Theater
Swing for the ‘Fences'
The mission of Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company is to highlight the works of local playwrights. Certainly no one's work is more deserving of being produced than Pulitzer Prize-winner August Wilson.
The company will stage his 1987 prize-winning work “Fences” from May 9 through 30 in the company's Downtown space. Artistic director Mark Clayton Southers will direct.
The play, set in the '50s, revolves around Troy, a middle-aged father from the Hill District. Troy was a promising baseball player when he was young, but because of society's racial barriers, he never was able to fulfill his promise. With his son poised to seek similar athletic success, Troy struggles at being a caring, yet protective, father.
Tickets are $27.50 and $35. Performances run through May 30 at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, except May 9. The theater is at 937 Liberty Ave.
There will be an opening-night fundraiser starting at 7 p.m. It will include a buffet dinner, drinks, jazz and the production. Tickets for the event are $75.
Details: 412-687-4686 or pghplaywrights.com/fences
Art
Tension mounts
Artist Travis K. Schwab is getting his first solo exhibition, “Scratching the Itch,” at Revision Space in Lawrenceville.
The exhibit, which kicks off with a special opening reception from 6 to 10 p.m. May 8, features new paintings and drawings and is accompanied by a limited-edition 30-page catalog at the gallery, signed by the artist.
Sourcing images found on the internet, YouTube clips and TV screenshots, Schwab creates powerful, evocative works that capture moments of stress or tension. Mostly colorblind, the Irwin-based artist pushes through the limitations of his vision and decidedly moves outside of his comfort zone and into the color spectrum — with stunning results.
The free reception will feature drinks from local vendors and light bites from 52nd Street Market.
The exhibit will continue through June 14. Revision Space is at 5262 Butler St. Regular gallery hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Details: 412-735-3201 or revisionspace.com
Music
It's a Pity
There's something inherently fascinating about clowns geared to adult audiences. But Puddles is something else.
YouTubers know him best as the “sad clown with the golden voice,” his belting baritone covering Lorde's “Royals” and Sia's “Chandelier,” as part of the Postmodern Jukebox series.
Now, the 6-foot-8, white-faced Mike Geier (as he was named at birth) will bring his Puddles Pity Party to the Rex Theater, South Side. The show will begin at 8 p.m. May 9.
Along with his simian-sapien companion, MonkeyZuma, Puddles performs sad pop anthems and interacts, sometimes disturbingly, with the audience.
The act began more than a decade ago as part of the Atlanta-based “all clown” band Greasepaint.
Tickets are $28 to $30. The Rex is at 1602 E. Carson St.
Details: 412-381-6811 or rex.greyareaprod.com
Theater
‘Mars' and ‘Venus' collide
“Men are From Mars — Women are From Venus Live!,” a one-man fusion of theater and stand-up starring John Frusciante, is coming to the Greensburg Garden & Civic Center from May 7 to 9.
The light-hearted comedy is based on John Gray's 1992 New York Times No. 1 best-seller. The adult-oriented show explores the differences between the sexes. The book has sold in excess of 50 million copies, been translated into 40 languages and is one of the most recognizable titles in the world.
Frusciante, a comedian and writer from New York City, co-wrote the YouTube sensation “BP Spills Coffee,” his first real taste of capitalizing off a major tragedy.
Tickets are $48. The show will be at 8 p.m. The 2 p.m. May 9 show has been canceled.
Details: 724-836-800 or ggccevents.org
Pop
Adding it all up
British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is enjoying his glory days. Do the math. Sheeran certainly has. His first album was called “+” (pronounced “plus”); his follow-up was called “X” (pronounced “multiply”).
He brings his North American “X” tour to the Consol Energy Center, Uptown, on May 12.
The singer, who grew up in England's Suffolk County, began recording music in 2005. In 2010, he bought a ticket to Los Angeles and performed at open-mic nights all around the city. Actor Jamie Foxx spotted Sheeran at The Foxxhole and offered him use of his studio.
Sheeran soon signed to Asylum/Atlantic Records, and “+” was released in 2011 with the hits “The A Team” and “You Need Me, I Don't Need You.” His “X” came out in June 2014 and includes the singles “Sing” and “Thinking Out Loud,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and currently is No. 8.
Sheeran received three Grammy nominations, including for album of the year and pop album for “X” and best song written for visual media for the song “I See Fire” from the movie “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.”
The concert — which includes special guest Foy Vance, who co-wrote some of the songs on “X” — will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $51 to $60.50.
Details: 800-745-3000 or consolenergycenter.com
Tours
Mother's Day at Hartwood
Mother's Day Mansion Tours will be featured from noon to 3 p.m. May 10 atHartwood Acres Mansion , Indiana Township. Moms get in free when escorted by a paid guest.
Regular mansion tour rates are $8, $5 for age 60 and older and ages 13 to 17, $3 for ages 6 to 12, and $1 for age 5 and younger. Reservations are required.
Details: 412-767-9200
Outdoors
Delicious outing
Venture Outdoors will sponsor a Chocolate Tasting Walk from 1 to 4 p.m. May 10 at Harrison Hills Park , Natrona Heights.
After a four-mile hike through the park, participants will return to the Environmental Learning Center to taste varieties of dark and milk chocolates. Milk is included. The cost is $18.
Details: 412-255-0564 or ventureoutdoors.org
Nature
Feathered findings
A Bird Walk with Steve Gosser and Mary Ann Thomas will be at 8:30 a.m. May 9 at the Overlook Pavilion Watts Meadow inHarrison Hills Park , Natrona Heights.
Gosser, a nature photographer, and Thomas, a reporter for the Valley News Dispatch who writes about local bird happenings and covered the bald eagles in Pittsburgh and Harmar, will lead this spring migratory bird outing. Participants can get advice on identifying birds and learn how to capture interesting pictures of the many bird species in the park. Reservations are required and limited to the first 20 people.
Details: 724-224-4102 or friendsofharrisonhills.org
Theater
Bittersweet ‘Memoirs'
Neil Simon's dramatic comedy “Brighton Beach Memoirs” will be presented May 8 through 16 at Butler Little Theatre, 1 Howard St . in downtown Butler.
The bittersweet play recounts the wr iter as a young Jewish teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower-middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Eugene Jerome dreams of baseball and girls but must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn — his formidable mother, overworked father and his worldly older brother, Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche, her two young daughters and Grandpa.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12.
Details: 724-287-6781 or bltgroup.org
Flying high
Evangel Heights Christian Academy, 120 Beale Road, Buffalo Township, will present “Peter Pan Jr.” at 7 p.m. May 7 and 8 at the Academy. Tickets are $12 and $10 in advance.
Details: 724-295-9000
History
Landmarks in our past
The Tarentum History & Landmarks Foundation's Banquet will be at 1 p.m. May 9 at First United Presbyterian Church, Lock Stree t and Tenth Avenue, Tarentum.
Featured will be author Richard Gazarik, a Tarentum High School graduate and retired reporter for the Tribune-Review, who will talk about Fannie Sellins and sign copies of his book “Black Valley: The Life and Death of Fannie Sellins.” Sellins was an activist who was involved in the steel strike of 1919 and murdered in West Natrona. Copies of Gazarik's book will be for sale. The cost is $15.
Details: 724-612-0076
Special events
Brunch with Mother
Treat Mom to aMother's Day Brunch on May 10 at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve , 614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel.
Seatings are available at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Give Mom the morning off — treat her to brunch and decorate a birdhouse together. Tickets are $25. Reservations are required.
Details: 412-963-6100 or aswp.org
Benefits
Marketing itself
A Community Gardenfest and Artist Market will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 at Boyd Community Center , 1220 Power s Run Road, O'Hara.
The event is a fundraiser for the community center. Artists will be selling handmade arts and crafts including jewelry, welded steel, homemade soaps, photography, stained and fused glass, various pottery and ceramics, fibers, repurposed old and vintage glass, candles, crocheted creations, turned wood and furniture.
New this year will be a silent auction of Garden Chair Planters made by groups and artists in the community. There will be food, music with DJ Denny Dutko and children's activities.
Admission is free. Parking is available at the Community Swim Club on Aqua Drive with free shuttle service.
Details: 412-828-8566, ext. 19, or boydcommunitycenter.org
