Entertainment category, Page 200
‘Encanto,’ ‘House of Gucci’ fuel Thanksgiving box office
NEW YORK — Thanksgiving weekend moviegoing was still far from the feast it normally is, but Disney’s “Encanto” and the Lady Gaga-led “House of Gucci” both gave a lift to two genres that have been particularly battered by the pandemic: family movies and adult dramas. “Encanto” led the box office...
Towering musical theater master Stephen Sondheim dies at 91
NEW YORK — Stephen Sondheim, the songwriter who reshaped the American musical theater in the second half of the 20th century with his intelligent, intricately rhymed lyrics, his use of evocative melodies and his willingness to tackle unusual subjects, has died. He was 91. Sondheim’s death was announced by Rick...
5 things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend: Nov. 26-28
Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to get out and do something after you are done shopping on Black Friday. Here are some choices. Light ‘em up The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Zoo Lights Drive-Thru in Highland Park opens Friday. Guests stay in their cars as they make...
Legendary jazz trombonist, Jeannette native Slide Hampton dies at 89
Whenever legendary jazz musicians Slide Hampton and Harold Betters got together or spoke over the phone, the renowned trombonists frequently spoke of their Western Pennsylvania roots, said Betters’ daughter Cheryl Kelly. “Oh, Dad and Mr. Hampton were super close for a very long time. They were great friends and actually...
Comedian Frank Caliendo brings his many voices to Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
Frank Caliendo does impressions, not impersonations. The stand-up comedian’s performances include personalities such as Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Robert De Niro; politicians George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald Trump; broadcasters John Madden, Charles Barkley and Jon Gruden; and talk show hosts Dr. Phil, Jay Leno and...
‘AGT’ winner, ventriloquist Terry Fator coming to The PalaceVideo
As a fifth grader working on a Valentine’s Day report, Terry Fator overshot the “Va” books in the school library and ended up at “Ve.” He pulled out a book on ventriloquism and forgot about his assignment. The rest, as they say, is history. An “America’s Got Talent” winner and...
2 Fox News contributors quit, citing ‘irresponsible’ voicesVideo
NEW YORK — Two writers who have been paid contributors to Fox News Channel have resigned, citing Tucker Carlson’s “Patriot Purge” documentary on last January’s U.S. Capitol insurrection as a last straw for them. Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes, who put out a Substack newsletter on conservative news called The...
Marie Osmond promises to fill The Palace Theatre with holiday spirit
Marie Osmond is sure to have a busy holiday season, and it has nothing to do with decorating, baking and shopping. The veteran entertainer is looking forward to the debut of her new Lifetime movie, “A Fiancé for Christmas,” premiering at 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Her 17-track album, “Unexpected,” comes...
Pleasant Hills author Leckenby publishes Thanksgiving children’s book
For Pleasant Hills mother-daughter duo Nicole Leckenby and Mary Dunn, there is something new to be thankful for this holiday season. As of Nov. 1, Leckenby has been celebrating the Thanksgiving season with the release of her and Dunn’s newest book, “It’s Turkey Lurkey Time.” Here, Leckenby has continued to...
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ captures $44 million in theaters
Busting ghosts is still a fairly lucrative business after almost 40 years. Heading into Thanksgiving weekend, the latest attempt to revive “Ghostbusters” drew a sizable audience to theaters, while the awards darling “King Richard,” like most dramas in the pandemic era, is struggling. With a reverence for nostalgia and a...
Dinosaurs will roam Pittsburgh when Jurassic Quest comes to townVideo
After millions of years, dinosaurs are again roaming North America in Jurassic Quest, an interactive dinosaur attraction coming to Pittsburgh in February. With more than 100 life-like dinosaur replicas, themed rides, live dinosaur shows, interactive science and art activities, a fossil dig, a “Triceratots” soft play area, inflatable attractions, photo...
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ flying into Greensburg’s Palace Theatre
Some stories have a message that is evergreen, so to speak — especially when it comes to Christmas specials. That’s certainly true of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a story that first came to television in stop-motion, animated form in 1964. “It’s all about accepting people and their differences and realizing...
5 things to do in Westmoreland County: Nov. 19-21
Rockin’ out The Lamp Theatre in Irwin will be rocking hard this weekend with two classic rock tribute shows. Broken Arrow: A Tribute to Neil Young kicks it off at 8 p.m. Friday, playing the rock legend’s softer country rock material and the hard-edge Crazy Horse-era electric tunes — offering...
Slippery Rock opens 1st live theater show since pre-pandemic days, ‘Techies’
Tyler Parsonage of Murrysville is grateful for the new opportunities that online theater productions offered during the covid-19 pandemic, “but I don’t think it’ll ever compare to a live show,” he said. The 21-year-old Slippery Rock University junior is part of a group that will bring the first live theater...
Frida Kahlo self-portrait sells for record $35M at auctionVideo
NEW YORK — A Frida Kahlo self-portrait that shows the artist with the face of her husband, Diego Rivera, in the middle of her forehead, sold Tuesday night at Sotheby’s in New York for $34.9 million, an auction record for a work by a Latin American artist. The 1949 painting,...
Carnegie Science Center unveils Gus & Yiayia’s cart in railroad display
With unseasonable temperatures climbing to 70 degrees, Wednesday was a perfect day for the unveiling of an ice ball cart. The Carnegie Science Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore showcased its latest addition — Gus & Yiayia’s Ice Ball Cart — to be added to the Miniature Railroad & Village. The...
Monroeville native’s debut book tops Amazon charts
When Monroeville native Kelley McNeil was driving along a rural road with her daughter in the car, she had an idea pop into her head. “I thought what if we got into an accident and when we woke up, (my daughter) had disappeared,” she said. McNeil would explore that idea...
Now that she’s free, Britney Spears plans to celebrate ‘for the next 2 months!’
Britney Spears is still toasting her newfound freedom. The singer has been posting often on Instagram since a judge on Friday ended the conservatorship that had controlled her person and her estate for nearly 14 years. And on Monday she shared her joy, her party plans and more. ‘What an...
Shadyside mansion adorned for Pittsburgh Symphony Association holiday tour
Pittsburgh Symphony Association members weren’t hopeful that they would be able to present their Symphony Splendor Holiday House Tour this year. Then, Scott Cavanaugh and Ron Graham offered their Gilded Age Shadyside mansion for the much-anticipated event. “With the current situation, you can understand that homeowners wouldn’t permit hundreds of...
After a racist outburst, country star Morgan Wallen ready to tour again … including Pittsburgh stop next year
Morgan Wallen is hitting the road again after hurtling over a career speed bump this past year. On Monday, the country musician announced plans to resume touring after canceling shows this summer to work on himself after being largely cast out by the country music industry for using a racial...
Journey to open 2022 tour in Pittsburgh
Start believin’. Journey is coming back to Pittsburgh. The classic rockers have announced that their Freedom Tour 2022 will open Feb. 22 at PPG Paints Arena. Special guest will be punk rocker Billy Idol. The tour is in support of a new album, “Freedom,” set for release next year on...
Victory Brinker joining Latshaw Pops for Christmas show at The Palace
A Westmoreland County audience will have a chance to see “America’s Got Talent” veteran Victory Brinker live when she joins the Latshaw Pops Orchestra for a holiday concert at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. “The Sounds of Christmas” is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 5 in the theater. Following the...
‘Sesame Street’ debuts Ji-Young, 1st Asian American muppet
What’s in a name? Well, for Ji-Young, the newest muppet resident of “Sesame Street,” her name is a sign she was meant to live there. “So, in Korean traditionally the two syllables they each mean something different and Ji means, like, smart or wise. And Young means, like, brave or...
Beloved ‘Dolphin Tale’ star Winter died of twisted intestine
Florida’s most famous dolphin Winter, beloved by fans around the world and star of the movie “Dolphin Tale,” died of twisted intestines, according to necropsy results released by the aquarium Saturday. The dolphin’s intestines were in an area impossible to reach through surgery. “There was nothing more the team could...
Chaos erupts at ‘SNL’ ticket line in NYC ahead of Taylor Swift appearance
NEW YORK — Taylor Swift fanatics were seeing red Friday in the standby line for “Saturday Night Live” tickets, witnesses told the Daily News. The chaos was sparked by a tweet at 10:05 a.m. from SNL’s account directing hopeful attendees to The Shop at NBC Studios for tickets to Saturday’s...
