Yesterday was cold but sunny -- does that count as lion or lamb? Maybe it means March will go out warm but wet.

'Superstar'

Ken Gargaro reminds me that when he first directed "Superstar" at the Playhouse in 1985, I brought Anne Marshall along to help me get the theology right. He's done it many times since, featuring such actors as Melina Kanakaredes, Audra Blaser, Tome Cousin, Peter Smith, Bobby Pestka, Dan Krell and Tom Schaller. His current version runs through Sunday at the Byham, and you can go backstage with Rosa Colucci's Performance Journal at www.post-gazette.com/theater.

Ken notes that Paul McGill, Bellevue native and a senior in PMT's Rauh Conservatory pre-college program, who made his Broadway debut last year in "La Cage," has been tapped to play Mark in the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line," trying out this summer in San Francisco. ... Then off to college!

Costumers Guild

The newly formed Costumers Guild of Southwestern Pa. (a professional group in formation) is presenting an exhibit of works created for theater and dance at ArtUp Gallery, 911 Penn Ave. I had a sneak preview, and don't we have some wonderful designers here? Directors, especially, but theater fans in general ought not to miss such an abundance of fabric gloriously contrived. BUT NOTE: It runs Friday through March 12, 4-8 p.m. daily except Monday.

The call board

The Reduced Shakespeare Company presents the American premiere of its latest lunacy, "Completely Hollywood! (abridged)," starting tonight at the Public Theater. But this might be even better than the show: Monday it'll offer "Unabridged: The Secret History of the Reduced Shakespeare Company" (from pass-the-hat street troupe to international entertainment juggernaut). It's free, 7 p.m. in the O'Reilly Theater's Helen Wayne Rauh Rehearsal Hall, but reservations this time are strongly encouraged at 412-316-1600.

Veteran comedian Barbara Russell premieres her new cabaret act, "Looking Both Ways," Saturday at 10 p.m. at the CLO's Late Night Cabaret, 655 Penn Ave.; 412-456-6666. 'Nuff said!

"Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens," a theater piece by Bill Russell and Janet Hood celebrating those lost to the AIDS crisis in the early '80s, will play Friday at 4 and 8 p.m. only at CMU's Kresge Theater. Directed by Gary Kline, it features both faculty and students. Admission is free; donations will be split between the Shepherd Wellness Community and the Senior Showcase Fund.

Last weekend, as "Wicked" was opening here, the Broadway Glinda, CMU grad Megan Hilty, was out for a few performances. Filling in was her understudy, Megan Sikora, a Point Park University grad -- an odd Pittsburgh double.

The bottom line

Paid admissions at city's pro theaters for the week ending Feb. 26:

Wicked/Benedum (99.9%) .........22,558

Superstar/PMT (75%) .................... 3,482

Love/Open Stage (63%) ................. 122