Looking back: 2015 in entertainment
A look back at the top entertainment stories from 2015:
‘FORCE AWAKENS' DOMINATES BOX OFFICE
The year began with rumors of a new film, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” thanks to a 90-second teaser trailer released in late 2014. In April, fans were treated to a second, two-minute teaser with new footage, including a first look at Harrison Ford as Han Solo alongside Chewbacca, which set the 24-hour record for most YouTube views for a movie trailer, amassing 30.65 million views.
On Sept. 4, Disney's “Force Friday” saw the mass release of movie merchandise.
In October, Lucasfilm unveiled the film's official poster, which sparked buzz for who wasn't included: Luke Skywalker.
On Oct. 19, during ESPN's “Monday Night Football,” a third and final trailer debuted. That same day, tickets went on sale for the film, crashing Fandango's website.
The film, released Dec. 18, grossed $238 million in its first weekend.
AUGUST WILSON CENTER GETS ANOTHER CHANCE
The August Wilson Center for African American Culture received a second chance at life, securing support, raising revenue and installing a nonprofit board.
Named for Pulitzer Prize-winning Hill District playwright August Wilson, the center struggled to pay bills from the day it opened, plagued by nearly $12 million in debt after failing to budget for construction overruns.
The boat-shaped building at Liberty Avenue and William Penn Place closed and fell into a court-ordered conservatorship in late 2013, less than five years after its highly touted grand opening.
In August, the new governing board established a $300,000 programming fund in a strategy to get the newly debt-free Downtown property on track to long-term solvency. The building reopened to performances in September.
CHESNEY, ROLLING STONES LEAD BIG TOURS
It was a summer of blockbuster concerts at Heinz Field this year.
May 30 marked the biennial Kenny Chesney invasion — and the clean-up afterward.
Taylor Swift's June 6 concert was preceded by tractor-trailers that took over the North Shore like an occupying army — a very sparkly army — for her much-celebrated “1989 World Tour.”
The Rolling Stones dragged their exceptionally well-preserved remains onstage June 20, after a decade-long absence from the city, for their “Zip Code” tour.
British boy band One Direction's “On the Road Again” tour followed on Aug. 2 to a crowd that was just as loud, but considerably higher-pitched.
PITTSBURGH SEES BOOM IN BOUTIQUE HOTELS
Boutique hotels had a banner year in Pittsburgh. Three properties opened in 2015 — each with a hip restaurant attached.
Hotel Monaco, a Kimpton property, opened Downtown in January, along with The Commoner restaurant. Hotel Indigo, operated by InterContinental Hotels Group, opened in East Liberty in October with Wallace's TapRoom. Ace Hotel opened in December in East Liberty , along with Whitfield, its restaurant.
Other proposed projects, according to Visit Pittsburgh, include: Distrikt Hotel, Downtown, set to open in 2017; Drury Inn & Suites plans, Downtown, opening in 2016; Forbes Hotel, Downtown; The Andrew Hotel, Strip District, with an anticipated 2018 opening; and Hotel Centric, Oakland.
JENNER REVEALS CHANGE
In an interview with Diane Sawyer on April 24, Olympic star Bruce Jenner, 65, confirmed the transition to a woman.
On June 1, Caitlyn Jenner made her debut as a transgender woman on the July issue of Vanity Fair. The headline “Call me Caitlyn” was on the cover with a photo of a long-haired Jenner in a strapless corset.
As the most famous transgender woman in the world, her public announcement was felt to legitimize gender transition. Her openness has been welcomed by some, while prompting a negative reaction from others.
On July 15, she was recognized with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards, where she received a standing ovation.
