The 2013-2014 PNC Broadway Across America– Pittsburgh season promises the very best of Broadway to Pittsburgh! Packed with Tony® Award Winners including the 2012 Best Musical winner and 2012 Best Musical Revival winner, the lineup features audience favorites and fabulous new shows including: • THE LION KING (September 3–29, 2013) • WE WILL ROCK YOU (October 29–November 3, 2013) • ELF (November 26–December 1, 2013) • GHOST THE MUSICAL (December 31, 2013–January 5, 2014) • THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS (February 25–March 2, 2014) • ONCE (March 11–16, 2014) • PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (May 20–25, 2014) And our Series Specials: • CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK (December 24–29, 2013) • WICKED (January 15–February 9, 2014) • MAMMA MIA! (February 11–16, 2014)
Volume 5 | Issue
1 :: June 2013
LTURAL TRUST
e PITTSBURGH CU
members of th A newsletter for
Y T I L I B I S S E C C A ARTS
Athena Petredis, Diana Rath, Catherine Loevner, Kevin McMahon
The Cultural Trust was the beneficiary of the 2013 Cinderella Ball and partnered with 22 debutantes who volunteered more than 800 hours in the Cultural District. Catherine Loevner presented a check for $50,000 on behalf of the Women’s Committee of the Cinderella Ball to Kevin McMahon this June.
In May 2010, the Trust adopted a Diversity and Inclusion Plan to continue creating an environment in the Cultural District where everyone feels welcome and has a positive and enriching experience. In addition our Shared Services department has launched a Cultural District Accessibility Project to increase accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities. Some of the highlights of the Accessibility Project include: • Received funding from Theater Development Fund to provide Open Captioning for the 2012-2013 PNC Broadway Across America season. The Trust also added an audio description program for the 20122013 Broadway Series. • A new infrared system for the Benedum Center, moving the other system to the Byham. Each venue provides a two channel system, which delivers both sound amplification and audio description at each location. • A dormant gift shop space in the lobby of the Benedum Center was transformed into a home for Guest Services. It has a direct entrance onto Seventh Street, and will be the centralized place for addressing seating concerns, requesting assistive listening and captioning devices and any other related Guest Services matters. • Al Rodibaugh-Director of Guest Services, Eric Thomas-Associate Director of Customer Service & Volunteer Services, and Vanessa Braun-Accessibility Consultant were awarded the Emerging Leader in Arts and
Accessibility Awards at the 2012 Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability National Conference. The award was presented by the Kennedy Center’s VSA and Accessibility Office. It is a major goal of the Trust and Cultural District organizations to make the arts accessible to as many people as possible so that everyone feels welcome and comfortable in the Cultural District. To this end, creating an environment of inclusion and accessibility has been a vital initiative and Shared Services continues to work towards making the arts accessible to all patrons. During the month of September, 2013 the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will present Disney’s THE LION KING as part of its PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series. One matinee presentation of THE LION KING, on Saturday September 21 at 2pm, will be tailored for children within the autism spectrum and their families. This presentation will be modeled after similar successful performances sponsored by the Theater Development Fund in New York in September, 2012. Pittsburgh will be the second city to present an autism friendly Broadway touring production.
Vanessa Braun, Al Rodibaugh, and Eric Thomas
BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 27
PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FIRSTS (PIFOF) Beginning September 27, 2013, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will present its third iteration of Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts (PIFOF). The month-long Festival will feature highly-acclaimed international companies and artists premiering works never before seen in the United States. They will capture your imagination, challenge you to think BIG, and leave you seeing the world in an entirely new way. Theater, dance, music, performance, visual arts – the real and the surreal will merge. This is your chance to be the first to experience highly innovative works right here in Pittsburgh! Adding to the immensity of the 2013 Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts is the opening night appearance of Studio Florentijn Hofman’s The Rubber Duck of The Netherlands. The Rubber Duck knows no frontiers; it does not discriminate and does not have a political connotation. The friendly, floating, four-story-high Rubber Duck has healing properties: it can relieve mondial tensions as well as define them. The duck has been on display in Amsterdam, Belgium, Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong and will make its US debut as it floats along Pittsburgh’s three rivers. PIFOF will also feature a diverse array of performances by Marie Chouinard, NanoDanses’ Michèle Anne De Mey & Jaco Van Dormael, Robin Frohardt, the Perth Theatre Company, Zimmerman & de Perrot, Christopher McElroen & T. Ryder Smith, and the 2b theatre company. Along with the live performances, you cannot miss the exhilarating and meditative audiovisual exhibits by the Austrian artist Kurt Hentschalger and Ulf Langheinrich in the Wood Street and SPACE Galleries. Celebrate the intersection of visual art, theater, dance, music and technology with these global presentations in galleries and theaters throughout the Cultural District, in spaces both traditional and highly unexpected. Be the first to witness these never before seen artists and attractions hailing from The Netherlands, Quebec, Belgium, Australia, Switzerland and Nova Scotia, among others. Take a deep breath. Get ready. Everyone remembers their first. To learn more about PIFOF visit: TrustArts.org/first
Jennifer Schooley at 412-471-6086 The best Party of the Summer will be Friday, July 12! COSMOPOLITAN is going TO THE MOON! Don’t miss it! Details inside... Trust Members enjoying the Cast Party at Valozzi’s for LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO. Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Pittsburgh, PA Permit No. 3001
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to the first edition of the 2013 TrustOvations! Your generous support of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust enables us to present quality artistic work, free festivals and invaluable organizational services throughout the Cultural District. We have concluded a successful summer Festival Season, which began with the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival in May and ended with the re-imagined 54th annual Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and 3rd annual Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival. As we head into July, we are preparing for our voyage To the Moon during our Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh 2013, presented by CONSOL Energy. Our summer Gallery Crawl will be one of the largest ever, with extended hours for participants. With the PNC Broadway Across America season fast approaching, there are still a variety of events and programs that promise to fill the remainder of your summer days with exciting entertainment and cultural experiences. Please take a few moments to review some of the work the Cultural Trust has produced to-date, and what is in store for the upcoming season. Thank you again for your commitment to the Cultural Trust, and I look forward to seeing you downtown.
DINNER AND A SHOW IS THE WAY TO GO! JULY 29
MEMBER APPRECIATION EVENT Come celebrate the arts and the impact that you make on the vibrancy of the Cultural District at this special member appreciation event, held at Cabaret at Theater Square! Savor in the laughter with a special appearance from Arcade Comedy, conversations with your fellow Trust members, and plentiful drinks and refreshments. Check your email for more information for this fun night out in the Cultural District. For more information on Arcade Comedy visit http://arcadecomedytheater.com/
MID-SEPTEMBER
THE LION KING BROADWAY PERFORMANCE EVENTS One of Pittsburgh’s best-loved musicals has returned to the Benedum Center stage! We welcome all ages to come and celebrate this Broadway sensation at two special events: THE LION KING Puppetry Workshop is a family-friendly affair that will include storytelling and puppet-making activities for guests of all ages. You will also have the opportunity to interact and mingle with the cast and crew over food and drinks at an exclusive cast party. Watch your email for more information!
OCTOBER 12
2013 ANNUAL FALL GALA Always anticipated as one of the best and most prestigious fundraising events of the season, the Gala is designed to celebrate the Trust’s tradition of enriching the region with world culture and entertainment. Graciously sponsored by Wesco International, Inc., this year’s Gala will include a reception, a seated dinner, as well as an exclusive private performance by a soon to be announced star attraction! For sponsorship and ticket information, call Denice Shilling at 412- 471-1497.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to some delicious new businesses in the Cultural District. Several restaurants and eateries have popped up throughout the Cultural District over the past few months and it’s time we introduce them to all of you. Make sure to stop by before a show or grab a bite to eat afterwards and meet our new neighbors! Right next door to the Benedum Center you will find a tasty “sangwich” shop called Sal’s City Deli. If you are looking for a quick bite to eat on the go or you want to sit down and enjoy a meal Sal’s has it all. You can choose one of their delicious sandwiches or create your own just like “Granddaddy Sal.” If you are in the mood for something a little more exotic you can head over to the corner of Ninth and Penn where you will find Nicky’s Thai Kitchen. You may be familiar with Nicky’s Northside location, but now there is no need to travel to get a bite of tasty Thai food. And for dessert, stop by Nicky’s neighbors at Sinful Sweets for some gourmet chocolates and candies. Sinful Sweets has a wide variety of confections from Chocolate Covered Bacon to Nonpareils and so much more. And if you are not in the mood for candy, you can also get some ice cream! Right down the street from the Byham Theater on Sixth Street is the newly opened Redbeards Sports Bar and Grill. Opened during the official start of the Major League Baseball season, Redbeards offers a much more casual environment to dine. After 20 years in Mount Washington, Redbeards has come to downtown. So stop by one of these delectable dining spots the next time you are in the Cultural District!
NOVEMBER 1
WE WILL ROCK YOU CAST PARTY This exclusive VIP party will give you access to the cast of the award-winning musical that includes the greatest hits of the British rock group, Queen! Please visit TrustArts.org/events for updates! Be sure to get the inside scoop on all our upcoming events by renewing or upgrading your membership today. Call Jennifer Schooley at 412-471-6086, or Schooley@TrustArts.org.
Members like you allow your Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to provide an immersive arts experience beyond its theatrical presentations. Thanks for making this all possible!
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW for the Best Party of the Summer! General Admission $ 40 members advance $ 50 non-members advance $ 75 day of and at the door VIP Admission 85 members advance $ 95 non-members advance $ 125 day of and at the door $
Join the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust on Friday, July 12 in the heart of the Cultural District as we venture To the Moon during the 7th annual fundraiser Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh presented by Consol Energy — our ticket to an all-inclusive evening that is out of this world!
FRIDAY, JULY 12 5:30pm Gallery Crawl 7:00pm VIP Dinner Party, Secret Location 9:00pm Dance Party, Byham Theater
STAFF J. Kevin McMahon, President & CEO
Institutional Development Staff Nick Gigante, Vice President of Development Jenniffer Burke, Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving Lauren Etters, Development Associate Teri Gibbs, Contributor Melissa Goodfriend, Development Assistant Heather Masterson, Manager of Individual Giving
Jetsetter Package 500 | Advance phone orders only call 412-471-8712
Aimee J. Plotz, Assistant Manager of Individual Giving
Use the code BLASTOFF at checkout to receive your membership discount!
Denice Shilling, Assistant Manager of Corporate Giving
$
For more information and to purchase tickets: TrustArts.org/Cosmo
Cosmopolitan Pittsburgh is a 21+ event.
Jennifer Schooley, Membership Acquisitions Coordinator
Anne Sylvain, Assistant Manager of Foundation and Government Giving Sadie Treese, Development Systems Coordinator Joy Deborah Robison, TRUSTOvations Design & Layout
CONNECTONLINE facebook.com/CULTURAL TRUST twitter.com/CULTURAL TRUST
B R O A D WAY ’ S B I G G E S T N I G H T On June 9th, The Broadway League and the American Theater Wing celebrated the best and brightest in the business with the 67th annual Tony Awards® ceremony. That same evening the Trust rolled out its own red carpet in celebration of all things Broadway as it hosted its first-ever Tony Awards party. More than 120 guests posed for pictures on the red carpet as they made their way into the Cabaret at Theater Square for an evening of food, drinks and conversation as they watched the awards ceremony and made their own picks for the evening’s big winners. Throughout the evening, guests cheered on the winners as a race between KINKY BOOTS (13 nominations) and MATILDA THE MUSICAL (12 nominations) for which production would receive the most awards ensued. With an astounding 18 correct picks out of 26 nominated categories, guest Ed Scheid walked away with tickets to ONCE — the 2012 Tony Award winner for Best Musical which will appear as part of the 2013-2014 PNC Broadway Across America – Pittsburgh series.
BROADWAY LOVES PITTSBURGH Many presenters, performers, nominees, and winners at this year’s Tony Awards have connections to Pittsburgh including: Judith Light, Ann Roth, Megan Hilty, and Jane Krakowski. The awards ceremony also paid tribute to the late Pittsburgh Pops conductor, Marvin Hamlisch. Patina Miller, winner of Lead Actress in a Musical — PIPPIN, and Billy Porter, winner of Lead Actor in a Musical — KINKY BOOTS, also have significant Pittsburgh ties; Miller, an alumnae of Carnegie Mellon University, performed in July 2012 with Porter as her guest at the Trust’s Summer Circles Event hosted by Diane and Glen Meakem in their Sewickley home. Porter, born and raised in Pittsburgh, became friends with Miller and was a personal mentor to her while they attended CMU’s School of Drama. In April, Kevin McMahon and Paul Organisak led a group of Trust members to New York City to see MATILDA THE MUSICAL, PIPPIN, and KINKY BOOTS; all of which were nominated for and won Tony Awards. After performing in PIPPIN, Miller met the group on stage and gave them a private backstage tour. The group also had the opportunity to meet Porter who stopped by for dinner after an evening performance of his musical, KINKY BOOTS. When Porter was called to the stage to receive his Tony Award, the entire party at the Cabaret erupted with cheers and a standing ovation; especially when he gave a nod to Pittsburgh in his acceptance speech. The reaction was equally as great during Miller’s win. The Trust congratulates Porter, Miller and all winners for their outstanding accomplishments. Stay tuned to see who will be coming to Pittsburgh next as part of the 2014-2015 Broadway series!
To purchase tickets visit
TRUSTARTS.ORG 412-456-6666
Members Matter.
MEMBER
MATCH PITTSBURGH
CULTURAL
TRUST
MEMBERS MATTER. MEMBER MATCH. You can still take advantage of the Trust’s Member Match program and make your membership gift go even further! Find out more about Member Match at TrustArts.org/Support or call 412-471-6086.