Not yet Christmas!

Call me conservative: Not only do I refuse to start celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving, I insist on waiting until December. So I can't run my review of "Carols for a Cure, 2006" the latest collection of holiday songs from the casts of Broadway shows, until next week. By then you may already be feeling holiday overload, but this will be a good antidote, because 10 of this year's 27 songs are parodies and other comic specialties. You don't even have to wait for my review -- go right to www.broadwaycares.org and find it under featured merchandise.

Consummate volunteer

The obituary of Gertrude Forman Caplan, who died Friday at 84, chronicled her philanthropy and service, but Pitt's Buck Favorini wrote to say that "working with her on the board of the Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival and with her devoted husband Paul when they endowed the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools program was a transforming experience. Her passion, energy and conviction about the benefits of the arts inspired us to do our best work." The 2007 SITS tour of "Rachel Carson Saves the Day" will be dedicated to her memory.

Thanks for asking

"Why did the New York Times say that Rob Marshall grew up in Wisconsin in [last week's] piece on the Tony Bennett special?" Because Rob was born in Madison, where his Bostonian parents were in grad school, and the Times neglected to note that they moved to Pittsburgh when he was 3. New York may gobble up our talent, but they can't negate its roots!

Wedding bells

There's been a recent splurge of marriages among theater people, which seems to me a good sign, marriage being the optimistic commitment it is. Among those I know about are Tami Dixon and Jeffrey Carpenter, both of Bricolage; actor Rebecca Harris and Matt Tracy (he's part owner of Tuscany), who held their ceremony at City Theatre; and Cup-a-Jo's Joanna Lowe and Zach Sams.

The most recent, just last week, was PICT founder Andrew Paul and Maria Vornicu, a doctor at West Penn Hospital and a Romanian. They were married in the chambers of Judge Maurice Cohill -- a PICT subscriber, Andrew points out. And he jokes that if Romania joins the European Union, he hopes to get EU citizenship thrown in ("no more waits at European airports!").

The Call Board

Due to a family emergency for one of the actors, Playhouse Rep's "American Buffalo" did not perform last night; check with the box office about tonight or tomorrow.

Following Sunday's 2 p.m. matinee of "A Picasso," City Theatre will offer a City Special: the screening of "Text & Context," David Grubin's 1993 documentary about the "Entartete Kunst," the Nazis' infamous 1937 exhibit of "Degenerate Art."

Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre is opening Brendon Bates' "Corps Values," directed By John Gresh, with Joshua Elijah Reese, Wali Jamal, Marcus Muzopappa and Joseph Martinez. At 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, actors get $10 discounted tickets.

Sunday, Open Stage Theatre hosts a martini (non-alcoholic available) and hors d'oeuvres reception as the first of several events to celebrate its 15th season. Come meet the guest of honor, Councilwoman Tonya Payne, at 2835 Smallman St.; $5-$10 donation at the door; more info from Jeffrey Lawrence Pollock, 412-421-2232 or jlplaw15217@aol.com.

This weekend, Duquesne University students perform Karol Wojtyla's "The Jeweler's Shop," an exploration of the joys and pain of love and marriage, written in 1960, before the playwright became Pope John Paul II. It was made into a 1988 movie, "La Bottega dell'orefice," with Burt Lancaster (the Pope got a writing credit). I gave my volume of Wojtyla's collected plays to Martin Giles (seriously, I did), so I can't tell you more than that. Performances are free, at Rockwell Hall, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Karen Prunzik's Broadway Dance Studio hasn't officially opened yet, but the legendary John Kenley is on the board of directors. Lenora Nemetz, Billy Hartung and Danny Herman will join Karen to teach and Danny is doing a master class Saturday (call 412-920-1841).

Classy stuff: Lenora and Jerry Dantry are performing Wednesdays at Hyeholde through December.

The bottom line

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

JackieMarilyn/Public (62%) .......... 2,616

Forb.Bway/CLO (42%) ................... 658

XmasCatechism/City (65%) .............. 643

Picasso/City (88%) .................... 577