State Park. 


Rebirth Brass Band


Rebirth Brass Band (+ Jimbo and the Soupbones), Friday, June 2, 7:30 p.m.
Hippo Campus (+ Pet Clinic), Saturday, June 3, 7:30 p.m.
Las Cafeteras (+ Meeting of Important People), Sunday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. (91.3 WYEP Day) 
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Monday, June 5, 7:30 p.m.


Pittsburgh Symphony

Michael Kiwanuka (+Cloves), Tuesday, June 6, 7:30 p.m.
Sean RoweWednesday, June 7, 7:00 p.m. + Birds of Chicago8:15 p.m.
Beats + Bars featuring Choo Jackson, HollyHood, Billy Pilgrim, Pirate Gang, Track Meet, Hubbs, + DJ Selecta,Thursday, June 8, 7:00 p.m.
Dawes (+ The Accidentals), Friday, June 9, 7:30 p.m.
Sarah Jarosz + Fruition (6:00 p.m.), Saturday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. (Also part of Bluegrass Day supported by Colcom Foundation)
St. Paul and the Broken Bones (+ The Commonheart), Sunday, June 11, 7:30 p.m.
THEATER + DANCE


Blue Lapis Light Dance

Blue Lapis Light | Fifth Avenue Place
Performances will be held Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 at 9:00 p.m. 

Opening weekend will feature an event unlike anything seen before in Pittsburgh with Blue Lapis Light. The aerial dance company will extend boundaries and defy edges in their Pittsburgh premiere dance performance, presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Dance Council. This site-specific performance will be a completely original piece choreographed specifically for the Fifth Avenue Place façade. The spectacle is free to attend, with performances taking place at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 2nd and Saturday, June 3rd


The Light Princess


The Light Princess | Peirce Studio, Trust Arts Education CenterPerformance will be held Saturday, June 3 and Sunday, June 4
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Arts Education Department presents Jumping Jack Theater’s first multi-sensory adventure created for young audiences on the autism spectrum. Born without gravity, The Light Princess floats and laughs her way through each day. Her unusual behavior baffles and worries her family who views life resolutely from the ground. As her family struggles to accept her unique nature, an unexpected visitor comes along who changes everything. This sensory-friendly world premiere production features innovative puppetry, lush settings, an original score, and interactive moments designed to engage ALL audiences. Directed by Stephen Santa. Story adapted from George MacDonald’s fairy tale by Rebecca Covert and Joann Kielar.

Tracks | Dollar Bank Main Stage 
Wednesday, June 7 from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
A performance showcasing dancers from Boston and Pittsburgh in a mosaic of dance styles. Featuring artists based in Pittsburgh and Boston, Tracks // where will dance take you? provides a platform for esteemed dance artists to share a mosaic of dance styles including modern, contemporary, street, ballet, and dance theater. Tracks provides a path for growth outside of home cities and is designed to support dance makers and presenters in various stages of career development - in turn, celebrating some of the industries freshest works and stakeholders. Tracks is a sister city collaboration between Green Street Studios of Cambridge, MA and artist manager Jessica Marino (JAMpress management) of Pittsburgh, PA.

TRAF Dance Battles | Stanwix Stage
Sunday, June 11 from 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
The returning TRAF Dance Battle will include two competition formats in 2017. There will be 1v1 All Styles (open to any dance style) and 1v1 Breaking (Bboys and Bgirls only). Open cyphers and registration will take place from 12 - 1 pm. All Styles prelims will begin at 1 pm and Breaking Prelims will begin at 2 pm.
CREATE FESTIVAL
On Thursday, June 1, the CREATE Festival heralds opening weekend of the 2017 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival with a full-day line-up of art, tech, workshops, talks, performances, awards, parties and opportunities to experience the newest trends in creativity and innovation. Presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Technology Council, highlights of the festival will be on display at the August Wilson Center through June 5.  
PUBLIC ARTAll Public Art is on display daily from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.



Umbrella Sky Project
Gateway Center
Funded by Colcom and Laurel Foundation
“Coloring life and making people smile,” the Umbrella Sky Project was born in Águeda, Portugal in 2012, developed by the creative agency Sextafeira Produções. The sky of floating umbrellas is the strong element of this project--a simple idea that brings life and protection to public spaces and events.
Tidal

Point State Park, Overlook
Tidal is a geofeedback installation that bridges the gap between waterbodies outside and inside us. Find yourself underneath a suspended storm of metal and fabric clouds, illuminated with hundreds of LEDs. In the center stands a bowl full of clear water, reacting gently to the flow of the river. The lights within the installation mimic the motion of Pittsburgh's three rivers in realtime, pulling from tidal data and creating an enchanting sense of union to the watercycle, but trace your fingers inside the bowl of water and watch as you start to stir up a storm. The LEDs react to the flow of water created by your movement.




Displaced | Artist: Maranie Staab
Allegheny River Walk
"Displaced: Photos by Maranie Staab" is presented during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival as part of Riverlife's 'to be determined' series. 'to be determined' was developed by Riverlife in 2015 to highlight the potential of the underutilized space along the Allegheny River under the Fort Duquesne Bridge on-ramp between Point State Park and the Cultural District in Pittsburgh. The outdoor exhibition features images taken during the artist’s time in Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon in 2016.
Take a Seat!

Allegheny River Walk
Take a Seat! is an interactive installation of movable chairs on the riverfront and the latest chapter in Riverlife's 'to be determined' series under the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Twenty-five lightweight movable chairs are equipped with a GPS locator to record their locations and movements under the bridge and into Point State Park. Find a chair, move it to your favorite riverfront spot during the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, take a seat, and enjoy the view! Snap a pic and tag it online with #TakeaSeatPGH and track the chairs' journey at RiverlifePGH.org.


ART EXHIBITIONS http://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/storage/TRAF_Promo.jpg | Peirce Studio, Trust Arts Education CenterDrap-Art is an association of artists who use trash as their material or conceptual resource. With this philosophy in mind, Drap-Art promotes the work of 150 artists at its festival in Barcelona every year and in many international venues. Last year, Drap-Art had its premiere in the US at the Re:NEW Festival in Pittsburgh and is again present in the city, this time at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival with a collective exhibition of Recycle Art with 8 US-based artists and a Spanish Urban artist, Francisco de Pájaro, who will paint on all kinds of garbage and junk he’ll find downtown and fill the festival with color. 
Juried Visual Art Exhibition | 4th Floor, Trust Arts Education Center
Showcasing exceptional new arts by regional artists in various stages of their careers, and in a variety of media, the Juried Visual Art Exhibition delivers high-quality arts to Festival fans in an indoor gallery setting. The 2017 Juried Visual Art Exhibition was juried by Lee Parker (founder and Executive Director of Neu Kirche Contemporary), John Peña (multidisciplinary artist), and Lenore D. Thomas (mixed media artist), and was coordinated by Ivette Spradlin with support from the Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation. 
2017 JVAE Artists: Nicholas Decker, Kaylie Maines, Thomas Norulak, Morgan Scalese, George Francis, Hannah Altman, Katie Ott, Don Coulter, Tyler Gaston, Bradley Weyandt, Shawn Quinlan, Gerald Van Scyoc, Ruthanne Bauerle, Aimee Bungard, Rebecca Clever, Jason Lee, Brittany De Nigris, Ryan McCormick, David Bernabo, Doreen Grasso, Jim Bove, Claira Heitzenrater, Dan Hendrickson, Sharon Arffa, Lesla, Christopher Boring, Thomas Waters, Shawn Watrous, Marla Roddy, Zachariah Szabo, Ronda Opipery, Jazzmint Dash, Sam Ticknor, Tyler Bergholz, Tony Landolina, Silvija Singh, Gregory Anderson, Jenna Boyles, Joyce Werwie Perry, Lizzee Solomon, Kayan Moussoba, Sidney Mullis, Mike Korsak, Kate Hansen, Crystal Latimer, Megan Tepper, Ross Hardy, Sheila Swartz, Sarika Goulatia, Emily Sciulli, Tom Megalis.
ART ON FILM



Pittsburgh Filmmakers will host art-focused films in the Harris Theater, including the International Animated Shorts Program and The Freedom to Mary. 
ARTIST MARKET PRESENTED BY PEOPLES NATURAL GASThe Artist Market presented by Peoples Natural Gas features 350+ independent artists in an open- air setting, selling handmade art from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. daily. Every artist participates for a varying number of days so, beyond what you find on opening day, you can discover the work of new artists on Saturday, June 3Wednesday, June 7Friday, June 9; and Saturday, June 10.
The Artist Market at Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival takes place throughout Point State Park and Gateway Center daily, as well as Penn Avenue Extension on Weekends. The Artist Market is a cornerstone of the Festival and provides the public with an opportunity to purchase work directly from artists specializing in an array of media.




Established in 2002, the Emerging Artist Scholarship Program of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festivalprovides individuals with little to no experience exhibiting in festivals the opportunity to take an important first step towards a future in fine art and craft shows. The program supports the growth and longevity of fine arts and fine crafts in the Pittsburgh region with a special devotion to introducing new art forms to the Festival and new audiences to emerging artists. Applications will begin again in the fall 2017, for the 2018 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival.  Festival goers will have an opportunity to meet the 2017 Emerging Artists and see their works on display within the Artist Market locations. One of the Festival’s Emerging Artist’s from last year’s Scholarship Program was Nathan Doverspike.  Nathan returns this year to the Festival as one of the artist participants with works on view at 937 Liberty Avenue.  
In addition to the aforementioned exhibits, all of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s galleries will be open daily from 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
GIANT EAGLE CREATIVITY ZONEThe Giant Eagle Creativity Zone will be open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. with Point State Park and Gateway Center locations. Each year, the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone is home to hands-on activities and demonstrations presented by some of Pittsburgh’s most preeminent art and outreach organizations. Organizations participating in the Giant Eagle Creativity Zone include: The Anthropology of Motherhood, Construction Junction, For Good PGH, Mattress Factory, PC/PFA, Sweetwater Center for the Arts, Techshop, Trust Arts Education and the Warhol Museum.

For up to date information and a full schedule (including locations, dates and times) for the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival, visit TrustArts.org/TRAF.
SupportersThe Pittsburgh Cultural Trust acknowledges the following Festival supporters for their generous support of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival: Dollar Bank, Presenting Sponsor; Peoples Natural Gas, Artist Market Presenter; Giant Eagle, Creativity Zone Presenter; Foundation and Government Support: The Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of the Pittsburgh Foundation, The Buhl Foundation, Colcom Foundation, The Fine Foundation, The Grable Foundation, Laurel Foundation, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the City of Pittsburgh.

Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts FestivalThe Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival (58th year in 2017), a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is a 10-day celebration of the arts in downtown Pittsburgh unlike any other in the nation. This world-class, multi-disciplinary festival is free to attend and open to the public. Attracting nearly 500,000 visitors annually, the Festival begins on the first Fridayin June and takes place at the confluence of Pittsburgh’s famed three rivers in Point State Park, throughout picturesque Gateway Center, and in the city’s renowned Cultural District. Now in its 58th year, the Festival’s loyal visitors have enjoyed an extensive array of music, dance, theater, literary arts, public art, gallery exhibitions, technology features, and an Artist Market featuring 300+ artists from around the country.
The Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is the recipient of the Outstanding Green Event Award and GOLD level accreditation from the Pennsylvania Resources Council.  The Festival’s environmentally green initiatives of waste reduction, reuse and recycling throughout the Festival grounds are made possible through the generous support of the Colcom Foundation. TrustArts.org/TRAF 
Funded by a growing community of foundations, corporations, and Festival fans, the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival is for everyone who believes in the arts. It cannot happen without individual support. Gifts made atTrustArts.org/TRAFdonate will help make the entire festival possible, including this year’s highlights. 
Pittsburgh Cultural TrustThe Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners.  Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization.  A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life.  Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
Follow us on Twitter @CulturalTrust, and like us on Facebook.
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About this Blog:  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates provides this blog as a service to the community, friends, clients and business associates.  Feel free to use this blog as a resource and also to send in your press releases.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is a full service marketing company that specializes in online and digital branding.  Run exclusively by Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny and specializing in organic search content, like blogs, video and audio podcasts and searchable social media.  For additional information you can contact the host of this blog, Joanne Quinn-Smith at 412-444-5197.Podcasts that come under the umbrella of Dreamweaver Marketing are PositivelyPittsburghLive, TheTechnoGrannyShow ,MondayMorningMarketeer



Thursday, May 4, 2017

Dreamweaver Marketing News, WQED Crowdfunding Exceeds Goal for Rick Sebak, "Nebby Neighbors"




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                CONTACT:              George Hazimanolis
April 26, 2017                                                                                                                     412-622-1366
                                                                                                                                                ghaziman@wqed.org
                                                         
                                                                                                                                                Dave Hallewell
412-622-1520

WQED’s RICKSTARTER CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
EXCEEDS GOAL BY $30,000

Total of $142,777 raised on goal of $113,000 for new series
from Producer Rick Sebak






PITTSBURGH – WQED’s Kickstarter crowd funding campaign to fund Producer Rick Sebak’s next series of six shows has exceeded its goal by $29,777 – and enabled WQED to add a seventh program to the production schedule.

Dubbed “Rickstarter,” the campaign kicked off on March 27 with the goal of raising $113,000 in 30 days to fund six new programs titled NEBBY: Rick Sebak’s Tales of Greater Pittsburgh.  That initial goal was met on April 17 – eight days ahead of schedule.  The campaign continued with a “stretch goal” of $133,000 to fund a seventh program, which was met on April 23.  The 30-day campaign ended at 12:01am on April 26 with a total of $142,777 raised from 1,411 donors.  Kickstarter crowd funding campaigns are “all or nothing,” meaning that if the goal is not met, no money would be forthcoming.

“This was WQED’s first crowd funding effort, and the results blew us away,” said Deborah L. Acklin, president and chief executive officer of WQED Multimedia.  “We’re always looking for new ways to fund projects, and a Rick Sebak series was the perfect fit for this type of campaign.  His audience spans all age groups and his popularity is universal.”

“I have to say that the whole Kickstarter/Rickstarter experience has been exhilarating but also terrifying at times,” said Rick.  “This NEBBY project was an experiment and a gamble, and we had a high goal for what was essentially a local Pittsburgh project, but people I’ve known and worked with and done stories about over my thirty years at WQED—as well as many people I’ve never met-- all came through with a level of enthusiasm and support that is amazing.”

“I am so thankful for all of our backers, from the Buhl Foundation that really got this rolling to whoever was that last pledge this morning at 12:01AM.”



More than 1,400 people have become “Sebakers” through their support for the project.  Rick himself made more than 35 personal appearances during the campaign, appearing at such varied places as Rick Sebak Day in Millvale, local restaurants, craft breweries, and food trucks, as well as interviews on local television, radio and podcasts.  Social media played a major role in getting the word out to his fans and the general public, and the response was overwhelming.

Rick will begin production of NEBBY: Rick Sebak’s Tales of Greater Pittsburgh this summer, with the first episode scheduled to premiere in fall 2017 on WQED-TV.

About WQED
WQED changes lives by creating and sharing outstanding public media that educates, entertains, and inspires.  It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED World; WQED Create; WQED Showcase; WQED PBS KIDS Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel at WQED-HD2 (89.3-2FM) and online at www.wqed.org/fm; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and iQ: smartmedia, WQED’s Educational initiative (www.wqed.org/edu).
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George Hazimanolis
Senior Director of Corporate Communications
WQED Multimedia
4802 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15213
412-622-1366 office
412-370-8802 cell

About this Blog:  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates provides this blog as a service to the community, friends, clients and business associates.  Feel free to use this blog as a resource and also to send in your press releases.  Dreamweaver Marketing Associates is a full service marketing company that specializes in online and digital branding.  Run exclusively by Joanne Quinn-Smith, aka TechnoGranny and specializing in organic search content, like blogs, video and audio podcasts and searchable social media.  For additional information you can contact the host of this blog, Joanne Quinn-Smith at 412-444-5197.Podcasts that come under the umbrella of Dreamweaver Marketing are PositivelyPittsburghLive, TheTechnoGrannyShow ,MondayMorningMarketeer