Sights & Sounds – Aug. 28
South Park Theatre will present “Art of Murder,” Aug 29-Sept. 14. When eccentric but accomplished painter Jack lays out his plan to murder his art dealer, his wife is reluctant to go along with it until Jack’s threat of violence convinces her otherwise.
• Annual gala brunch, 11:30 a.m. Sept. 29 at The Georgetown Centre. Cost is $30. Call 412-831-8552 for reservations.
The Washington Area Humane Society will hold its 2nd Annual Dog Swim at Mineral Beach, Finleyville, from 5-8 p.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
Dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes are invited to swim or sunbathe. Each dog will receive a doggie goodie bag.
Dogs and owners can swim together and dogs can enter a “best swimsuit contest.” There will be activities for dogs and owners of all ages.
Fee if preregistered is $10 for the first dog, $5 each additional dog. Preregister at www.washingtonpashelter.org. Admission on event day is $15 for the first dog, $5 each additional dog.
The Western Pennsylvania Humane Society will hold its fifth annual Doggy Dip at Dormont Pool on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
Sessions are planned for:
• 4-5 p.m. – small dogs (under 30 lbs.)
• 5:15-6:30 p.m. – all dogs (all sizes welcome)
• 6:45-8 p.m. – large dogs (over 60 lbs)
Advance registration at $20 per dog, per session by Aug. 29 at www.wpahumanesociety.org/specialevents.html, or contact Gretchen at 412-321-4625 ext. 248. After Aug. 29, fee is $25 per dog, per session. Same day registration per dog session starts at 3 p.m. (if not sold out, cash or credit card only).
One dog per human owner (will be enforced with no refunds). Each dog must have a separate registration form filled out. Dogs may be released from leashes upon entering pool deck area, but must remain under owner control at all times. Aggressive dogs will be asked to leave (no refund).
Proceeds will be split 50/50 between the Dormont Pool and the Western PA Humane Society.
The Harmony Singers of Pittsburgh, a South Hills choral group, will launch its 2013-2014 season at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4 with an ice cream social for returning and prospective members. The event will take place at Brightwood Christian Church, Bethel Park. Weekly rehearsals are held at the church during the concert year.
The Harmony Singers perform a wide variety of music including Broadway, rock ‘n’ roll, patriotic and pop tunes. The group is available to perform for civic, social, church or business organizations.
Adults 18 years and older are welcome to join the Harmony Singers. All voices are needed. Performance experience and the ability to read music are preferred but not required. For information, or to reserve the group for an event, call 412-381-7175 or visit www.harmonysingers.org.
Wine Time at the Colony, western Pennsylvania’s newest wine-tasting festival, will be held 1-6 p.m. Sept. 7 on the park-like grounds of Penn’s Colony, located on Saxonburg Blvd. in Saxonburg, Butler County.
The outdoor event will offer live music, outdoor picnic seating and an artisan marketplace, plus at least eight wineries that span three popular Pennsylvania grape-growing regions-Lake Erie, Ground Hog and Pittsburgh Countryside.
Select food purveyors will offer gourmet foods for purchase-specialty items such as fresh crab cake sliders; seafood kabobs; deep fried ravioli; fresh nuts, including “honey-toasted cashews from Hell” made with Ghost Pepper; Belgian chocolate delights; banana pepper mustards; and olive oils and vinegars.
Tickets are $20 for tasting admission, $10 for non-tasting admission. Discounts are available for advance and group purchase. All visitors must be over 21 and bring a valid photo I.D.
For tickets or more information, call 724-352-9922, email info@WineTimeattheColony.com or visit www.winetimeatthecolony.com.
California University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, along with Mon Valley Dance Council, will audition performers for roles in Cal U’s upcoming holiday production of “Miracle on 34th Street.”
Auditions will be held Sept. 7 in Steele Hall.
Male and female performers of all ages and abilities will be considered for acting, singing and dancing roles. Auditioners should report to the Blaney Lobby entrance at the rear of Steele Hall 30 minutes before their scheduled audition times.
Auditions are scheduled as follows:
• Dancers only, ages 6-adult, 10 a.m.-noon
• Susan, 10 a.m.-noon
• Children’s ensemble, ages 5-12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Teen and adult ensemble, 2-4 p.m.
For more information or audition requirements, call Cal U’s Department of Theatre and Dance at 724-938-4220.
The South Hills Junior Orchestra will open its 2013-14 season with free-trial rehearsals from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 7, 14 and 21 in the Upper St. Clair High School band room. Students from grades 5-12 are encouraged to come with their instruments and “try out” the orchestra. Directed by an all-volunteer music staff led by the recently retired public school teachers Paul Fox and Donna Fox, the Orchestra is nonprofit and non-competitive.
For more information, email: shjorchestra-mdirector@yahoo.com, visit www.shjo.org or call 412-854-3459.
As part of its “Get Acquainted Sessions,” The South Hills Chorale is holding auditions for all singing parts as part of regular rehearsals on Sept. 9 and 16 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon.
The 75-member Chorale is the South Hills’ premier community singing group. Its repertoire ranges from popular to classical selections. The group has concerts in December and April.
Interested singers are invited to sit in for a rehearsal to get a feel for the group. For further information or to schedule an audition time, call Elaine Moore at 412-780-9336 or email southhillschorale@gmail.com.
The Heritage Players will hold a Summer Talent Showcase of music, dance and more at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Seton Center on Pioneer Avenue in Brookline. Admission is $5 at the door. Visit www.heritageplayers.org or call 412-254-4633 for more details.
Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest will celebrate its 15th anniversary Sept. 20, 21 and 22 in Canonsburg. Two stages will provide continuous entertainment, showcasing German performers and local talent offering contemporary rock, oldies and country.
German cuisine and beer, ethnic and American foods, crafts and amusement rides will be available.
On Sept. 21, 96.1 KISS and 94.5 3WS with the Gateway Clipper will host Nurses Rock, a special event to pay tribute to the nurses of Pittsburgh. The event will be hosted on the Gateway Clipper Fleet’s The Queen inviting listeners to kick back and enjoy a night on the rivers of Pittsburgh. Nurses Rock will be open to the public and will feature live music from 96.1 KISS DJ Scottro, food, drinks and more. Special guests will include Mikey and Big Bob from the KISS Morning Freak Show and Jonny Hartwell from 3WS.
Board at 7:30 p.m. and sail from 8:30-11.
Tickets for Nurses Rock will be $20 before Sept. 7 and $25 after. Tickets are on sale at www.slowclix.com. Visit www.961kiss.com or www.3wsradio.com for more information or contact Katie Ferri at pittsburghPR@clearchannel.com or 412-919-8590.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will serve as the third city in the country to present an autism-friendly performance of Disney’s “The Lion King,” tailored to the needs of adults and children on the autism spectrum.
The special performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Benedum Center. Great seats are still available and can be purchased on the Cultural Trust website at www.TrustArts.org/Autism. For additional information call 412-456-2670.
The Western Pennsylvania Division of The Salvation Army announces its fifth annual “Most Amazing Race” on Sept. 21 to benefit youth programs in Allegheny County. Combining physical, mental and creative challenges and beginning at Station Square, contestants will compete throughout the city to win part of a $5,000 prize package.
This year, the Salvation Army is accepting only the top 50 fund-raising teams of two people that must raise a minimum of $250 in order to qualify for the race.
Teams will follow clues until the end of the race, using an approved transportation mode or their own two feet to get from place to place. Participants are required to complete physical, mental and silly challenges in order to receive the next clue.
For information, call 412-446-1644, or to register or volunteer for the event, visit www.mostamazingrace.org.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week is returning for the fourth year in a row, Sept. 23-29. This week of events will highlight fall fashions and accessories found at several boutiques, specialty stores, department stores and consignment stores throughout the Pittsburgh region.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week events include:
Sept. 23: “The O.N.E” Opening Night Extravaganza – One Mission….One Vision….One Revolution!, 7 p.m., Highmark Stadium. The show’s theme is Steeltown Industry – metal, color &and fabric come together. “The Diva Chef,” Elise Wims, will emcee this event to benefit the Free Wheelchair Mission.
Sept. 24: “Pop Up Fashion” – Spotlight the Appetite for Fashion, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Market Square with Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
Sept. 24: “Rediscovering Manstyle” Fashion Show, 7 p.m., Pittsburgh Winery. Honorary models are WPXI News Anchor Vince Sims, KDKA News Anchor Rick Dayton, Former Pittsburgh Penguin Rick Tocchet and more. LaMont Jones, fashion icon, will emcee this show that benefits Capacity Developers Inc.
Sept. 25: To Be Announced
Sept. 26: Tanger Outlets 2nd Annual Pink Partini & Fashion Bash Event, 6-8 p.m. KDKA’s Kristine Sorensen will emcee this fall fashion event. Proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society.
Sept. 28: Back-to-Back Runway Show, 7 p.m. at The Art Institute, featuring fashion designs and concepts from Art Institute students.
Sept. 29: Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Omni William Penn Hotel. The luncheon will honor six fashion icons: Michael Barone, Jean Bryant, Tom Julian, Debbie Norrell, EB Pepper and Marianne Skiba. The Exceptional Artist Award will be presented to Jacqueline Capatolla.
For details or to purchase tickets, visit www.pittsburghfashionweek.com.
A fireside chat with author Ron Suskind and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’Neill will take place on Sept. 26 at The Neighborhood Academy, 709 North Aiken Avenue, Pittsburgh.
The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a fireside chat at 7, and conclude with a a dessert/coffee bar and book signing at 8:30.
Among his many best-selling books, Suskind wrote “A Hope in the Unseen, An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League.” The book follows Cedric Jennings, a high school honor student, as he navigates life in the inner city of Washington, DC, to pursue his dream of graduating from an Ivy League college.
General admission is $75; two reserved seat tickets are $250; and two reserved seat tickets and an autographed copy of “A Hope in the Unseen” are $500. Proceeds benefit The Neighborhood Academy.
To purchase tickets, visit www.TheNeighborhoodAcademy.org or call 412-362-2001.
The Mattress Factory is celebrating its 35th anniversary by offering an array of new exhibitions, community events, educational programs, the unveiling of a new building and a special $35 membership.
The Mattress Factory plans the following events to celebrate the anniversary:
• Oct. 10 – 35th Anniversary Art Auction (prices vary)
For more information, visit www.mattress.org.
Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department will host a day trip to “Elf the Musical” and dinner in Pittsburgh on Dec. 1 for ages 6 years and older (youth 17 years and under must be with a paid adult).
Cost of $139 per person includes dinner, show, transportation and tour of Pittsburgh holiday lights.
Register by Oct. 15 at 412-343-3409.
The Western Pennsylvania Paranormal Hunters will host the second annual Night of Fright from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 26 at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall located at 300 Beechwood Ave. in Carnegie. All ages are welcome and the night includes a 50/50 raffle, Chinese auction, costume contest, games music by DJ Drama J and much more. Food, pop and beer will be available. Tickets are $5 and children under 13 are free. Part of the proceeds benefit the library. Tickets are available at www.huntparanormal.com
Washington Symphony Orchestra announced receipt of a $7,000 grant from The Heinz Endowments’ Small Arts Initiative to assist with the production of its Oct. 12 concert, “Space – The Final Frontier” which will take place at 8 p.m. at Trinity High School. For tickets, call 724-223-9796 or visit www.washsym.org.
The Trailer Park Boys will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 at The Benedum Center, Pittsburgh.
Tickets for “The Dear Santa Claus” tour can be purchased in advance from Pittsburgh Cultural Trust by calling 412-471-6070. Advance ticket prices rage from $31.25 to $56.25. Tickets are $2 more on the day of the show.