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Warm, exciteable and yes, more than a little blue, she seems to live in a constant state of exasperation, holding forth on relationships, motherhood, political topics and men in a semi-outraged "I BEG your pardon?" whine. You may have seen her in 2000 on the "Queens of Comedy" tour or as DJ Helen in the movie "Beauty Shop." She's also had her own HBO special and logged numerous appearances on Def Comedy Jam, "The Hughleys," "The Parkers" and "Moesha." Givens yells it like it is beginning Friday at the Pittsburgh Improv. Tickets are $20 to $22. Shows are 8 and 10 p.m. Friday; 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday. The Pittsburgh Improv is at 166 East Bridge St. at the Waterfront in Homestead.

Details: 412-462-5233 or www.improv.com.

--William Loeffler

INSTRUMENTAL
Going for the gold

The River City Brass Band will continue competition in its musical Olympics at three sites in the days ahead.

Talk about marathons.

In the "Brass Olympics" series, the solos of five members of the band are judged by the decibel ratings of applause. The concerts also include some famous tunes connected with the games, such as Leo Arnaud's "Bugler's Dream," the fanfare made famous through its use on ABC television.

There's no Olympics this year, you say. Right, but who cares? The music is good anytime.

The concerts are at 8 p.m. today at Gateway Middle School, Monroeville; 8 p.m. Friday at North Allegheny Intermediate High School, McCandless; and 3 p.m. Sundayat Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Johnstown, Cambria County.

Prices vary.

Details: 412-322-7222.

-- Bob Karlovits

CLASSICAL
Sounds of centuries past

The richly mixed musical traditions of Spain before the Inquisition open the Renaissance and Baroque Society's 37th season when the popular Baltimore Consort returns to Synod Hall on Saturday night.

Countertenor Jose Lemos is the guest vocal soloist in a program of romances and villancicos, refrains that at this concert will be contrasting instrumental dances.

Improvisation will be part of the Baltimore Consort's performance, including ones over chord changes -- a musical language best known today in jazz and blues. Instead of trumpet, saxophone or piano, the renaissance ensemble offers flutes, recorders, krumhorns, guitars, viols and percussion.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. at Synod Hall, Oakland. Admission: $15 to $30, $10 full-time students.

Details: 412-682-7262.

-- Mark Kanny

SPECIAL EVENTS
Creative play

Puppets have long been associated with such children's fare as "The Muppets" or "Lamb Chop's Play-Along." But there is a more serious, artistic side to these felt creatures, and it will be on display throughout October at the seventh annual Black Sheep Puppet Festival.

Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, The Brew House on the South Side will host a gallery featuring puppets created by 25 artists and puppeteers, both local and national. The exhibit will run through Oct. 22 with show hours running from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Also included with the festival's opening will be a children's puppet making workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, which will be immediately followed by a puppet demonstration. All events are free and for all ages.

Details: 412-657-7513 or www.blacksheeppuppet.com.

-- Tim Wright

WORLD
Traveling through cultures

It's a big world out there, but it's still rare to find music that scales the daunting walls that separate cultures and traditions. It's rarer still to find someone who does it as effortlessly and gracefully as Lhasa.

She's a singer from all over the place, who sings beautiful, borderless ballads in English, Spanish and French -- absorbed from a childhood on the road, criss-crossing the U.S. and Mexico with her family in a converted schoolbus. After recording an out-of-nowhere hit record in Montreal a few years back -- in Spanish -- she ran away to join the circus, with her sisters in France.

Fortunately, she's decided to make music again, touring with an excellent new three-language album, "The Living Road." She'll be at the Andy Warhol Museum on the North Side Tuesday night. The show starts at 8 p.m., and costs $10. Details: 412-237-8300.

-- Michael Machosky

ART
An artful stroll

Friday evening all of the galleries and many of the stores on Broad and Beaver Streets in Sewickley will open their doors from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the Sewickley Fall Gallery Walk.

An annual event, this year the art on view will include an exhibit of original watercolors and prints by Victor Beltran at The Sewickley Gallery that feature the Sewickley of yesteryear, more specifically "Circa 1910" as the show's title of the same name implies.

Also on view will be a variety of paintings and sculpture on display at The Bird in the Hand Gallery, calligraphy by former art teacher Gayle Reed will be featured at The Sewickley Library and International Images will have a collection of collages by Ukrainian artist and philosopher Lucien Dulfan, as well as a fine collection of international posters to peruse and possibly buy.

Also getting into the mix, Habitat Hardware will have original oil paintings on display by Pittsburgh portrait painter Phil Salvato and at the flower shop Cuttings, Marcy Holquist will display her fine art photography.

To round out the festivities of the evening, Argentinian violinist Pablo of the Serenading Strings will entertain guests at International Images.

Details: 412-741-5858 or www.sewickleygallery.com.

-- Kurt Shaw

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