Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson will appear in four performances of “Chicago” at Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall. Richardson, who made his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in the smash musical “Chicago,” will repeat his performance in the role at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdayand 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday . Gregory Harrison will perform the role today through Friday. After Richardson’s performances here, he will continue with the national touring production during its three weeks in San Francisco, then travel to London to play the same role in the West End production of “Chicago.” Richardson is best known as a member of the pop group Backstreet Boys, whose five albums have sold over 71 million records worldwide. When he appeared on Broadway in the role, Clive Barnes in the New York Post said, “Wonder of wonders, Richardson, as slick as his oiled-down hair, as shifty as a tiny earthquake, and singing with justifiable zest, is in like Flynn. He’s the best of them all — from Jerry Orbach in the original 1975 version to James Naughton in the encore revival.” Performances of “Chicago” are at 7:30 p.m. today through Thursday; 1 and 8 p.m. Friday ; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday ; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday at Heinz Hall, Sixth Street at Penn Avenue, Downtown. Tickets are $30 and $60. Details: (412) 392-4900 or www.pittsburghsymphony.org. — Alice T. Carter Squonk Opera plans European debut Squonk Opera is having a summer fling with Europe. But Pittsburgh continues to be its true love. The Lawrenceville-based performing troupe will make its European debut Aug. 1 when “Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk” begins a three-week engagement at the Metro Gilded Balloon Teviot Debating Hall as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It will be using an entire, new second set for “Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk.” The set will winter over in Europe for 10 future performances the company expects to play in Belgium in April as well as some additional bookings in Germany and the Netherlands. Despite its European ventures, Pittsburgh will be the debut site for its upcoming show next spring. “It is and continues to be Pittsburgh that we truly love,” says Squonk Opera Musical Director Jackie Dempsey. Although details are not complete, Squonk Opera expects to premiere a new show in June 2004 at the Byham Theater in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Based loosely on the Theseus, Ariadne, Minotaur, Minos and other myth cycles, the new production is funded in part by the Heinz Small Arts and Pittsburgh Foundations. — Alice T. Carter Great Ride accommodates road work Pittsburgh’s Great Ride still is being kept away from one of the city’s great viewpoints Sunday, but hasn’t declined any in challenge. The city-sponsored bicycle tour, which benefits Pittsburgh International Youth Hostel, features rides of 50, 30, 20 and 5 miles. The longest of them ascends the daunting hills of the West End — and even offers the option of a trip up Mount Washington. But it is being kept away from the magnificent West End Overlook for the second year running. Mike Radley, assistant director of Citiparks, says he hoped construction work in the park would have wrapped up for the ride, but it will go into early August. That means riders on the 50-mile course again will cross the West End Bridge and climb Steuben Street and a variety of smaller routes to Hershcel Field. The descent has changed, too. This year it will bring riders to Corliss Avenue, where they will turn onto West Carson Street, says Amanda Morel, an acting program superintendent. She points out that the shift has been made because of roadway changes leading to the inbound side of the West End Bridge. Like last year, Radley adds, police will control traffic on the outbound side of the bridge, allowing riders to get onto it from Western Avenue. That has been off-limits because of detours set up for the Fort Pitt Bridge renovation. The ride, which has been around for about 20 years in various forms, has gone through more changes than riders using cheap tires. In the early ’90s it used the HOV lane of Interstate 279, but was chased off there after several non-bicycle-related accidents in 1996. Radley still would like to return to that stretch, and says he will continue to push the issue with the state Department of Transportation. Outside of the revisions to the 50-mile course, the event is largely the same. – The 30-mile route includes Downtown, Schenley Park, Frick Park and Highland Park. The 20-mile course goes to Schenley Park, but no farther east. The 5-mile trip is a Family Trail Ride along the Eliza Furnace Trail from the Pittsburgh Technology Center on Second Avenue, where are the rides start. Rides begin from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Streets are not shut down for the event, and drivers are urged to be aware of dealing with a great number of cyclists. That exceeded 1,500 last year. Entry is $18 or $10 for the Family Trail Ride. Details: (412) 255-8983. — Bob Karlovits

---

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---