It’s a testimony to the support of its donors, dedicated volunteers and devoted audience members when any arts organization, especially those in rural areas, reaches its second decade of existence. That is the case for Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts, which is grateful for all its supporters as it announces the opening of its 2017 performance season, continuing a tradition of presenting a wide variety of musical experiences – Popular and Classical.
Those who attended ARCA’s Annual Donor Dinner were treated to an extraordinary
display of virtuosity and artistry by Susanne Ortner, clarinetist and John Marcinizyn, guitarist. This performance drew such acclaim that it was decided to showcase this duo in a cabaret table setting at Lincoln Hall just before Susanne moves to New Orleans to become a part of its vital musical community of jazz musicians. ARCA’s farewell to Susanne will be a Valentines’ Cabaret with twinkling candlelight on Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 PM. Tickets: Adults $30, ARCA Members $25 and Students $5. Cheese and snacks will be provided and beverages by donation. Ticket information can be found at the end of this article.
ARCA is proud to present the Tony Award winning revue, Side by Side by Sondheim, on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 PM. It’s an artistic coup for ARCA to be able to showcase the innovative company, Resonance Works, for this celebration of the wit and genius of musical theater’s most influential artist of the last half-century – Stephen Sondheim.
The brilliant stage director, Craig Joseph, returns after directing Resonance Work‘s Trouble in Tahiti last season. Singing Sondheim’s tasty, introspective and dramatic numbers will be seasoned RW singers Hilerie Klein Rensi (Evidence of Things not Seen), Rebecca Shorstein (Elixir of Love, Cinderella), Daniel Teadt (Amahl, Evidence of Things not Seen), and Christopher Scott (Evidence of Things not Seen). Carnegie Mellon alumna Gillian Hassert, who will have just returned from the national tour of Fame, makes her Resonance Works debut. The production will be narrated by Pittsburgh’s opera and musical icon, Anna Singer (Pittsburgh Opera – Daughter of the Regiment and popular on-air host of classical WQED) – who may have a musical surprise of her own! Tickets: Adults $30, ARCA Members $25 and Students $5.
Returning once again by popular demand, the superb Irish Band CARNIVAL OF SOULS will sound the call for the Irish on Saturday night, March 18, 2016 at 7:00 PM.
Extend your St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with this joyous evening of Irish and Celtic Music with the very talented Lowry Family and Friends. Leprechaun magic will abound with the call of highland bagpipes and all those lucky enough to be Irish – and all those hopefuls who wish they were – will tap their toes and kick up their heels celebrating St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Tickets are Adults $15 and Students $5.
Also making their ARCA debut this season are the Grove City College Touring Choir and Andres Cardenes, former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Returning are the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Players performing the stirring Spring masterwork – Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet, Cabaret songstress Judi Figel, The Allegheny Drifters, John Burgh and his Big Band, and David Allen Wehr with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Wurlitzer Theatre Organ aficionados can look forward to the return of Walt Strony on May 21 in honor of the 90th birthday of Paul McKissick, who rebuilt Lincoln Hall’s Wurlitzer that bears his name. Other Wurlitzer performances are in the planning stages as of this writing.
Visit www.alleghenyriverstone.org for more information on membership ticket discounts and benefits and on these and future performances. Tickets can be purchased online or reserved by calling 724-659-3153.
