On Stage: “Once” More, Camille

On Stage: “Once” More, Camille

The Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera went out on a limb by hiring Camille Brown as the choreographer for the award-winning musical, Once. At first glance, it’s the intimate story of a Guy and a Girl who weave their love story through the power of music. Once cast....
On Stage: PearlArts Festival

On Stage: PearlArts Festival

Dance festivals are a whole different animal. They typically don’t allow the audience to luxuriate in a lengthy work, allow it to wash over them, ruminate on what it all means. The festival formats generally celebrate the dance. To my surprise, though, PearlArts...
On Stage: Rock of Ages

On Stage: Rock of Ages

Okay, so the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera production, Rock of Ages, set me off on a tangent, mining the history of juke-box musicals, where familiar music often spawns the story. The term apparently began in 1969 with the music of Burt Bacharach in the award-winning...
On Stage: Kyle at the Kennedy (and more)

On Stage: Kyle at the Kennedy (and more)

Springtime in Washington D.C. means cherry blossoms and the New York City Ballet at Kennedy Center. Arguably the greatest company in the world, NYCB not only brings its dancers, but often its own New York City Ballet Orchestra as well, the better to play some of the...
On Stage: The Blanket

On Stage: The Blanket

The Blanket has morphed into so many configurations during its brief Pittsburgh life, but never so more as this year. After one of their rehearsal sessions, this one at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s light-filled and spacious studios, the central figures split off...