Dreamweaver Marketing Associates News and Views

Desmond King to Present Roscoe Robinson Memorial Lecture

2012-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Desmond King to Present Roscoe Robinson Memorial Lecture

Three years ago, GSPIA established the General Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Memorial Lecture Series on Diversity and Public Service to honor one of our most distinguished alumni. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point as well as GSPIA, Roscoe Robinson achieved the distinction of being the first African American to be promoted to the rank of four-star General in the United States Army.

The 2012 Robinson Lecture will be presented at 6 p.m., Feb. 16 by Desmond King, Andrew Mellon Professor of American Government at Nuffield College, Oxford University. King is the co-author (with Rogers M. Smith at the University of Pennsylvania) of a new book entitled Still a House Divided; Race and Politics in Obama’s America and the author of Separate and Unequal: African Americans and the U.S. Federal Government. The February 16 lecture will focus on “Race and Politics in Obama’s America.” On February 17 King will also give a special seminar focused on his Separate and Unequal book, explaining how the federal government adopted and enforced Jim Crow policies from the presidency of Woodrow Wilson until the 1960s.

Still a House Divided:
Race and Politics in Obama's America
Desmond S. King & Rogers M. Smith

"Still a House Divided deftly lays to rest the idea of postracialism in American politics and, through the concept of rival racial-policy coalitions, reveals the modern potency of the dispute between color-blind and race-conscious camps. King and Smith make a compelling case that competing visions over the role of race continue to define the core of American political life, and their bold and meticulously researched book offers new and much-needed leverage on a frustratingly durable problem."--Lawrence D. Bobo, Harvard University

"The book's impressive and persuasive argument ranges broadly across many arenas too often discussed separately. The authors show that the United States has experienced three periods of distinct racial alliances, and that we are in the third period, still in a racially structured polity. They indicate that if the stakes in many policy disputes were clearer, the United States could move closer to racial justice and equality through better policy choices."--Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University

Separate and Unequal
African Americans and the US Federal Government
Oxford University Press

"Separate and Unequal illustrates with great detail and clarity the multiple ways in which the federal government proved to be a significant participant in the continued oppression of Black Americans and an active promoter of white supremacy throughout the 20th century. This book significantly advances our understanding of the state, necessitating that we pay attention to the different entities, goals, and consequences of state power. For students interested in race and the state this is a book you must read."--Cathy J. Cohen, University of Chicago

"This is a pioneering book on race and the federal bureaucracy... King's book ploughs new ground, [and] is a bold work. The factual data that the book unearths tell a startling, compelling, and debilitating story."--Journal of American History

"Drawing on a wealth of archival sources, King shows how the Federal government systematically segregated African Americans in its own operations. The book provides important and original perspectives on the prevalence of racial discrimination within the Federal government from the Progressive Era until the 1960's. In so doing, it causes us to rethink conventional views of the Federal government as a neutral arbiter in race relations."--Margaret Weir, Brookings Institution

Roscoe Robinson, Jr. Memorial Lecture
6 - 8 p.m.
Thursday, February 16
University Club, Ballroom A

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates. Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Dr. Maya Angelou Receives Dignity and Respect Champion Award

2012-02-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Dr. Maya Angelou Receives Inaugural Dignity and Respect Champion Award

Recognized for Her Lifelong Commitment to Making the World a Better Place for All to Live

Dr. Maya Angelou -- celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist -- is the 2011 Dignity & Respect Champion. The honor was awarded by Candi Castleberry-Singleton, founder and chair of the Dignity & Respect Campaign, a not-for-profit initiative that promotes inclusion by treating people with dignity and respect.

"Maya Angelou has demonstrated unshakable faith and a commitment to the values of family, community, and culture throughout her life. Whether as a cable car conductor, a waitress and cook, a dancer with the Alvin Ailey company, an editor of an English Language paper in Egypt, a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, or a Presidential Medal of Arts winner, Dr. Angelou values all members of the human family," said Ms. Castleberry-Singleton. "She exemplifies the characteristics of a Dignity & Respect Champion."

Ms. Castleberry-Singleton presented the Dignity & Respect Champion award to Dr. Angelou at her home in North Carolina. During their time together, Dr. Angelou reflected on four themes:

•The meaning of dignity and respect -- "When we have dignity and respect we join the communities of human beings and they join us. We are one. Human beings are more alike than we are unalike."

•Living with dignity and respect -- "If you're not respected you can't relax. So if you can't relax, you can't learn. And if you can't learn you don't know anything. You not only don't know who anyone else is, you can't know who you are."

•The human condition -- "You must speak up! Speak up for your soul's sake. For your spirit's sake."

•Courage -- "Courage is the most important of all virtues because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can be anything erratically. You can be kind, fair, true, generous, just, merciful, all of those things every now and again. But to be that thing consistently, you have to have courage."

Videos of Dr. Angelou's comments to Ms. Castleberry-Singleton are available at http://www.dignityandrespect.org.

The Dignity & Respect Champion designation is a program of the Dignity & Respect Campaign, a national, grassroots initiative created in 2009 to encourage and promote the message of inclusion, beginning with the core belief that everyone deserves dignity and respect. This awareness and advocacy effort promotes positive behavioral change in individuals, communities, schools, and organizations. The Campaign extended from an internal effort at UPMC, a Pittsburgh-based organization, to a community-wide initiative in 2009; it broadened beyond the greater Pittsburgh area in Fall 2011 with the celebration of October as Dignity & Respect Month.

Bill Strickland Named 2012 Pursuer of Peace Award Recipient

2012-02-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pursuer of Peace-The members of Rodef Shalom Congregation honors William E. Strickland, Jr. as the 2012 Pursuer of Peace Award recipient.

The Pursuer of Peace award, established in 2010, honors the significant commitment and sustained contributions of an individual or organization to the pursuit of peace by fostering interfaith understanding, the encouragement of humanitarianism, and the promotion of a social justice agenda. Its name is derived from the translation of Rodef Shalom from the Hebrew.

Pursuer of Peace 2012

The members of Rodef Shalom Congregation are honored to recognize William E. Strickland, Jr. as the 2012 Pursuer of Peace Award recipient. This prestigious award will be presented on Sunday evening, June 10, 2012 in the congregation's historic sanctuary.

Rodef Shalom Congregation’s Pursuer of Peace Award was established in 2010 to recognize the significant commitment and sustained contributions of an individual or organization to the pursuit of peace by fostering interfaith understanding, the encouragement of humanitarianism, and the promotion of a social justice agenda, and was bestowed in its inaugural year to the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, DD.

We are thrilled that Bill Strickland will receive the 2012 Pursuer of Peace Award. As President and CEO of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation (MBC) and its affiliates, Bill Strickland builds partnerships to help youth and adults who are disadvantaged build a better futurefor themselves.

Inspired by the MBC model and its fruitful replication across the United States, in 2007 Bill Strickland began to work with individuals and organizations in the local Jewish community to study the feasibility of creating a new center for arts and technology in the Galilee region of Israel. The Northern Israel Center for Arts and Technology (NICAT) is envisioned to promote economic development in the region as well as cooperation among all of the citizens of Northern Israel, Jewish and Arab alike.

Proceeds from the event will enable Rodef Shalom Congregation to continue to be a leading advocate for inter-religious dialogue and partnered efforts in the religious and civic communities and to address the universal ideal of helping individuals to reach their full potential. At the request of Bill Strickland, monies distributed to Manchester Bidwell Corporation in recognition of the Pursuer of Peace Award will be earmarked for The Northern Israel Center for Arts and Technology (NICAT).

Because of Bill Strickland’s significant achievements and his continuing commitment to bringing hope to all communities that he reaches, he embodies the best qualities of a true Rodef Shalom-a true Pursuer of Peace. For this reason, he will receive this award and deliver an address from Rodef Shalom’s historic pulpit on the topic of The Pursuit of Peace. This address will be published by the Congregation and shared widely throughout the community.

Nancy and Bill Rackoff are serving as Co-Chairs for this memorable event.

Source: http://rodefshalom.org/about-rodef-shalom/initiatives/pursuer-peace

Chester Engineer's CEO Agbede Named Entrepreneur of the Year

2012-02-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

Robert O. Agbede President and CEO of Chester Engineers Selected as 2012 NSBE Golden Torch Award honoree for Entrepreneur of the Year

The National Society of Black Engineers is pleased to announce that they have selected Robert O. Agbede, President and CEO of Chester Engineers as their 2012 NSBE Golden Torch Award honoree for Entreprenuer of the Year. Mr. Agbede, was nominated and selected because of the significant impact he has made on the community and his contributions to the African American Community. Mr. Agbede will be honored and saluted at the “15th Annual Golden Torch Awards (GTA)” to be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The National Society of Black Engineers is the premier organization serving African Americans in engineering and technology. As a technical community service association, NSBE is the link between the African American community and the world of technology.

NSBE supports and promotes the aspirations of professionals, students and pre-college students. The mission the founders set forth in 1975, “To increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community, “ has blossomed into an organization with chapters worldwide.

The Annual Golden Torch Awards link the accomplishments of distinguished African- American engineers and technical professionals with college bound dreams of pre-college students. Since its inception GTA has served as a night to honor the best and the brightest in technology.

Robert O. Agbede is President and CEO of Chester Engineers, a leading water/waste water, facility design build, scientific research and management company. Chester, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has offices throughout the country as well as international affiliates. Mr. Agbede acquired the firm, that turned 100 last year, in 2003, making it part of the ATS Group, the company he founded in 1987. Chester Engineers is the largest African-American-owned environmental and engineering design firm in the United States and the largest Water and Wastewater treatment plant design and management firm in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.

A recognized expert in the field of environmental engineering, Mr. Agbede is a University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering graduate with Bachelors and Masters Degrees and a holder of several U.S. patents. In 2000, he was inducted into the school's Engineering Hall of Fame, joining other prominent graduates who have made significant contributions to American industry. Mr. Agbede is the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Pittsburgh.

The 38th Annual Convention is NSBE's premiere event encompassing members from around the world. The convention will be in Pittsburgh, PA from March 28 - April 1, 2012. During the convention, there will be various programs and workshops in place to benefit grade school, collegiate, graduate, technical professional, and international NSBE members. The convention will showcase NSBE culture, membership achievements, local and national talent, and black-owned businesses in the Pittsburgh area.

Register for Convention

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates by Joyce Kane. Joyce is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Jake and Elwood Blues in the Official Blues Brothers Revue

2012-02-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
February 8, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Official Blues Brothers Revue

Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 8:00 PM, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

Based on the popular characters from Saturday Night Live and the later motion picture, The Official Blues Brothers Revue will be at the Byham Theater on Thursday, March 8, 2012, at 8:00 PM. The performance is a part of the Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The revue stars Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty as Jake and Elwood Blues, characters created by the legendary comedic actors John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. From their first performances as these characters in the award-winning Las Vegas “Legends in Concert” show, the two have appeared across America as highly successful and acclaimed Blues Brothers impersonators.

Soon after their debut in “Legends in Concert,” Catania and Lafferty starred in the A&E docudrama Lost in Las Vegas, largely based on their experiences in the roles. This caught the attention of Belushi’s widow, Judy Belushi Pisano, and her second husband, Victor Pisano. They extended Catania and Lafferty an invitation to audition for the stage musical The Official Blues Brothers Revival. Belushi Pisano expressed her appreciation for the talents of the duo, saying “some looked the part, but nobody had the whole package until [Catania and Lafferty] arrived.”

The revue was written and produced by Victor Pisano and sanctioned by both Dan Aykroyd and the Belushi estate. It ran successfully at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts in the spring and summer of 2004, combining the comedy and hits of the original movie with an homage to Chicago’s history of blues, gospel and soul music. “Totally awesome, rollicking fun and a whole lot of soul.” - Chicago Skyline Paper

Catania, Lafferty, and “The Intercontinental Rhythm and Blues Revue Band” strike the right balance of humor, music and mayhem that has kept audiences captivated worldwide for decades. “Infectious and unbridled energy… blows the roof off.” - Jeff Johnson, Chicago Sun Times

Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty have performed as the Blues Brothers in a number of private venues across North America. Catania also works as a television and commercial actor who has appeared on Bravo’s mini-series Mob Stories. Lafferty is an accomplished singer-songwriter, who has released three CDs of his own material, in addition to contributing to the soundtrack for Lost in Las Vegas.

With the success of the review, Belushi Pisano has revealed that a TV show based on the Blues Brothers is in the works, with plans for Catania and Lafferty to continue their roles as Jake and Elwood Blues.

Tickets ($20.00-$40.00) for the March 8, 2012, performance of The Official Blues Brothers Revue at the Byham Theater may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Posted on Behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates by Joyce Kane. Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Antiques Roadshow Pittsburgh Episodes Premiere

2012-02-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW PITTSBURGH EPISODES PREMIERE ON WQED-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 7, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW PITTSBURGH EPISODES PREMIERE ON WQED-TV

PITTSBURGH—ANTIQUES ROADSHOW premieres the first of three Pittsburgh episodes taped last summer at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Monday, February 13 at 8 p.m. on WQED-TV. Subsequent episodes will air on February 20 and 27 at 8 p.m.

In advance of the exciting premiere, QED Morning Show host Jim Cunningham of Classical WQED-FM 89.3 (LIVE stream available here) will interview ANTIQUES ROADSHOW Executive Producer Marsha Bemko between 6-10 a.m. on February 13.

Later that evening, Emmy®-Award winning WQED producer Pierina Morelli takes viewers “behind-the-scenes” of this PBS icon series with the half-hour documentary episode of Experience: Antiques Roadshow Comes to Town! Pittsburgh with a look at how producers set up for the big event, a segment on people who had items appraised, and interviews with host Mark Walberg, appraisers and Executive Producer Bemko.

The Pittsburgh episodes of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW include several “firsts” for the program. In the show’s history it is the first time a centenarian guest was recorded and that web exclusive video appraisals are available, including this extraordinary moment.

The sixteenth season of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW kicked-off on January 2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma (where the show had its most valuable find ever!) and Eugene, Oregon for the past three weeks. After the Pittsburgh episodes air, the season will finish up with:

• El Paso, Texas on March 26, April 2, 9

• Atlanta, Georgia on April 16, 23, 30

• Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 7, 14, 21

Special edition episodes called “Junk in the Trunk, “Cats & Dogs,” and”Greatest Gifts” will also air this season but have yet to be scheduled.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW can be seen regularly on Mondays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. on WQED-TV.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston. Executive producer is Marsha Bemko.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is sponsored by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Subaru. Additional funding is provided by public television viewers.

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is closed-captioned for viewers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing by The Caption Center at WGBH Boston.

For more information about ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, visit pbs.org/antiques. Press materials, including video previews and downloadable photos, are available at www.pbs.org/pressroom.

Press contacts:
Judy Matthews
WGBH Boston
617-300-5343
judy_matthews@wgbh.org

John Eliot Jordan
WGBH Boston
617-300-5346
john_eliot_jordan@wgbh.org

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Posted on behalf of Joanne Quinn-Smith by Joyce Kane. Joyce is the Owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping. Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business. www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

WQED Celebrates Black History Month with TV and Radio Programs

2012-02-06T06:15:00.000-08:00

WQED RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH FEBRUARY'S PROGRAMMING ON TELEVISION AND RADIO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 31, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED RECOGNIZES BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH FEBRUARY’S

PROGRAMMING ON TELEVISION AND RADIO

PITTSBURGH – WQED commemorates Black History Month with programs centered on the cultural struggles and accomplishments of African Americans not only in Pittsburgh, but throughout America. Classical WQED-FM 89.3 will acknowledge the importance of Black History Month by playing the music of various African American artists throughout the month of February.

Funding for Black History Month television and radio programming was made possible by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Niagara Bank, and the City of Pittsburgh.

February 1st – February 4th

• Thursday, February 2nd

Newspaper of Record: The Pittsburgh Courier 1907-1965 – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – With fourteen national editions and a peak circulation of over three hundred thousand, the Pittsburgh Courier was the leading Black newspaper of the last century. With accounts from Courier reporters and employees, this documentary reveals the role of the Pittsburgh Courier in reporting and shaping African American history.

Independent Lens “Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – This documentary tells the story of Daisy Bates, a black woman who was a feminist before the term was invented. Her public support of nine black students to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, culminated in a constitutional crisis – pitting a president against a governor and a community against itself.

February 5th – February 11th

• Sunday, February 5th

Wylie Avenue Days* – (Airs: 3 p.m.) – This documentary captures Pittsburgh’s Hill District during its prime, which lasted from the 1930s through the 1950s. Wylie Avenue, located in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, was unique as it was the only street in America which began at a church and ended at a jail, but it was the spirit of this vibrant neighborhood that was the reason it was considered the heart of black life in Pittsburgh. A WQED production.

Barbershops: PA Stylin’* – (Airs: 4 p.m.) – Politics, romance, race relations, and hair care are the topics of discussion in “Barbershops: PA Stylin’.” Host Chris Moore visits several distinctly different yet similar African American barbershops that share a time-honored tradition practiced by barbers and patrons everywhere. A joyous mix of new ideas and fond nostalgia, “Barbershops: PA Stylin’” is the real-life story of one of the longest and liveliest traditions in the black community. A WQED production.

Torchbearers* – (Airs: 5 p.m.) – A documentary on Pittsburgh’s civil rights pioneers. “Torchbearers” uses interviews, photos and archival footage to tell the story of Pittsburgh’s struggles during the so-called “golden era” of civil rights. “Torchbearers” spans events from the 1950s through the 70s, and features many of the men and women who risked everything for their beliefs. A WQED production.

Secrets of the Dead “Slave Ship Mutiny” – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – During the summer of 1766, the Dutch Crew of the Meermin, filled to capacity with human cargo, set sail from Madagascar en route to the Dutch colony of Cape Town, South Africa, but it never made it. Along this journey the Meermin experienced an overpowering mutiny from the slaves and cunning acts of deception from crew members determined to reach Cape Town. This program tracks the efforts of archaeologists, historians and slave descendents to discover the full story of this dramatic historical event.

• Monday, February 6th

Underground Railroad: The William Still Story – (Airs: 10 p.m.) – “Underground Railroad: The William Still Story” profiles William Still, one of the most important yet unheralded individuals of the Underground Railroad. The film details accounts of black abolitionists, who had everything at stake as they helped fugitives follow the North Star to Canada.

• Tuesday, February 7th

Freedom Riders: American Experience – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – They called themselves the Freedom Riders, the integrated group of college students who risked everything and bought a ticket on a Greyhound bus headed into the Deep South. For this inspirational documentary, veteran filmmaker Stanley Nelson gained impressive access to many influential figures on both sides of the civil rights issue as he showcases the astonishing testament to those students that managed to bring the president and the entire American public face to face with the challenge of correcting civil-rights inequities that plagued the nation.

• Thursday, February 9th

Independent Lens “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Utilizing an innovative format that riffs on the popular 1970s mixtape format, the film is a cinematic and musical journey into the black communities of America. Filmmaker Goran Hugo Olsson brings newly discovered footage to light and introduces it to a new generation across the world in an examination of the Black Power movement from 1967 to 1975.

February 12th – February 18th

• Sunday, February 12th

Safe Harbor – (Airs: 3 p.m.) – “Safe Harbor” is an incredible story of strength and determination, told through the eyes of the slaves and the people who defied race and gender in one if the greatest survival stories of all time. “Safe Harbor” follows the Underground Railroad through a little-known passage to freedom in the northernmost corner of Pennsylvania. Character voices, reenactments, documents and diaries create a vivid account of Pennsylvania in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Gullah – (Airs: 4 p.m.) – “Gullah” is a documentary about the culture preserved by the descendents of the original slaves who have never left St. Helena Island, South Carolina where their ancestors endured their servitude.

A Harpist’s Legacy: Ann Hobson Pilot and the Sound of Change – (Airs: 4:30 p.m.) – This compelling documentary follows Ann Hobson Pilot’s trailblazing journey as the first black female principle player in a major symphony orchestra and also as an international soloist, teacher, mentor and driving force behind music-education programs for undeserved minorities. “A Harpist’s Legacy” uses her professional journey to explore the increasing racial diversity and shift in attitudes toward musicians of color in the classical music world.

Colored Frames – (Airs: 5 p.m.) – “Colored Frames” reflects on the last 50 years in African-American art by exploring the influences, inspirations and experiences of black artists. Beginning at the height of the Civil Rights Era and leading up to the present, it provides a truthful, unflinching look at often-ignored artists and their progeny. “Colored Frames” also chronicles the black artist’s struggle for visibility and acceptance in mainstream art society as well as their experiences challenging assumptions about what constitutes “blackness,” even within their own community.

• Monday, February 13th

Slavery by Another Name – (Airs: 9 p.m.) – “Slavery by Another Name” challenges one of America’s most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. This documentary tells a harrowing story of how in the South, even as slavery came to an end, new forms of involuntary servitude, including convict leasing, debt slavery and peonage, took its place with shocking force – brutalizing and ultimately circumscribing the lives of hundreds of thousands of African Americans well into the 20th century.

I am a Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Memphis sanitation worker Mr. Nickleberry tells an uplifting life story of endurance and character – joined by the other men and women of the 1968 sanitation strike whose courageous stand helped change the world forever.

• Thursday, February 16th

Jim Crow Pennsylvania* – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – Joined by historical footage, period photographs and interviews, the documentary explores ‘Jim Crow,’ its effect and legacy in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, whose southern border is the Mason-Dixon line that divided slave states from free states. A WQED production.

Independent Lens “More Than a Month” – (Airs: 10:30 p.m.) – Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African-American filmmaker, is on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. Through this tongue-in-cheek journey, “More Than a Month” investigates what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a “post-racial” America.

February 19th – February 25th

• Thursday, February 23rd

Fly Boys: Western Pennsylvania’s Tuskegee Airmen* – (Airs: 8 p.m.) – This documentary tells the fascinating stories of more than 40 of the brave African-American soldiers who served their country as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance staff, and support staff during World War II. A WQED production.

February 26th – February 29th

• Monday, February 27th

In Performance at the White House: Red, White And Blues – (Airs: 9 p.m.) – President and

Mrs. Obama host this all-star celebration of the blues -- the musical form that sprang from the Mississippi Delta, up Highway 61 to the West Side of Chicago, with deep roots in Africa and slavery and influences on modern American music from soul to rock and roll. Leading popular artists' performances trace that migratory root and pay homage to the great figures of the genre and the songs they made famous -- from Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters.

American Masters “Cab Calloway: Sketches” – (Airs: 10 p.m.) – An ambassador for his race, Cab Calloway was the first black musician to tour the segregationist South, as early as 1932. A singer, dancer and band leader, he was an exceptional figure in the history of jazz. He was at the top of his game during the jazz and swing eras of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but his career flagged until he was rediscovered in the 1980s with appearances in the film “Blues Brothers” and the show “Sesame Street,” which gave him a new cult hero following of sorts.

* – Indicates that program will also be featured in February’s programming schedule on WQED: The Neighborhood Channel

ADDITIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH THEME PROGRAMS

ON WQED: THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHANNEL

K. Leroy Irvis: A Lion in Pennsylvania – This documentary, narrated by Julian Bond, follows the life of K. Leroy Irvis through his formative years, his struggles as an activist, his legendary political speeches and his commitment to achieve social justice for all Pennsylvanians. K. Leroy Irvis made history in 1977 when he became the first (and ultimately, longest-serving) African-American Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania. Before he retired in 1988, Irvis fought tirelessly for civil rights, health care, consumer protection, prison reform, improvements in housing and education, and government reform.

House: A Black Horizons Special – This documentary is an in-depth and loving look at Pittsburgh's Westinghouse High School. Since the 1930's, Westinghouse has produced an amazing array of writers, educators, musicians and athletes. At the center of the special is the 64-65 Westinghouse Bull Dogs football team, who were all city champions. The program focuses on those players and where they are today, as well as others who were part of the Westinghouse success story.

WQED PITTSBURGH has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.
###

Playing for Change: The Band at The Byham

2012-02-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
February 1, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Playing for Change: The Band

Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

As a part of its international multimedia project that works to find ways to use the power of music as a unifying force around the world, Playing For Change: The Band will be performing on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at the Byham Theater, at 7:30 PM. The concert is a part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series and presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Playing For Change was founded by Mark Johnson, an American music producer who assembled a team in a mobile recording studio and travelled with them around the world in the early 2000s searching for musical inspirations and ties between cultures. The project found new life in 2008 when the nonprofit Playing For Change Foundation established Timeless Media, a joint venture with the for-profit Concord Music Group, in order to support ongoing media projects. Their debut CD/DVD set Songs Around the World was released in 2009 and reached #10 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. The group released its second CD, Songs Around the World, Part 2 in 2011.

Songs Around the World was particularly inspired by a performance of “Stand By Me” by the late street performer Roger Ridley in Santa Monica, California. On the album’s familiar tracks, largely unknown street artists such as Ridley or New Orleans street performer “Grandpa” Elliott Small are featured alongside music artists like Bono. Songs Around the World, Part 2 continues the musical journey with global inspirations. “The journey of this album takes us from a village in Mali to the favelas (slums) of Brazil, from New Orleans to India, Jamaica to Japan. We stopped in 15 countries and recorded more than 150 musicians,” said Johnson. “[Playing For Change is] a great showcase for just what incredible, thoroughly accessible popular music is being made worldwide.” – Variety

Additionally, the project has formed a band drawn from the worldwide family network of musicians. The Playing For Change band lineup includes percussionist Mohammed Alidu (Northern Ghana), vocalist Clarence Bekker (Netherlands/Suriname), vocalist/harmonica Grandpa Elliott Small (New Orleans), vocalist/percussionist Mermans Kenkosenki (DRC Congo), guitarist Jason Tamba (Kinshasa, the capital of DRC Congo), and vocalist Titi Tsira (Gugulethu, African township in the Western Cape). “No one walked out at the end of the night on Saturday without a smile. In fact, it’s quite possible that no one has ever left a performance by the Playing for Change Band without sporting a huge, ear-to-ear grin.” – Greg Haymes, The Times Union

Tickets ($28.00-$38.00) for Playing for Change: The Band on February 29, 2012, at the Byham Theater may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Armitage Gone! Dance in Three Theories Premieres at the Byham

2012-02-02T05:53:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
February 1, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Electronic images are available upon request.

Pittsburgh Dance Council presents Armitage Gone! Dance in Three Theories

Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

PittsburghDance Council proudly presents Armitage Gone! Dance in the Pittsburgh premiere of Three Theories at the Byham Theater on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets ($19-$45) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. First Commonwealth is the proud season sponsor of Pittsburgh Dance Council, and 90.5 Essential Public Radio is the media sponsor.

Armitage Gone! Dance was created in 2005 upon Karole Armitage’s return from her 15-year stay in Europe. The company endorses innovation and is dedicated to refining the boundaries and perceptions of contemporary dance. Extending on classical and modern styles from the Balanchine and Cunningham tradition, Armitage permeates experimental thinking into the geometric balance, speed, rhythm and beauty of dance steps. Armitage derives inspiration from sources such as Japanese aesthetics, pop culture and new media, physics, fashion, and from her dancers of distinct cultural and dance backgrounds. Armitage Gone! Dance is noted for its collaborations with creators in the visual arts, science, and music, including artists Jeff Koons and David Salle, as well as string-theory physicist Brian Greene.

Three Theories (2010) is an evening-length work, inspired by renowned physicist Brian Greene’s best-selling book, The Elegant Universe. The performance itself is enriched with scientific discoveries and divided into three distinct sections – each defined by its own dance structure and musical language. Three Theories is performed by Leonides Arpon, Kristina Bethel-Blunt, Megumi Eda, William Isaac, Luke Manley, Bennyroyce Royon, Abbey Roesner, Marlon Taylor-Wiles, Emily Wagner, Mei-hua Wang, and Masayo Yamaguchi.

The series choreography begins with a prelude inspired by the Big Bang Theory, set to an excerpt from Chatham’s Two Gongs. The first section, titled Relativity, derives from Einstein’s hypothesis that gravity is the warping of the space-time fabric. Armitage advances her analysis of bending and twisting the horizontal and vertical lines of classical ballet in this dance. Relativity is a soothing dance, echoing Einstein’s recognition of the universe as a place of central order.

The second section, Quantum, is charged by Quantum Mechanics’ explanation of the volatility of the universe on the particle, or micro, level. As a result, Armitage created four ambiguous, rapid, off-kilter duets, set to Chatham’s driving initial score for 100 massed guitars precisely tuned to produce micro-tones. The choreographic structure for this section is inspired by Quantum Mechanics’ inception of “sum-over-paths,” which derives from a single dance phrase that is manipulated in a variation of ways.

The last section, String, draws from the string theory, which presumes that the fundamental matter of the universe is essentially a microscopic vibrating string, in which its vibrations are caused by the volume of the folded, intricate geometry surrounding it. “Legs twang like twisted arrows; hips pivot; feet slap sporadically on the floor…Armitage’s choreography is constantly morphing and moving into another mood, another feel (Dance Europe).”

Artistic director Karole Armitage, also known as the “punk ballerina,” began her professional career in 1973 as a member of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland. The company was devoted to the works of George Balanchine, which stems the majority of Armitage’s inspiration. In 1976, Armitage’s career blossomed with leading roles in Merce Cunningham’s landmark works. She stayed with Cunningham for five years, and since then – through her unique knowledge of the aesthetic values of Balanchine and Cunningham – Armitage has created her own place in the modern world of dance. In 1978, Armitage created her first piece, followed by her iconic Drastic-Classicism in 1981.

Karole Armitage has won several awards in various countries for her outstanding work, including the Grand Prix Roscigno Danza, Officier dans L’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Chevalier dans L’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and the Guggenheim Fellowship for Choreography. Her unique style has set her apart from others. “The ‘Armitage style’ is distinguished by its virtuosity and its urgency. She pushes the frontiers that traditionally separate dance, theater, music, and visual arts (Arte Magazine).”

Each year the Pittsburgh Dance Council, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, showcases a world-class season of dance. As the largest presenter of international performances in the city, the Dance Council continues to help make our Cultural District one of the country’s leading arts and entertainment centers.

JERSEY BOYS Returns to the Pittsburgh Stage

2012-02-02T05:34:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
January 31, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
412-471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Return Engagement Announced for Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-Winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS

The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

Playing Pittsburgh's Benedum Center, September 4-23, 2012

Pittsburgh, PA: Dates have been announced for the Pittsburgh return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The musical will make its much-anticipated return to the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, September 4, through Sunday, September 23, 2012.

JERSEY BOYS is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award®, the 2006 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Show Album, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Musical (Australia). The premiere engagement of JERSEY BOYS in Pittsburgh was an overwhelming success in 2009, seen by over 130,000 theatergoers. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hailed, “Audience-watching at JERSEY BOYS is almost as much fun as what's happening on stage -- almost. You see heads bobbing, lips moving and feet tapping unbidden as hit after Four Seasons hit bursts through the theater.” And Pittsburgh Tribune-Review noted, “JERSEY BOYS has a lot to love…[It’s] a musical with songs you know, love and want to hear again integrated into a story you don't know, but get caught up in.”JERSEY BOYS worldwide has been seen by approximately 13 million people (as of July 17, 2011).

Directed by two-time Tony®Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

JERSEY BOYS is part of the PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Catch a sneak peek of Jersey Boys! Log on to www.JerseyBoysTour.com/watch.

JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.

JERSEY BOYS opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005. The JERSEY BOYS First National Tour opened to rave reviews in San Francisco on December 1, 2006, played a record-breaking run in Los Angeles and is still breaking house records in cities across North America. There are six current productions of JERSEY BOYS worldwide: New York; London; Las Vegas; Auckland, New Zealand (begins April 2012); and two US National tours.

The JERSEY BOYS design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony Award® for his Lighting Design of JERSEY BOYS), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements & Incidental Music).

JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner.

JERSEY BOYS will play in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Benedum Center, September 4-23, 2012. The performance schedule is Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for JERSEY BOYS begin at $29.00 and will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 7, 2012 at www.trustarts.org, the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue) and by calling 412-456-4800. Groups 10+ are available by calling 412-471-6930. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to chance without notice. For more information, please visit www.JerseyBoysTour.com or www.trustarts.org.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of JERSEY BOYS, produced by Bob Gaudio, was recently certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.The cast recording is now available on Rhino Records. JERSEY BOYS: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Broadway Books) is the official handbook to the smash Broadway hit. Seasons Greetings: A JERSEY BOYS Christmas, a new holiday CD featuring international cast members of JERSEY BOYS, produced by Bob Gaudio, is now available on Rhino Records.

For more information on JERSEY BOYS, go to www.JerseyBoysTour.com or www.trustarts.org.
# # #

For photos or interviews, please contact Veronica Corpuz, 412-471-6082 / corpuz@trustarts.org

Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth Topic of eMagnify Symposium

2012-01-31T07:04:00.000-08:00

"Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth"

A Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium

March 9, 2012

presented by

Seton Hill University's
E-Magnify Women's Business Center

Save the date for the 2012 E-Magnify women's entrepreneurial symposium, "Building Strategies for Sustainable Growth," which will be held at the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg, PA, on Friday, March 9. This year's symposium will focus on growth strategies for small businesses and will include workshops and a keynote address on a variety of ways to increase your organization's revenue stream.

The Symposium Keynote Speaker will be Mary Cantando, president of The Woman's Advantage. She will deliver a keynote address entitled "Make This Your Best Year Ever...in Business!". As a nationally recognized speaker, author, columnist, and consultant, Mary engages audiences throughout the country with her insight and understanding regarding the power and potential of women business owners. Her presentations deliver powerful, cutting-edge information that provide immediate results for her audiences.

An entrepreneurial executive since 1989, Mary is a recognized authority on women's business initiatives. Having personally closed sales of up to $50M, Mary is a respected sales and marketing expert who serves as a trusted mentor and advisor, and has helped countless women entrepreneurs develop new, successful revenue streams for their enterprises.

Mary is a member of the National Speakers' Association and presents at regional, national, and international events focused on the recognition and development of women business owners. She also serves as a facilitator for the Women Presidents' Organization, sits on the advisory board of Enterprising Women magazine, and serves on the National Forum of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council. In addition, she is tapped as a resource by media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fast Company.

Mary will speak about building strategies for sustainable growth at this year's E-Magnify women's entrepreneurial symposium. Growing a business is challenging whether you are just starting or are a seasoned entrepreneur. Developing key strategies to sustain your business is essential to long-term growth.

Full symposium details and registration will be available soon. Please mark your calendar for Friday, March 9, and get ready to grow your business!

About E-Magnify

Seton Hill University's E-Magnify® women's business center provides business counseling, training, and mentoring to help women start and grow their businesses. For more information about E-Magnify please visit www.e-magnify.com.

Tribute Show Brit Floyd Showcases Pink Floyd's Greatest Hits

2012-01-30T13:01:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:

January 26, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Presents BRIT FLOYD - The British Pink Floyd Greatest Hits World Tour 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

BRIT FLOYD, the new PINK FLOYD tribute show, is coming to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center on Thursday, February 23, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. BRIT FLOYD was created by Chas Cole and Damian Darlington, the long-time producer and musical director of The Australian Pink Floyd Show. The British Pink Floyd Greatest Hits World Tour brings together all the best elements of a real Pink Floyd show: world-class musicians and world-class road crew, together with cutting-edge Floydian animation and new stage production. "Blindingly brilliant, jaw droppingly authentic...at last Pink Floyd have the tribute show they deserve!" (The News, Portsmouth) The tour will feature Damian Darlington, lead guitar and vocals; Ian Cattell, lead vocals and bass; Bobby Harrison, guitar; Carl Brunsdon, sax and percussion; Rob Stringer, keyboards; Arran Ahmun, drums; Ola Bienkowska, Emily Jollands and Jacquie Williams, vocals.

About the members of BRIT FLOYD:

In the beginning of 1994, Damian Darlington joined the Australian Pink Floyd Show and, during a period of almost 17 years, he went on to play close to 1,300 shows all over the world in theatres, hall and arenas. Ian Cattell spent six years with the Australian Pink Floyd show where he played bass and sung lead vocals in more than 500 performances in 32 countries around the world. Bobby Harrison has toured the USA and Canada extensively with the Australian Pink Floyd Show and has played guitar for the hit Queen show We Will Rock You in London’s West End, as well as in Zurich, Stuttgart, and Vienna, where he also performed with Brian May.

Carl Brunsdon began playing saxophone at age 11 and bass at age 23. For the Australian Pink Floyd Show, Brunsdon contributed his talents on sax, bass, percussion, guitar and keyboards.

At 6 years old, Rob Stringer began playing on a honkey-tonk piano in his parents’ utility room. That talent evolved into playing keyboards on two previous Australian Pink Floyd shows, and he has recently performed in a Beatles theatre show.

Arran Ahmun turned pro at 19 and shortly thereafter spent two years in London playing in West End shows. Throughout the 90s, he continued extensive touring and recording with artists such as Alison Moyet, Linda Lewis, The Proclaimers (including two No. 1 hits), Robbie Robertson, and the Jools Holland Big Band.

Ola Bienkowska's latest solo credits include two large-scale orchestral projects, one whose live recording went gold in April 2010, and her duet with Polish crooner Wojciech Gassowski for a rendition of “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.”

Emily Jolland's passion has been singing since she was a young girl, and she first toured as the lead in a National Opera production of Cinderella at age twelve. In 2003, she began working with the Australian Pink Floyd tribute band and has been a part of the project ever since.

Jacquie Williams has performed backing vocals for musicians such as Michael Buble, Martin Fry, Jason Donovan, Thelma Houston, and many others. In 2005, a song she wrote for U.S. Diva Kathy Brown called “Stronger on my Own” reached U.K. chart position number six.

Tickets are $32.25-$47.25 and may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Pittsburgh Premiere of Distant Worlds

2012-01-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
January 30, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh premiere of Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY

Saturday, February 25, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

Image from VII Concert

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY,” the international concert phenomenon featuring Nobuo Uematsu's stirring music from the award-winning role-playing video game FINAL FANTASY on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at the Benedum Center. “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” will be conducted by Grammy Award winner Arnie Roth and will feature the Distant Worlds Philharmonic Orchestra and the Benedum Center Orchestra, as well as guest vocalist Susan Calloway.

This concert is presented by Attila Glatz Concerts Productions in association with Columbia Artists Management, Inc. and appears as part of the Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Tickets ($38.25 - $78.25) for the February 25, 2012, performance of “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” at the Benedum Center may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

With more than 70 musicians on stage, “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” is a multi-media feast for the ears and the eyes. Composer Nobuo Uematsu's music, hailed by Time Magazine’s Christopher John Farley for “...imbuing FINAL FANTASY games with grandeur and depth, much the way John Williams’ score helped propel Star Wars into hyperspace,” is sweeping and richly atmospheric. Originally created to enhance the gaming experience of one of the best-selling video game franchises in history, the compositions have garnered legions of fans of their own.

“While originally composed to set the tone for the FINAL FANTASY games, Uematsu’s music is as emotionally compelling and sophisticated as the work of any composer working today,” said Music Director and Executive Producer Arnie Roth, who has held the baton for all FINAL FANTASY concerts in North America and Europe, including those featuring the San Francisco Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and Seattle Symphony, as well as the Tokyo Philharmonic. “The breadth of his work is astounding, encompassing traditional orchestral and operatic work to pop-inspired ballads. To witness the overwhelming reaction of audiences – and even veteran musicians – to this music is a genuine thrill.”

About the Concert and Tour

The “Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY” concert will include highlights from Uematsu's music for the FINAL FANTASY game franchise (produced by Square Enix and now in its 14th edition since the franchise’s debut in 1987, with more than 97 million units sold). Also being performed is new music from the recently released FINAL FANTASY XIII, by composer Masashi Hamauzu and new scores by Nobuo Uematsu from the newest release, FINAL FANTASY XIV. This live performance celebrates the music of Japanese video game composer Nobuo Uematsu and includes state-of -the-art HD video presentations filled with images direct from Square Enix and exclusive to the Distant Worlds concert production.

FINAL FANTASY VIII: “Eyes On Me” will receive its North American premiere performance in Pittsburgh featuring renowned vocalist Susan Calloway. It was released as a CD single in Japan and sold more than 400,000 copies, making it the highest-selling video game music disc ever released in that country at the time. “Eyes On Me” was the first song in video game history to win an award at the 14th Annual Japan Gold Disc Awards, where it won “Song of the Year (Western Music)” in 1999.

Susan Calloway is a singer well known to the FINAL FANTASY community as a featured soloist on the Distant Worlds concerts and recordings. Nobuo Uematsu personally requested Susan to sing the vocal theme of FINAL FANTASY XIV: “Answers.” She will be featured in FINAL FANTASY XII: “Kiss Me Good-bye” and FINAL FANTASY VIII: “Eyes On Me.”

After the success of the first live concert of this music in 2002, Uematsu’s music has been featured on several tours, including the first Distant Worlds worldwide tour 2007, which began in Stockholm, Sweden. Coinciding with the beginning of this tour, Roth and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra released the album Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy, which contains most of the songs performed at the concert. The album was praised as “one of life and energy” by Square Enix music online, who found the performance to be of superb quality.

Since the FINAL FANTASY concert’s debut in 2002 in Japan, the concerts have grown to become some of the most popular orchestral events in the world, frequently selling out in a matter of days.

About Composer Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo Uematsu is universally recognized as one of the most celebrated video game composers in the field, having achieved global recognition for his music from the FINAL FANTASY franchise that has been performed by world-class orchestras around the globe. Seen as a major proponent and contributor for the increasing popularity and performance of video game music, his song “Eyes on Me,” the theme song from FINAL FANTASY VIII, sold a record number of copies and was the first video game song to win “Song of the Year (Western Music)” at the Japanese Gold Disc Awards in 1999. The music from the game series has grown to such notoriety that Nobuo Uematsu was named as one of the “Innovators” in Time Magazine’s “Time 100: the Next Wave Music” feature.

About Music Director Arnie Roth

Music Director Arnie Roth is a Grammy-winning artist known for his work with performers including Il Divo, Diana Ross, Jewel, The Irish Tenors, Charlotte Church, Peter Cetera, and Dennis DeYoung. Roth has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Dallas Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the BBC Symphony, the Czech National Chamber Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, the Detroit Symphony, the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic and the Sydney Symphony.

Roth is well known in the world of video game music for his work with Nobuo Uematsu and Square Enix as Music Director and Conductor of the “Dear Friends: music from FINAL FANTASY,” “More Friends: music from FINAL FANTASY,” “VOICES: music from FINAL FANTASY,” as well as his role as Music Director and Conductor of “PLAY! A Video Game Symphony.” He was the winner of the Best Score Award at the 2003 DVD Premier Awards for his score for the film BarbieTM as Rapunzel and was nominated for an Emmy in 2007 for his original song “Shine” from the movie BarbieTM in The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Roth has produced dozens of best-selling CDs. For more information, visit www.awrmusic.com.

About Presenter Attila Glatz Concert Productions

Attila Glatz Concert Productions arrived on the thriving North American concert scene in 1987 committed to maintaining both the quality and authenticity of popular musical presentations in Canada and the United States. The company’s signature event is the beloved New Year’s concert, “SALUTE TO VIENNATM,” patterned after Vienna’s original NEUJAHRSKONZERT and presented around New Year’s Day in many of North America’s major concert halls, from Lincoln Center in New York City to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A. and from Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall to Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre and Montreal’s Place des Arts. For the past 17 years, this simultaneously-produced holiday series has delighted audiences wanting to usher in the New Year to the sounds of Johann Strauss, Jr. and his contemporaries. All concerts feature a 70-piece symphonic orchestra under the baton of renowned European conductors, stellar European singers and Viennese dancers. Each and every year, the producers introduce a fresh new program with different headline artists. For their continuous hard work, passion and dedication, the co-founders of Attila Glatz Concert Productions, Marion and Attila Glatz, were awarded one of Europe’s finest honors, the Austrian Government’s Decoration of Merit in Gold, for their authentic recreation of Vienna’s adored New Year’ s tradition. www.salutetovienna.com. Attila Glatz Concert Productions has also produced and presented numerous other sell-outs including: Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits (annual New Year’s Eve Concert in Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall); The Lord of the Rings Symphony; Daniel O’Donnell, the famous Irish crooner; Tango Buenos Aires, and more. http://www.glatzconcerts.com/.

Nominate An Exceptional Woman for Tribute to Women Leadership Award

2012-01-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Laura Harwin
YWCA Greater Pittsburgh
412-255-1279

YWCA seeks nominations for 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Awards

Nomination deadline is February 8

PITTSBURGH, PA (January 19, 2012): Do you know an exceptional woman who has made a difference for other women in our community? It’s time to nominate her for a 2012 Tribute to Women Leadership Award. The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is currently accepting nominations through Wednesday, February 8.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh launched the Tribute to Women Leadership Awards in 1983 to affirm its mission to empower women and girls to reach their personal and professional goals. Since then, the YWCA has honored the accomplishments of more than 200 exceptional women, saluting them for helping to shape the direction of our region and improve the lives of others.

This year’s awards will highlight women in the following categories: Arts & Culture, Business & Industry, Civic & Community Service, Education, Entrepreneur, Health & Human Services, Professional Services, and Science & Technology. Besides these eight award categories, the YWCA has added a Young Leader award category this year to honor a young woman between 25 and 40 years of age who has demonstrated exceptional leadership early in her career. The addition of the Young Leader Award is consistent with the YWCA Board of Directors’ decision to create a Young Leaders Board last year. The nomination form for all categories is available online at www.ywcapgh.org.

The YWCA invites nominations from individuals, businesses, professional groups and community organizations. Selecting the winners is the responsibility of the YWCA’s 2012 Tribute to Women Event Committee, comprised of a diverse group of professionals representing the award categories.

Awards will be presented at the 30th annual Tribute to Women Leadership Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 16, at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue, downtown.

Proceeds from the event benefit the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh’s programs and services. For more information about Tribute to Women, call 412-255-1261 or email ttw@ywcapgh.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh is a women’s membership movement committed to the elimination of racism and the economic empowerment of women and girls. To learn more about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.
###

Uncommon at the August Wilson Center

2012-01-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

UNCOMMON, February 3-12, 2012 at the August Wilson Center

(Pittsburgh, PA) – Uncommon, on stage February 3-12 at the August Wilson Center, presents a new, world premiere work by Dwight Rhoden, Chromatic, as well as Brahm’s Quintet by Dennis Nahat and Maelstrom by Mark Morris. Audiences will be treated to an experience that will challenge any predetermined ideas regarding the relationship between classical composition and ballet. This is the first time Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre brings a part of its season to the August Wilson Center. Tickets to Uncommon can be purchased online at www.pbt.org, or by phone at (412) 456-6666.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre plans to announce it’s 2012-2013 Season at the performances of Uncommon.

QUOTE:

This world premiere ballet [Chromatic] set to Bach is an exciting venture. The new work will look at the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of the music and movement from the Baroque period, and hopefully bring a 21st century spin to a visual presentation.—Dwight Rhoden

About Choreographer Dwight Rhoden

Mr. Rhoden is a founding Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, based in New York City. A former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, he has established a remarkably wide-ranging career. “One of the most sought-after choreographers of the day“ (New York Times), he has created more than 80 ballets for his own company, and his work has been featured in television productions from PBS’s Great Performances specials to the popular series, So You Think You Can Dance. Dance Magazine has praised his “new aesthetic in movement, stage, picture, and performance concepts reflecting a post-modern, techno-savvy worldview.”

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and The August Wilson Center

In 2011, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) and the August Wilson Center (AWC) will began a multiyear partnership that includes the Ballet’s premiere performances of Uncommon, in the Center’s 486-seat theatre, February 3-12, 2012. This partnership seeks to develop and provide world-class artistic content that will enrich the artistic substance of both institutions to the benefit of the Greater Pittsburgh community and beyond. The collaboration will include performances, education & cultivation and workshops & master classes.

Moving from the Byham Theater to the August Wilson Center will provide PBT patrons with a more intimate experience at the ballet.

Info from August Wilson Center:

About the August Wilson Center for African American Culture

Named for Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and Hill District native August Wilson, the August Wilson Center for African American Culture engages regional and national audiences in its mission of preserving, presenting, interpreting, celebrating and shaping the art, culture and history of African Americans in Western Pennsylvania and people of African descent throughout the world.

Located in Downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, the multidisciplinary August Wilson Center is reflective of all aspects of African American culture. The Center’s striking, two-story, green building houses seven exhibition galleries, a 486-seat theater for performances in all disciplines, a cultivation center, a café and gift shop, and multipurpose spaces for community programs and events. The Center is among a select few African American cultural institutions presenting visual and performing arts, the humanities and educational programs in a state-of-the-art venue.

The August Wilson Center – At The Center Of It All!

More information is available on The Center’s website at AugustWilsonCenter.org and by calling 412.258.2700.
###

Ocean Soul with National Geographic Photographer Brian Skerry at The Byham

2012-01-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date: January 19, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

National Geographic Live: “Ocean Soul” with Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry

Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 4:00 p.m, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

Voyage across the earth’s oceans with Brian Skerry, one of National Geographic’s most seasoned underwater photographers, and discover a vast, hidden world beneath the waves. Brian Skerry will present his photographic journey and lecture, Ocean Soul, at the Byham Theater on Sunday, February 12, 2012, at 4:00 p.m. followed by a Q&A session and book signing. This lecture is a part of the National Geographic Live! speakers series*, a part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series, and is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Tickets ($20-$40) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call group sales at (412) 471-6930.

Using his camera to communicate, Brian Skerry has spent three decades—and more than 10,000 hours underwater—telling the oceans’ stories. His images celebrate the mystery and beauty of the depths and offer portraits of creatures so detailed and intimate they sometimes appear to have been shot in a studio. Skerry dives eight months of the year, often in extreme conditions beneath Arctic ice or in predator-infested waters, and has even lived at the bottom of the sea to be close to his subjects.

Skerry’s National Geographic book, Ocean Soul, offers a powerful retrospective of Skerry’s photographs and showcases his ability to create images that blend strong aesthetic beauty with journalistic relevance. Skerry explains, “I fell in love with the sea as a child and I wanted to tell stories about all I saw underwater. I never cease to be amazed at the extraordinary encounters I have when I’m at sea.” Ocean Soul takes readers from the glacial waters of the North Atlantic, where harp seals face pressure from commercial hunting, to the balmy central Pacific, where Skerry’s camera caught evidence of damaged coral ecosystems actually rebuilding themselves.

When not in the field, Skerry is a passionate advocate for the oceans he loves to photograph. His riveting talks before audiences at TED, Harvard, The National Press Club, and London’s Royal Geographic Society reinforce his lifelong mission to build reverence for these exquisite landscapes and encourage protection of them for future generations of ocean lovers.

*National Geographic Live! speakers series, at the Byham Theater, also will feature Annie Griffiths: A Camera, Two Kids and a Camel, on Sunday, April 22, 2012, at 4:00 p.m.

Calling All Kids for PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest

2012-01-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2012

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED PITTSBURGH IS CALLING ALL KIDS FOR ANNUAL WRITERS CONTEST

PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest encourages children to create original stories and illustrations

PITTSBURGH – WQED Pittsburgh is kicking off the new year with the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest for students in grades kindergarten through third, a national initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s reading skills through hands-on, active learning. 2012 marks the eighteenth year that WQED has offered the Contest to the region and the third year that EQT Corporation is sponsoring WQED’s contest in partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WV PBS.) Also partnering with WQED this year is Penn State Public Broadcasting (WPSU) which serves central Pennsylvania. A central website, writeonkids.org, provides information about the Contest and the local enrichment opportunities offered in each station area.

“By offering the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to our region, we are encouraging early learners to explore their creativity while developing essential literacy skills,” said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED. “WQED’s commitment to literacy and to nurturing children’s creative expression is unwavering, and we are delighted to offer this Contest again locally in partnership with our sister stations, WV PBS and WPSU. Research shows that creative writing can enhance and improve a child’s literacy development, and through this Contest, we are helping prepare children for learning and success, in school and beyond.”

Beginning January 14, 2012, WQED, WV PBS, WPSU and other PBS stations throughout the country will work with schools, public libraries and other education organizations to implement the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest in their communities. To celebrate the beginning of the Contest and distribute related materials, WQED will host the openings of two new PBS KIDS Library Corners, the first in the region, at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie on January 26 and at the Homestead Library on February 2. These events, primarily for school groups, will also feature appearances by characters from the popular PBS KIDS programs, SUPER WHY! and The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! The Saturday Light Brigade, a key local partner in the 2012 Contest, will also install and debut two new Story Boxes that highlight winning stories from the 2011 Contest, read by the student authors themselves. A Story Box is a wall-mounted or tabletop box, the face of which contains pictures with “hot spots” that are pressed to hear audio tracks.

For more information on the PBS KIDS Writers Contest in West Virginia, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania, including entry forms, rules, contest resources, and local event listings, go to www.writeonkids.org

In order to equip parents and teachers to best support their students’ contest entries, WQED will conduct three one-hour webinars on issues related to writing and illustration.

To register for:

• “Writing and Editing” January 25 at 3:30 p.m. with elementary school teacher Caley Svensson;

• “Ideation to Storyboarding” February 8 at 3:30 p.m. with local children’s author Michael Scotto;

• “Illustration” March 7 at 3:30 p.m. with Joe Wos, Executive Director of the Toonseum

go to www.writeonkids.org or click on the webinar titles above.

WQED, WV PBS and WPSU will select local winners and award prizes. Local winners will be entered into the national level of the Contest where a panel of judges will select the winners. National winners will be announced and prizes – including tablets, e-readers and MP3 players – will be awarded during summer 2012.

For the second year in a row, WQED has partnered with The Saturday Light Brigade to invite winners and honorable mentions from the PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest to record their stories live in the Saturday Light Brigade radio studios at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; these recordings will be made on April 28. Winning stories will be aired by The Saturday Light Brigade as part of their Youth Expression Showcase, archived on SLB's website, matched with individual author’s stories in the “Previous Winners” section of the Contest website, and included in new versions of The Saturday Light Brigade’s contest storyboxes.

This year’s winners’ celebration will be held in the historic Fred Rogers’ Studio at WQED in Oakland on May 12 and will feature performances of the winners’ stories that have been transformed into puppet plays.

About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

About Penn State Public Broadcasting

Penn State Public Broadcasting serves central Pennsylvania with programming, educational services and community outreach. Its public media services produce, acquire and distribute programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of an audience within central Pennsylvania.

About West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting nurtures personal growth, promotes civic responsibility and inspires lifelong discovery through high-quality programming and services. West Virginia Public Radio, West Virginia PBS, wvpubcast.org and Ready To Learn® are all services of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Friends of West Virginia Public Broadcasting is a 501(c)3 organization responsible for receiving donated funds from individuals for annual membership to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Friends serve as ambassadors in their communities on behalf of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

All of the licenses for West Virginia Public Broadcasting are held by the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, Kay Goodwin, Secretary.

About Saturday Light Brigade

SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (SLB) uses radio and audio to encourage, amplify, share and archive the ideas, stories, and feelings of children, youth and families. SLB believes in radio and audio because these technologies enable a sense of intimacy, engagement and self-directed imagination that is often lacking in other media, while also promoting opportunities for privacy (given that children need not be photographed), equal access (audio has fewer barriers for participation than other media), and sharpening of important life skills (i.e., speaking and listening, imagination, creative expression, and critical thinking, respect for others, confidence and cooperation, and technical curiosity).

About PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, join our community online on Twitter and Facebook, or visit pbskidsgo.org.
###

Carnegie Music Hall Hosts Pittsburgh Native Christopher O'Riley on NPR

2012-01-24T12:25:00.000-08:00

POPULAR NPR SHOW "FROM THE TOP" WITH PITTSBURGH'S OWN CHRISTOPHER O'RILEY TAPES BROADCAST AT CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 AT 8 P.M.

For Immediate Release - January 17, 2012

Program Contact:

Eleanor Dowling
617-437-0707 x103
edowling@fromthetop.org

Christopher O'Riley

Popular NPR Show “From the Top” with Pittsburgh’s Own Christopher O’Riley tapes broadcast at Carnegie Music Hall on Tuesday, February 14 at 8 pm

From the Top, the preeminent showcase for young musicians heard weekly on Classical WQED-FM 89.3 comes to the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to tape a radio broadcast on Tuesday, February 14 at 8:00 pm. The popular NPR program, hosted by Pittsburgh’s own acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley, will feature the amazing performances and captivating personal stories of extraordinary young classical musicians from across the country. This episode is presented by the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University with local media sponsor Classical WQED-FM 89.3. To purchase tickets, visit www.showclix.com/event/FromtheTop or call 1-888-71-TICKETS. From the Top’s 2011-12 National Tour is sponsored by U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

The broadcast taping features local 17-year-old violist Daniel Orsen from Pittsburgh, performing the fourth movement from Sonata in F-minor by Johannes Brahms, accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley on the piano; and 14-year-old pianist and composer Aleksandr Voinov from Sewickley, Pennsylvania performing Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 by Frédéric Chopin.

Also on the broadcast: 17-year-old euphonium player Grant Jameson from Dublin, Ohio performing “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms” by Simone Mantia, accompanied by Christopher O’Riley; 16-year-old violinist Kelly Talim from Buffalo Grove, Illinois performing Caprice No.6, "D'après l'Étude en forme de Valse", Op.52 by Camille Saint Saëns, accompanied by Christopher O’Riley. A final performer will be chosen in the coming weeks.

This episode will air nationally the week of March 5, 2012 and on Classical WQED-FM 89.3 Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 5 pm. From the Top is heard weekly on Classical WQED-FM 89.3, Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7 in Johnstown, and at wqed.org worldwide Saturdays at 5 pm.

About From the Top

What began as a radio experiment in 2000 quickly became one of the fastest growing and most popular weekly classical music programs on public radio. Broadcast on nearly 250 stations nationwide to an audience of more than 700,000 listeners each week, From the Top has been described by the Boston Globe as, "an entertaining, accessible and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits and games, the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives."

Annually, From the Top's live tapings reach more than 20,000 live audience members of all ages across the United States. In conjunction with its national tour, through From the Top’s Center for the Development of Arts Leaders, the Boston-based non-profit offers leadership training to young artists and conducts classroom and community programs leveraging the power of its performers as role models for younger students. In addition, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation award $10,000 scholarships to high achieving musicians with limited financial means. The program has invested more than $1.4 million in support for pre-college students since 2005. From the Top launched its Emmy Award winning PBS television series From the Top at Carnegie Hall in 2007.

From the Top's radio program is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and support from U.S. Trust. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations. From the Top is an independent non-profit organization headquartered in Boston. From the Top’s founding partners are New England Conservatory and WGBH. Learn more at www.fromthetop.org.

About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

About Carnegie Mellon University School of Music

Founded in 1912 as one of the five schools of the College of Fine Arts, Carnegie Mellon’s School of Music educates outstanding, intellectually gifted musicians through excellence in performance, creativity, scholarship and pedagogy. The School of Music offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in instrumental and vocal performance, composition and keyboard performance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology. A Master of Music degree is offered in performance, composition, conducting, collaborative piano and music education and a Master of Science in Music and Technology. Additionally, the School of Music offers a variety of highly acclaimed non-degree programs, such as the Artist Diploma (Performance, Composition, Conducting), Advanced Music Studies Certificate (Performance, Composition, Piano Pedagogy, Audio Recording and Production, and Piano Maintenance), Dalcroze Eurhythmics Certification, Orff Schulwerk Teacher Training and Music Education Certification. The School of Music presents more than 250 events annually, many of which are free and open to the public. More information can be found at music.cmu.edu. To learn more about Carnegie Mellon University, go to http://www.cmu.edu/about/cmufactsheet.pdf.
###

Bat Population Near Extinction

2012-01-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

STATE BAT POPULATION NEAR EXTINCTION DUE TO FUNGUS SPREADING NATIONWIDE

Experience: The Race to Save Pennsylvania's Bats Premieres Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2012

CONTACT:

George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

STATE BAT POPULATION NEAR EXTINCTION DUE TO FUNGUS SPREADING NATIONWIDE

Experience: The Race to Save Pennsylvania’s Bats

Premieres Monday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

PITTSBURGH—More than a million bats in the northeastern United States have died from a fungus called White Nose Syndrome (WNS.) While bats might conjure fear, they provide an essential service to all humans by helping to control pests that pose threats to our agriculture, forestry and health. On Monday, January 23 WQED’s local documentary series Experience presents The Race to Save Pennsylvania’s Bats at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV.

With more than 98% of Pennsylvania’s cave bats gone, biologists are calling WNS the worst wildlife crisis in history. Emmy® Award winning producer Gina Catanzarite takes viewers inside local caves, mines and research labs to reveal how Pennsylvania has emerged as a national leader in the fight against WNS. Featured in the documentary are endangered mammal specialist Greg Turner and biologist Cal Butchkoski of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, along with renowned bat researcher Dr. DeeAnn Reeder of Bucknell University. The program also shows how Pennsylvania residents can help slow the spread of this disease in their own neighborhoods.

Experience programs may be viewed the day after their premiere broadcast online at wqed.org along with other local WQED productions including Horizons, It’s Pittsburgh...& A Lot Of Other Stuff, Pittsburgh 360° and 4802. Experience airs Mondays at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV and showcases locally produced half-hour documentaries. For more information regarding Experience go to: wqed.org/experience and “Like” on Facebook® at facebook.com/ExperienceOnWQED.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Experience Dutch Culture with Three Month Distinctively Dutch Festival

2012-01-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:

January 18, 2012

Contact:

Veronica Corpuz

(412) 471-6082

corpuz@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust launches

The Distinctively Dutch Festival

The Cultural District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

February 18 - May 20, 2012

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, a nonprofit arts and economic development organization at the center of Downtown Pittsburgh’s revival, will host an array of U.S. and world premieres as part of an interdisciplinary arts festival: The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Distinctively Dutch Festival. Celebrating the culture and contemporary performing and visual arts from the Netherlands, the three-month festival will feature dance, theater, music, visual art, film, literature and architecture. Events will be held February 18-May 20, 2012, throughout Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, as well as at select venues, including MCG Jazz, City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Carnegie Mellon University.

Presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Distinctively Dutch Festival is supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Performing Arts Fund NL, Music Center the Netherlands and Theater Instituut Nederland. In addition, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust gratefully acknowledges the Carol R. Brown Performance Fund for support of the Festival, as well as media partners Pittsburgh City Paper and 90.5 Essential Public Media.

Drawing on a long-standing history of presenting Dutch contemporary artists in Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust identified 2012 as the year to launch another punctuating, culturally-focused festival—in line with its preceding Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts (2008 and 2004), Australia Festival (2007) and Québec Festival (2004). J. Kevin McMahon, Cultural Trust President and CEO said, “Dutch artists are renowned for their innovation and creativity, and one of our objectives at the Trust is to share their extraordinary performing and visual arts and Dutch culture with Pittsburgh audiences. The artists whom The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has invited showcase the outstanding caliber of craft, technique, expression, collaboration and bold spirit of exploration we identify as ‘distinctively Dutch’.”

Dutch Ambassador to the U.S. Renée Jones-Bos said, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on this exciting project to showcase many Dutch artists in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, one of the most creative cities in the United States. It reflects the forward-looking mentality, entrepreneurial spirit and innovative nature that the Netherlands shares with the US and with Pittsburgh in particular.” The festival was made possible through a generous grant from the Performing Arts Fund NL, Music Center the Netherlands and Theater Instituut Nederland and is actively supported by the Dutch Embassy network, specifically the Consulate-General of The Netherlands in New York. The festival is an example of how cultural diplomacy can create lasting economic, political, academic and artistic ties between the Netherlands and Pittsburgh.

Creativity and innovation stands at the core of Pittsburgh’s strategic transformation. Pittsburgh’s rich cultural heritage includes the likes of Andy Warhol, Art Blakey, Rachel Carson and Martha Graham. That heritage provides fertile grounds for the innovative and creative performances of Dance Works Rotterdam/André Gingras, Jiří Kylián and Michael Schumacher, PIPS:lab, Wunderbaum, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, JacobTV, Drums United and many others. Distinctely Dutch marks the cultural tradition of innovation that Pittsburgh shares with the Dutch.

Additional programs may be added to the festival calendar. For a listing of events and to receive updates, please visit TrustArts.org/dutchfestival or call 412-456-6666. Groups may purchase discounted tickets by calling 412-471-6930. Visit www.dutchartevents.com for more information on Dutch arts in the U.S. and follow Dutch Art Events on Facebook and Twitter.

DISTINCTIVELY DUTCH FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES & EXHIBITIONS

Dance Works Rotterdam/ André Gingras
ANATOMICA
U.S. Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh Dance Council
Sponsored by First Commonwealth
Saturday, February 18, 8pm
Byham Theater
101 Sixth Street, Cultural District
$14-$45

“It’s a terrific splurge of vibrant physicality and joie de vivre that sets out to showcase what an amazing miracle the body represents.” —The Times of London

Choreographed by the daring André Gingras, ANATOMICA is an unyielding exploration of the physical extremes of sexual competition and attraction. Inspired by the danger, beauty and consequences of the body on display, Gingras delves and soars into the body’s extraordinary abilities and profound fragility. Dance Works Rotterdam/André Gingras puts contemporary dance in a social context, bringing relevant moral dilemmas into the theater with energetic raw dance. Described by theater and visual artist Robert Wilson as “rigorous, intellectual and free in spirit,” the company emphasizes collaboration and dialogue with other organizations and artists beyond the boundaries of contemporary dance.

Wunderbaum
Detroit Dealers
World Premiere
Thursday-Saturday, February 23–25, 8pm
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$30

Set against the rise and fall of the American car industry, theater maker Walter Bart tells the story of his granddad, car dealer Arie Bart. In a cross-over of dramatized documentary, theater and music, Arie’s remarkable life is juxtaposed with the romance of the American Dream and the transience of the car as a sex symbol. Based in Rotterdam, Wunderbaum is a group of actors who work collectively, together with a designer and a dramaturge, as well as musicians, writers, photographers and film producers. Chameleonic, collaborative and often site specific, the performances of Wunderbaum take on many shapes resulting in newly discovered theater forms combined with a fresh look at humankind and society.

PIPS:lab
Diespace
U.S. Premiere
Friday–Sunday, March 23–25, 8pm Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$30

Born in the underground party scene of Amsterdam, PIPS:lab is known throughout the Netherlands for producing raw, expressive, visually stunning, interactive multimedia performances. The six members of this tech-theater collective have emerged as do-it-yourself masters of the unexpected. Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn. Now PIPS:lab has created Diespace: “the first active internet community for the deceased.” Interactive video technology, music, and sardonic wit: Diespace is an innovative look at life, death and the Internet. Co-produced by Melkweg Paradiso Productiehuis. DieSpace is supported by the Fonds voor Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunsten, Prins Bernhard Cultuur Fonds and VSB Fonds.

Jiří Kylián and Michael Schumacher
Last Touch First
U.S. Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh Dance Council
Sponsored by First Commonwealth
Friday and Saturday, April 6–7, 8pm August Wilson Center
980 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District
$35

“It’s that rare occurrence: a performance that really grabs you and leaves you affected In mind and body for days...Last Touch First is such a performance; a joining of the best forces of dance.” -Trouw

Choreographer-in-residence and former artistic director of the acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater, Jiří Kylián has joined forces with master of dance improvisation Michael Schumacher to create Last Touch First. Set within an imagined 18th-century manor house, the performance touches the depths of desperation, madness and loneliness within six characters. Through incredibly slow stop-motion movement these gripping and magical vignettes resonate like a Chekhovian drama. A Holland Dance Festival production in cooperation with Nederlands Dans Theater and Steps Festval, Zwisterland.

Rachel Nieborg & Ine Mulder
Girls’N’Guns
April 27–June 10
707 Penn Gallery
707 Penn Avenue, Cultural District

The famed “still life” of old masters is reinterpreted by two young Dutch artists: photographer Rachel Nieborg and designer Ine Mulder. The duo began working together on Girls’N’Guns in 2008 when Ine Mulder asked Nieborg to join her for shooting practice. The project evolved into a carefully crafted set recasting the still life paintings of the 17th century. Working with a metronome to fine tune the precision timing, one would literally shoot a gun while the other shot photographs. The images have not been edited with photo software, but capture the raw tension of stillness and movement, violence and beauty.

Global Navigators
April 27–June 10
Wood Street Galleries / SPACE
601 Wood Street / 812 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

“Global Navigators explores and embodies our fascination with unknown cultures through various media, forms and processes.” -Murray Horne, Curator, Wood Street Galleries

For the Distinctively Dutch Festival, more than a dozen visual artists— including Peter Bogers, Gerard Holthuis, Marnix de Nijs, Folkert de Jong, Guido van der Werve and Karen Sargsyan—will be featured in this exhibition that examines the very nature of global exploration. This contemporary Dutch expedition traverses the terrains of the Internet and new media as well as mines the historical context of Dutch exploration.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has a long history of presenting visual artists from the Netherlands, including most recently Edwin van der Heide, telcosystems and Informationlab, which created Pittsburgh’s first art+technology public art installation entitled Cell Phone Disco.

JacobTV
The News
World Premiere
Sponsored by Joan Humphrey
Friday, April 27, 9pm Byham Theater
101 Sixth Street, Cultural District $20–$30

“JacobTV is preoccupied with American media and world events and draws raw materials from those sources. His work possesses an explosive strength and raw energy combined with extraordinarily intricate architectural design.” -Limor Tomer, General Manager, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A tragicomical story of our times ... never finished, constantly updated! Classical music outlaw and avant-pop composer, Jacob Ter Veldhuis a.k.a. JacobTV has created his newest opus, The News. In an orchestrated video-opera of talking heads and political pundits, JacobTV has sampled speeches and sound bites from news media to create everything from a militant staccato for the angry evangelist to a lyrical adagio for elegant presidential rhetoric. This unique synthesis of speech, music and video is performed by JacobTV and the intrepid Chicago-based chamber ensemble, Fulcrum Point. Featured soloists are Josefien Stoppelenburg, soprano, and Lori Cotler, alto.

MCG Jazz presents
Dutch Women of Jazz
Friday–Saturday, May 18–19, 8pm Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street, North Side
Adults: $30 or buy both shows for $50; Students: $20 or buy both shows for $30

MCG Jazz is proud to present Holland’s finest female jazz musicians. Specially recommended by the Muziek Centrum Netherland, a distinguished center for the promotion of music both in the Netherlands and abroad, these three diverse bands represent the best in Dutch jazz.

On Friday, May 18, MCG Jazz features a double-bill with Amina Figarova Sextet and the saxophone-led Tineke Postma Quartet. The immensely talented and critically-acclaimed Saskia Laroo Band performs on Saturday, May 19. Discounted packages are available if you purchase both performances.

With her penchant for thoughtful, enthralling melodies and bright, clear alto sax sound, Tineke Postma’s bright voice has been making a mark on the U.S. scene over the last couple years.

Called “one of the most important composers to come into jazz in the new millennium” by Jazztimes, Amina Figarova’s graceful and erudite piano style and showstopping band will challenge and inspire you.

Saskia Laroo, hailed by American public and press at large as “Lady Miles of Europe,” is one of the few women trumpet stylists, and headlines her own show for this once-in-a-lifetime Pittsburgh concert.

Beumer and Drost
Dudes
North American Premiere
Presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
Sponsored by Giant Eagle
Wednesday–Sunday, May 16–20
Charity Randall Theater
4301 Forbes Avenue, Oakland
$8

Dudes is a hybrid performance of song, dance, puppetry, slap-stick and mime that takes place in the confines of a small locker room where the limitless possibilities of the imagination unfold. Founded by Loek Beumer and Peter Drost, B&D is a self-made theater company that has built a strong reputation and loyal audiences in the Netherlands and Belgium for their innovative theatrical works for children, youth and adults.

Drums United
World of Rhythm
Presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival
Sponsored by Giant Eagle
Friday–Sunday, May 18–20
Bellefield Hall
315 S. Bellefield Avenue, Oakland
$8

Drums United is an explosive and exciting world-percussion group interweaving the rhythms of African drums, Indian tablas, Cuban rumbas and more, with percussionists from nations such as Bangladesh, Senegal, Spain, Germany, Surinam and Venezuela. Led by award-winning Dutch percussionist and bandleader, Lucas van Merwijk, Drums United celebrates the unifying power of music that transcends culture, language and difference.

DUTCH ARTS IN PITTSBURGH

Wednesday Wine Flight: Dutch Diaspora
Wednesday, February 1, 6:15pm Cabaret at Theater Square
655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District, $35.75

Explore the Dutch influence on the global wine industry as part of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Wednesday Wine Flights. Call 412-456-6666 to reserve tickets to this popular wine series.

A Creative Conversation with Wunderbaum
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
Thursday, February 16
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join director Walter Bart and members of Wunderbaum in a creative conversation about the collaborative and interdisciplinary process of theater making and performance. Call 412-394-3353 to register for this free event.

Choreography Workshop with André Gingras
Friday, February 17 Dance Alloy Studio
5530 Penn Ave, East Liberty

Professional dancers and choreographers are invited to study with renowned choreographer André Gingras for this intimate examination of choreography and creative process. Space is limited. To register, call 412-471-6079 or email education@trustarts.org.

Craft Beer School: Let’s Go Dutch
Tuesday, February 21, 6:15pm Cabaret at Theater Square
655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District, $25.75

Experience Dutch culinary arts paired with craft beers that will delight the beer lover’s palette. Call 412-456-6666 to reserve tickets to this popular beer series.

Ben Van Berkel: “The New Understanding”
Wednesday, February 29, 6pm Carnegie Library Lecture Hall
4400 Forbes Avenue, Oakland

Join architect Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio in Amsterdam for a lecture presented by the Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture and the Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art. This free lecture is supported, in part, by public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services. For more information visit www.cmu.edu/architecture/lecture.

Spring Flower Show
March 17–April 15 Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
One Schenley Park, Oakland

$12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $11 for students, $9 for children, members and children under 2 are free. Open daily: 9:30am–5pm; Fridays until 10pm. 412-622-6914 www.phipps.conservatory.org

Take a trip around the world at the Spring Flower Show, a colorful celebration of vibrant locales and cultures. A Dutch display in the historic and spacious South Conservatory will showcase the beauty of tulips with swaths of blooms; intricately-painted wooden shoes and an iconic windmill. Nearly 15,000 bulbs planted in the front of the glasshouse will also flower to represent the spectacular fields of Holland right here in Pittsburgh.

2012 Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival
March 22–April 15
Carnegie Mellon University

Faces of Others is a series of international film festivals featuring selections from Poland, Netherlands, South Africa, Israel, Palestine, Argentina, France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Norway, Iran, Korea, Romania, Russia and Pittsburgh. The “Distinctively Dutch” program highlights the recent cinematography of Holland and encompasses a wide range of the latest, award-winning films, documentaries and video installations by Dutch artists. For a full description of films, venues, and ticket info, visit www.cmu.edu/faces or call 412-445-6292.

Pittsburgh Technology Council Night and Artist Talk with PIPS:lab
Saturday, March 24
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Creative Technology Network for a post-performance artist talk with members of PIPS:lab focused on the do-it-yourself programming and technology behind Diespace. Special rates available for Pittsburgh Technology Council members.

Improvisation Workshop with Michael Schumacher
Saturday, April 7
Dance Alloy Studio
5530 Penn Ave, East Liberty

Professional dancers and choreographers are invited to study with master of improvisation Michael Schumacher. Space is limited. To register, call 412-471-6079 or email education@trustarts.org.

Dutch Poetry
Tuesday, April 17
City of Asylum/Pittsburgh
330 Sampsonia Way, North Side

Join City of Asylum/Pittsburgh for an evening with Dutch poets Joost Zwagerman, Erik Jan Harmens, Helene Gelens, John Schoorl, Pieter Boskma and Lucas Hirsch. For more information visit www.cityofasylumpittsburgh.org or call 412-321-2190.

Dutch Dining in the Cultural District
Monday–Friday, April 23–27
various venues

Visit our website trustarts.org/dutchfestival to see a list of participating restaurants, including Meat & Potatoes among many others that will feature a Dutch-inspired dishes and other special offerings during this week.

Rethinking Cities in the 21st Century
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh
Thursday, April 26
Trust Arts Education Center
805 Liberty Avenue, Cultural District

Join creative thinkers from Pittsburgh and Holland to discuss the transformation of urban cities in the 21st century. For more information, call 412-456-6666.

Dutch Art At Carnegie Museum of Art: Self-Guided Tour
Carnegie Museum of Art
4400 Forbes Avenue, Oakland

The Carnegie Museum of Art’s world class collection includes great works from the Netherlands. Enjoy masterpieces as diverse as Droog Design’s cabinet You Can’t Lay Down Your Memories to elegant 17th century inlaid Cabinet on Stand. Paintings range from Van Gogh’s important landscape The Plain of Auvers to innovations in early 20th century abstraction by Mondrian and Bart Antony van der Leck. For more info visit http://www.cmoa.org/.

Ticket Information & Advanced Reservations

For Tickets & Updates

ONLINE: www.TrustArts.org/dutchfestival

Follow us on Facebook.com/CulturalTrust and Twitter@CulturalTrust

PHONE: 412-456-6666

GROUPS: 412-471-6930

IN PERSON: Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, Cultural District

Programming is subject to change. Please call or visit website for additional information.
###

Kingsley Jazz Explosion Honors Local Jazz Legends

2012-01-16T06:09:00.000-08:00

Kingsley Association Presents

The Kingsley Awards:

JAZZ EXPLOSION

at The Hillman Center for The Performing Arts

Shady Side Academy Senior School

423 Fox Chapel Road

15238

25 February 2012

Doors open at 6:00pm / Show starts at 7:00pm

Visit www.kingsleyassociation.org

Kingsley Jazz Explosion

Join the Kingsley Association on February 25th for the Kingsley Awards: Jazz Explosion.

Roger Humphries

Dr. Nelson Harrison

Tony Mowod

The evening’s tribute will pay homage to our local jazz legends, Roger Humphries, Dr. Nelson Harrison and Tony Mowod, as they are honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their contribution to the art of Jazz.

Doors open at 6:00pm with the show starting at 7:00pm.

at The Hillman Center for The Performing Arts

Shady Side Academy Senior School
423 Fox Chapel Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Featuring Music By Kenny Blake, Jay Willis, Lou Stellute, Tony Campbell and 4th and Ten, with Mark Strickland & DC Chandler

Reception

Meet and greet with the artists at the post-concert reception in The Black Box Theater at The Hillman Center. Delicious finger foods and light alcoholic beverages catered by Savoy Restaurant.

Tickets

$25 General Admission

$50 Reserved Seating

$75 VIP (Reception)

For tickets visit http://www.proarts.org/ or call 412.631.8939

Nominate Pittsburgh Fashionistas for the Fashion Hall of Fame 2012

2012-01-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Pittsburgh Fashion Week

Nominations Sought For

Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame 2012

Immediate Release
January 6, 2012

Pittsburgh Fashion Week - Fashion Hall of Fame Nominations

Pittsburgh Fashion Week is looking for the next six Fashion Hall of Fame Inductees

(PITTSBURGH) -- Nominations are being accepted for the third line of inductees into the Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame at Pittsburgh Fashion Week this fall.

Are you considered a fashion icon or know someone who is? Pittsburgh Fashion Week (PFW) is looking for individuals who have impacted Pittsburgh through fashion, style and beauty.

The public is invited to nominate anyone with roots in Pittsburgh for the award. Nominations must include the name of the nominee, explanation of why the person is deserving, and contact information of the nominee. Nominations are due February 15 and may be submitted via email to halloffame@pittsburghfashionweek.com or by snail mail to Pittsburgh Fashion Week, P.O. Box 17947, Pittsburgh, PA, 15235-7947. Please keep submissions brief. Bullet points are preferred.

Nominees will be evaluated based on longevity and significance of contribution in the general areas of fashion or beauty and must have at least 10 years in the industry. They can be persons living in Pittsburgh, or persons born or raised in Pittsburgh and currently living elsewhere. Five to eight honorees may be culled from what are expected to be scores of nominees.

The purpose is to shine a spotlight on fashion icons from the city of Pittsburgh. We want to bring them to the forefront to honor them and continue to inform Pittsburghers that there are people here and from here who have done prominent things in the world of fashion. That is why we are honoring these iconic figures. Honorees will be announced in March and will be inducted at a luncheon at the Omni William Penn hotel, Downtown, on the last day of fashion week, September 30.

Aside from fashion weeks in major American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, a number of smaller cities have debuted their own fashion weeks in recent years: Portland, Ore., Charlotte, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Phoenix to name a few. But none began as ambitiously as Pittsburgh Fashion Week in terms of length, and none have a hall of fame concept to honor local fashion luminaries.

The public can keep up with the latest developments of Pittsburgh Fashion Week at www.pittsburghfashionweek.com and through social media on the Friends of Pittsburgh Fashion Week page on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank You,

Miyoshi Anderson
Executive Director and Founder

Visit us at our home on the web: http://www.pittsburghfashionweek.com/

David Garrett Rocks the Benedum

2012-01-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
January 6, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents international virtuoso violinist David Garrett - Rock Symphonies II Tour

Sunday, January 29, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

Internationally-acclaimed violinist David Garrett will return to Pittsburgh on Sunday, January 29, 2012, at 8:00 p.m., at the Benedum Center. This concert is part of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series, and is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

David Garrett’s current U.S. tour, Rock Symphonies II, coincides with and promotes his 2011 CD with same title. Along with his five-piece band, the tour will feature Garrett’s arrangements of rock anthems mixing a little classical with a lot of rock: Vivaldi vs. Vertigo (U2), Walk this Way (Aerosmith), Kashmir (Led Zeppelin), Master of Puppets (Metallica) and Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) to name a few.

Tickets ($30.50-$43.50) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets, please call group sales (412) 471-6930.

David Garrett began playing violin at age four and was signed to the prestigious classical music label Deutsche Grammophon by age thirteen. Already described as “…an entire corpus of virtuoso violin art, expounded with a fearsome beauty beyond comprehension” by BBC Music Magazine, David Garrett has achieved a lifetime of musical accomplishments early in his musical career. Garrett has gained international stardom, with gold and platinum selling discs internationally, and chart-topping albums in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Far East and the U.S., plus a Top 20 U.K. hit.

Garrett comments, “Every good musician is always, in effect, a musician of instinct - throughout the course of their life, no matter how much theoretical knowledge is accumulated. For only when you really trust your innermost being, so absolutely convinced of one thing, (then) you can also inspire others.”

David Garrett has been winning over audiences since the release of his self-titled debut album in June 2009. His numerous appearances have included performances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, Today Show, Fox News Channel, CBS Saturday Early Show and his first PBS smash, “Live in Berlin.” His technically jaw-dropping performance of “Flight of the Bumblebee” was recorded in the 2010 Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-ever performance of the piece (a blistering 66 seconds), wowing crowds across the world. In addition to being the best-selling new classical artist of 2009, he also was Billboard’s #9 highest-charting new artist overall, across all genres. His CD, David Garrett, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Chart, and held the #1 position for nine weeks, remaining in the Top 10 for more than 40 subsequent weeks. In 2010, Garrett received the Echo Classic Award, “Bestseller of the year,” and in 2011 received the Echo Award for National Male Rock/Pop Artist category.

Gallery 937 Hosts War Exhibit

2012-01-12T06:02:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date: January 11, 2012

Media Contact:
Scilla Wahrhaftig
Program Director, American Friends Service Committee PA
(412) 371-3607
SWahrhaftig@afsc.org

Murals, Poems and Personal Witness Illuminate the Realities of War in Afghanistan and Iraq

January 27 – February 12, 2012, Gallery 937 on Liberty Avenue. Opens in conjunction with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Gallery Crawl on January 27.

For three weeks in January and February, art, poetry and personal witness come together around the stunning exhibit Windows and Mirrors: Reflections on the War in Afghanistan, which is paired with the Pittsburgh-based War Dialogues Project. The exhibitions reveal the everyday realities of refugees, civilians and soldiers who are suffering through wars that remain invisible to much of the American public.

Windows and Mirrors is a traveling exhibit of 45 murals from artists across the U.S., shown alongside drawings collected from Afghan high school students about their daily lives. This art invites us to view the war through the eyes of the Afghan people as they move from despair to hope.

In the War Dialogues Project, refugees and military veterans of the same wars collaborate through art and storytelling. Featuring two local artists—Joyce Wagner, a U.S. Iraq veteran, and Mina Al Doori, a high-school Iraqi refugee. (Sponsored by The Sprout Fund, a nonprofit supporting innovative grassroots community projects that are catalyzing change in Pittsburgh.)

Who Should Attend: All who are interested in civilian and soldiers’ experiences of war; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; peace-making; Pittsburgh war-refugee communities; interfaith dialogue; mural art and poetry.

Exhibit Sponsor: American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization that works worldwide on peace and justice.

Gallery Hours: Wed and Thurs 11:00 am – 6:00 pm; Friday and Sat 11:00 am – 8:00 pm; Sunday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm.

Events:

January 29, 1:30 pm - Disarming Words. Gallery talk and poetry readings by Terrance Hayes and Lynn Emmanuel at the Out of Rubble exhibit at SPACE gallery; 2:30 pm - singing escort by the Raging Grannies to Windows and Mirrors; 2:40 pm - readings of translated Iraqi public poetry and poetry by war veterans.

February 4, 6:00 pm: Women and War: Women and Peace. Testimonies by women on the impact of war and their search for peace, followed by improvisational performance by Pittsburgh Playback Theatre.

February 11, 3:00 pm: Lessons Learned from Iraq. Peter Lems, American Friends Service Committee Program Director for Iraq and Afghanistan, discusses how the lessons of troop withdrawal from Iraq can help us speed up withdrawal from Afghanistan.

www.afsc.org/office/pittsburgh-pa

http://www.windowsandmirrors.org/

Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole Bring the Bayou to the Burgh

2012-01-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
January 11, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at 7:30 PM, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street

Resurrecting the ancient sounds of French and Spanish dances alongside the spiritual rhythms of the Congo tribes of West Africa, Louisiana musician Cedric Watson and band members Bijou Creole perform on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at 7:30 PM at the Byham Theater. The concert is a part of the Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents Series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

One of the most promising talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Louisianan Zydeco music, Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy nominee from San Felipe, Texas, who made his first public appearance in Houston at age 19. “An aggressive and gifted reanimator of Louisiana Creole music, Cedric Watson sings in entrancing brays and yelps and plays fiddle and accordion in cocksure fashion” – The New York Times. Watson received a Grammy nomination for his self-titled debut album, released in 2008. He has performed on six additional full-length albums, including three with his own band, Bijou Creole – members: D’Jalma Garnier (fiddle and guitar), Ryan Poullard (drums), Lance Boston (clarinet), and “Zydeco” Mike Chaisson (percussion).

As a singer, fiddler, accordionist, and songwriter, Watson is a diverse young artist whose repertoire ranges from old Creole melodies to more modern Cajun and Zydeco songs. The band also draws on various musical styles, often incorporating bluegrass or string band numbers into performance sets. Additionally, Watson composes almost all of the band’s songs on his own accordion. The band’s 2009 release L’ésprit Créole received a Grammy nomination and featured entirely original material. In 2011, Watson and the band released their self-produced album Le Soleil est Levé. The album features Watson's special mix of Caribbean and Cajun flavor, crossing international barriers while delivering songs of joy.

Drawing on their mixed cultural heritage and varied musical backgrounds, Watson and Bijou Creole combine Spanish, African, French, and Native American sounds to make a unique tapestry during their performance which “runs the gamut” of Cajun and Creole music. “[I]t manages to retain an organic quality that makes for an engaging listen. ... Stirring vocals weave expertly around and through well-crafted rhythms and melodies.” – Living Blues. Watson finds the interrelation of cultures in his music extremely important, particularly the Native American rhythms, and works to create a unique sound that is at once both progressive and nostalgic.

Tickets ($18.00-$35.00) for the February 8, 2012, performance of Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole at the Byham Theater may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Concert for a Cause to Support the Fayette County Food Bank

2012-01-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
1/10/2012

Contact:

Megan Sheesley
ACCT/OSM VISTA
Phone: 724.785.9331

Fax: 724.785.8626

E-mail: americorps@barcpa.org

Concert for a Cause: Support the Fayette County Food Bank

On Monday, Jan. 16, the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation is hosting a concert to benefit the Fayette County Food Bank. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. and feature local singer Christian Sesek performing classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin on the third floor of the Odd Fellows Building at 31 Market St. in Brownsville, PA. Admission will require a donation of at least two non-perishable items to benefit the food bank. Donations will be accepted at the door or at the BARC offices in advance. Those who donate ahead of time will receive a voucher for admission.

In November, the food bank lost a large amount of their supplies due to flooding in their storage facility. It is BARC’s hope that this food drive will replenish a portion of that supply. The items that are most needed are cereal (high fiber, low sugar), tuna, canned salmon (packed in water), 100% fruit or vegetable juice, canned beans, canned vegetables, peanut butter, canned fruit, toilet paper, facial tissue, laundry detergent, and diapers (baby and adult). Though these are the most needed items, any other non-perishable food times will also be accepted during the drive.

Those who do not plan to attend the concert are still welcome to donate to the drive. Donations can be dropped off at the BARC offices between Jan. 8 and Jan. 13 as well as on the day of the concert between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

This event is part of a national day of service that AmeriCorps VISTAs across the nation are encouraged to participate in by the Corporation for National and Community Service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Rather than taking the national holiday off, VISTA asks its members to serve their communities in honor of Dr. King. VISTAs can participate in a wide range of events, as long as the activity honors the spirit of service that Dr. King embodied. This year, BARC’s VISTA, a member of the Appalachian Coal Country Team/Office of Surface Mining VISTA initiative, is organizing this event to benefit the Fayette County Food Bank.

In case of inclement weather, please contact the BARC offices by calling 724-785-9331 or emailing barcinfo@barcpa.org.

Billy Elliott the Musical Smashes Onto the Benedum Stage

2012-01-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
January 5, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
412-471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
412-471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh presents Billy Elliot the Musical

January 31 through February 12, 2012, Benedum Center

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh announce that NETworks Presentations, LLC will bring the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center from January 31 through February 12, 2012. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever.

Billy Elliot the Musical features Ty Forhan, Kylend Hetherington, Zach Manske and J.P. Viernes in the role of ‘Billy.’

Also featured are Leah Hocking (Mrs. Wilkinson); Rich Hebert (Dad); Cynthia Darlow (Grandma); Cullen Titmas (Tony); Joel Blum (George); Ben Cook and Jacob Zelonky (Michael); and Samantha Blaire Cutler (Debbie).

Ben Brantley of the New York Times says that Billy Elliot “Sends audiences into a mass swoon!” Time Out says it’s “The most electric and passionate show in years.” The Daily News calls Billy “So exhilarating that you feel like leaping!” Liz Smith calls the show “Absolutely awesome.” The New York Observer raves that Billy is “The best thing to happen to Broadway in a long while.” WOR’s Dave Richardson cheers, “All I can say is WOW!”

The production features original direction by Stephen Daldry, choreography by Peter Darling, scenic design by Ian MacNeil, associate direction by Julian Webber, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch. Touring production direction is by Justin Martin and choreography by Kathryn Dunn. The show was originally produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions.

The production has been awarded 81 national and international awards including ten Tony Awards, and Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.

Additional information about Billy Elliot the Musical is available at www.BillyElliotTour.com.

Billy Elliot the Musical performance dates and times are Tuesday, January 31, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, February 1, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 2, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 3, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 4, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 5, 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, February 7, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 10, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 11, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 12, 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets ($22-$79) are now on sale for all performances at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by phone at (412) 456-6666 or online at www.TrustArts.org. For group ticket sales (15 or more), please call 412-471-6930. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.
# # #

Cast Biographies

TY FORHAN (Billy) is 13 years old, from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Ty won many awards for song and dance with the help of Pat Wilson. He trains and competes with Elite Danceworx and his vocal training has been with Irene Ilic. Ty has performed successfully in many vocal festivals and he has enjoyed training on the piano with Eugene Burda. He has been active in local theatre since he was five, playing the lead in Oliver!, Jo Jo in Seussical the Musical, Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz and he performed in the revue Musical Mayhem. Ty most recently played the role of Billy Elliot at the Canon Theatre in Toronto, Canada.

KYLEND HETHERINGTON (Billy), 14, hails from Auburn, Michigan, and most recently played ‘Michael’ and ‘Tall Boy’ in the Broadway production. Later he studied ballet with Giuseppe Canale and Scott Heinrich and tap with Bruce Bradley. In 2009, he participated in the ABT Young Dancer Summer Workshop under full scholarship.

ZACH MANSKE (Billy), 12, is from Woodbury, Minnesota. He began dancing at the age of 8 and quickly learned that dance was his passion. Zach has danced competitively with Woodbury Dance Center and has received numerous top scores and judges’ choice awards. He received the junior national champion title at Starquest (2010) and Masquerade (2011) national dance competitions. Zach loves to perform and is honored to be a part of the Billy Elliot cast. Thanks to Woodbury Dance Center, his friends and family, and his sister Rachel who is his biggest fan.

J.P. VIERNES (Billy), 15, Half Moon Bay, California. National Tour: Billy Elliot (Chicago/Toronto). Regional: South Pacific (Coastal Rep). J.P., a Bay Area native, began dancing at age seven with Shely Pack Dancers and danced two years with City Ballet San Francisco. Recipient: CHRP JUBA award for Billy Elliot.

LEAH HOCKING (Mrs. Wilkinson) Original Broadway casts: Billy Elliot, All Shook Up, Dance of the Vampires, The Wild Party, Jekyll & Hyde. Other Broadway: Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, Grease, Guys and Dolls. Off-Broadway: The Thing About Men, Forbidden Broadway, Inside Out, etc. New York City Opera: The Most Happy Fella. Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, Papermill Playhouse, The Ordway, The Muny (Kevin Kline Award nom.), Tuts Houston, and many others. Film and television: Across the Universe, Law & Order, Whoopi. As a principle artist with Broadway Pops International, she has sung with symphonies across the country. She can be heard on cast recordings of All Shook Up, The Wild Party, Jekyll & Hyde and The Thing About Men. Leah is the very proud mother of Mabel.

RICH HEBERT (Dad) returns to the stage after 4 years of living the "civilian life" of a theater instructor at Bridgewater State University. Hebert was last seen as Commander Khashoggi in the Las Vegas production of We Will Rock You. Broadway and National tours include: the original Broadway companies of The Life, Sunset Boulevard, Les Miserables (Bay Area Critics Award), Cats, Saturday Night Fever, and Rock and Roll the First 5000 Years. He starred as Manuel in MTC's Captains Courageous, Zoser in Elton John's Elaborate Lives in Atlanta, and Warbucks in Papermill Playhouse's Annie. TV credits include: Brotherhood, Law & Order SVU, NYPD Blue, The Sopranos, Deadline, Line of Fire, The Oldest Rookie, 21 Jump Street and numerous soap operas. Rich is a graduate of Boston University.

CYNTHIA DARLOW (Grandma). Broadway: Billy Elliot; Accent On Youth; Old Acquaintance; Rabbit Hole; Taller Than Dwarf; Present Laughter; Sex and Longing; Prelude to a Kiss; Rumors; Grease (orig. prod.). Off Broadway: The Late Christopher Bean; Eccentricities of a Nightingale; Home; Sin; Juno and the Paycock; Cider House Rules; Once in a Lifetime; Most Fabulous Story Ever Told; June Moon; Death Defying Acts; Mere Mortals. Television: “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order,” “L&O: Criminal Intent,” “L&O: SVU,” “Six Degrees,” “Soul Man,” “Square One T.V.” Film: The Savages, 25th Hour, The Thomas Crown Affair, Garden State. Member of TACT/The Actors Company Theatre and Actor’s Center. AEA, AFTRA, SAG

CULLEN TITMAS (Tony) is continuing his journey with Billy Elliot after understudying this role and performing in the ensemble of the previous tour. Cullen spent 3 years in the National Tour and Off-Broadway productions of Avenue Q (Nicky/Trekkie), and previously co-created and performed the role of Marlin in Finding Nemo, the Musical at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. NYC/Regional favorites include John and Jen (John), AIDA (Radames), Footloose (Ren) three times, Forever Plaid (Sparky) twice, and the title role in Adam Guettel’s Floyd Collins.

Joel Blum (George) is a two-time Tony nominee in the best supporting actor category for the Prince/Stroman Show Boat and for Steel Pier. Other Broadway includes 42nd Street (original cast), Music Man, A Christmas Carol, Elaine May's After the Night and the Music, and Stardust. He recently played multiple roles in 101 Dalmatians the Musical at Madison Square Garden. Joel has toured extensively in: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Doolittle starring Tommy Tune, (which he co-choreographed with Patti Colombo), ...and the World Goes 'Round, The Debbie Reynolds Show, to mention a few. He received a Barrymore award for best supporting actor in Tin Pan Alley Rag, was nominated in the same category for a Helen Hayes award for his work in Meet John Doe at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D C. Joel has appeared on "Law & Order" twice, "Ed", the "Sopranos", Danced on the "Sonny and Cher Show", two Bob Hope Specials, and the "Tonight Show" starring Johnny Carson. He has co-written and stars in his one man show about Bob Hope entitled: Hope Eternal.

BEN COOK (Michael),14, joins the tour after a 15-month run on Broadway where he played Tall Boy/Posh Boy and served as the Michael understudy. Performing since the age of 9, he made his professional debut as Tiny Tim in Ford’s Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. He understudied the principal role of Little Boy in the Kennedy Center’s production of Ragtime, and made his Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated production in November 2009. Other credits: Heavens Are Hung in Black (Ford’s Theatre), Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Theatre), Terrance McNally’s Nights at the Opera: Golden Age (Kennedy Center), NBC’s “30 Rock.”

Jacob Zelonky (Michael), 13, is from Memphis, Tennessee, and has been playing the role of Michael in the national tour for the past year. Favorite regional theater roles include: JoJo, Seussical; Edmund, Narnia; and Tiny Tim, A Christmas Carol, the Musical. Special thanks to Nora Brennan, Seth Sklar-Heyn, Mary Giattino, Whitney Branan, Elizabeth Anne Brown, Amy Hanford, and Memphis Playhouse on the Square.

SAMANTHA BLAIRE CUTLER (Debbie) is thrilled to tour with Billy! Favorite regional credits: Annie (Molly), Seussical (JoJo), White Christmas (Susan Waverly), Beauty and the Beast (Chip), A Wonderful Life (ZuZu). Film: Mystery at Locust Grove (Lydia). Love and thanks to Mom, Dad, family, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Music Theater Louisville, Centerstage, Dancensation, King Voice Studios, John D'Aquino, Nora Brennan, Station Three. www.SamanthaBlaireCutler.com

Production Biographies

NETworks PRESENTATIONS, LLC (Producer) Since 1995, NETworks has produced and managed over 45 touring productions in the U.S., U.K. and internationally. Current productions include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Young Frankenstein, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Blue Man Group National Tour, La Cage, Shrek The Musical and The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables. Future productions include Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Flashdance the Musical and National Theatre of Great Britain’s production of War Horse touring the U.S.

The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs Update

2012-01-05T05:42:00.000-08:00

Updated Press Release

Today's date: January 4, 2012

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
412-471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
412-471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in association with The Andy Warhol Museum performance series: Off the Wall

presents Mike Daisey's The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs

Created and Performed by Mike Daisey

Directed by Jean-Michele Gregory

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, in association with The Andy Warhol Museum 2012 performance series, Off the Wall, presents Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs at the Byham Theater on January 21, 2012, at 8 p.m. This presentation is part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

Created and performed by Mike Daisey and directed by Jean-Michele Gregory, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs dives into the epic story of real life Willy Wonka Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple as Mike Daisey pulls back the curtain veiling America’s most mysterious technology icon. With a wickedly funny tale of pride, beauty, lust, and industrial design, Daisey illuminates the war—from China to Silicon Valley—over how we see our world, and the human price we pay for our high-tech toys. Daisey recounts his own journey to China to investigate the factories where millions are employed in massive factories making iPhones and iPods. Daisey’s journey shines a brilliant light on our love affair with our devices and the human cost of creating them. “I will never be the same after seeing that show,” commented Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, to the New York Times.

Daisey’s performance in Pittsburgh is one of only a few select cities outside of New York City to present The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. The monologue has been seen by more than 75,000 people all over the world, and recently had a record-smashing run at the Public Theater, where the show will return for a second engagement beginning at the end of January. Daisey performances in Pennsylvania will be the only chance to see this groundbreaking monologue outside of New York City.

What the press has been saying about The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs:

“Mike Daisey dreams of a kind of theater that takes risks and speaks the truth to power.” LOS ANGELES TIMES

“The best new American play of the year so far.” Peter Marks, WASHINGTON POST

“Anyone who sees Mr. Daisey's show - and anyone with a cellphone and a moral center should - will find it hard to forget. A mind-clouding, eye-opening exploration of the moral choices we unknowingly or unthinkingly make.” Charles Isherwood, NEW YORK TIMES

“A personal, poignant and passionate piece that stays with you. Mesmerizing.” Mark Kennedy, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mike Daisey has been called “the master storyteller” and “one of the finest solo performers of his generation” by the New York Times for his groundbreaking monologues which weave together autobiography, gonzo journalism, and unscripted performance to tell hilarious and heartbreaking stories that cut to the bone, exposing secret histories and unexpected connections. His monologues include last season’s critically acclaimed The Last Cargo Cult, the controversial How Theater Failed America, the six-hour epic Great Men of Genius, the unrepeatable series All Stories Are Fiction, and the international sensation 21 Dog Years. He has performed in venues on five continents, ranging from Off-Broadway at the Public Theater to remote islands in the South Pacific, from the Sydney Opera House to abandoned theaters in post-Communist Tajikistan. He’s been a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman, as well as a commentator and contributor to the New York Times, WIRED, Vanity Fair, Slate, Salon, NPR and the BBC. His first film, Layover, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and a feature film of his monologue If You See Something Say Something will open this year. His second book, a collected anthology of his monologues, will be published in 2012. He has been nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, two Drama League Awards, and is the recipient of the Bay Area Critics Circle Award, five Seattle Times Footlight Awards, the Sloan Foundation’s Galileo Prize, and a MacDowell Fellowship. His latest monologue is All the Hours in the Day, a groundbreaking 24-hour performance using fact and fiction to tell the story of America as a weaving together of puritanism and anarchism, which premiered at the Time Based Art Festival in Portland this fall.

Tickets are $18-35 and may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call group sales at (412) 471-6930.

The Andy Warhol Museum, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, features extensive permanent collections of art and archives of one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century. The museum, a primary resource for anyone seeking insights into contemporary art and popular culture, is also an active cultural center with a performing arts program that enables the Museum to both explore a wide range of work related to its mission and serve a diverse audience. The Museum’s Off the Wall presentations are a multi-disciplinary performance series devoted to challenging conventional perceptions of art and providing audiences with a diverse offering of unique and thought-provoking live performance experiences.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh. In addition to the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater and Children’s Festival, the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series Pittsburgh Dance Council, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, and Three Rivers Arts Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events.
###

Partners in Life, Partners in Community Commitment

2012-01-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Melissa Allen
412.969.2530
maa@judith-kelly.com

Ranny and Jay Ferguson Recognized as December

Dignity and Respect Champions

Husband and Wife Partner in Commitment to Give Back to Community

Ranny and Jay Ferguson

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – Both strong advocates for the community, Ranny and Jay Ferguson work tirelessly to spread the notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect. They believe that an individual must value themselves, in order to value others.

“If we don’t give value, dignity, and respect to children across all sorts of ethnicities, races, or economical background, and if they don’t feel they have that kind of respect among their peers and among others, that is where things begin to break down. It is about commitment. If commitments aren’t made, or aren’t kept, there can be devastating effects. Accountability is as much a large part of inclusion as treating each other with dignity and respect,” Jay said.

Nominated by chief inclusion and diversity officer, UPMC,Candi Castleberry-Singleton, Ranny and Jay have been selected as the December Dignity and Respect Champions for their dedication to giving back to the community.

“Ranny and Jay Ferguson are not only leaders, they are community citizens. Jay is authentically interested and involved in the initiatives his organization – Fifth Third Bank – supports. Jay’s wife, Ranny, is his partner in their commitment to the community.They show up, whether it’s a neighborhood event or a corporate reception. They walk the talk and write the checks,”Candi said.

In November, Jay became chairman of Fifth Third Bank of western Pennsylvania, where for eight years he served as president of the western Pennsylvania market. In addition, Jay currently serves on the boards of directors of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and UPMC St. Margaret Memorial Hospital, where he is vice chairman and treasurer of the Hospital’s foundation.

Ranny retired after teaching at the University of Pittsburgh and The Ellis School, and is now a full-time community advocate.She volunteers with many organizations such as the Race for the Cure, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, among others.

“I truly believe that supporting people and being involved with people in our community only strengthens the ties we have all among us, and it also strengthens Pittsburgh. I often feel that when I volunteer, I am the one who benefits. You give some of yourself, but you get so much back,” Ranny said.

Jay and Ranny are modest about receiving the award, and credit their parents for teaching them about important values.

“We’re honored and proud. Jay and I are both native Pittsburghers who were raised by professional parents, but ones who felt strongly about giving back to the community. They taught us about the value of each individual person. ” Ranny said.

Jay adds, “Respect and inclusion are one of Fifth Third’s four core values. It is something that we instill in each of our employees and our recruits that come on board. This is something very important individually and as a corporation or organization. I think unless you manifest those kinds of values as a corporation, you may not do so as an individual.”

The Dignity and Respect Campaign is an awareness initiativedesigned to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

For more information and to take the Dignity and Respect Pledge, visit http://www.dignityandrespect.org/

First Night Celebration Road Closures Announced

2011-12-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date: December 29, 2011

HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT® PITTSBURGH 2012

ROAD CLOSURES MEDIA ALERT

To have a safe and enjoyable environment for Highmark First Night® Pittsburgh 2012, the following road closures will be taking place at 10 am on Saturday, December 31, 2011, unless otherwise noted:

Penn Avenue at Stanwix Street up until, but not including, Tenth Street.

Stanwix Street from Liberty Avenue to between Penn Avenue and Ft. Duquesene Blvd. (parking garage is still accessible from Ft Duquesne Blvd.) 9:00pm-1:00am Only

Sixth Street will remain OPEN with the exception from 8:00pm-8:45pm for the First Night Parade. EQT parking garage on Penn Avenue is open until 2pm and MUST be entered and exited via 6th Street ONLY.

Fifth Avenue Extension from Fifth Avenue Place to Fort Duquesne Boulevard (Fifth Avenue Place Parking garage is still accessible from Liberty).

Seventh Street from Liberty Avenue to the entrance of Theatre Square Parking Garage (parking garage access only accessible from Ft. Duquesne Blvd.).

Maddock Pl. from Penn Ave. to Ft. Duquesne Blvd (parking lot access only from Ft. Duquesne Blvd.).

Eighth Street from Liberty Avenue (Tito Way) to the entrance to the 8th and Penn parking lots (parking lot access only accessible from Ft. Duquesne Blvd.).

Ninth Street from Liberty Avenue to the Ninth and Penn Garage (parking garage access only accessible from Ft. Duquesne Blvd.).

Garrison Pl. from Liberty to Ft. Duquesne Blvd (parking lot access only accessible from Ft. Duquesne Blvd.).

Exchange Way from 9th Street to 10th Street (parking access only accessible from 10th Street)

All alleys leading into the footprint from Penn Avenue, Liberty Avenue, 6-10th Streets including, Cecil CLO Academy Way, Barkers Pl., Scott Pl., and French Way.

Seventh Street Bridge (will be closed from 10am until 10pm).

10th Street will be closed for the duration of the parade starting at 7:30pm

The streets will re-open at 1am unless otherwise noted.

Please note the following: Access to all Pittsburgh Parking Authority Garages and all parking garages noted above will be open and will not be impeded by the road closures, with exception of the 6th and Penn Parking Garage which will be closed for the safety of all Highmark First Night® Pittsburgh and Cultural District patrons.

For information on Port Authority bus stops that may be affected by the road closures, please call the Port Authority Customer Service center at (412) 442-2000 or the TTY number (412) 231-7007, for the speech and hearing impaired, or visit PortAuthority.org

Visit firstnight.org for more information and a schedule of event or call 412-456-6666.

###

As You Like It Sizzles in the New Year at the O'Reilly Theater

2011-12-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Contact
Margie Romero
Communications Manager at Pittsburgh Public Theater

412.316.8200 ext. 707
mromero@ppt.org

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

Gretchen Egolf

As You Like It

The pursuit of happiness is at the heart of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy in this all-new production directed by Ted Pappas.

PITTSBURGH (December 28, 2011) Pittsburgh Public Theater continues its red hot season with a glowing new production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, directed by Ted Pappas. As You Like It runs January 19 – February 19, 2012 at the O’Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s home in the heart of Downtown’s Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. As You Like It is Presented by PNC.

This romantic comedy features smart, funny and feisty Rosalind, who is one of Shakespeare’s greatest inventions. In this sparkling role, The Public is thrilled to welcome back Gretchen Egolf, who was last seen here as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in the world premiere of The Secret Letters of Jackie and Marilyn. Playing her would-be beau, Orlando, is Christian Conn, who appeared on Broadway in Desire Under the Elms. Making her Public Theater debut as Rosalind’s cousin, Celia, is Julia Coffey.

Returning to Pittsburgh for As You Like It are several accomplished veterans who have performed recently at The Public: Ross Bickell (The Royal Family) as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior; Douglas Harmsen (The Importance of Being Earnest) as Touchstone; Anderson Matthews (Superior Donuts) as Jaques; and Noble Shropshire (Camelot) as Adam/Mar-Text. Also featured are Theo Allyn (Phoebe), David Bielewicz (Jaques De Boys), Alex Coleman (Corin), Don DiGiulio (Dennis), Lisa Ann Goldsmith (Audrey), Daniel Krell (LeBeau and Amiens), Chris Landis (Silvius), Lindsay Smiling (Charles, William and Hymen), and David Whalen (Oliver).

In As You Like It, when Rosalind is banished from the palace, she takes refuge in the Forest of Arden disguised as a boy. There she discovers a world full of colorful characters, all in riotous pursuit of happiness. With original music composed by Michael Moricz, director Ted Pappas has set his production in the Edwardian era, that short golden age at the dawn of the 20th century when social change promised to be the new fashion. Creating this stylish world is the design team: James Noone (Scenic), Gabriel Berry (Costumes), Kirk Bookman (Lighting), and Zach Moore (Sound). Randy Kovitz is the Fight Director, Ruth E. Kramer is the Production Stage Manager, and Fredric H. Orner is the Assistant Stage Manager.

Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents

What: As You Like It

When: January 19 – February 19, 2012

Performance Schedule

Tues. through Sat. at 8 pm (except Tues., Feb. 14 when the show is at 7 pm).

Sat. at 2 pm (except Jan. 28).

There will be an additional 2 pm matinee on Thurs., Feb. 16.

Sun. at 2 & 7 pm.

Press Night is Thursday, Jan. 26.

Opening Night is Friday, Jan. 27.

Ticket Prices

$28 to $60.

$15.75 for students and age 26 and younger with valid ID.

For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org

The Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs

2011-12-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date: December 21, 2011

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Diana Roth
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
412-471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Mike Daisey: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, co-presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and The Andy Warhol Museum's 2012 performance series, Off the Wall.

Saturday January 21, 2012, at 8 p.m., Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street, downtown Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, in association with The Andy Warhol Museum's 2012 performance series, Off the Wall, presents Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs at the Byham Theater on January 21, 2012, at 8 p.m., as part of the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series. Created and performed by Mike Daisey and directed by Jean-Michele Gregory, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs dives into the epic story of real life Willy Wonka Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple. Daisey examines how Jobs’ obsessions profoundly shape our everyday lives and recounts Jobs' journey to China to investigate the factories where millions are employed making iPhones and iPods. This presentation in Pittsburgh by Daisey is one of only a few select cities around the country on his tour.

Tickets are $18-$35 and may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.trustarts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call group sales at (412) 471-6930.

Daisey’s journey shines a brilliant light on our love affair with our devices and the human cost of creating them. Daisey speaks of Shenzhen, China, where 52 percent of the world's consumer electronic products are manufactured, mostly by human hands. Daisey commented to Cult of Mac, “What I am interested in is telling the extemporaneous story, live. I am not playing any role. I’m using the tools of the theater, but I’m actually speaking as a person who has gone and done these things.” After risking his own life to stand outside Foxconn and interview workers -- some of whom are 13 years old and younger -- and later meeting with union organizers to find out what life is like in a Chinese factory, Daisey shows that he "dreams of a kind of theater that takes risks and speaks the truth to power.” – Los Angeles Times

Mike Daisey has been called “the master storyteller” and “one of the finest solo performers of his generation” by the New York Times for his groundbreaking monologues, which weave together autobiography, gonzo journalism and unscripted performance. These famously hilarious and heartbreaking monologues include last season’s critically acclaimed The Last Cargo Cult, the controversial How Theater Failed America, the six-hour epic Great Men of Genius, the unrepeatable series All Stories Are Fiction, the international sensation 21 Dog Years, and his latest, The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs. He has performed in venues on five continents, ranging from Off-Broadway at the Public Theater to remote islands in the South Pacific, from the Sydney Opera House to abandoned theaters in post-Communist Tajikistan. He’s been a commentator and contributor to WIRED, Vanity Fair, Slate, Salon, NPR and the BBC. His first film, Layover, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year, and a feature film of his monologue, If You See Something Say Something, was produced in 2011. He has been nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award, two Drama League Awards, and is the recipient of the Bay Area Critics Circle Award, four Seattle Times Footlight Awards, The Sloan Foundation’s Galileo Prize, and a MacDowell Fellowship.

The Andy Warhol Museum, one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, features extensive permanent collections of art and archives of one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century. The museum, a primary resource for anyone seeking insights into contemporary art and popular culture, is also an active cultural center with a performing arts program that enables the Museum to both explore a wide range of work related to its mission and serve a diverse audience. The Museum’s Off the Wall presentations are a multi-disciplinary performance series devoted to challenging conventional perceptions of art and providing audiences with a diverse offering of unique and thought-provoking live performance experiences.
###

2012 Global Game Jam Preview Workshops Promote National Video Game Challenge

2011-12-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED Pittsburgh Workshops

Encourage Local Students to Participate in

National STEM Video Game Challenge

WQED Workshops in conjunction with The 2012 Global Game Jam

in Pittsburgh will prepare students and educators to build original

games in support of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and

Math – learning

PITTSBURGH – To help promote participation in the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge, WQED Pittsburgh is collaborating with Schell Game and the Pittsburgh International Game Developers Association to hold workshops in conjunction with the 2012 Global Game Jam in Pittsburgh (GGJ.)

WQED will recruit middle school students to participate in the workshops to be held Saturday and Sunday, January 28 & 29 at several locations in Oakland. Graduate students and faculty of the Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) will serve as peer mentors from the world of computer science to assist students in the development of their video game concepts by instructing them on storyboarding, reviewing their idea against math concepts and using game development software such as Alice or Gamestar Mechanic. After the workshops, participants will be taken to the ETC where the GGJ will be taking place simultaneously. While there students will tour the facility to explore career possibilities in STEM and have the opportunity to play test the games produced at the GGJ by visiting gamers.

“We hope to raise awareness about using games as educational tools,” says Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED. She adds, “Pairing kids with game developers and gaming companies allows us to support local kids by allowing them to be innovative and creative. In addition, we hope to elevate the profile of the National STEM Video Game challenge so that young people from middle school to college and their instructors know about this amazing and engaging opportunity to create new games, especially ones that can be entered into the PBS Math category.”

The 2012 Global Game Jam in Pittsburgh is one of many global “sleepovers” being held for gamers to come together and build new, innovative gaming experiences for kids and adults alike. GGJ will be held Friday, January 27 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, January 29 at 5 p.m. Located at the ETC (700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15203) the fee to participate is $15 and includes a GGJ T-shirt and food. Participation is restricted to those ages 18 and older and space is limited. More information regarding the GGJ may be found at wqed.org/education.

About 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge

Supported nationally by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and PBS KIDS through the Ready To Learn Initiative, the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge is inspired by the “Educate to Innovate Campaign,” President Obama’s initiative to promote a renewed focus on STEM education. The Challenge is an annual competition to motivate interest in STEM learning among America’s youth by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games.

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media launched the 2nd annual Challenge in partnership with the Digital Promise, a new initiative created by the President and Congress, supported through the U.S. Department of Education.

The 2012 Challenge features four entry categories: Middle School, High School, Collegiate and Educator. Within each category, PBS KIDS and CPB are challenging participants to develop educational games for children ages 4-8 that focus on specific math curriculum skills. Contestants can find insights and more information about the Challenge on PBSKIDS.org/stemchallenge, including resources that help guide game production for young children and interviews with top PBS KIDS game producers.

Entries are now being accepted through March 12, 2012 at www.stemchallenge.org. At the end of the competition, the winning games for the PBS KIDS and CPB track will be featured on the PBS KIDS Lab and PBS LearningMedia websites.

PBS KIDS and CPB are participating in the 2012 National STEM Video Game Challenge as part of the Ready To Learn Initiative, a grant program managed by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement.

The Ready To Learn Initiative supports the development of innovative educational television and digital media targeted at preschool and early elementary school children and their families, including over 40 new cross-platform games designed to help children ages 2-8 build critical math skills, which are now available at PBSKIDS.org/lab. Its goal is to promote early learning and school readiness, with a particular interest in reaching low-income children. In addition to creating television and other media products, the program supports activities intended to promote national distribution of the programming, effective educational uses of the programming, community-based outreach, and research on educational effectiveness.

About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs. For more information on specific PBS KIDS programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

About CPB

CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operation of more than 1,300 locally-owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television and related online services.

The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A100025, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

NOVA Chemicals Invests in WQED Teacher and Education Initiative

2011-12-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED Invests in Area Teachers and Education Innovation

NOVA Chemicals Provides Support to WQED’s iQ: smartmedia initiative

PITTSBURGH – WQED today announced three new opportunities for 21st century educators – a new broadcast television series called tch, extended online resources through PBS Learning Media, and an upcoming webinar series for educators as part of its iQ: smartmedia strategy.

iQ: smartmedia is a new concept of the way public media influences children’s intellectual development. NOVA Chemicals’ support extends the strategy to provide programming and resources for educators.

“Teachers change the lives of their students, forever. Investing in these educators and infusing the classroom with high quality media resources helps even the most experienced educator engage and develop 21st century learners,” said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED.

"We are pleased to support WQED in these new initiatives through broadcast and online resources. Developing 21st century learners depends on educators having innovative resources to transform the learning experience and NOVA Chemicals is proud to support WQED in changing educational experiences in the region," said Wendy Lomicka, Community Relations at NOVA Chemicals.

Airing on the Teaching Channel series on WQED-TV and on the Internet is a video showcase of inspiring and effective teaching practices in America's schools. Twenty new episodes, ranging from math to differentiated instruction, reading comprehension and science will air weekly on WQED-TV on Saturday mornings at 6:00am.

Additionally, WQED has partnered with national television producers and PBS to bring teachers a new, free research tool of multimedia assets for classroom use. PBS Learning Media is an online service that showcases 14,000 video resources from math and engineering to art and theater. The resources are categorized by topic and match national standards in grades pre-K – 12 as well as many advanced high school and college like “courses” that include physics lessons from NASA.

Beginning in February 2012, WQED will launch the iQ:smartmedia academy. The iQ: smartmedia academy offers a series of webinars that help educators and care providers incorporate PBS resources into their daily routines. From gaming to geography, music to science, WQED has resources proven to help kids realize their potential. These free webinars are available to educators and care providers in all settings – formal, afterschool, home, cyber – and will be held in the afternoons via video conference. PAEYC (Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children) will be providing corresponding professional development credits to early childhood educators for these courses.

About iQ: smartmedia

iQ: smartmedia is a six-year comprehensive plan that incorporates research, outreach, creative partnerships, and online engagement. The strategy addresses the need for a strong public media company integrated with Pittsburgh’s technological, creative, and educational assets. iQ: smartmedia allows WQED to create and curate multimedia and corresponding educational opportunities toward a best-practices model for our region, nation, and the world in integration of media and education.

About (Tch) Channel Series

Teaching Channel (Tch) is a comprehensive showcase -- online and on television -- of inspired teaching in America's public schools. A nonprofit organization, Tch engages teachers across the country to reinvent and revolutionize professional learning through video content and online innovation. The Tch mission is simple: Working with teachers to improve instruction so that every student can succeed. On the web at TeachingChannel.org, and on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, @TeachingChannel.

About PBS Learning Media

In summer 2011 WQED launched PBS Learning Media, raising the number of K-16 resources it offers educators from 2,000 to 14,000 modules. At wqed.pbslearningmedia.org, teachers and students in Southwestern Pennsylvania have immediate access for their lesson and homework to research-based instructional resources – including videos, interactives, images, audio files, mobile apps, lesson plans, and worksheets.

Combining dynamic and engaging instructional content with professional development support, PBS LearningMedia empowers educators to create media-rich curriculum lessons that meet the needs of 21st century learners. Through PBS LearningMedia, teachers can:

• quickly and easily find relevant resources, localized to their needs, to differentiate instruction for a diverse range of learners;

• personalize the site by tagging resources and sharing ideas, recommendations and comments on how they’ve used media assets in their teaching with their professional learning networks via e-mail or social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter; and

• develop “class pages” - curated content lists - for student viewing, feedback and instruction on interactive white boards and school-based intranets and other networking tools.

The PBS LearningMedia platform also offers a flexible infrastructure designed for customization and seamless media integration into existing services provided by state and local school district systems.

About WQED Pittsburgh

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive; and The WQED Education Department.

About NOVA Chemicals

NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals, plastic resins and end-products that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier. Its employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to sustainability and Responsible Care®. NOVA Chemicals is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Petroleum Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Visit NOVA Chemicals on the Internet at www.novachemicals.com.

WQED Launches iQ: smartparent

2011-12-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

WQED Announces iQ: smartparent A New Way for Parents to Connect with 21st Century Kids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

WQED Announces iQ: smartparent

A New Way for Parents to Connect with 21st Century Kids

PITTSBURGH – WQED today announced the launch of iQ: smartparent as the newest project of its educational initiative iQ: smartmedia. iQ: smartparent was made possible by a $250,000 signature investment by an anonymous donor.

For a generation of children raised in the digital age and in a time when teachers are being uniquely equipped to help children express themselves through multimedia, what role do parents play? As part of The iQ Network initiative, WQED will launch a companion “university” at WQED for parents, called iQ: smartparent. Over two years, WQED will conduct research and develop eight free in-person workshops that offer parents the best techniques in the ways to empower and protect their kids in the face of today’s omnipresent media environment.

Featuring the region's and nation's best thinkers on children and media, all workshops will air on WQED-TV and be archived online. Handouts, activities, and supporting materials will be provided at each session and also made available online. More than just media literacy for parents, iQ: smartparent will equip parents with new ways to connect with their children – in 21st-century terms – and encourage lifelong learning and critical thinking.

WQED will focus its efforts both on research and outcomes, including conducting core research on the way parents perceive and use media with children. iQ: smartparent workshops will redefine media for a new generation and will engage families in the best ways to consume, create, and curate media. Currently, 44,000 moms watch WQED daily and PBS is the #1 trusted media source for parents.

“A unique niche exists for WQED to define how public media connects on-demand, user-generated social media, creativity, and education," said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED.

“WQED is poised to fill this niche while leading the nation’s PBS affiliates in best practices for the use of transformative multimedia and to be a model for serving parents.”

iQ: smartmedia is a six-year comprehensive plan that incorporates research, outreach, creative partnerships, and online engagement. The strategy addresses the need for a strong public media company integrated with Pittsburgh’s technological, creative, and educational assets. iQ: smartmedia allows WQED to create and curate multimedia and corresponding educational opportunities toward a best-practices model for our region, nation, and the world in integration of media and education.

WQED Pittsburgh (www.wqed.org) has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive; and The WQED Education Department.

Inventive Engineering Program Design Lives Here Competition

2011-12-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

Inventive Engineering Program Design Lives Here Continues in 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 15, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghaziman@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

Inventive Engineering Program

Design Lives Here Continues in 2012

PITTSBURGH—From January through April 2012, 15 regional schools will have the exciting opportunity to participate in the third annual Design Lives Here program presented by WQED Pittsburgh and the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) with additional support from MSA and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.

Design Lives Here is a student outreach competition of the PBS show called Design Squad Nation, a reality-based program created to “inspire the next generation of engineers.” The show includes teens engaged in challenges all over the United States and globe, vying for scholarships by designing devices to understand the complex – and compelling – world of engineering.

Utilizing activities and content from Design Squad Nation episodes and interactive resources, participating schools will be guided by real engineers to complete the challenges. Students will participate in many diverse activities - such as meeting and networking with the ESWP and WQED staff, working in teams to engineer games, instruments, launchers and cranes as well as compete in the actual Design Lives Here challenge on April 20th, 2012 at WQED.

“As engineers we are always interested in engaging young people in STEM careers. The Design Lives Here event will give us the opportunity to provide them with exciting and interactive real-world applications of engineering,” said Tom Donatelli, 2012 President of the ESWP.

"Thousands of jobs are open in our region in STEM fields. It is critical that we use every tool to engage our next generation of creative problem solvers – including television. Engaging kids in afterschool and classroom settings allows us to integrate a TV show into the learning process and visually reemphasize to young people that they too, can participate in engineering as a career," said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED. “We are thrilled to engage three major local partners in this investment in engineering education for teens. It will positively impact teens, teachers and our region.”

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

The Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) has provided a forum for the professional development and social interaction of its members for more than a century. Headquartered in an historic landmark building and club facility, the ESWP is chartered to advance the professions of engineering, architecture and applied sciences through technical activities, public services participation and social organizations. It also supports the needs of industries, communities and government in Western Pennsylvania.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette® and NicoDerm®CQ®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples – Aquafresh®, Sensodyne®, and TUMS® – which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people's health and safety. Many MSA products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, oil, gas and petrochemical industry, homeland security, construction, mining and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, fall protection devices and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the Safety Works brand. (More information on Safety Works products is available at www.SafetyWorks.com.) MSA has annual sales of approximately $1 billion, manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America, and 42 international locations.

Design Squad Nation is a 10-part series of TV shows and video blogs that build on the success of the award-winning PBS reality competition series Design Squad to get kids excited about engineering. Design Squad Nation is high-energy, high-drama reality TV led by Judy and Adam, two professional engineers who work with kids around the world to make their wishes come true through engineering. From creating a park for skaters at the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona to building a playground in a rural village in Nicaragua's northern mountains, the goal of Design Squad Nation is to inspire viewers to take on their own hands-on engineering activities.

Blueprint Communities Projects Awards Mini-Grant to Brownsville

2011-12-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

Contact:
Dennis Cremonese
Executive Director
Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation
724-785-9331

Neil Cotiaux
FHLBank Pittsburgh
412-335-9488
Neil.cotiaux@fhlb-pgh.com

Brownsville is Awarded Mini-Grant for Blueprint Communities Projects

Pittsburgh, PA, December 8, 2011 – The Blueprint Communities initiative of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) of Pittsburgh has awarded Brownsville a $10,000 mini-grant. The grant will be used to help fund the Brownsville Project, an initiative of the National Road Heritage Corridor.

The Brownsville Project has three components: a comprehensive study of current physical conditions of the vacant buildings in the Brownsville Commercial Historic District owned by the Redevelopment Authority of Fayette County; development of design guidelines for the entire district; and a market analysis of the community to aid in redevelopment efforts within the Historic District.

Earlier this year, FHLBank invited active Blueprint Communities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to submit project applications as part of a competitive mini-grant funding process. Projects were evaluated for their ability to expand the capacity of Blueprint teams, leverage dollars, and positively impact the community. Of 16 applications received, six projects were awarded a total of $63,000.

The Blueprint Communities effort in Brownsville is spearheaded by a committee made up of business and Borough leaders. The group was formed in 2005 as one of 22 original Blueprint Communities across Pennsylvania. The initiative was created to help civic leaders in older, smaller communities develop enhanced leadership skills, create greater capacity to enact positive change, and formulate a fresh vision and strategy to meet pressing community needs.

Blueprint Communities is expected to serve as an ongoing catalyst for projects of local importance. In the past, the Brownsville team has been involved in the Brownsville Annual Community Festival, in a partnershippartnered with the Brownsville Environmental Education Program, and is working towardon publishing a water trail map of the Middle Monongahela River.

FHLBank Pittsburgh is a wholesale bank that serves the housing finance and community and economic development needs of its owner-members. FHLBank Pittsburgh provides reliable access to low-cost funds, competitive pricing in the purchase of mortgage loans, correspondent banking, technical assistance, affordable housing grants and other programs so members can better serve their own communities. FHLBank Pittsburgh is privately capitalized and funded and does not use taxpayer dollars. As of September 30, 2011, the Bank had 300 members in its district of Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and held approximately $47 billion in assets. FHLBank Pittsburgh is one of twelve Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, established by Congress in 1932 to support the residential mortgage activities of local financial institutions.
# # #

Bilingual Program Focuses on Latino Health Issues

2011-12-15T06:09:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 13, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

FIRST BILINGUAL PROGRAM TO AIR

ON WQED-TV FOCUSES ON HEALTH ISSUES IN

PITTSBURGH’S LATINO COMMUNITY

Horizons

Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV

PITTSBURGH—On Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. WQED-TV will air its first bilingual program in English and Spanish. Pittsburgh’s Latino community makes up less than two percent of the city’s population, but the numbers are growing. Still, more than a third of the Latino population in the Pittsburgh region lacks health insurance, and most don’t get proper health care for a variety of reasons. Contributing reporter Cindy Fernandez speaks with doctors and leaders of local outreach organizations working to make health care more affordable and available to Pittsburgh’s Latino community in this special episode of Horizons.

Segment topics:

Children’s Health - Dr. Diego Chaves-Gnecco, a pediatrician with Children’s Hospital first came to Pittsburgh from Columbia 14 years ago. Wanting to address barriers such as language, transportation, cultural differences and insurance, Dr. Chaves-Gnecco created southwestern Pennsylvania’s first bilingual pediatrics clinic called Salud Para Niño’s or Health for the Children. Outside of the clinic the doctor holds health fairs, performs car seat checks and helps to provide Pittsburgh’s medical community with bilingual literacy programs.

Women’s Health - Latin-American women have many barriers that prevent them from taking care of their health. Some are cultural: Latinas find pap exams to be embarrassing or fear the compression of the breast during a mammogram spreads cancer. Others don’t seek medical attention because they can’t afford it. The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is finding ways to encourage Latinas to take better care of their health.

Men’s Health – The Latino Engagement Group for Salud (LEGS) serves as a first step for Latino men by guiding them to available health resources in the Pittsburgh region. In this segment WQED profiles the people who are working to spread medical information, and trust, among the male Latino population in Pittsburgh.

This special episode of Horizons is being produced by Emmy® award-winning WQED producers Richard Cook, Nathalie Berry and Pierina Morelli, along with contributing producer Maria Kakay.

Funding for this episode of Horizons was made possible by a grant WQED received earlier this year as part of a national partnership between PBS stations and faith-based organizations, the Department of Justice Community-Oriented Policing Services Office, National League of Cities, National Hispanic Media Coalition, and Welcoming America for the Not In Our Town project. Not In Our Town is a documentary series and national effort to connect people working together to take action against hate and create safe, inclusive communities.

Following in the longstanding tradition of Black Horizons which focused on the African American community, Horizons is a more contemporary offering hosted by WQED’s Chris Moore. The show recognizes and celebrates the many facets of our diverse community through studio interviews and on-location stories. Horizons airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on WQED-TV and archived episodes may be found at wqed.org/horizons.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

Get Pittsburgh'ed Up with Double Feature at Hollywood Theater

2011-12-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

GET “PITTSBURGH’ED UP” FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WITH A SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE EVENT

“Pittsburgh From the Air”

Makes Its Theatrical Debut In A Double Feature With

“My Tale of Two Cities”

Hollywood Theater

1449 Potomac Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Friday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m.

PITTSBURGH—The newly revitalized Hollywood Theater in Dormont is hosting a special Pittsburgh double-feature for the holidays on Friday December 16, 2011 at 7 p.m. featuring WQED’s recent high-definition all-aerial production Pittsburgh From the Air which will make its big screen debut and My Tale of Two Cities, a Pittsburgh comeback story which is coming home playing 25 cities across North America. Preceding will be special episodes of the new hit web sensation Pittsburgh Dad.

As part of the evening, a special panel including WQED’s Vice-President of Content Darryl Ford Williams, ”Tale” director Carl Kurlander and the film’s producer Stephanie Dangel Reiter who will discuss the way Pittsburgh has reinvented itself for a new age and the city becoming a major player in the entertainment industry as evidenced by all the Hollywood movies shooting here and a new TV pilot by Two and A Half Men director Jamie Widdoes filming at the Fred Rogers Studios as part of the new Pittsburgh Innovative Media Incubator, a co-venture between WQED and the Steeltown Entertainment Project.

Special guests “Mr. McFeely” of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, actor David Newell, and Pittsburgh Dad creator, Chris Preksta will be attending this screening. David Newell, who grew up going to Hollywood Theater, will be there to sign photos as McFeely and share his own memories of this newly revitalized theater.

Tickets are only $7 and can be purchased at the Hollywood Theater box office or in advance at www.showclix.com.

Pittsburgh From the Air is a high-definition aerial journey through six western Pennsylvania counties including Allegheny, Butler, Fayette, Indiana, Somerset and Westmoreland. It captures and preserves the cultural and natural wonders of the region and is the setting for My Tale of Two Cities, a funny and hopeful tale about coming home to the once great industrial giant that built America with its steel, conquered polio, and invented everything from aluminum to the Big Mac, and which has now, against all odds, reinvented itself for a new age. Pittsburgh From the Air portrays the newly reinvented Pittsburgh that My Tale of Two Cities envisioned. Both films also celebrate Pittsburgh neighborhoods and Pittsburgh’s neighbors which is what makes this city so special.

These DVDS which make the perfect Pittsburgh present for the holidays are also available at SHOP WQED. Order a special edition DVD of My Tale of Two Cities for $19.95 (with unseen footage & special features) and Pittsburgh From the Air on DVD for $19.95 and Blu-ray for $24.95 at www.shopwqed.org or by calling 1-800-274-1307.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

My Tale of Two Cities was produced by Stephanie Dangel and Janet Smith. Tale features some of Pittsburgh’s favorite neighbors including Franco Harris, Dok Harris, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Paul O’Neill, David Newell, Joanne Rogers, the late Mayor Bob O’Connor, Dr. Thomas Starzl, Dr. Cyril Wecht, and Bill Strickland. The film also features Pittsburghers from Times Square to Beverly Hills to The Point, singing the city’s unofficial theme song, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” for the film’s uplifting finale.

For more information, visit http://www.mytaleoftwocities.com

Charlotte's Web Weaves a Tale of Bravery, Love and Friendship

2011-12-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date:
December 12, 2011

Contact:
Diana Roth
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Charlotte’s Web, Pittsburgh premiere performed by Theatreworks USA, and presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater

January 8-15, 2012
Six performance locations throughout Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents Theatreworks USA in the Pittsburgh premiere of the stage adaption of Charlotte’s Web from January 8-15, 2012 at six performance locations throughout the area. Performance locations include: City: Byham Theater, January 8 at 2:00 p.m. Student Matinee: January 9 at 10:15 a.m.; East: Gateway High School, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.; North: Our North location has changed to Carson Middle School, January 12 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. ; West: Moon Area High School, January 13 at 7:00 p.m.; South: Upper St. Clair High School, January 14 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; and Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, January 15 at 2:00 p.m. Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Theatreworks USA’s live stage performance of Charlotte’s Web, by Joseph Robinette, has toured across the country since fall 1993, and is based upon the Newbery Medal-winning book by E. B. White. The stage performance follows White’s classic story of a pig named Wilbur who is saved from the slaughterhouse by a gifted little barn spider named Charlotte. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. A cast of six actors, directed by Rob Barron, portrays the familiar and loveable characters that include Fern, Homer, and Templeton the rat, with incidental music by Jeffrey Lunden. The scenic design by James D. Sandefur and costumes by Anne-Marie Wright also help to enhance this courageous tale of friendship. This 60-minute play is recommended for children ages 5 and up.

Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed more than 68 million people in 49 states and Canada and is America's largest and most prolific professional not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. The company tours approximately 16 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 110 plays and musicals, performing for about four million people annually. Under the direction of Barbara Pasternack (Artistic Director) and Ken Arthur (Managing Director), Theatreworks USA is the only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award, and they are known for an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers, puppeteers, poets, and magicians.

Joseph Robinette is the author of 51 published plays and musicals, including The Fabulous Fable Factory, written with composer Thomas Tierney, and Charlotte's Web, two of the most widely produced children's plays in the United States. He has also dramatized the authorized stage versions of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Paper Chase, and A Rose for Emily. In 2004, he received the American Association for Theatre and Education's best play award for his adaptation of Sarah, Plain and Tall, and in 2006, he was awarded the Children's Theatre Foundation of America Medallion "...for his body of dramatic works for children and young people in the United States and beyond." -Dramaticpublishing.com

Elwyn Brooks White, or E.B. White, is known both for his work in children’s classics and in modern American essays, largely through his contributions to The New Yorker magazine. White remained a contributing editor for The New Yorker magazine from the year 1927 until his death in 1985, and is still remembered for his long-lasting column, One Man’s Meat. White is also famous for a collection of poetry, The Fox of Peapack, and his editing of The Subtreasury of American Humor. In the world of children’s literature, White is known for such classics as Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan.

Individual tickets ($11 at the door; $9.50 in advance) can be ordered online at www.TrustArts.org/kids, by calling (412) 456-6666, or in person at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh. Group tickets can be ordered by calling (412) 471-6930; for season subscription call (412) 456-1390.

Twitterchat with Melinda Emerson for Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs

2011-12-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE

January 5, 2012
Pittsburgh, PA

FORBES - INFLUENTIAL WOMAN FOR ENTREPRENEURS FEATURED GUEST AT JANUARY #SMALLBIZPGH TWITTERCHAT

Melinda Emerson will provide live answers and resources via Twitter for Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs

PITTSBURGH, PA – Influential entrepreneur and author, Melinda Emerson (@smallbizlady) will answer questions from local entrepreneurs via Twitter on January 17, 2012 between 7 pm and 8 pm in the third installment of Pittsburgh's first small business Twitterchat presented by Building Bridges for Business (bridges4biz).

The virtual event, which is aimed at providing valuable, free resources for small business owners and leaders in Allegheny County, will feature Emerson, who will answer a set of questions from Building Bridges for Business and other questions posed by entrepreneurs from the region and can be followed live using hashtag #smallbizpgh on either twebevent.com or tweetchat.com.

The Twitterchat will be presented by Building Bridges for Business, as well as its partners, including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center and the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University.

The #smallbizpgh Twitterchat is free, allowing interested users to engage and participate using smart phones, tablets and computers.

The third installment, in a series of Twitterchats, the #smallbizpgh Twitterchat is the first of its kind in Pittsburgh, allowing small business owners to network and ask questions from reputable and proven experts.

“The vision for the Building Bridges for Business community is to create an environment where entrepreneurs can grow and advance their business, support other business owners and develop as entrepreneurs who give back to their community,” says Building Bridges for Business founder, Linda Handley, who is also an entrepreneur, author and business adviser.

For more on the event, visit Building Bridges for Business' homepage at www.buildingbridgesforbusiness.org, follow Building Bridges for Business (@bridges4biz) on Twitter or contact Building Bridges for Business by e-mailing info@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org.

Building Bridges for Business

Building Bridges for Business was founded in 2010 by entrepreneur, author and business adviser, Linda Handley in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Mayor's Office, the Allegheny County Executive's Office, Duquesne University and Chatham University to provide resources for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County entrepreneurs on business growth, promotion, management and to aid indviduals hoping to launch a new business.

Since its inception in November 2010, the organization has hosted three sold out events, featuring prominent keynote speakers, such as Dr. Winslow Sargeant, who is President Obama's main adviser from the Small Business Administration. Other events have featured key local small business figures. In 2012, Building Bridges for Business will host three more events, which are also expected to sell out.

Building Bridges for Business' goal is to create an organization that truly serves the Pittsburgh area's business owner and struggling entrepreneur by connecting them with resources and people who can guide them to success.

“We want to bridge the valuable resources in Western Pennsylvania with business owners and residents who want to start a business,” says Building Bridges for Business President, Amanda Wodzenski.

In addition to live events, Building Bridges for Business launched Pittsburgh's first-ever small business Twitterchat in September 2011 to offer vital resources from small business experts to entrepreneurs via Twitter.

Melinda Emerson

Melinda Emerson is a Philadelphia-based author, speaker and small business coach whose proven techniques have aided over 2500 small business owners in growing their business.

She has been featured on NBC Nightly News, in the Wall Street Journal,U.S. News and World Report and Black Enterprise. In March 2010, Emerson published her first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.

Known as @smallbizlady on Twitter, Emerson also hosts her own weekly Twitterchat using hashtag #Smallbizchat.

Emerson's day job is as founder, president and CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, a full-service multimedia production firm, which she founded in 1999. Clients of Quintessence Multimedia include Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Comcast and Radio One. The firm has received eight Telly awards for outstanding production.

Prior to her work at Quintessence, Emerson worked as a television producer for ABC and NBC. Emerson has also been an adjunct professor at Delaware State University and featured as a guest lecturer at a variety of colleges and universities.

Emerson is a graduate of Virginia Tech and has also attended executive education programs at Harvard University, Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia. She resides in suburban Philadelphia with her husband and son.

-###-

Laugh Out Loud! with The Second City

2011-12-05T05:41:00.000-08:00

Contact Margie Romero
Communications Manager at Pittsburgh Public Theater
412.316.8200 ext. 707
mromero@ppt.org

Pittsburgh Public Theater Welcomes 2012 with Comedy

The Second City returns with new show

Laugh Out Loud!

If you’ve resolved to put more fun in your life, start the year at Pittsburgh Public Theater with The Second City, the famed Chicago comedy troupe that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and many others. From January 5–7, the next generation of The Second City’s best and brightest will perform the company’s trademark improvisation and hilarious sketch comedy in their new show, Laugh Out Loud! Featuring material that’s ripped from the morning headlines, classic gems from the archives, musical accompaniment and audience participation, The Second City’s shows are always fresh and cutting-edge. Complete bios and phone interviews with The Second City cast members are available upon request.

Showtimes

Thurs, Jan. 5 at 8 pm

Fri, Jan. 6 at 8 pm

Sat, Jan. 7 at 5:30 & 9 pm

A cash bar will be open during each performance.

Cabaret seating at tables of four is available on the stage ($220).

Ticket prices range from $48 to $15.75 (for students and age 26 and younger).

For more details or to buy tickets call 412.316.1600 or go to ppt.org

UPS Foundation Awards WQED School Supplies Grant

2011-12-05T05:27:00.000-08:00

WQED PITTSBURGH RECEIVES $5,000 GRANT FROM THE UPS FOUNDATION FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE TO BENEFIT AT-RISK CHILDREN IN SIX COUNTIES

Donate school supplies December 6 - 9, 2011 from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. and meet characters from the Super Why! Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 30, 2011

CONTACT:
George Hazimanolis
412-622-1366
ghazimanolis@wqed.org

Maria Pisano
412-622-1459
mpisano@wqed.org

WQED PITTSBURGH RECEIVES $5,000 GRANT FROM THE UPS FOUNDATION

FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE TO BENEFIT

AT-RISK CHILDREN IN SIX COUNTIES

Donate school supplies December 6 – 9, 2011 from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and meet characters from the Super Why! Series at:

WQED Pittsburgh
4802 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

PITTSBURGH--WQED Pittsburgh will be collecting school supplies for at-risk children at its Oakland headquarters.

With a $5,000 grant from The UPS Foundation, WQED is collecting school supplies to be distributed to 5,200 at-risk students in a six county region in support of The Education Partnership’s Holiday Campaign. Individuals wishing to donate school supplies may bring them to the parking lot at WQED’s 4802 Fifth Avenue location December 6 – 9 daily from 2:30-4:30 p.m. WQED is matching the donations with curriculum for all 14 schools involved. Kids will also have the opportunity to meet their favorite characters from Super Why! during collection hours.

“The UPS Foundation is committed to funding impactful programs that make a meaningful difference in our communities – so we are proud to support WQED’s efforts to collect school supplies and donate high-quality curriculum for our area’s at-risk children,” said Ken Sternad, president of The UPS Foundation.

The supplies that are needed include: markers, pens, erasers, binders, glue, notebooks, paper (construction, copy and filler) and backpacks. For a complete list visit: http://wqed.org/education/holidaydrive2011.php. Cash donations or items not on the list can not be accepted by WQED.

In addition to the school supplies collected from the community WQED will also distribute high-quality PBS educational materials to the students, teachers and school libraries receiving these materials. These materials include a 16 week curriculum on phonics from The Electric Company, a workforce and career education video set called Teens OnQ, literacy tracking games for parents and librarians, Dr. Seuss and Curious George books, and lots of science curriculum from Sid the Science Kid, Wild Kratts, SciGirls, Design Squad and Dinosaur Train. WQED is donating 1700 pounds of educational curriculum to area students and challenging the Pittsburgh community to match that amount.

“Nothing is more important to our kids than a great education. WQED provides free access to education for everyone. Partnering with key organizations such as The Education Partnership to reach even more students, especially those in public schools, is an exciting way to extend our iQ: smartmedia initiative. With support from The UPS Foundation, WQED can deeply support the young people in our region who are most at-risk for not learning to read, failing to engage in science or math, and dropping out of school,” said Jennifer Stancil, Executive Director of Educational Partnerships at WQED.

“The Education Partnership does not receive government funding and relies on the generosity of foundations, corporations, and organizations like WQED and their members. Together, we can provide critically needed school and classroom supplies to local students, setting them up for educational success,” says Katherine Harrell, Director of Communications and Programming for The Education Partnership about the innovative new relationship with WQED.

More information about the partnership, the holiday drive, and the supplies can be found at: http://wqed.org/education/holidaydrive2011.php.

Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, GA, The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach,The UPS Foundation has identified the following focus areas for giving: nonprofit effectiveness, economic & global literacy, encouraging diversity, community safety and environmental sustainability.

In 2010, The UPS Foundation distributed more than $44.6 million worldwide through grants that benefit organizations or programs such as the school supplies collection by WQED Pittsburgh and provide support for building stronger communities.

WQED Pittsburgh has a proud history of honors, including 128 National and Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Awards, an Academy Award, and many, many others, including two Emmy® Awards for Station Excellence. WQED was founded in 1954 as the nation’s first community-supported broadcaster. The people of WQED create, produce and distribute quality programs, products and services to engage, inform, educate and entertain the public within their community and around the world. WQED Pittsburgh is one of the first broadcasters in the country to be fully high-definition (HD) in its studio and field production capabilities. It is the parent company of WQED-TV (PBS); WQED: The Neighborhood Channel; WQED: The Create Channel; WQED Showcase; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; local and national television and radio productions; WQED Interactive (www.wqed.org) and The WQED Education Department.

iQ: smartmedia is WQED’s six-year strategy for education, and it reflects WQED’s commitment to help children reach their potential. Around it revolve all of WQED's educational goals and objectives: to provide new tools and models, thought leadership, research, and training on the intersection of media and learning to prepare our children for a competitive world. WQED provides content in the areas of science and technology; literacy; global cultures and connections; expression; social and community responsibility; numeracy; and behavioral wellness. For more information about iQ: smartmedia, follow WQED’s Education Department online at wqed.org/edu or follow us on Facebook.com/wqed.edu and Twitter.com/wqed_edu.

All-Schubert Program at Pittsburgh Opera Features Trout Quintet

2011-12-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
November 30, 2011

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214
dbell@pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Opera presents Glenn Lewis in all-Schubert program, featuring “Trout” Quintet

Who: Pittsburgh Opera Head of Music Glenn Lewis, with tenor Joseph Gaines and musicians from the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra

What: An All-Schubert program, featuring the Four Impromptus and the “Trout” Quintet

When: Sunday, December 11, 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:45 p.m.

Where: Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip District

Admission: Admission is free. No RSVP required.

Parking: Ample street parking available on Penn Ave. Those needing handicapped parking in the Pittsburgh Opera garage, please call to reserve a spot: 412-281-0912 x 0 (zero) by Friday, December 9 at 5:00 PM.

Pittsburgh, PA… Pittsburgh Opera Head of Music Glenn Lewis anchors an all-Schubert program in a recital in the George Rowland White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. The first half features the Four Impromptus for Piano, Op. 90, and selected songs with tenor Joseph Gaines. After a brief intermission, Mr. Lewis is joined by Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra musicians Juan Jaramillo, violin; Jennifer Gerhard, viola; Elisa Kohanski, cello, and Jeffrey Mangone, double bass, for the popular “Trout” Quintet. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. No reservations are required except handicapped parking requests. For more information, call 412-281-0912, x 0 (zero) or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2011-2012 season continues a 73-year tradition of excellence in opera and is the first green opera company in the U.S.* As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2011-2012 season will again start at $10, with subscriptions starting at just $43 for four mainstage operas.

*U.S. Green Building Council awarded LEED® Silver certification in June 2011 in the Operations and Maintenance category.

2011-2012 Season

La traviata October 15, 18, 21, 23

The Pearl Fishers November 12, 15, 18, 20

Hansel & Gretel January 28, 31; February 3, 5

Tosca March 24, 27, 30; April 1, 3

The Abduction from the Seraglio April 28; May 1, 4, 6

For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
###

Bracken Burns Honored as Dignity and Respect Champion

2011-12-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Melissa Allen
412.281.0995
412.969.2530
maa@judith-kelly.com

Washington County Commissioner Bracken Burns Receives Dignity & Respect Champion Award

Commissioner Burns Honored for Years of Service to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Region

(PITTSBURGH, PA) November 30, 2011– County Commissioner Bracken Burns has dedicated 40 years to Washington County government, working tirelessly to make sure everyone had a place in the community where they were valued and accepted for their differences.

Bracken has tried to build a regional community that embraces diversity and encourages its citizens to love and respect each other. He often reminds others that “inclusion is not just about race, it also includes gender, age, geography, income, folks with handicaps, etc.”

Nominated by Melissa Allen, County Commissioner Bracken Burns was selected as the November Dignity and Respect Champion for expanding the work he does in Washington County to surrounding communities and throughout the southwestern Pennsylvania region.

“Bracken’s devotion to the community is invaluable. Within just minutes of talking with him or hearing him speak to others, you can tell that the work he does is truly from the heart. He’s dedicated to making our communities welcoming to all of us,” Melissa said.

Serving as Washington County Commissioner since 1996, Bracken decided not to run for a fifth term in office. Since taking office 16 years ago, Bracken’s accomplishments include spearheading construction of the 50 bed Alzheimer’s Unit at the Washington County Health Center, developing an Attendant Care Training Program to aid elderly and disabled citizens, leading historic preservation efforts to restore and utilize the old jail as a Family Court Center, and more.

Commissioner Burns is known for starting all of his public comments with the phrase, “It’s a great day in Washington County.” He feels that we all have an obligation to be a “cheerleader for our community.”

Bracken is an influential supporter of the Dignity and Respect Campaign. In addition to advocating with Washington County Commissioners to recognize October as Dignity and Respect Month, he wrote a personal letter to nine other counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, promoting the Campaign and October as Dignity and Respect Month. Thanks to Bracken’s efforts, October was proclaimed Dignity and Respect Month in 10 southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Bracken has always admired the saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” He feels that those of us who have been blessed with health, wealth, a good family, etc. have an obligation to assure that others in the community are given the same opportunities.

In addition to being recognized as a Dignity and Respect Champion, Bracken has received many honors that show his dedication to fighting for everyone’s right to be treated equally. These awards include the Mental Health Neighbor of the Year Award in 1991, the Friend of 4-H Award in 2003, the NAACP Human Rights Award in 2007, and the Teen Outreach Social Justice award in 2009, among many others.

In accepting the award, Commissioner Burns said that he was, “humbled and honored to be recognized for doing what he called “the minimum expected of each of us – loving your neighbor.”

The Dignity and Respect Campaign is an awareness initiative designed to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

For more information and to take the Dignity and Respect pledge, visit dignityandrespect.org.
# # #

OUT OF RUBBLE Premieres at SPACE

2011-11-28T05:30:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 23, 2011

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org

Wafaa Bilal, The Ashes Series (2009), archival inkjet print mounted on diebond, 38.5 x 50 inches

OUT OF RUBBLE guest curated by Susanne Slavick

SPACE - December 2, 2011, through January 29, 2012.

OUT OF RUBBLE premieres at SPACE on Friday, December 2, with an opening reception from 6-8pm and a gallery talk by curator Susanne Slavick at 7pm. Slavick’s own work, as an artist and as one of the founders of 10 Years + Counting, led her to research and edit OUT OF RUBBLE (Charta, 2011), an anthology of art works by contemporary artists addressing the aftermath of current and past wars. The book includes texts by Slavick and Holly Edwards and works by international artists and architects from Diana Al-Hadid to Xu Zhen. A selection of these artists for the OUT OF RUBBLE exhibit at SPACE include: Taysir Batniji, Wafaa Bilal, Enrique Castrejon, Lenka Clayton, Jane Dixon, Hirokazu Fukawa, Monica Haller, Andrew Ellis Johnson, Jennifer Karady, Osman Khan, Samina Mansuri, Simon Norfolk, Rocio Rodriguez, elin o’Hara slavick, Susanne Slavick, and Elaine Spatz-Rabinowitz.

OUT OF RUBBLE reacts to the wake of war — its realities and its representations. The rubble that each war leaves behind shapes today and tomorrow — physically, psychologically and spiritually. OUT OF RUBBLE presents works by international artists and architects who consider its causes and consequences, its finality and future, moving from decimation and disintegration to the possibilities of regeneration and recovery. As the USA has just marked ten years of war in Afghanistan, the longest war in this country’s history, OUT OF RUBBLE is all too timely.

Facing the failure and wreckage of war, the poet Wislawa Szymborska wrote: “Reality demands that we mention this: Life goes on.” Artists meet this demand through responses that are invariably somber, both tender and unflinching. Through images and narratives bound up in the crises of truth, they acknowledge, yet strive toward the impossible task of comprehending the incomprehensible.

OUT OF RUBBLE at SPACE runs through January 29, 2012. Related events include OUT OF RUBBLE – The Phoenix Rising, a performance in the galleries by MillerDANCE on December 9 and 10 at 8:30pm with a pre-performance conversation on December 9 at 8:10pm, hosted by Karen Dacko (Dance Editor for Pittsburgh Magazine) with company director Mary Miller and curator Susanne Slavick.

The last weekend of the show features The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Gallery Crawl on Friday, January 27, and Disarming Words at SPACE on January 29. Disarming Words includes a gallery talk and poems at 1:30pm with curator Susanne Slavick; poetry readings by Lynn Emanuel and Terrance Hayes at 2pm followed by a singing escort at 2:30 with the Raging Grannies to Windows and Mirrors, Reflections on the War in Afghanistan, a traveling mural project of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) at 937 Liberty Avenue (2nd floor) where Iraqi readers and Warrior Writers will also present poetry, followed by discussion in the gallery. Windows and Mirrors continues through February 12, 2012.

The OUT OF RUBBLE exhibit subsequently travels to: Bowling Green State University Galleries, OH, August 28 – October 7, 2012; The Marlin and Regina Miller Gallery, Kutztown University, PA, October – November 18, 2012; String Room Gallery, Wells College, Aurora, NY, and Harris Art Gallery, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA, in 2013; Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, and UC Art Museum, Boulder, CO, in 2014 with a related symposium.

OUT OF RUBBLE is a project of 10 Years + Counting. 10yearsandcounting.org

http://www.chartaartbooks.it

http://www.artbook.com/9788881588107.html

10 Years + Counting

http://www.10yearsandcounting.org/

10 Years + Counting blog post:

http://10yearsandcounting.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/out-of-rubble-artist-susanne-slavick-on-art-and-war/

SPACE gallery, a project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is located at 812 Liberty Avenue, downtown Pittsburgh Cultural District. Gallery Hours: Wed & Thurs: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. Information: www.spacepittsburgh.org

EVENTS IN OTHER FORMAT:

December 9 and 10, 8:30pm

MillerDANCE presents OUT OF RUBBLE – The Phoenix Rising with a pre-performance conversation on December 9 at 8:10pm, hosted by Karen Dacko (Dance Editor for Pittsburgh Magazine) with curator Susanne Slavick and company director Mary Miller.

January 27, 5:30-9pm

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl

January 29 Disarming Words

1:30 Out of Rubble Gallery Talk and Poems with curator Susanne Slavick

2:00 Poetry Reading with Lynn Emanuel and Terrance Hayes

2:30 Raging Grannies Singing Escort to 2nd floor, 937 Liberty Avenue

2:40 Warrior Writers and Public Poetry with Iraqi readers at Windows and Mirrors, Reflections on the War in Afghanistan, a traveling mural project of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) through February 12, 2012. Readings followed by gallery discussion.

Straight No Chaser Performs at the Benedum

2011-11-23T05:31:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's date: November 21, 2011

Contact:
Veronica Corpuz
corpuz@trustarts.org
(412) 471-6082

Diana Roth
roth@trustarts.org
(412) 471-8717

Straight No Chaser

Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., Benedum Center

By reinventing the idea of a cappella on the modern pop landscape, the unique Straight No Chaser is ten vocalists who have come together to create remarkable music, and combined with their sense of humor, entertain and leave audiences begging for more. As original SNC member Randy Stine comments, “We take the music very seriously; we just don’t take ourselves too seriously.” Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman found the group’s music “brilliant, fresh and totally compelling.” Straight No Chaser returns to Pittsburgh and will perform on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 8:00 p.m., at the Benedum Center. This performance is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and is part of the 2011-2012 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents series.

If the phrase “male a cappella group” invokes an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivy league campuses…think again. Straight No Chaser is neither straight-laced nor straight-faced. Providing interpretations with a twist, Straight No Chaser’s 2011 tour will feature impressive vocals and captivating personalities of original group members, Randy Stine, Charlie Mechling, Jerome Collins, David Roberts and Walter Chase, with newer SNC members, Michael Luginbill, Ryan Ahlwardt, Seggie Isho, Don Nottingham and Tyler Trepp.

Originally formed more than a dozen years ago at Indiana University, Straight No Chaser has reassembled and re-emerged as a phenomenon with a remarkable fan base, millions of views on YouTube, numerous national TV appearances, and proven success with three holiday releases: Holiday Spirits (2008), Christmas Cheers (2009) and All I Want for Christmas (2010). In an era when music is the product of digital processing and vocal pro-tooling, Straight No Chaser is completely authentic. Prior to the 2009 holiday album, SNC released Six Pack (2009), a six-track CD exclusive with Amazon that received excellent fan reviews. With a Twist (2010) is the group’s first full-length departure from holiday music, which successfully placed #29 on the Billboard 200. During the summer of 2011, Straight No Chaser performed an exclusive engagement for eight weeks at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

"We can't wait to get back out on the road and visit our fans all across the country," says original group member Randy Stine. "The foundation of Straight No Chaser is our live performance. We pride ourselves on a show that anyone of any age or background can enjoy. This time around, we will be performing new songs on a new stage. It's the biggest production we've ever put together, and we are so excited to share it with our fans, since they are the ones who got us here."

Tickets ($32.25-$57.25) for Straight No Chaser on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 8:00 p.m., at the Benedum Center, may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, online at www.TrustArts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.

Pittsburgh Opera's Holiday Brown Bag a Family Tradition

2011-11-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release
November 21, 2011

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214
dbell@pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Opera’s Holiday Brown Bag continues 3-year tradition of family-friendly fun

What: Pittsburgh Opera’s Holiday Brown Bag concert

When: Saturday, December 3, 12:00 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Where: Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue, in the Strip District

Admission: Admission is free. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch.

Parking: Ample street parking available on Penn Ave. Those needing handicapped parking in the Pittsburgh Opera garage, please call to reserve a spot: 412-281-0912 x 0 (zero) by Friday, December 2 at 5:00 PM.

Pittsburgh, PA… For the past three seasons at holiday time, Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists have surprised and delighted audiences at the December Brown Bag concert with breathtaking renditions of holiday classics as well as unexpected charmers such as “The Twelve Pains of Christmas” and “Hanukkah in Santa Monica.” Kids can join the sing-along from the special “pit” in front of the stage. The concert is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch; there will be goodie bags for the kids. Doors open at 11:30. No reservations are required except handicapped parking requests. For more information, call 412-281-0912, x 0 (zero) or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2011-2012 season continues a 73-year tradition of excellence in opera and is the first green opera company in the U.S.* As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2011-2012 season will again start at $10, with subscriptions starting at just $43 for four mainstage operas.

*U.S. Green Building Council awarded LEED® Silver certification in June 2011 in the Operations and Maintenance category.

2011-2012 Season
La traviata October 15, 18, 21, 23
The Pearl Fishers November 12, 15, 18, 20
Hansel & Gretel January 28, 31; February 3, 5
Tosca March 24, 27, 30; April 1, 3
The Abduction from the Seraglio April 28; May 1, 4, 6

For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
###