ALL WEEKEND
Cinema scope
The Row House Cinema theme weeks make the transition from featuring stop-motion animation to the works of 1960s French New Wave filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard.
Bring the kids to the Lawrenceville movie house Thursday for the 2009 Australian film “Mary and Max” at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Oscar-nominated “My Life as a Zucchini” at 7:30 and a pajama-party screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” at 9:15.
Starting Friday, get a babysitter if you go for Godard. His films “Alphaville,” “Breathless,” “Contempt” and “Pierrot le Fou” are the featured attractions through April 6. For schedules and tickets to the theater in Lawrenceville, visit www.rowhousecinema.com.
In Dormont, Friday at 7 p.m. marks the first of three screenings of the time-trippy fantasy “Donnie Darko: 15th Anniversary 4K Restoration” at the Hollywood Theater. It repeats twice on Saturday at 4:30 and 9 p.m., followed on Sunday by “Donnie Darko: Director’s Cut” at 7 p.m. More info at www.thehollywooddormont.org.
ALL WEEKEND
Peter Pan prequel
“Peter and the Starcatcher,” the Rick Elice play based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is an adventurous prequel that puts a twist on how Peter Pan arrived in Neverland.
The innovative play with music will be performed by the University of Pittsburgh Theater Arts Department, under the direction of Kathryn Markey, at the Charity Randall Theater, Stephen Foster Memorial, across Forbes Avenue from Schenley Plaza, Oakland.
Times are 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through April 9. Tickets are $12-$25 at www.play.pitt.edu or 412-624-7529.
ALL WEEKEND
PSO debut
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra always like to introduce new conductors to Heinz Hall audiences in recent seasons — whether seasoned pros or up-and-coming leaders in the music world. So when Long Yu, who conducts the China Philharmonic and Shanghai Symphony, had to back out of his own debut with the PSO, the orchestra found another fresh face for Pittsburghers.
French conductor Lionel Bringuier, the chief conductor and music director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, will make his first appearance with the PSO this weekend. He’ll lead the orchestra in Ravel’s “Mother Goose” (the complete ballet), Paganini’s “Sonata per la Grand Viola” and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” The Paganini will feature principal violist Randolph Kelly.
Concerts are 8 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Hall, Downtown. $20-$94, 412-392-4900 or www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
THURSDAY
CureRock at Hard Rock
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Matt Hires will headline the sixth annual CureRock, benefiting programs that fight cancer in adolescents and young adults undergoing treatment in Pittsburgh, Thursday at the Hard Rock Cafe, Station Square.
Mr. Hires is touring behind last year’s “American Wilderness,” released on Rock Ridge Music (The Damnwells, Steve Forbert), joined by singer-songwriter Kyle Cox. Also on the lineup will be Pittsburgh band Chet Vincent and the Big Bend.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with music starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25; a limited number of VIP tables, which include drinks, shirts and more, are available at $100 to $300; www.curerock.org.
THURSDAY
Daya live
She’s the “Grammy-winning Daya” now, having picked up the prize in February for her vocal on the Chainsmokers’ song “Don’t Let Me Down.”
This will be the first concert here for the 18-year-old Mt. Lebanon singer (not counting Light Up Night) since she released the full-length debut “Sit Still, Look Pretty” in October.
The album, following in the vein of her 2015 electropop hit “Hide Away,” took her to No. 28 on the charts with the title track.
The show is at Stage AE, North Shore, doors at 6:30 p.m. $20-$22; ticketmaster.com.
FRIDAY
Hitting Deep
Hip-hop artist TobyMac, once part of the trio DC Talk, brings his HITS DEEP Tour to the Petersen Events Center in Oakland, touring behind his sixth solo album, “This Is Not a Test,” which topped the Christian charts and won the Grammy for contemporary Christian music album.
TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin Michael McKeehan, explained that the title of the album is a reminder to “make every moment count and make every second count.”
Jesus Freak Hideout wrote of “This Is a Test,” “Toby’s ability to dabble in a variety of styles and utilize several guest features, without sounding like a dilettante, is impressive. … With catchy beats and Christ-centered lyrics, “This Is Not a Test” is another solid entry for this talented solo artist.”
TobyMac will be joined by Matt Maher, Mandisa, Mac Powell, Capital Kings, Ryan Stevenson and Hollyn.
“I love the idea of putting together artists that are just starting their journey with veterans, electronic artists with organic artistry and colors of skin that demonstrate God’s diverse kingdom,” he said in a statement. “We come together backstage — which leads us to a beautiful night on stage. A night deep in hits, that aims to hit you deep. A night where everybody is invited to the party!”
It begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15-$69.75; ticketmaster.com.
FRIDAY
Nine artists
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts holds an opening reception Friday for nine Solo & Collaborative Exhibits in the Marshall Galleries, covering a range of practices in painting, sculpture, installation and new media.
The exhibits, curated by Laura Domencic through an open call for artists, “explore the boundaries of real and imagined landscapes, memory and forgetting, the collaborative process and personal identity.”
They will include work by Nikki Brugnoli, Isabel Farnsworth and Shannon Hines, Jiyong Hong, Magic Organs: DS Kinsel and Julie Mallis, Misty Morrison, Nicole Renee Ryan, Jonathan Schwarz and Angela Biederman, Devan Shimoyama and Danny Ferrell, and Lauren Wilcox.
The reception runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the PCA in Shadyside. A $5 donation is appreciated. The shows are on view through July 23. Go to http://center.pfpca.org.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Storytellers at Bricolage
WordPlay — people sharing their stories with a live soundtrack — is back at Bricolage Productions Friday and Saturday with a new lineup of storytellers: former Post-Gazette columnist Samantha Bennett, who has dabbled in community theater, improv, ghost tours and standup comedy; Abby Goldstein, general manager at 91.3 WYEP-FM and a member of the Bricolage board who has worked in TV, radio, festival production and music promotion; Alan Olifson, a humor columnist, host of Pittsburgh’s monthly Moth StorySLAMs and the creator of WordPlay; Mary C. Parker, a Pittsburgher from Stone Mountain, Ga., who works as an international dialogue facilitator and trainer, certified life coach, improv comedian and is president of Arcade Comedy Theater’s board of directors; and actor Brendan Griffin, back in his native Pittsburgh after appearing in the Tony-winning play “Clybourne Park” on Broadway.
Happy hour with free beer and wine, fun and games starts at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 at Bricolage’s home base, 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $25 at www.bricolagepgh.org or 412-471-0999.
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
‘Lights Out’ on Liberty
It’s a busy week for theater in the Pittsburgh Cultural District, including the premiere of “Lights Out,” a play by Steve Hallock, author, associate professor of journalism and director of the School of Communication’s graduate programs at Point Park University.
Produced by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company and directed by Cheryl El-Walker, “Lights Out” is about a power outage that stalls a Pittsburgh trolley in a tunnel beneath Mount Washington on a late Friday night, leading to encounters among passengers that spark fear, accusations, confessions, guilt and love, mixed in with a few drinks and some jazz and blues riffs.
The cast comprises Connor McCanlus, Sam Lothard, Jenny Malarkey, Michael Lane Sullivan, Arjun Kumar, Thomas Hammond, John Michnya, Sandy Zwier, Nik Nemec and Melissa Franklin. At PPTC, 937 Liberty Ave., third floor, Downtown, Saturday through April 15. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, plus 3 p.m. April 15. General admission tickets are $22.50 (with no fees) at pghplaywrights.org.
SATURDAY
Slide man
Jackson Browne called David Lindley “one of the great slide players of all time,” and there won’t be many arguments on that.
The guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, who performs a Calliope concert Saturday at Carnegie Lecture Hall, Oakland, came along in the late ’60s and became a steady player for Mr. Browne, along with backing James Taylor, Crosby and Nash, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Ry Cooder and others.
Along with his side work, he was a founding member of the psychedelic band Kaleidoscope in the mid-’60s, releasing four albums on Epic Records. In 1981, he formed El Rayo-X, which combined roots and world beat music.
It begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40; $20 for full-time students with ID; www.calliopehouse.org or 412-361-1915.
SATURDAY
Cause for comedy
The Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western PA will hold its third annual Comedy For a Cause on Saturday at the Sokol Club Banquet Hall, 2912 E. Carson St., South Side.
It will feature comedy sets by emcee Collin Chamberlin, Sean Collier and comedian/magician Doc Dixon, plus silent and live auctions of autographed sports memorabilia and other prizes, a basket raffle and more.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., followed by buffet dinner at 7 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. Admission is $35 and includes dinner, with a cash bar available. It benefits the organization’s free patient support services. Call 412-977-6935 for reservations.
FRIDAY
Stevie and the Pretenders
“And I’m getting older, too.”
Stevie Nicks gets a big cheer when she sings that line from “Landslide,” and the beauty is that she keeps coming back to sing it. And coming back strong.
The Fleetwood Mac classic “Rumours” turns 40 this year, but the bewitching singer, now 68, is out highlighting her solo career, which has produced such gems as “Edge of Seventeen,” “Leather and Lace” and “Stand Back.”
She is joined by another one of rock’s great frontwomen in Chrissie Hynde, 65, who delivered an instant post-punk classic when she debuted with the Pretenders in 1980. The band is touring behind 10th album “Alone,” which features producer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and the great Duane Eddy.
It’s at PPG Paints Arena, Uptown, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $47.25-$142.75; ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY
Music on the edge
The Quartetto di Venezia has played for some pretty important folks — Pope John Paul II and the president of Italy among them — and now, Andy Warhol will get a chance to hear the Italian string quartet.
Well, Pittsburghers who check out the quartet’s concert at The Andy Warhol Museum, that is. The contemporary program at the North Side venue includes works by Curt Cacioppo, Kendall Kennison, Robert Maggio and Pittsburgh-based composer Roger Zahab. The 8 p.m. show is co-presented by the museum and Music on the Edge.
Tickets: $15, $10 for students and seniors, $5 more at the door; 412-624-7529 or www.music.pitt.edu/tickets.
SATURDAY
McMahon on Broadway
Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, led by the former frontman of pop-punks Something Corporate and alt-rock band Jack’s Mannequin, returns to headline Stage AE on Saturday.
The singer-songwriter-pianist, inspired early on by Elton John and Billy Joel, follows his 2014 self-titled breakout with a New York City-inspired second solo album “Zombies on Broadway.”
“I’ve always loved records that seemed to have a theme or some sort of overarching concept,” he told Huffington Post. “Of course, I didn’t go full crazy-concept record, but I wanted there to be a feeling that these songs were sourced from a similar space and told a larger story once you put them all together.”
Doors open on the North Shore at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $26-$28; ticketmaster.com.
First Published: March 30, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
