ShowTime 2018 Q1 Issue by Pittsburgh Penguins

The Official Entertainment Guide of PPG Paints Arena

WINTER | 2018

The Official Health Care Provider Of The Pittsburgh Penguins.ÂŽ

(For yet another banner year.)

WINTER 2018 Edition In This Issue

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Pink Brings Beautiful Trauma World Tour to PPG Paints Arena for First Time Show Calendar of Events

Building Information PPG Paints Arena Concessions PPG Paints Arena Seating Chart

RMU Meets NEC Rivals In Division I Basketball at PPG Paints Arena

Monster Jam Triple Threat Marks 25 Years of Action

Dunham’s Passively Aggressive Tour Comes to Arena for One Performance

Winter Jam Tour 2018 Slates Pittsburgh Show

NCAA Events Reinforce Pittsburgh Reputation As “City of Champions”

Disney On Ice Magic Returns to Pittsburgh

Cirque du Soleil Introduces New Entertainment Form to Pittsburgh Audiences

Show Time is published quarterly for free distribution on a first-come, first-served basis to fans and guests at PPG Paints Arena events, the Cambria Suites at PPG Paints Arena, the Marriott City Center and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of PPG Paints Arena is prohibited. If you are interested in placing an advertisement in Show Time, please contact info@pittsburghpenguins.com and we will contact you to discuss available opportunities.

ED W IT NT RI

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Pink Brings Beautiful Trauma World Tour To PPG Paints Arena for First Time Show By: Pam Thompson

The unbounded, genuine and inventive Pink comes to PPG Paints Arena for the first time on April 7 with her Beautiful Trauma World Tour 2018. The Pittsburgh concert with special guest Bleachers, is part of Pink’s 46date run through the United States and Canada in support of her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma. Known for incredible and entertaining live performances, Pink’s new tour starts in Phoenix on March 1 and culminates in Los Angeles at The Forum on June 2. Pink last toured on her The Truth About Love Tour in 2013 and 2014, playing 142 sold out shows across 13 countries. The Los Angeles Times said of The Truth About Love Tour, “Pink remains perhaps the most gifted and imaginative physical performer in pop right now.” Rolling Stone reported, “the singer had demonstrated an epic workout of vocals, stagecraft and stunt-work without missing a note,” and The Hollywood Reporter said, “she still is one of pop’s most powerful vocalists.” Continued on page 4

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Real Deal Fans, delighted when Pink’s new tour was announced, use terms like “human,” “grounded, “intelligent” and “funny” to describe Pink. They frequently compliment the entertainer for being “real” in her music and her life, commenting: “Pink always had a realness to me that she was able to translate into emotions with her voice.” “…She seems to be a real human with good and bad traits and not some industrial auto-tuned dollbot….” “I love how she stands in the beauty of her divine uniqueness and in doing so supports others to do the same.” “Pink stands out as the real deal. Real not just in terms of writing and singing but as a person. She’s honest about who she is, what she feels, what’s right to her and what isn’t – and she lets us decide if we like what we see and hear.”

Beautiful Trauma Pink released her new studio album, Beautiful Trauma, last October. Three times platinum in Australia, the album went to No. 1 in the U.S., Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the U.K. and the Netherlands, and No. 2 in France and Germany. Every track on the album was co-written by Alecia Moore (Pink) with collaborators. Beautiful Trauma’s singles include: “What About Us,” “Beautiful Trauma,” and “Whatever You Want.” “What About Us,” the first single, released in August and already has earned double platinum status in Australia and Canada and gold status in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and France. Pink’s writing partners for the track are Steve Mac and Johnny McDaid. Continued on page 7

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For us, making the world a more beautiful place starts right at home.

COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® volunteers painting the new home of Arcade Comedy Theater in the Pittsburgh Cultural District.

Every year, PPG makes the communities where we live and work brighter through efforts like our Colorful Communities program. This global initiative brings together PPG volunteers with local nonprofit groups to revitalize neighborhoods and make people feel great about where they live. It’s a big job. But we’re just the people to get it done.

See all the ways we’re keeping the world beautiful at ppg.com

The PPG Logo and Colorful Communties are registered trademarks and We protect and beautify the world and Colorful Communities & Tree & Sun & PPG Logo are trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. © 2017 PPG Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Pink performed the album’s first single at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards and the American Music Awards, as well as on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Saturday Night Live and Good Morning America. “Beautiful Trauma,” the title track of the album and its second single, released in September and charted in six countries. Pink wrote the song with Jack Antonoff of Bleachers. They also co-wrote the track “Better Life” with Sam Drew. “Whatever You Want,” the album’s third single, was produced and written by Max Martin and Shellback along with additional writing credits for Pink. Martin and Shellback also co-wrote “Secrets” with Oscar Holter, and “Revenge” with Marshall Mathers. “Revenge,” recorded with Eminem went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart, and it charted in 15 other international markets. The tracks on Beautiful Trauma include: o “Beautiful Trauma” o “Revenge,” featuring Eminem o “Whatever You Want” Pink released her o “What About Us” new studio album, o “But We Lost It” Beautiful Trauma, o “Barbies” o “Where We Go” last October. Every o “For Now” track on the album o “Secrets” was co-written by o “Better Life” Alecia Moore (Pink) o “I Am Here” with collaborators. o “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken,” and o “You Get My Love.”

2017 MTV Vanguard Award Pink, honored with the 2017 MTV Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award last summer, awed the audience with her live opening act as well as her acceptance remarks. Her performance included “Get the Party Started,” “Raise Your Glass,” “So What,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” “Perfect,” “Don’t Let Me Get Me,” “Blow Me (One Last Kiss),” and “What About Us.” Standing on the hood of a red caddy floating above the audience, Pink once again proved that she suffers not from acrophobia. She sang and danced through fire, smoke, video flashbacks and frenetic lighting. She worked the audience from the front of the venue to the back using elaborate stages, before striding through the crowd and all the while delivering each song with the passion that is one of the hallmarks of her performance style. Pink’s acceptance speech, dedicated to her six-year-old daughter who was in the audience with Pink’s husband, exhorted people to recognize the true Continued on page 8

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beauty in themselves and others. She finished with, “Thank you for being your true selves.” Pink first toured in 2002 with her Party Tour, followed by the Try This Tour in 2004, the I’m Not Dead Tour in 2006 and 2007, the Funhouse Tour in 2009, and The Funhouse Summer Carnival in 2010, followed by The Truth About Love Tour which wrapped in 2014.

New Music Between tours, Pink continued to contribute new music. In 2015, she cowrote the new theme song for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, “Today’s the Day” with Greg Kurstin. It won the 2016 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Promotional Announcement-Image. Pink is featured on Kenny Chesney’s 2016 song “Setting the World on Fire,”which won the 2017 Billboard Music Award for Top Country Collaboration. The song which has platinum status in the U.S. and Canada and gold status in Australia, also garnered 2017 nominations for the Billboard Music Award for Top Country Song and the Academy of Country Music Award for Vocal Event of the Year. In addition, it’s music video was nominated for Billboard’s Musical Event of the Year. Also in 2016, “Just Like Fire” for the soundtrack of Alice Through the Looking Glass was released. Co-written by Pink, Holter, Martin and Shellback, the song gained platinum status in the U.S. and Canada and triple platinum status in Australia, as well as gold in Italy, New Zealand and the U.K. The song peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary and Kid Digital Songs charts, as well as No. 2 on the Adult Top 40, No. 7 on the Mainstream Top 40, and No. 10 on the Hot 100. Continued on page 11

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In 2017, Pink, received her 17th and 18th nominations for Grammy Awards for Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Just Like Fire” and for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Setting the World on Fire.” She owns three Grammy Awards: o 2002’s Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Lady Marmalade” with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, and Mýa o 2004’s Best Female Rock Performance for “Trouble,” and o 2011’s Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for “Imagine” with Herbie Hancock, India Arie, Seal, Konono Nº1, Jeff Beck and Oumou Sangaré.

Bleachers Formed by Antonoff, Pink’s song-writing, record-producing collaborator, Bleachers’ second album, Gone Now was released last June. The band’s debut album, Strange Desire was released in July 2004.

Fan Registration To ensure that fans gain access to tickets for the Beautiful Trauma Tour, Fan Registration for the U.S. and Canadian tour dates will be available through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program. Pink’s concert at PPG Paints Arena is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.

OFFICIAL FINGER FOOD OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS® www.pizzalogs.com SEC 121 • SEC 232 • KEY BANK CLUB BISTRO CAPTAIN MORGAN CLUB BISTRO • PNC LEGENDS LEVEL

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PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

SCHEDULE Remaining games for 2017-18 season

HOME

ROAD

Be sure to check the starting time of every game at pittsburghpenguins.com or on the Penguins app before heading to PPG Paints Arena! Game dates, times and opponents are subject to change. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS SEASON presented by

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Calendar of Events Men’s and Women’s Basketball Robert Morris vs.LIU Brooklyn (Doubleheader)

January 6 — 1:00PM & 4:00PM

Men’s Basketball Robert Morris vs. St. Francis

January 11 — 7:00PM

Cirque du Soleil: Crystal

January 17 January 18 January 19 January 20 January 21

Men’s Basketball Robert Morris vs. Sacred Heart

January 26 — 7:00PM

Men’s Basketball Robert Morris vs.Wagner

January 28 — 2:00PM

Men’s Basketball Robert Morris vs. Mt. Saint Mary’s

February 1 — 7:00PM

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Robert Morris vs.Fairleigh Dickinson

February 3 — 2:00PM

Monster Jam

February 9 — 7:00PM February 10 — 1:00PM & 7:00PM February 11 — 1:00PM

Jeff Dunham

February 14 — 7:00PM

Winter Jam

February 16 — 7:00PM

Disney on Ice Presents: Reach for the Stars

February 22 February 23 February 24 February 25

2018 NCAA® DI Men’s Basketball Championship 1st & 2nd Rounds

March 15 — TBD March 17 — TBD

Alan Jackson

March 24 — 7:30PM

— — — — —

— — — —

7:30PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 3:30PM & 7:30PM 1:00PM & 5:00PM

7:00PM 10:30AM & 7:00PM 11:00PM, 3:00PM & 7:00PM 12:00PM & 4:00PM

Group Sales Available For more information, please contact the PPG Paints Arena Group and Corporate Sales Department | EMAIL groupsales@ppgpaintsarena.com PHONE 412-804-7904 | www.ppgpaintsarena.com/groupsales For all upcoming PPG Paints Arena events visit www.ppgpaintsarena.com.

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Building Information ATM Machines For the convenience of our fans, ATMs are available in the arena: KeyBank Outside section 119 and 230, and in the lobby of the Trib Total Media Gate PNC Bank on PNC Legends Level Outside of Party Suite 44 and Suite 13 Banners and Signs Banners and signs are permitted for most events, providing they are appropriate, as deemed by building management. Cameras Cameras are permitted into the arena for Pittsburgh Penguins hockey games and most events. If allowed, building policy states only small personal still cameras equipped with three (3) inch lens or smaller be brought into the building. Cameras with detachable lenses or flashes are not permitted. Video, audio and professional camera and recording devices are strictly prohibited in the building. For all other non-hockey events, camera policies will vary. Please check the individual event page for further information. Video Cameras Use of video or audio recording equipment is strictly prohibited. The arena reserves the right to confiscate any tape or film and remove the patron from the building.

Designated Drivers Guests of legal drinking age who hold a valid driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license and wish to sign up to be a designated driver, may visit Guest Services at section 104 for specific Designated Driver booth locations during Pittsburgh Penguins games. In return for safe and sober transportation of their group from the arena, the designated driver will receive a coupon redeemable for a complimentary soft drink during the game. Emergency Evacuation In the event of an emergency, the arena staff will utilize the public address (PA) system to inform guests of the situation and any instructions as applicable. All exits and emergency exits are posted with appropriate signage. First Aid There are two (2) First Aid Stations presented by UPMC, one on each level of the arena. First Aid is located adjacent to the Guest Services office outside section 104 and behind the concession stand at section 232. Lost and Found If an item is lost or found during an event please see the Guest Services office located outside section 104. Guests inquiring about lost items after an event should call 412.804.7903. Items lost at events are held in storage for thirty (30) days and then either disposed of or donated to an appropriate charity. Continued on page 17

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Every skilled trade needs a Ram 1500. Hockey included.

RAM IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF FCA US LLC.

Building Information Continued from page 15

Prohibited Items Bags, back packs, air horns, coolers (hard/soft sided), thermoses, large purses, cans, bottles, flasks, alcoholic beverages, laser pointers, video or audio recording devices, professional cameras/lens, tripods, banners or signs on poles, weapons or any other items deemed dangerous and/or inappropriate are strictly prohibited. Small purses, camera cases, binocular cases and diaper bags will be permitted, however, all items that do not pass security must be returned to vehicles. Questions For general questions, please call 412.642.1800. Re-Entry Policy Exit and re-entry is not permitted at the arena. Security In the interest of guests and staff safety, a search process is required for all events in order to prevent guests from bringing unauthorized and prohibited items into the arena.

Smoking Policy Smoking is not permitted inside the arena. TAG-A-KID In the event a parent and child might be separated at an arena event, parents can register their child with the Tag-A-Kid program. A wristband with the parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat location and contact number will be given to the child. Registration is available at the Guest Services office located outside section 104. Wheelchairs A limited number of wheelchairs are available for transporting guests that are disabled to their seating location. Guests can be transported from the gates to their seats. If a wheelchair is needed for the duration of the event, guests must supply their own wheelchairs. Wheelchairs cannot be reserved in advance. Upon arrival, guests can arrange for a wheelchair at any entrance of the arena. Please see an arena employee to assist with wheelchair transportation.

Have a Question or Concern During an Event?

Text GOAL TO 69050 Followed by your location and Issue

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PENNSYLVANIA’S FINEST BEERS

SEC 106 Enjoy Beer Made Here! Some of Pennsylvania’s finest beers are now available at the new Turnpike Tavern, located behind Section 106.

Concessions SMOKEHOUSE

FOX’S PIZZA ®

From Our Den to Your Den

Sections: 103, 107, 113, 212, 232

SMITH’S® Hotdogs Sections: 103, 107, 109, 111, 116, 121, 212, 218, 223, 225, 231, 232

NAKAMA Sushi - Section: 105 Hibachi by Nakama: 232

DUNKIN’ DONUTS Specialty Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Teas and Donuts Sections: 109, 118, 212

EMPORIO

COORS LIGHT IGLOO CLUB Section: 206

BURGATORY Burgers, Fries, Milkshakes Section: 206

DAIRY QUEEN Dilly Bar, Buster Bar, Stars & Stripes Starkiss Sections: 105, 234

PRIMANTI BROS. Sandwiches Section: 119

I.C. LIGHT ICEBOX

Section: 223

Section: 204

LABATT BLUE ZONE Section: 109

TÄKŌ Section: 101

TURNPIKE TAVERN IC Light and Yuengling Section: 106

Chef’s e ry ca rv

Beef Brisket, Chicken & Pulled Pork Sandwiches Sections: 115, 205

CHEF’S CARVERY Sandwiches Section: 107

MEAT & POTATOES Section: 111

JIM BEAM RACKHOUSE Section: 119

NORTH COUNTRY BREWING Section: 116

THE YARD Section: 120

ORIGINAL PIZZA LOGS Section: 116

Sections: 121, 232 (Key Bank Club and Captain Morgan Club Bistros)

TITO’S VODKA

SMITH’S BUTCHER’S DOGS HOT DOG STAND

KREA’S eat authentic greek

Section: 109

Section: 230

Menu items subject to change.

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Seating Chart

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SCORE PENSPOINTS UNDER EVERY CAP DOWNLOAD THE PENGUINS® APP TO REDEEM CAP CODES ON ANY PARTICIPATING BRAND

Must be a US legal resident. 13+ years of age. Register to enter Code at penguins.nhl.com/ penspoints (“Site”). Enter by the last Pittsburgh Penguins® Hockey game of the 2017-18 Season (“Game”). Redeem by 7 days after Game. PensPoints have no cash value. Subject to full rules and terms on Site. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Pittsburgh Penguins®. 2017 ™ & © Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. SUNKIST is a registered trademark of Sunkist Growers, Inc., USA used under license by Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. ©2017 Sunkist Growers, Inc. and Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. ©2016 The American Bottling Company. SU-110464_081818

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RMU Meets NEC Rivals In Division I Basketball at PPG Paints Arena By: Pam Thompson

The Robert Morris University Colonials bring Northeast Conference Division I Men’s Basketball to PPG Paints Arena for six games in 2018. The Colonials play home games at the arena in Pittsburgh while plans advance for the construction of a new athletics facility on the team’s Moon Township campus. In January and February, RMU takes on its NEC rivals, the Blackbirds of Long Island University Brooklyn, The Red Flash of Saint Francis University, the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University, the Seahawks of Wagner University, The Mount of Mount St. Mary’s University, and the Knights of Farleigh Dickinson University. Andy Toole is in his eighth season as head coach of the Colonials. He has guided RMU teams to two NEC regular season championships in 2013 and 2014, as well as the NEC Tournament Championship in 2015. Toole, the NEC Coach of the Year in 2014, says, “I think it’s a big boost for our program to be playing the majority of our home games at PPG Paints Arena this season. We played two games down there last year, so the great thing is we’re not unfamiliar with playing games at the venue. When we knew that construction of the UPMC Events Center on our campus was going to force us to find another place to play our home games, the administration at PPG Paints Continued on page 24

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Arena welcomed us with open arms. That was a huge plus. I really feel that having games played at PPG Paints Arena downtown will help us grow not only our brand as a basketball program, but will be a boost for the RMU brand as a whole.” When Toole became the Colonials head coach in 2010, he became the youngest head coach in Men’s Division I basketball. He served as assistant coach under Mike Rice Jr. when RMU went to two straight NCAA Tournament berths in 2009 and 2010. Early last year, RMU extended Toole’s contract through the 2020-2021 season. RMU plans to demolish the Charles L. Sewall Center, break ground for its new facility in July and open the new center in January 2019. Three members of the Colonials 2017-2018 team are southwestern Pennsylvania residents: o Matty McConnell of Oakdale, Pa., a junior guard, who played at Chartiers Valley High School o Seth Rouse of Pittsburgh, a junior forward, out of Kiski School, and o Nick Castelveter of Moon Township, a freshman guard from Moon Area High School. McConnell says, “I loved playing the two games that we played down at PPG Paints Arena, and mostly because we won. It’s obviously a fantastic place for any sporting event, whether it’s the Penguins or NCAA basketball. I’m really looking forward to playing more games down there this year.” Completing the team are: o Taevon Ashmeade, junior guard of Bronx, N.Y. o Charles Bain, freshman forward of Freeport, Bahamas o Dachon Burke, sophomore guard of Orange, N.J. o Chris Coalmon, freshman forward of North Babylon, N.Y. o David Cole, red-shirted freshman forward of Corona, N.Y. o Ronnie Gombe, graduate student forward of Nairobi, Kenya o Malik Petteway, junior forward of Waterbury, Conn. o Koby Thomas, freshman forward of Philadelphia o Leondre Washington, freshman guard of Englewood, N.J. o Josh Williams, junior guard of Akron, Ohio o Jon Williams, freshman guard of Akron Ohio, and o Xavier Williams, graduate student forward of Fairfield, Ala. | 24 |

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Monster Jam Triple Threat Marks 25 Years of Action By: Pam Thompson

B:8.75” T:8.5” S:7.5”

The Monster Jam Triple Threat Series comes to PPG Paints Arena this winter for an exciting weekend of four shows celebrating 25 years of Monster Truck action. Fans will see a new competition this year, the two-wheel skills challenge, in which Monster Jam drivers vie to perform the best stunt bringing at least two wheels into the air. Also new this year, fans will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the two-wheel and freestyle competitions by real-time, on their mobile devices. Throughout the contest, audience members will be asked to judge performances to determine the winner. Monster Jam has appeared in iconic venues around the world, performing in 30 countries in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Australia, as well as the Middle East. The new season promises to bring motorsport fans to the edges of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family. Eight drivers on the Triple Threat Series Central tour, compete on ATVs, speedsters and Monster Trucks, demonstrating their skills and the prowess of their machines, large and small. Drivers on each of the three Triple Threat tours battle for a spot in the Monster Jam World Finals. Continued on page 29

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The ultimate hat trick is at the SouthSide Works

442 South 27th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15203

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Continued from page 27

The line-up for Pittsburgh, which is subject to change, includes veteran and champion drivers, as well as newcomers, male and female drivers, and a driver from Western Pennsylvania: o Kayla Blood, driving El Toro Loco o Jack Brown, driving Monster Mutt Rottweiler o Myranda Cozad, driving Scooby-Doo o Colton Eichelberger, driving Max-D o Tyler Menninga, driving Grave Digger o Bari Musawwir, driving Zombie o Tony Ochs, driving Soldier Fortune Black Ops, and o Buddy Tompkins, driving Megalodon. Billed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable,â&#x20AC;? the sole purpose of Monster Jam is to push perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to their limits. Trucks typically go six tons, and measure 10-1/2 feet tall, by 12 feet wide and 17 feet long. Their engines use three gallons of fuel per minute, creating 1,500 horsepower. Their tires are 66 inches in diameter, 43 inches wide and each weigh 800 pounds. The modified ATVs can reach speeds of 55 miles per hour, and speedsters, another type of off-road vehicle can attain speeds of 85 miles per hour. The PPG Paints Arena floor becomes a manicured dirt track with ramps for Monster Jam action. Continued on page 30

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Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Monster Jam innovated Monster Jam University to develop drivers and to elevate the sport to its highest level. Trainees are instructed in driving skills, fitness and public relations. Drivers’ backgrounds and their roads to becoming Monster Jam drivers are varied. Talent scouts always are looking for new talent and drivers are added to the roster every year. Kayla Blood, 27, says that she got her start in Monster Trucks after Monster Jam saw what she could do on an ATV. After a test drive and progressing and learning how to handle a 1,500 horsepower Monster Truck, she was given a seat in El Toro Loco. Her favorite memory on or off the race track was being a part of the 2016 Young Guns Shootout and racing her truck into Sam Boyd Stadium. Her favorite part of Monster Jam competition is being an inspiration for little girls aspiring to do what she does. Myranda Cozad turns 27 this year. She Billed as credits Madusa for giving her a start in Monster “unexpected, Jam competition and continuing to inspire her. unscripted and “I love to get big air and keep fans on the edge unforgettable. of their seats,” Cozad says. Colton Eichelberger, 21, is part of a Monster Jam family and he began driving in Monster Jam when he was a teen. His inspiration is his dad, Tom Meents, who is the only 11-time Monster Jam World Finals Champion. His brother, Jared Eichelberger also is a Monster Truck competitor.

Continued on page 32

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Tyler Menninga, 20, holds the 2017 Monster Jam Award for Arena Wheelie of the Year. He says that Adam Anderson provided an opportunity for him to drive his ride truck and later helped him on his path to become a driver. Menninga started driving in 2016 and says that his driving style is a combination of the other drivers who he admires, including Adam Anderson, Ryan Anderson and Coty Saucier. He also looks to Dennis Anderson and Gary Porter for inspiration. Bari Musawwir, 37, says he dreamed of becoming a Monster Truck driver from the age of six when he saw his first Monster Jam. He was racing radio controlled Monster Jam Trucks when he met Scott Hartsock of the Slinger Monster Jam Truck team. Musawwir says that Hartsock gave him his first opportunity to learn about Monster Jam Trucks from a business standpoint. Tony Ochs, 32, a Western Pennsylvania native, and his Monster Truck, Soldier Fortune Black Ops, joined Monster Jam in 2016. Prior to Monster Jam, Ochs toured with Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe LIVE! as a motorcycle crew chief. Ochs, a 10-year U.S. Army veteran, served as an Apache helicopter crew chief. He completed tours of duty in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. Born in Oil City, Pa., Ochs resides in Lucinda, Pa. Buddy Tompkins, 27, began competing in Monster Jam in 2014. He says that through “small talk” he got his break on a Monster Jam team. His greatest memory as a Monster Jam driver to date is racing in the Young Guns Shootout in 2016. He says that every Monster Jam driver inspires him.

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Dunham’s Passively Aggressive Tour Comes to Arena for One Performance By: Pam Thompson

Jeff Dunham and his cast of characters come to Pittsburgh for one show this winter with the 60-city Passively Aggressive tour. It will be Dunham’s fourth appearance at PPG Paints Arena. He appeared for New Year’s Eve shows in 2011 on the Controlled Chaos tour, and in 2015 for the Not Playing With a Full Deck tour. He also came to the arena on Dec. 6, 2013 on his Disorderly Conduct tour. The entertainer had a banner month last September: he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, finished one tour, announced and opened a new tour, and released his most recent television special. Dunham became the second ventriloquist ever to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He joined Edgar Bergen who inspired the eight-yearold Dunham to pursue his career. At the unveiling ceremony, Dunham told the crowd that the next time so many people gather to recognize him, “Walter will not be the only one in a box.” Continued on page 36

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Dunham is a global comedy superstar and one of the world’s most inventive entertainers.

Continued from page 35

The performer finished his Perfectly Unbalanced tour, and announced and opened his Passively Aggressive tour in September. His latest standup special, Jeff Dunham: Relative Disaster, on Netflix came out in late summer, with the puppet master and his creations taking on family and politics. The show was taped in Dublin, Ireland. Dunham’s success has to do with audiences seeing his dummies as separate individuals, rather than extensions of the comic, or merely props used in an act. It can be difficult to not think of the ventriloquist and his dummies as separate individuals. His on-stage cronies seem to have no regard for political correctness or boundaries for who, or what, will become the targets of their humor. Through his puppets, the ventriloquist frequently is the target of his own humor. Dunham’s success in part has to do with self-deprecating jokes delivered at his expense through his filter-less multiple personalities. Making acceptance remarks at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony with Walter beside him – or rather on his arm – Dunham went through a list of thankyous. When the comedian named his daughters, who are in their 20s, and his twin sons, who turned two in October, Walter chimed in with, “You started over. You’re a moron.” Becoming the 2,619th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Walter also reminded Dunham that Rin Tin Tin and Lassie – two dogs – and Kermit the Continued on page 39

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Continued from page 36

Frog – a reptile – received stars before Dunham. Noting that it took Dunham 29 years to attain a star, Walter added, “Well, you just zoomed to the top quickly didn’t you.” Dunham, a global comedy superstar and one of the world’s most inventive entertainers, built an entertainment empire over years of non-stop touring and innovation. At his Hollywood Walk of Fame unveiling, Jay Leno and Howie Mandel were on hand both congratulating and quipping with Dunham. Mandel called Dunham “a great man, an artist, comedian, friend and fellow comedian.” Leno called Dunham “a giant of the industry,” adding “You’re one of those guys who really did do it all yourself.” A touring juggernaut, Dunham has traveled to audiences almost non-stop since September 2007 for his Spark of Insanity tour. The tour, which continued until January 2010, earned the performer an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most tickets sold for a stand-up comedy tour, during its 386 worldwide performances. Dunham’s Identity Crisis tour followed on the heels of Spark of Insanity and ran into September 2011. Days later, the Controlled Chaos tour opened and ran for a year. In November 2012, the Disorderly Conduct tour began its two-year-run. Two months after the Disorderly Conduct tour wrapped, in November 2014, Dunham, saying that he wanted to get off the road, opened Not Playing with a Full Deck, his run of shows in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. By the time that Dunham finished his Vegas show in October 2015, he and his wife, Audrey, had announced the birth of their twin sons, Jack Steven and James Jeffrey, and Dunham returned to the road with the Not Playing with a Full Deck tour. The Perfectly Unbalanced tour followed and ran through last September, and just two weeks later, Dunham opened his current tour, Passively Aggressive. Dunham has carved out his own unique space in the comedy. A Texas native and Baylor University graduate, Dunham moved to Los Angeles in 1988 and became a sensation on the national comedy club circuit. He later conquered the comedy world by becoming a multi-platinum selling DVD artist and achieving record-breaking ratings on both cable and network television. Continued on page 40

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Continued from page 39

He’s taped comedy specials for Comedy Central and NBC and his 2015 standup special, Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood, made its debut on NBC Primetime in the fall ranked as the time period’s top non-sports program on the Big Four in every key measure. The special was re-broadcast on Comedy Central and was the top rated special of the year for the entire network. Dunham’s previous stand-up specials, Arguing with Myself, Spark of Insanity, A Very Special Christmas, Controlled Chaos, Minding the Monsters, and All Over the Map have garnered recordbreaking numbers by either claiming “most watched” or “highest rated” status on Comedy Central. With more than a million YouTube subscribers, there have been more than a billion views of his video performances. Dunham has made many cameo appearances in television and film, including the Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock, Angie Tribeca, and Dinner for Schmucks, starring Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd. In 2017, he voiced characters in Smurfs: The Lost Village, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature, and Mune: Guardian of the Moon. His autobiography, “All by My Selves: Walter, Peanut, Achmed and Me,” made the New York Times’ Best Seller list for three weeks in a row. Dunham has been awarded Billboard’s Top Comedy Tour for three years based on box office sales.

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Winter Jam Tour 2018 Slates Pittsburgh Show By: Pam Thompson

The 2018 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular makes its annual visit to PPG Paints Arena in March bringing its lineup of top names in Christian music and up-and-coming acts. NewSong, the founder and host of Winter Jam, takes its place in the 2018 lineup of talent presenting Skillet, Kari Jobe, Building 429, comedian John Crist, KB, Jordan Feliz, and Nick Hall, as well as Dan Bremnes, Mallary Hope and Westover for the Pre-Jam Party. Winter Jam is an evening of live concerts by the top artists in Christian music, plus worship and ministry, to encourage believers and share the good news with those who have yet to trust Christ. When NewSong began Winter Jam, it was based on the idea of removing cost barriers, so more people could attend, be encouraged by the music, and hear the gospel. More than 20 years later, those are still the foundations of Winter Jam. Skillet returns to Winter Jam this year after releasing Unleashed Beyond in November and headlining the Air1 Positive Hits Tour in 2017. The new album includes the music on Unleashed, plus five previously unreleased songs and remixes of “Feel Invincible,” “The Resistance” and “Stars.” Continued on page 44

Skillet returns to Winter Jam this year.

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Building 429 are known for high energy shows.

Kari Jobe

Continued from page 43

Unleashed, the band’s 10th studio album, made its debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Its first single “Feel Invincible” went to No. 1 on the Rock Radio chart. The track “Stars” was featured in the motion picture The Shack, released last year. Skillet received three nominations for 2017 Billboard Music Awards for Top Christian Artist, Top Christian Album for Unleashed, and Top Christian Song for “Feel Invincible,” tallied two Grammy nominations, and won a Billboard Music Award for the platinum-certified Awake. Their double-platinum single “Monster” was the eighth most-streamed rock song of 2015 and has more than 105 million plays on Spotify, earning it the distinction of becoming the best-selling digital single in the history of Christian music. 2013’s Rise peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Kari Jobe, worship leader, released her fourth studio album, The Garden last year. Continuing the success of the Christian singer/songwriter’s earlier studio albums –Kari Jobe, Where I Find You and Majestic – it made the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 22, climbed to No. 2 on the U.S. Christian chart, No. 6 on the U.S. Digital chart, and No. 1 on the U.K. Christian chart. “The garden is true intimacy with the Father, and it’s a place where He intended for us as humankind to be surrounded with His creation. There’s life in things that He’s created,” Jobe says. “I want to lead people into intimacy with the Father. It’s something that’s so important as we walk through stuff in our lives.” Building 429, known for high energy shows, returns to Winter Jam following the release of its ninth studio album, Unashamed. Building 429 received a nomination for the 2014 Billboard Music Awards Top Christian Song in 2014 for “We Won’t Be Shaken” which held the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Adult Contemporary/Christian chart and Adult Contemporary Indicator for multiple weeks. “Where I Belong” from 2011’s Listen to The Sound logged 15 weeks atop the Billboard Christian chart and went on to be named the 2012 Christian Song of the Year. Continued on page 47

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John Crist Jordan Feliz

Continued from page 44

Building 429 also received a Grammy nomination in 2013 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for We Won’t Be Shaken, a KLOVE Fan Awards nomination in 2014 for Best Group or Duo of the Year, Billboard’s 2012 Christian Songs Artist of the Year and Christian AC Songs Artist of the Year. John Crist created his reputation in comedy with more than 200 live shows a year, television appearances on Live at Gotham and Laughs on Fox, and viral videos like “Millennial International,” “Road Rage in the Church Parking Lot,” and BuzzFeed’s “Signs You Grew Up Christian.” Named by ChurchLeaders.com as one of the “Top Five Comics to Watch,” Crist was a finalist in Comedy Central’s Up Next Comedy Competition, a finalist in the Comedy Works New Faces Contest, and named to the Burbank Comedy Festival’s Best of the Fest. KB released Today We Rebel, his third full-length album in 2017. His track “100” from the EP of the same name, took home the Dove Award for Rap/HipHop Song of the Year in 2014. His 2015 LP, Tomorrow We Live, earned a Stellar Award nomination for Rap/Hip-Hop Gospel CD of the Year and made its debut on the Billboard charts as the No.1 Christian Album and the No. 4 Rap Album. KB says, “The older you get, the more aware you become of the human struggle, and the struggle in your own heart.” “I’m just a man being honest about the world as he sees it.” Jordan Feliz says of his debut album, Beloved, KB “I really just wanted this to be a project that people would smile when they listened to it. I wanted to write songs that would make people feel loved. I want them to feel good. Whatever the complications of life that we might be going through at any given moment, our relationships with Jesus don’t have to be difficult.” Nick Hall as a college freshman wrote in a notebook, “My life exists to put Christ at the pulse of a generation.” That seed geminated in his junior year when Hall wrote a paper about how to reach his generation with the Gospel. From that action, Hall’s idea grew into PULSE, a movement with that works with churches, campuses and ministries, across the country and the globe. | 47 |

NCAA Events Reinforce Pittsburgh Reputation as “City of Champions” By: Pam Thompson

March Madness lives in Pittsburgh again this year as National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Division I Basketball Championship action comes to PPG Paints Arena for First and Second round play, giving Pittsburgh another reason to be called the “City of Champions.” In addition to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of five championships, the six-time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and its awesome fan culture, the city is becoming a popular venue for NCAA championships. The NCAA has selected Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena to host four more Division I sports championship events in the next four years. This March will be the third time that NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball First and Second round competition will be hosted at the arena by Duquesne University. The NCAA first chose PPG Paints Arena for championship basketball games in 2012, two years after the venue opened, and again in 2015. The 2012 event drew 56,928 fans for the three tournament sessions (six total games) as Ohio State and Syracuse moved on to regional play from the eight-team field. The opening day second session crowd of 19,413 was the largest for any indoor arena event in Pittsburgh history. Continued on page 50

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Continued from page 48

Duquesne University Director of Athletics Dave Harper says: “Hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is a tremendous honor as well as a testament to the City of Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena being such a great championship venue. Duquesne University also shares in the national spotlight when the tournament is hosted, which allows us to position our brand in the middle of March Madness. This event not only brings great visibility, vibrancy, and business to the city and region, it also further entrenches basketball in the marketplace and grows affinity for the sport. Duquesne University will continue to work with everyone to bring as many NCAA events as possible to the City of Pittsburgh.” PPG Paints Arena also was the venue for the NCAA’s Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, the Frozen Four, hosted by Robert Morris University in 2013. The national semi-finals were attended by 17,428, and the national championship was attended by 18,184. The bid for this event was co-sponsored by RMU, VisitPITTSBURGH and the Pittsburgh Penguins. When the NCAA announced locations for its Division I sports championships over the coming four years, Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena appeared on that list four times — more frequently than any other location. Jennifer E. Hawkins, Executive Director of SportsPITTSBURGH says, “The NCAA choosing to partner with Pittsburgh, for its most important championships, is a testament to the collaboration between our host universities, venues and public officials. It reinforces Pittsburgh’s status as an authentic, iconic and legendary sports city.” The goal of SportsPITTSBURGH, the sports development division of VisitPITTSBURGH, is to attract and host sporting events in the region by providing experience and expertise to reinforce Pittsburgh’s reputation as a legendary sports town. The Pittsburgh Bid Committee for NCAA events included representatives from the nine host institutions, two athletic conferences and nine sports facilities, as well as others. Hawkins adds, “The opportunity to host these NCAA events provides a number of benefits to the city. It spurs increased exposure for our beautiful city, universities and sports venues; drives direct spending to local businesses and attractions; creates volunteer opportunities; and leads to a sense of pride in our residents that our city was chosen to host these prestigious events.” In 2019, Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena will host two NCAA championship events: o Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship, which will be hosted by the University of Pittsburgh and SportsPITTSBURGH, March 21-23, and Continued on page 53

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o Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, with Duquesne University and SportsPITTSBURGH as hosts, Dec. 19-21. In 2021, the NCAA Frozen Four will return to PPG Paints Arena for the second time with Robert Morris University as host, April 8-10. In 2022, the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds will return to Pittsburgh and PPG Paints Arena with Duquesne University as host. The First and Second rounds of the basketball championship in March decide the Sweet Sixteen, and those victorious teams then go on to play for Elite 8 honors. Those eight teams vie for one of four slots in the National Semifinals which will winnow out two teams to vie for the National Championship. The First and Second rounds of the men’s basketball championship are hosted at 8 locations across the country. In addition to Duquesne University hosting First and Second Rounds at PPG Paints Arena this year, the other seven First and Second round hosts include: March 15-17 at Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan., hosted by Wichita State; March 15-17 at American Airlines Center, Dallas, hosted by the Big 12; March 15-17 at Taco Bell Arena, Boise, Idaho, hosted by Boise State; March 16-18 at Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, N.C., hosted by UNC Charlotte; March 16-18 at New Detroit Arena, Detroit, Mich., hosted by Detroit, Mercy; March 16-18 at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn., hosted by Ohio Valley, and March 16-18 at Viejas Arena, San Diego, Calif., hosted by San Diego State. The Official NCAA Fan Experience, available to ticketed guests prior to each session, includes an appearance by a former legendary NCAA player or coach. For the first time this year, the NCAA Ticket Exchange will provide fans with a safe and easy way to sell tickets if they are unable to use tickets that they have already purchased. The exchange will be the only 100 percent guaranteed, NCAA approved secondary ticket marketplace. The exchange opens in February. | 53 |

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Disney On Ice Magic Returns to Pittsburgh By: Pam Thompson

The magic of Disney fills PPG Paints Arena Guests say this winter when Disney On Ice Presents: Reach that they are for the Stars. The tour, which comes to Pittsburgh for impressed by eight shows over four days, is hosted by Mickey the number Mouse and Minnie Mouse who lead a bevy of of characters characters through numbers translating the fun, included in the magic and the storytelling of Disney into an shows. extravaganza on ice. Reach For The Stars presents classic and new Disney characters and their stories. Long-time favorite characters, Donald Duck and Goofy help Mickey and Minnie to set the stage for the magic The royal sisters of Frozen, Anna and Elsa, and the comedic snowman, Olaf perform to the music “Let It Go” and “In Summer.” Continued on page 56

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Continued from page 55

From under the sea, Sebastian, tunes up his crustacean band and with the Daughters of Triton, introduces Ariel of The Little Mermaid in an ‘80s pop music medley. Spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally, Flynn Rider, get the audience tangled up with a chorus of harmless hooligans on their journey to see the floating lights. In a tale as old as time, Belle opens her heart to new adventures as the Beast’s enchanted objects take center stage for a dazzling skating spectacle. Disney On Ice productions come to PPG Paints Arena year after year, and there are some themes that pervade with each show. Performers frequently say that their favorite part of their shows is experiencing the audiences’ reactions, seeing children clapping, singing and waving, and spreading happiness. Likewise, in audience reviews of Disney On Ice productions, parents, and grandparents, overwhelmingly agree that what they most enjoy is seeing their children react with delight to the shows – waving, singing, dancing and playing along with the stories. It is not unusual for three generations to attend Disney On Ice performances together. Adults say that the shows hold the attention of young children under five, as well as older ones, and even teens and seniors enjoy the shows. A grandparent from Florida comments, “We as the adults had such a wonderful time just watching the children enjoy the show but we genuinely were intrigued by the show as well.” A parent who took her children to a show says that her two-year-old daughter “…had a blast, and even my 10-year-old son, who tagged along said it was very entertaining.” Audience members describe the skaters as “wonderful,” “talented,” Continued on page 59

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“impressive,” “skilled” and “awesome.” They especially like that skaters perform to the entire audience and wave to everyone in the arena. One reviewer wrote, “They also did a great job of facing the audience all around the rink and waving to little fans that just lit up from the attention from their favorites.” Frequently, guests say that they are impressed by the Audience number of characters included in shows. members “The surprise of the other Disney characters also describe the brought joy and surprise to our children,” says one parent. skaters as Another says, “We loved seeing such an all-inclusive range of characters from mom’s old favorites… through “wonderful,” the more recent history of Disney characters….” “talented,” Time and time again, guests recall exceptional music, “impressive,” choreography, costumes, sets, lighting and special effects. “skilled” and “This was really a wonderful family night of “awesome.” entertainment. Disney always delivers – the costumes, set designs, music, content,” says a parent who took her teenagers and her father to a show. Another adult says, “The costumes, lighting, pyrotechnics, skating and music were all outstanding…. I think I enjoyed it more than my kids.” Feld Entertainment began producing Disney-themed ice shows back in 1981. Three generations of the Feld family have created a tradition of bringing spectacular live entertainment to audiences around the world. The company’s first international performance of an ice show took place in Japan in 1986, and in 1998, the shows became Disney On Ice. Recognized as a world leader in presenting celebrated shows that uplift and inspire, its productions have been seen by more than 30 million people in 75 countries on six continents.

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Cirque du Soleil Introduces New Entertainment Form to Pittsburgh Audiences By: Pam Thompson

Opening the new year of entertainment at PPG Paints Arena, Cirque du Soleil Crystal came to Pittsburgh for seven shows, bringing the theatrical circus company’s first venture on, over and “under” ice to the city. Billed as “a breakthrough ice experience,” Pittsburgh became the 13th city to host Crystal. It is Cirque du Soleil’s 42nd production. Melding world class ice skating with Cirque du Soleil’s unparalleled circus artistry, Crystal combines excitement, artistry and creativity with ice. The stateof-the-art production creates an innovative experience, pushing the boundaries in Cirque du Soleil style by combining outstanding skating and sliding, remarkable aesthetics and acrobatic feats that defy the imagination. Venturing into uncharted territory, Cirque du Soleil Crystal tells the tale of a young woman who shatters through reality to reach a surreal world filled with possibility. Similarly, Cirque du Soleil forged beyond traditional limits of ice skating and acrobatics to create a new, exciting form of entertainment. Continued on page 63

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Continued from page 60

Crystal thrills audiences with action-packed extreme skating on icy ramps in which performers flip and jump, a totally different scene from a captivating duet that literally entwines performers and their art forms on skates and aerial straps, into a sensual pas de deux on the ice surface and rising into the upper reaches of the arena. “Crystal breaks the codes of the traditional ice show by creating a unique form of entertainment. To reach this objective, we brought together the best experts in their respective worlds. With this new show, the audience will discover the infinite possibilities that ice adds to the prowess of circus arts,” says Daniel Fortin, Executive Director, Creation, Crystal. “We are excited to create a unique entertainment experience on ice for all spectators to enjoy. It’s a wonderful opportunity for Cirque du Soleil as ice provides us with an entirely new field of play which also comes with a set of creative challenges. Our goal is to continuously surprise audiences by showcasing all the incredible possibilities on ice,” says Yasmine Khalil, Executive Producer of Crystal. Four-time World Champion figure skater and veteran of many ice skating productions, Kurt Browning, is Crystal’s Skating Performances Senior Designer. He says that things that are illegal in competitive skating make Crystal the show that it is. Being a first-time endeavor, Browning says that challenges included teaching acrobats how to skate and how to fall safely on the ice, developing specialty equipment to make acrobatics possible on a slippery surface, and teaching stage presence to extreme skaters in their first theatrical production. Crystal, the show’s main character, is a young girl who falls through the ice while skating on a pond in the middle of winter. While beneath the surface, she envisions an alternative version of her life. Diving into a world of her own Continued on page 64

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Continued from page 63

imagination, she sets out on a quest to fulfill her destiny. On her journey, she soars through a surreal world of light and shadows, discovering her creativity and becoming confident, free and empowered. With her imagination and command of words, Crystal controls and transforms events around her. Her journey culminates in a triumphant ascension toward the light in which she uses her power to break through the ice to free herself while carrying with her the lessons learned during her experiences under the ice. The creators of the production say that Crystal is about looking at things from fresh angles, peeking through the veneer of everyday life, reframing one’s daily reality to see what one might have missed. Sometimes the only way to appreciate things is to look at them sideways. Discovering one’s individuality and uniqueness requires venturing out on thin ice. Specifically created for arenas, Crystal began touring the world last fall, following its soft opening in Lafayette, La. in October. The Crystal tour marks the second time that Cirque du Soleil has performed in PPG Paints Arena. Toruk – The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron’s Avatar, played PPG Paints Arena for seven shows in June 2016. Headquartered in Montreal, Cirque du Soleil was founded in 1984. Originally it was a troupe of 20 street performers. The company went on to reinvent circus arts and become a world leader in artistic entertainment. | 64 |

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