Two Pittsburgh natives, August Wilson and Kathleen Marshall, are among those who have been nominated for Olivier Awards, the London equivalent of Broadway's Tony Awards.
Written in 1979, "Jitney" is set in a Hill District jitney station and focuses on the relationship of the station's owner and his son.
It was first produced in 1982 by Pittsburgh's Allegheny Repertory Theatre. A revised version of "Jitney" had its debut at the Pittsburgh Public Theater in 1985. It had its off-Broadway premiere at the Second Stage Theater in 2000 and played 34 performances at London's National Theatre last fall.
Marshall choreographed the revival production that opened on Broadway in November 1999 at the Martin Beck Theater, where it continues to run. The London company of that revival production opened Oct. 30 at the Victoria Palace Theatre, where it continues to run. The production received eight additional Olivier nominations, including one for The HiIton Award for Outstanding Musical Production.
Founded in 1976 by the Society of London Theatre, the Olivier Awards carry a prestige that's similar to that of the Tonys.
But unlike the Tony awards, which are nominated and voted on by a panel of theater experts and practitioners, the panel for the Olivier Awards includes not just theater experts and professionals but some members of the theater-going public who commit to seeing all of the season's eligible shows.
This year's Olivier Awards will be presented in a Feb. 15 ceremony at London's Victoria Palace.
New Arts director
Julie Farr is the new executive director of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance, an organization founded in 1999 to be a proactive voice for arts in the area.
She comes to this area from Crawford County, where she was the executive director of the Meadville Council on the Arts and was responsible for administration, publications, public relations and fund raising.
In the arts alliance, she will be in charge of board and membership relations, financial management, budgeting, planning and fund raising.
Farr replaces Deborah Gross, who joined the alliance as a consultant when it was put together. Gross has left the alliance to start her own consulting firm aimed at helping nonprofit organizations.
Germany lauds Giuliani
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will receive an annual German media prize in honor of his "energy, courage and tireless sympathy" following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The German Media Prize, which involves no money, is awarded annually by leading German newspaper, magazine and TV editors to major public figures.
This year, the jury decided overwhelmingly to recognize Giuliani's "energy, courage and tireless sympathy that made him the leading personality of New York and America," organizers said in a statement Thursday.
They said Giuliani is expected to travel to the German spa town of Baden-Baden to receive the award on Feb. 16.
"He united a city in shock. He led New York out of the ashes to new courage," says Karlheinz Koegel, who founded the German prize in 1992. "He is an example for every politician."
Giuliani, 57, served eight years as mayor before handing the office over to Michael Bloomberg at the beginning of this month. He already has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year and widely heralded for his steadfast response to a grief-torn city after the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The last American to win the prize was former President Bill Clinton, who received it in 1999. Other recipients include former South African President Nelson Mandela, French President Francois Mitterrand, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and King Hussein of Jordan.
The Vegas 'Price is Right'
CBS' "The Price is Right" is celebrating its 30th anniversary Las Vegas-style, the first time the weekday program will be taped outside of Hollywood.
"We thought it would be fun and different and appealing to viewers to take the show on the road for the first time in 30 years," says Bob Barker, the show's durable host and executive producer. The program is television's longest-running game show.
Las Vegas was chosen for its glamour and because the city's visitors reflect a wide cross-section of the people who make up the program's audience, Barker told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
"The taping will give hundreds of people, who would otherwise be unable to participate, a chance to personally experience the show live," he says. "Las Vegas is now more family oriented and our show is a family show, so we thought we would appeal to tourists here. And Las Vegas is still one of the most exciting places in the world."
The show will be taped Thursday night at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino's Samba Theater. The prime-time special will air Jan. 31.
Graves' work discovered
A long-lost still life by Morris Graves, the last of the "Northwest Mystics," has been found on the back of a painting he made in 1936, Seattle Art Museum officials say.
The discovery, which The Seattle Times reported Wednesday, was made while Nicholas Dorman, who recently became the museum's painting conservator, was cleaning the surface of Graves' "Ancient Anthem" in preparation for shipment to Bremen, Germany, for a show set to open next month.
Noticing a slight split in the cardboard backing of the dark, uncharacteristic early oil painting, Dorman looked closer and saw paint.
He removed the tacks holding the cardboard in place, noting that they were identical to the tacks used to stretch the canvas and apparently had never been disturbed.
Beneath the cardboard, on the reverse side of the canvas, was an untitled still life with the same type of paint, palette and technique as Graves' early work.
"It took a little while to soak in," Dorman says. "I knew there was something back there, it had been niggling at me, but it's a wonderful feeling to find a painting instead of a few brushstrokes. It was a very exciting afternoon."
A native of Fox Valley, Ore., Graves gained national attention 60 years ago when 30 of his works were included in the exhibition, "Americans 1942: 18 Artists from 9 States," at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He died May 5 at age 90 at his home near Loleta, Calif.
Conner to speak at Kiwanis meeting
Westmoreland County Commissioner P. Scott Conner, will speak at the Greensburg Kiwanis Club's meeting 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mountain View Inn, near Greensburg. Conner will speak about the "Home Rule" initiative. Cost of the dinner is $10. For reservations, call 724-600-0883.
Young Marines graduation scheduled
Graduation ceremonies for the Westmoreland County Young Marines Platoon 2011 will be held 1 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory, Donohoe Road, Greensburg. To register, call 724-532-0213.
Prom fashions to be shown at school event
The Greensburg Central Catholic Cheerleading Parents Club will present a pre-prom event 12:30 p.m. Jan. 27 in the high school gymnasium. The event will include fashion shows at 1 and 3 p.m., door prizes and refreshments. Hairstyle and makeup tips will also be featured. Tickets are $5, available at the door or by calling Grace Caravaggio 724-834-0310, Ext. 225.
