Entertainment category, Page 134
Review: ‘The Teachers’ shows crisis in America’s schools
“The Teachers,” by Alexandra Robbins (Dutton) The message of “The Teachers” comes into clear focus long before the final words of this 344-page dissection of what’s wrong with American public education, seen principally through the eyes, ears and experiences of three teachers in different areas of the nation. Author Alexandra...
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh season
“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” is the first show coming to the Benedum Center in Downtown Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh lineup for the 2023-24 season. The shows were announced on Monday. “Securing the finest Tony Award-winning shows from the Broadway stage to the Benedum Center as...
The meaning behind the blue ribbons worn at the Oscars
LOS ANGELES — Small and subtle, the blue ribbons worn by many celebrities at the Oscars nonetheless had an important message: support refugees. According to a statement from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, donning the #WithRefugees ribbons Sunday “sends a powerful visual message that everyone has the right to...
Murrysville woman’s book sales will benefit cat rescue organization
When Nina Damato was searching for a way to raise money for local animal rescue efforts, she didn’t have to look much further than the two cats in her living room. The feline siblings are both blind. Damato, 71, of Murrysville, cheekily named them Louis Braille and Andrea Bocelli. Her...
Oscar moments: Moms get special praise on feel-good nightVideo
LOS ANGELES — It was chaotic, messy, wild, creative, big-hearted and utterly unique. If it were a bagel, it would most certainly have been the “everything” kind. But “Everything Everywhere All At Once” was a movie, not a bagel, and it ruled Sunday’s Oscar ceremony, making for one feel-good moment...
TV Talk: ‘Everything Everywhere’ wins all at once at 95th OscarsVideo
After last year’s shocking slap heard ‘round the world, this year’s 95th Oscars was a return to form as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won best picture and took home six additional awards. Returning host Jimmy Kimmel “parachuted” into the theater and started his monologue with somewhat soft, bland jokes...
City Theatre unveils 2023-24 season
It’s as Pittsburgh as a Primanti sandwich and parking chairs: Tami Dixon’s “South Side Stories Revisited” will kick off the 2024 portion of the City Theatre’s 2023-24 season. The play is one of five shows on the slate the theater released late Saturday. “South Side Stories Revisited” finds itself on...
Illness sidelines Bruce Springsteen tour as 3 concerts postponed
SOUTH AMBOY, N.J. — Bruce Springsteen’s planned performance Tuesday in Albany has become the third concert in a week postponed by the New Jersey rocker, who cited illness as the reason in a tweet Sunday but did not give specifics. The postponements come a month into Springsteen’s first major tour...
‘Everything’ wins best picture, is everywhere at OscarsVideo
LOS ANGELES — The metaphysical multiverse comedy “Everything Everywhere All at Once” wrapped its hot dog fingers around Hollywood’s top prize Sunday, winning best picture at the 95th Academy Awards, along with awards for Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Though worlds away from Oscar bait, Daniel...
‘Scream VI’ tops box office with franchise-best $44.5M
LOS ANGELES — Oscar weekend belonged to “Scream VI” in theaters, as the horror sequel notched a franchise-best $44.5 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group co-production sailed past expectations, easily surpassing the previous series high of $32 million that...
Oscars look to snap back a year after The Slap
LOS ANGELES — It’s almost time to give the Academy Awards a big hand. OK, maybe we should rephrase that. A year after Will Smith strode on stage at the Dolby Theatre and slapped Chris Rock in the face, the Oscars will reconvene Sunday for a ceremony that will try...
‘Rhythm of the Dance’ brings Celtic history, culture to The Palace TheatreVideo
Fresh from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, audiences are promised a whirlwind tour of Ireland when “Rhythm of the Dance” hits the stage of The Palace Theatre in Greensburg at 3 p.m. March 19. After the two-hour extravaganza of dance and music, “they will leave the theater feeling that they have...
How and where to watch Sunday’s Oscar broadcast
NEW YORK — Hollywood is gearing up for the 95th Academy Awards, where “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in the lead nominee and the film industry will hope to move past “the slap” of last year’s ceremony. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Oscars, including when...
Oscars race: Clock ticks for film buffs to binge on nominees
NEW YORK — A film buff from Oklahoma City, Elyssa Mann has scant time to waste, needing to cross just four more movies off her Oscars binge list before Sunday’s Academy Awards broadcast: Two animated films, one for cinematography and another for costume design. In the San Francisco Bay Area,...
Billy Porter to embark on very first national concert tour: ‘I’m excited for the terror’
Billy Porter is planning to strike a new pose this spring — but he wants his fans to manage their expectations accordingly. The Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning multi-hyphenate announced Thursday he will embark on his very first national tour this spring. However, it won’t contain any of the high-flying,...
Center of Life podcast celebrating Black History Month to continue all year
Gospel singers Lamont and Mary Shields were eating dinner when they received the call that could have changed their lives. The caller said Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records, liked one of their songs. He would consider it on one condition — that they change one word. The Hampton couple...
Oscars vs. ‘The Last of Us’: What are you watching Sunday?
Will Joel and Ellie finally reach the doctors in “The Last of Us”? Will Michelle Yeoh take home the Oscar for best actress? Both questions will be answered this Sunday, but viewers may have to make a choice about which answer they want in real time. The season finale of...
In a first since 1961, the Oscars carpet will not be red
LOS ANGELES — Many things about the Academy Awards have changed over the years, but for the past six decades there has been at least one constant: The red carpet. The hues have varied over the years, but it has always been some shade of red. Until this year. On...
Robert Blake, actor acquitted in wife’s killing, dies at 89
LOS ANGELES — Robert Blake, the Emmy award-winning performer who went from acclaim for his acting to notoriety when he was tried and acquitted in the killing of his wife, died Thursday at age 89. A statement released on behalf of his niece, Noreen Austin, said Blake died from heart...
2023 Oscars: What to know about the best actor nominees
LOS ANGELES — It’s always fun when an Oscars category is filled with first-time nominees at varying stages of their careers. Best actor is another three-way race, between Austin Butler, Colin Farrell and Brendan Fraser, with each having scored notable wins from guilds and critics groups. The Associated Press’ film...
William Shatner, 91, is living long, prospering and taking it all in
It’s 8 a.m. California time and William Shatner is on the phone from, well, it’s probably best if Shatner tells it himself. “I’m in Los Angeles in a part of my house that overlooks the San Fernando Valley. My back is to the sunrise, I’m looking toward the mountains, and...
Westmoreland Symphony’s ‘Grand Piano’ features world-renowned soloistVideo
“Grand Piano” is the title of Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concert — but it arguably could be called “Welcome to the Machine.” The program begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in The Palace Theatre in Greensburg with a piece by contemporary American composer Jennifer Higdon called simply, “Machine.” “Her music in...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre gala returning after 3-year hiatus
After a three-year hiatus, the Saint Vincent Summer Theatre Gala is returning as a forerunner of the theater’s 53rd season. The event will begin at 6 p.m. March 31 in the Fred M. Rogers Center on the Saint Vincent College campus in Unity. The theater hosted a shortened season of...
TV Talk: Strong sweeps ratings for WTAE-TV; PBS explores ‘Age of Easy Money’Video
The February weekday sweeps ratings for local TV stations have been released. WTAE-TV and KDKA-TV were neck-in-neck with the stations tying in the number of time period wins in household ratings, while WTAE won more news time periods in the key demo of viewers ages 25-54. WPXI-TV ranked third in...
YouTube star sentenced to prison, ordered to forfeit $30M in large-scale cable piracy caseVideo
PHILADELPHIA — A YouTube star who built a sizable following with slickly produced videos flaunting his fleet of luxury and sports cars, collection of diamond-encrusted bling, and his spacious Swedesboro, N.J., home will be forced to give up nearly all of it after he was sentenced Tuesday to 5 1/2...
