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Fanfare: Bollywood Tonight!
Here's the basic storyline of this sweet musical concoction penned by Indian composer A.R. Rahman and produced by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber -- whose hits include "Evita," "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera": a poor boy from Bombay's slums hits the big time in the Bollywood -- the kitschy slang for India's splashy, schlocky musical industry-- and nearly forgets his roots. Along the way he falls in love with a silver screen starlet who just happens to be deeply involved with her lawyer beau, which leads to further entanglements and plot twists. Plus, let's not forget that a local developer wants to transform the hero's humble neighborhood known as Paradise Slum into a more upscale haven for the upper classes. And, yes, in the end, everyone lives happily ever after.
Borrowing as much from the subcontinent's culture as Hollywood and Broadway classics such as "42nd Street," "Bombay Dreams" came true for a receptive Tuesday opening night audience that enjoyed the nearly non-stop showstopping numbers that packaged Indian humor and class structure into a westernized production that ran in London and in New York before taking to the road across the States.
Before the curtain went up, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust showered its appreciation on a select group of VIPs during a reception in the Renaissance Hotel's Symphony Room, where the notables included the CT's Kevin McMahon with Kristen and son Jamie; Gina and John Carlos; Hannah and Marvin Kamin; Marina and Ken Lehn with Devon; Mark Bennett; Manuel Reich; Elaine Light; Kristina and Peter Gerszten; Judy and Rick Matthews; Juliette Grauer; Joan Kaplan; Susan and Scott Lammie; Dorothy Boyer; Marilyn and Donald Jenkins; Pam and Erik Schomer; Jackie and Harvey Jones; and Mary Lou and Dan Kiener.
Then it was off to the Benedum, where we spotted first nighters Arlene and Barry Sokolow; Carol and Mike Bleier; Nisha and Samir Shah; Payal and Shayam Thakkar; USA's Little Miss Alexis Cook with grandfather Ron; Drs. Rena and Abhijit Kulkarni with Tanvi; Dr. Annette Merlino with mother Phyllis Floriolli; Amy and Marcello Corpuz; and Jaime Frye and Troy Centofanto.
-- John Altdorfer
| Song Bird |
Call it an inconvenient truth, but last week's heatwave broke just in time for a gloriously cool and refreshing First Fridays at the Frick al fresco concert featuring the musical stylings of songstress Susan Werner. With influences of folk, jazz and pop, the talented lass provided plenty of proof why critics hail her as a rising star. Accompanying herself on the piano and guitar, she entertained an appreciative throng that covered nearly every inch of the museum's lush, green lawn.
With nary a parking space to be found, more than 500 trekked through the neighborhood to the Frick with picnic baskets, lawn chairs and youngsters in tow. Before the show, the kids displayed their talents at the crafts tables as nearly everyone feasted on delectables from the Frick Cafe, Whole Foods or homemade treats and sipped a glass or two of vino.
Among those spotted on the wonderfully shaded grounds were Roxanne Esoldo and John Higgins; Jayme Latta and Dr. Scott Mirowitz; Jennifer and Doug Balog with Jane and Michael and Doug's mom Mary Lou; Margie and Matt Muldoon with his parents Mary and Jack; Stacey and Ray Smith; Barbara Glover and Rickey Carter; Kathryn and John Pepper; newlyweds Julie and Stan Solak; Linda and George Kraemer; Beverly Hamer; Sis Johns; Marlene and Art Silverman; Bernice and Jack Meyers; Jacy Eastland; and Ros and Joe Wein.
-- John Altdorfer
| Lip Service |
Fragile beauty and grace reigned supreme at "Blown Away," the current show at Ellsworth Avenue's Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery. Dedicated to the creativity of glass blowing artists across the U.S. and Canada --and part of the FirstFriday Artwalk -- the works displayed the discerning eye of gallery owner Amy Morgan, who culls talent from the scores of portfolios she receives and visits to dozens of galleries around the country.
Among the artful walkers who dropped by to view works by Cal Breed, John Miller and a half-dozen other glass masters were Rita and Michael Toshuk; Michele and Max Beier; Elizabeth and Eric Goldberg; Lona Neumeyer; Bernadette and Angelo Ciotti; Nancy and Ray Auslander; Elsa and Ken Beckerman; Shirley Tucker; Elvira Peake; Joe Randi; John Valentich; David Bertenthal; and Nova Smith.
| Mob Hit |
Move over Tony Soprano. Pittsburgh was, according to the movie's tagline, the "intersection where family, honor and betrayal collide" for Saturday's premiere of "10th & Wolf" at the Byham Theater during the Cultural Trust's Summer Film Series.
Filmed in 2004 throughout Pittsburgh, which stands in for cross-state sister city Philadelphia, the movie portrays the conflict of a young Marine returning from action in the first Gulf War, only to be caught in the crossfire of a mob war and changing loyalties within the organized crime hierarchy.
Scripted by Oscar-winner Bobby Moresco -- co-writer of 2005's Best Picture "Crash"-- and starring James Marsden, who plays Cyclops in the "X-Men" films and Perry White's nephew in "Superman Returns," "10th & Wolf" also features Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer and Jeff Tott Jr., the young son of exec producer and Sewickley resident Jeffrey Tott (with fiancee Brandy Bock). Also on the red carpet for the big-screen debut were co-producer Ivan Kavalsky; Mary and Dan Koller; Chris and Eric Ruprecht with Rachel, local actor Joey Boombotze; Bill and Kathy Bock with Brandy; Bonnie Bock with Pete Dattilo; and actress Veronica De Laurentiis, daughter of movie mogul Dino and mother of TV's "Everyday Italian" host Giada De Laurentiis.
