Entertainment category, Page 290
Famous Pittsburghers ‘Rock’ thanks to city’s medical workersVideo
The Pittsburgh medical community is rocking the effort to address the coronavirus outbreak. And now a number of famous Pittsburghers have taken to YouTube to express their thanks for the work. And to remind everyone to stay home. In a video — “We Will Rock You Pittsburgh – Stay Home....
The Frick Pittsburgh plans salary reductions to avoid furloughs
The Frick Pittsburgh will institute temporary salary reductions in order to rescind many of the temporary staff furloughs announced last week. An announcement says the move was made in response to expected economic stimulus support that will contend with mounting financial losses due to the covid-19 pandemic. “By taking this...
James Taylor postpones Pittsburgh concert, all upcoming dates
James Taylor and His All-Star Band have postponed their upcoming tour, including a June 16 date at PPG Paints Arena. The 26-city tour, with special guest Jackson Browne, was scheduled to kick off May 15 in New Orleans. The tour would have featured tracks from “American Standards,” Taylor’s 19th studio...
SXSW partners with Amazon to put its film festival online
The popcorn will be bring your own and the barbecue won’t be as good, but the Austin, Texas, SXSW Film Festival is moving online after having its 27th edition canceled by the coronavirus pandemic. SXSW announced Thursday that it’s partnering with Amazon Prime Video to stream as much of its...
Pittsburgh Youth Chorus students create ‘virtual choir’ video performanceVideo
The children of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus aren’t interested in waiting until the coronavirus pandemic is over to begin making music again. And while all 223 members of the organization’s six choirs weren’t able to fit, 18 students had a chance to be part of its first “virtual choir,” performing...
James Patterson sets up fund to help indie booksellers
James Patterson has a history of helping independent bookstores. The best-selling novelist has donated millions in recent years to booksellers, while also giving millions to schools and libraries and literacy programs. Now, with stores closed or closing nationwide because of the coronavirus outbreak, Patterson has launched a new initiative. On...
30 reality TV shows that will help you escape realityVideo
It’s clichéd at this point to note that our reality feels like it’s been scripted by the writer of a horror film. But maybe that’s why reality TV has become such a desirable distraction from what’s happening IRL. If you’re looking for shows to keep you glued to your couch...
Shut-in TV viewers push ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ to record rating
Shut-in television viewers tuned in to the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” in record numbers last week. TV programs across the dial recorded superlatives last week with a captive audience of millions of Americans told to stay home because of the coronavirus. Few were as interesting as the newfound...
Leonardo DiCaprio, others launch $12M coronavirus relief food fund
Leonardo DiCaprio will help launch America’s Food Fund, which has already raised $12 million to help communities impacted by the coronavirus. The organization said Thursday that the funds will be aimed to help low-income families, the elderly, individuals facing job disruptions and children who rely on school lunch programs. The...
New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis dead at 85
NEW ORLEANS — Ellis Marsalis Jr., jazz pianist, teacher and patriarch of a New Orleans musical clan that includes famed performer sons Wynton and Branford, has died after battling pneumonia brought by the new coronavirus, one of his sons said late Wednesday. He was 85. Ellis Marsalis III confirmed in...
Fountains of Wayne songwriter dies of coronavirus
Emmy and Grammy-winning musician and songwriter Adam Schlesinger, known for his work with his band Fountains of Wayne and on the TV show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” died Wednesday after contracting the coronavirus, his attorney said. Schlesinger died at a hospital in upstate New York, his longtime lawyer Josh Grier told The...
Web-a-thon with Bill Deasy, Aubrey Burchell, others benefits emergency fund for artists
Bill Deasy is among the local musicians to play for the Emergency Fund for Artists Web-a-thon 6 p.m. Saturday to raise money for an emergency fund for local performing artists. As covid-19 has decimated the performing arts scene, the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council is trying to raise money for an...
‘Wicked’ release delayed, ‘Minions’ pushed to 2021 due to pandemic
“Wicked” fans are going to have to wait even longer to see Stephen Daldry’s film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical. Universal Pictures on Wednesday announced that another handful of theatrical release dates are shifting due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has bumped “Wicked” off the calendar entirely for the...
Justin Bieber postpones Pittsburgh show, ‘Changes’ tour
Justin Bieber joins the long list of artists canceling shows because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian pop star has postponed his tour in support of his new album “Changes,” which was set to come through Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena on Aug. 4. “In light of the current public...
J.K. Rowling starts Harry Potter At Home for housebound families
J.K. Rowling is hoping a dash of Harry Potter will help families confined to their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. The author has launched an online initiative, harrypotterathome.com, which features quizzes, games and other activities. For the month of April, Rowling also has partnered with the audio publisher-distributor Audible and...
Larry David urges ‘idiots’ to stay home and watch TV
Larry David is telling people they are missing a great chance to sit on the coach and watch television. The California governor’s office enlisted the comedian and creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” to help spread the message that people should stay at home to help fight the coronavirus...
WQED adds Pittsburgh circus story to its Digital Docs series
Did you know there’s a subculture of circus performers living in Pittsburgh? Their story is told in “Pittsburgh Circus,” a new addition to WQED’s Digital Docs series of short documentaries produced for digital distribution. Usually less than 10 minutes long, the videos are available exclusively at wqed.org/digitaldocs. WQED says the...
John Krasinski starts good news-focused YouTube channelVideo
John Krasinski is on a mission. To bring good news. “The Office” and “A Quiet Place” star created the YouTube channel “SomeGoodNews” and posted the first episode of “Some Good News with John Krasinski,” where he shares stories of only good news in a mock newscast. If that wasn’t enticing...
Pittsburgh Symphony adds to list of canceled concert dates
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has canceled all concerts through May 21, in accordance with recommended “stay-at-home” orders to limit the spread of covid-19. Concerts that have been canceled are: • May 1-3: PNC Pops “Paul Shaffer” • May 5, 6, 12 and 13: Second Grade Schooltime • May 8-10: BNY...
Elton John-led streaming concert raises $8 millionVideo
The Elton John-led starry benefit concert that featured Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys on Sunday has raised nearly $8 million to battle the coronavirus. The musicians performed from their homes for the hourlong event that aired on Fox and iHeartMedia radio stations. The money will go to Feeding...
Learn about Irish playwrights via PICT free webinar series
The lives of influential Irish playwrights will be explored in a five-week interactive online webinar series presented by PICT Classic Theatre. “The Irishing of English Theatre” will begin at 2 p.m. Fridays beginning April 3, and will be presented by Alan Stanford, artistic and executive director of the Pittsburgh-based theater...
‘Strega Nona’ author Tomie dePaola is dead at age 85
CONCORD, New Hampshire — Tomie dePaola, the prolific children’s author and illustrator who delighted generations with tales of Strega Nona, the kindly and helpful old witch in Italy, died Monday at age 85. DePaola died at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, according to his literary agent, Doug...
Amazon Prime, Netflix, more streaming services offer free trialsVideo
Every day is a new challenge in keeping kids — and adults — entertained during the continuing coronavirus pandemic shutdowns. So now is not the time to feel bad about being glued to the television, with all the free content being offered at least temporarily by subscription services. On March...
New at home this week: ‘Onward,’ Nina Simone and ‘The Talk’Video
Epic adventures, exotic locales and cocktails mixed to order by bartenders — they may be largely off limits for the moment, but not on a device near you. This week’s fresh offerings include a recently-released Pixar animated tale, a marathon of James Bond films and new music from country star...
Fred Rogers Center pairs with guitar maker for fellowship program
The name of a prominent musical instrument maker will grace a newly established fellowship in children’s music at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media at Saint Vincent College. A grant from Fred and Dinah Gretsch and their family has endowed The Gretsch Fellow in Children’s Music...
