I was bored the other day so I decided to again watch the broadcast of the concert at Point State Park prior to the Steelers' opening kickoff. That's when I thought, this place is perfect.

Why not have concerts in the park more frequently? Not ones like during Arts Fest but ones that make people say wow. I can guarantee the Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw and everyone in the nation watching thought and said the same thing.

For a very long time the Post-Gazette Pavilion has had a monopoly on summer concerts. I have nothing against the pavilion and I like going to concerts there, but it's really far away. Why not have concerts with the fountain in the background and a beautiful sunset as your lighting?

That was one of the best views I ever saw, and I think it's about time we make it a consistent one. The benefits are huge for this. Downtown and other businesses close by will thrive because of the concerts. The city will get a lot of revenue from parking and taxes, not to mention great exposure.

I have had many friends, not from Pittsburgh, comment on what an amazing sight that was and were all very surprised that that isn't a regular concert venue. They're shocked because it truly could be the stage to play on in all of America, rivaling only Red Rocks in Colorado for its natural beauty.

So the next time you look at the park vacant and mostly unused as it is every day, think of it in the summer with 100,000 people watching Kenny Chesney or Jimmy Buffett play, with the fountain in the background and the sun setting over the Ohio River and Mount Washington. The crowd and the band will all be thinking the same thing ... WOW.

Ryan Gurrentz
Murrysville

While I tend to prefer the costumes to match the time period, I applaud Point Park's decision to dress its actors in modern suits and uniforms for the Conservatory's current production of "Antigone."

The costumes serve as a blatant reminder that we are doomed to repeat the past if we do not learn from it. Should we miss the visual message, we need only to listen to the emotional dialogue between King Creon and Antigone, his niece, to understand that we have not progressed enough in terms of leadership, decision-making and moral courage.

Creon, in a style hauntingly reminiscent of George W. Bush, makes a decision and sticks by it, even when he realizes the foolishness of his choice and the negative consequences of his actions. Despite facing death and alienating those who love her, Antigone refuses to back down from doing the right thing. If only our world had fewer Creons and more Antigones -- and more outstanding productions like this one!

Ronna L. Edelstein
Oakland

Critics Andrew Druckenbrod and Scott Mervis talk about music on "The Beat," available exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.