5 day forecast
The Hot List of things to do this weekend
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Director Kevin Smith will tell you what's on his mind during his appearance at Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead Saturday night. -
Mark Milovats brings his annual Christmas concert to the Byham Theater Sunday.
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ALL WEEKEND
Holiday tradition
Kimberly Richards returns to City Theatre as the Sister who knows who's been naughty in "Sister's Christmas Catechism," a holiday tradition by Maripat Donovan.
"Sister" is on the South Side theater's mainstage Friday through Dec. 16; shows are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 5:30 and 9 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $40 at 412-431-2489 or citytheatrecompany.org.
A little light music
There's enough heavy fare on folks' plates this time of fall, so several years ago Manfred Honeck, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, decided to lighten the PSO's usually serious offerings for the Thanksgiving weekend. In the classical music realm, there is no lighter, yet still excellent, music than that of the Strauss family, and the conductor again will program waltzes and polkas by Johann, Josef and others (not Richard Strauss, who was not related).
The theme will be music about or connected to water, and potent baritone Gregg Baker will join in the festivities. Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman performs Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto: certainly substantial, but plenty fun. Concerts are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Hall, Downtown. Tickets start at $20; 412-392-4900 or www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
FRIDAY
Sweat soul
New York R&B/soul legend Keith Sweat headlines the Savoy Restaurant Thanksgiving Soul Jam Friday at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall, Oakland.
The singer was one of the key players in the New Jack Swing, scoring such hits as "I Want Her," "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again" (from the movie "New Jack City"), "Why Me Baby" (with LL Cool J) and "Twisted."
He will be joined by former New Edition member Johnny Gill. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40-$60 at www.savoypgh.com.
SATURDAY
Holiday parade
The 32nd annual My Macy's Holiday Parade begins bright and early at 9 a.m. Saturday Downtown.
Along with the marching bands and floats, it will feature the band Chairmen of the Board ("Give Me Just a Little More Time"), Michael Grimm, Bianca Ryan, B.E. Taylor and more.
It begins at Liberty Technology Center, 2200 Liberty Ave., Strip, and proceeds to Grant Street, right onto Fifth Avenue, left onto Liberty Avenue and left onto Stanwix Street.
If you can't make it in person, you can watch it on WPXI-TV.
Kevin Says
Kevin Smith would like to talk to you.
The director of the cult classic "Clerks" will be at the Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead in Munhall to answer your questions and talk about whatever's on his mind, from pop culture to politics. He's been in town before, filming "Dogma" (1998) and "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" (2008).
The 42-year-old Jersey native has a lot going on: He's directing the hockey movie "Hit Somebody" (which he says could be his last), he has the Hulu series "Spoilers," the reality series "Comic Book Men" (set at his comic shop), and he does these live gigs, along with comic book conventions.
It begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $45-$100. www.librarymusichall.com; 412-368-5225.
Death Metal Saturday
Those who have some post-Thanksgiving aggression to work out are directed to Mr. Smalls in Millvale, where Cannibal Corpse turns up on Saturday, touring on its 12th album, "Torture," which actually hit the Billboard charts at No. 38.
The Buffalo band, which formed in 1988 and debuted on Metal Blade two years later, prides itself in having stuck to its initial charter of death metal.
Guitarist Alex Webster told the Leader-Telegram in Wisconsin, "All of our albums have a fairly similar idea behind them, they're just fast death metal with gory, violent lyrics. It's really just creativity and fictional entertainment. We've never tried to have a message behind any of our songs that I can remember. They're all pretty much ... I don't want to say mindless because we put a lot of work into it, but it is what it is."
The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. with Misery Index, Hour of Penance and Grisly Amputation. Tickets are $20; i.ticketweb.com; 1-866-468-3401.
NEED TO KNOW
• Jazz great Sean Jones leads the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra in a tribute to internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty, at 8 p.m. Saturday. The fifth annual Suite Life event features a 17-piece instrumental and vocal ensemble to honor Strayhorn's enduring legacy through his extraordinary music. For tickets, $15-$25, www.kelly-strayhorn.org.
• Singer Mark Milovats presents "A Christmas to Remember," his 15th annual Christmas show at the Byham Theater at 7 p.m. Sunday. The concert, which features the Duquesne University Dance Team, The Markem Children's Choir and a military tribute, benefits Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Children's Miracle Network, and Latrobe Area Hospital Foundation. Tickets are $35. 412-456-6666.
• Two of the finest 20th-century composers get their due when the Duquesne University School of Music presents Dohnanyi's Harp Concertino and Bela Bartok's "Contrasts" for Violin, Clarinet and Piano. The concert, Monday at 7:30 p.m. at PNC Recital Hall on its campus, is part of its "Budapest on the Bluff" series, with faculty members and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians performing. $10; 412-396-6083 or www.duq.edu/music.
• The Metropolitan Opera District Auditions will bring together singers who aspire to be on the Met stage in a special concert March 10. They take place Saturday beginning at 10 a.m., at Kresge Theater of CMU's Fine Arts Building. Winners head to the Great Lakes Regional Auditions in Buffalo Jan. 13. Auditions are free and open to the public.
First Published November 22, 2012 12:00 am
