Sights & Sounds – Sept. 4
South Park Theatre will present “Art of Murder,” through 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 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 and are 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, such as fresh crab cake sliders, seafood kabobs, deep fried ravioli, specialty nuts, 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.
Orchestra rehearsals
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. The orchestra, directed by an all-volunteer music staff, is nonprofit and non-competitive. For more information, email shjorchestra-mdirector@yahoo.com, visit www.shjo.org or call 412-854-3459.
Students ages 9 through college-age and adults are invited to audition for Little Lake Theatre Company’s two fall family matinee productions, “Freckleface Strawberry” and “Madeline’s Christmas.”
Auditions will be held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sept. 9. For either musical, prepare 16-32 bars of an up tempo song. An accompanist will be provided (bring sheet music) or sing without. Audition appointments are strongly encouraged and may be made at www.littlelake.org. Actors are asked to complete the online application, conflict sheet and provide a head shot/clear photo.
• “Freckleface Strawberry,” directed by Sara Barbisch, runs at 1:30 p.m. most Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Oct. 27-Nov. 17. The small ensemble requires strong male/female singer/actors. The ensemble also includes one or two adult women, and middle school-age students will also be considered. This musical is based upon the books by actress Julianne Moore.
• “Madeline’s Christmas,” directed by Little Lake Artistic Director Sunny Disney Fitchett, will be presented most Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 23-Dec. 15. Roles are available for one adult woman, one-two adult men and 10 girls between the ages of 9 and 17.
For information, visit www.littlelake.org.
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, contact Elaine Moore at 412-780-9336 or southhillschorale@gmail.com.
New Horizon Theater, Inc. in conjunction with The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial of the Greater Pittsburgh Region (TAM) will present “Black Angels over Tuskegee” on Sept. 14 at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh.
This award-winning, historical docudrama is a narrative of seven men embarking upon a journey to become the first African-American aviators in the United States Army Air Forces during a tumultuous era of racial segregation and Jim Crow laws in 20th century American history.
Tickets at $25-$100 can be obtained by calling 412-456-6666, online at trustarts.org or at The Box Office at Theater Square, 665 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh.
Talent showcase
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.
The Pink House, home of Wagner’s Chocolates, Finleyville, will hold a Chocolate and Wine Pairing Launch beginning promptly at 6:40 p.m. Sept. 19. The event will end around 8:15, but the shop will be open for chocolate and ice cream purchases until 9.
A variety of chocolates will be paired with several domestic and international wines (wine is optional and provided at no charge).
Special inaugural event price of $29 (regular price, $35) will include wine expert Jeff Harrison, a variety of specially selected milk and dark chocolates for pairing, a special wine glass to take home, an ice cream treat to complete the tasting, 10 percent discount on all purchases made that evening, and a coupon for your next visit.
Seating is limited. Payment is required to reserve a seat. Pay by credit card by calling 724-348-2238 (fully refundable up until 24 hours in advance).
The Pink House is located at 3760 First Avenue, Finleyville (south of Trax Farms on Rt. 88). For more information, visit www.thepinkhouse.biz.
“SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody” returns to the Byham Theater Sept. 19-21.
The story follows the writer and main character, E.B. Janet, as she sends her husband and children away to partake in a weekend of writing. Setting her sites on a tale of erotica, she enlists a bottle of chardonnay as her coauthor for the weekend. Her fantasy builds around the relationship of a young innocent girl, Tasha Wood, and a handsome man that she finds herself involved with, Hugh Hansen.
Performances run at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with an additional matinee performance at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets start at $35.50 and can be purchased at www.TrustArts.org or through the Box Office at 412-456-6666.
“SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody” is not associated with, nor authorized by, author E.L. James or Vintage Press.
Oktoberfest
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.
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 more 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.
For more information, call 412-446-1644, or to register or volunteer for the event, visit www.mostamazingrace.org.
Legendary, award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to kick off the 2013-14 season at a “Once Upon a Time” gala concert at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Heinz Hall.
The concert is bookended by a Gala party and Soiree, which will be held at Heinz Hall and the Fairmont Hotel respectively.
Tickets, ranging from $40 to $110 for the gala concert only, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 412-392-4900, or by visiting www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
The Once Upon a Time Soirée includes valet parking, pre-concert cocktail hour, preferred seating for the concert, and a post-concert celebration with symphony musicians at the Fairmont, including hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, live music and more. Tickets are $175 to $225 per person and are also on sale now.
All proceeds from the Gala concert and parties support the PSO’s Education and Community Engagement programs.
Pittsburgh Fashion Week is returning for the fourth year, 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.
For a schedule of Fashion Week events, more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.pittsburghfashionweek.com.
A fireside chat with author Ron Suskind and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’Neill will take place on Sept. 26 at The Neighborhood Academy, 709 North Aiken Avenue, Pittsburgh. 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 event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a fireside chat at 7, and conclude with a book signing at 8:30.
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 will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Oct. 10 with an art auction.
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 Night of Fright from 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 26 at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall located at 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie. All ages are welcome and the night includes a 50/50 raffle, Chinese auction, costume contest, games and 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.