Entertainment category, Page 292
Pittsburgh’s Gabby Barrett, Code Orange top Billboard chart
The Pittsburgh area was well-represented on a Billboard chart this week. Country singer Gabby Barrett, from Munhall, and Pittsburgh hardcore band Code Orange topped the Emerging Artists chart for the week of March 28 at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. It was Barrett’s fifth week on the chart and Code...
The Clarks will continue weekly live Facebook sessions
The Clarks say they will continue to go live every Saturday night on Facebook “to share their music with all of you during these difficult times.” The sessions begin at 8 p.m. on the band’s Facebook page. Coming next is music and a question-and-answer session with founder and lead vocalist...
Elton John to host TV, radio concert as coronavirus antidote
Elton John is hosting a “living room” concert aimed at bolstering American spirits during the coronavirus crisis and saluting those countering it, iHeartMedia and Fox said Wednesday. Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys, Tim McGraw and Billie Joe Armstrong are scheduled to take part in the event...
Pittsburgh Irish Festival to livestream Facebook concert series
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival will livestream a series of Irish music performances on its Facebook page. The Live Stream Irish Music Series is a partnership with the Irish Design Center. This week’s schedule includes: • Wednesday: Mickey Spain, 7 p.m.; and Mike Flaherty, 8 p.m. • Thursday: Katie Grennan (Pittsburgh-born...
Ready for a dive into Coen brothers movies? Here are the 7 bestVideo
Always meant to catch up with movies you missed from the maddeningly prolific Spike Lee? Recently discovered Bong Joon-ho, because of the Oscar love, and curious what he did before “Parasite”? Now’s the perfect time to dive into our best directors and most compelling themes, so we’re presenting a weekly...
Netflix’s ‘Self Made’ tells of 1st female millionaireVideo
Madam C.J. Walker may be one of America’s most successful “pull yourself up by your own bootstrap” stories, but many have never heard of her. However, that’s changing, thanks to the recent release of a Netflix limited series starring Octavia Spencer. “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J....
Multiple Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally dies of covid-19-related complicationsVideo
NEW YORK — Terrence McNally, one of America’s great playwrights whose prolific career included winning Tony Awards for the plays “Love! Valour! Compassion!” and “Master Class” and the musicals “Ragtime” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” has died of complications from covid-19. He was 81. McNally died Tuesday at Sarasota...
TCM is bringing its classic film festival to your homeVideo
LOS ANGELES — The folks at Turner Classic Movies had just decided they’d have to cancel their annual classic film festival when their general manager had an idea: What if they could do something else in recognition of the lost weekend? “It felt greedy to say, ‘Well why don’t we...
Once booming concert industry goes quiet after coronavirus
Inside a warehouse for MooTV, a live video production company in Nashville, Tenn., the floor-to-ceiling shelves are lined with row after row of video screens, cables and rolling cases that normally would be out on the road with Brad Paisley, Chris Stapleton or Dierks Bentley. At one end of the...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction moved to fall, to be broadcast live on HBO
It might be coming later than expected, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is coming in the fall and will be shown live, according to Variety. The induction ceremony for the class of 2020 was originally set for May 2, but was postponed because of the coronavirus...
Patrick Stewart, Josh Gad, other celebs read on social media during coronavirus shutdown
Some actors are turning to reading aloud to help fans pass the time as many stay at home and practice social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak. On Saturday, Patrick Stewart, best known for his work as a Shakespearean actor, Capt. Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: Next Generation” and as Professor...
Africa’s jazz great Manu Dibango dies in France of virusVideo
PARIS — Renowned jazz man Manu Dibango, to many the beloved “Papy Groove” who served as an inspiration and pioneer in his art, died on Tuesday with the coronavirus, his official Facebook page announced. He was 86. The saxophonist who inspired what is known as “world music” was recently hospitalized...
Ligonier Valley’s ‘Oz’ adds extra song, roles to familiar musical fantasyVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. Ligonier Valley High School’s musical production of “The Wizard of Oz” will offer plenty of familiar reference points for those who have grown up cherishing the classic MGM film of L. Frank Baum’s fantasy. “We’re doing the...
River City Brass celebrates anniversaries, honors supportersVideo
When River City Brass artistic and general director James Gourlay, a native of Scotland, was invited to be a guest conductor for the Pittsburgh band in 2010, he immediately fell in love with the city. “I kept a video diary. I would go into Giant Eagle or a barbershop. I...
Celtic Thunder sets November date at The Palace TheatreVideo
The Irish vocal group Celtic Thunder has a Nov. 23 concert date at The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Promoter presale begins at 10 a.m. April 1 with the passcode “PALACE” via eventbrite.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. April 3 at thepalacetheatre.org. Show time is...
Neon Swing X-perience invites fans to interactive online session
Fans of Neon Swing X-Perience can connect with the band during an interactive online session from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday. The Pittsburgh-based jazz-funk-blues band will host a session that will include members talking about their experiences with the band, a question-and-answer session and clips from albums and past live shows. A...
Woody Allen has new publisher, memoir published Monday
Woody Allen’s memoir, dropped by its original publisher after widespread criticism, has found a new home. The 400-page book, still called “Apropos of Nothing,” was released Monday by Arcade Publishing. “The book is a candid and comprehensive personal account by Woody Allen of his life,” Arcade announced, “ranging from his...
Stage Right offers free online dance, performance classes
Stage Right School for the Performing Arts in Greensburg is offering opportunities to “stay active, stay artistic and stay sharp” during coronavirus-related shutdowns with free online classes. The classes are available on the Zoom app, and are open to anyone. Schedule for the upcoming week includes: • Preteen jazz dance,...
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson recovering from coronavirus, say ‘this too shall pass’
Two weeks ago, the world was shocked to learn actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, tested positive for the coronavirus. His announcement said that while in Australia, the couple experienced symptoms. They became the first high-profile faces of the pandemic. On Monday, Hanks posted an update on...
Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ rewrite eliminates hands touching handsVideo
We all know by now that we should not have hands … touching hands. Neil Diamond is doing his part to help. The singer-songwriter has rewritten the lyrics in “Sweet Caroline” to be more in line with the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Sitting beside a fire with his dog, Diamond played...
Summer theaters making adjustments for coronavirus restrictions
“The show must go on” — the phrase is said to have originated with 19th-century circuses, where audiences were to be kept calm and entertained at any cost, even if a performer was injured or a wild animal escaped. The saying was adopted by theater groups, who likewise would improvise...
20/20 Performing Arts founders talk theater, inspirationVideo
Two Penn-Trafford High School alums have a “perfect vision” of how to share their love of theater with young performers. Madison Nick and Jonathan Heinbaugh, both of Penn Township, are co-founders of 20/20 Performing Arts, a new school that focuses on providing acting classes, workshops and summer camps to students...
Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo has coronavirus
MADRID — Spanish opera singer Plácido Domingo said Sunday that he’s infected with the coronavirus. The 79-year-old Domingo said in a post on his personal Facebook account Sunday that “I feel it is my moral duty to announce to you that I have tested positive.” The tenor says he and...
Binge these 10 ‘Office’ episodes in honor of its 15th anniversaryVideo
Practicing “social distancing” and stuck at home? Now you have the perfect reason to binge. This Tuesday marks the 15th anniversary of the series premiere of “The Office,” the award-winning Scranton-set TV show that went from struggling comedy to cultural phenomenon over the course of its nine seasons. The show...
Rolling Stone writer traces ‘The Office’ history in new book
A new book traces the history of “The Office” just in time for the Scranton-set show’s 15th anniversary. While coronavirus concerns have postponed the book launch with author Andy Greene set at the Marketplace at Steamtown in Scranton, fans can still get their “Office” fix when the book comes out...
