sp otlight Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre opens its season in ambitious style with a bill of three masterworks by three of dance’s greatest choreographers. Mixed Repertory #1, Oct. 23-25 at the Benedum Center, brings back George Balanchine’s energetic Americana ballet “Western Symphony” (1954). Last performed by the PBT in 1997, the non-narrative, Old West-themed ballet is set to music by composer Hershy Kay, to be performed live by the PBT Orchestra; the work blends the charm of a classic Western musical with the brilliance of Balanchine’s choreography. The other two works are company premieres. William Forsythe’s “In the Middle Somewhat Elevated” (1987) has been called “the work that changed ballet forever” by London’s The Guardian. Classical ballet’s version of “voguing,” the compellingly virtuosic ballet is set to a prerecorded futuristic electronic score by Thom Willems. Forsythe describes the work as “a theme and variations in the strictest sense.” Finally, set to music of the same name by Leoš Janáček (to be played live), Czech choreographer Jiři Kylián’s “Sinfonietta” (1978) is literally a feet-stamping romp, a gallop and burst of contemporary-ballet genius that is the cherry on top of a landmark production in PBT’s 46-year history. Steve Sucato 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 23; 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 24; and 2 p.m. Sun., Oct. 25. 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $28-110. 412-456-6666 or www.pbt.org
Memento Mori, is subtitled “embroidered textiles reflecting the transient nature of life.” The three new bodies of work on exhibit starting with tonight’s opening reception explore medievalinspired imagery, the texts of jokes and complex patterns that disintegrate — kind of like we all will. Bill O’Driscoll 6-9 p.m. (free). Exhibit continues through Nov. 14. 3583 Butler St., Lawrenceville. 412-687-2606 or www.begalleries.com
{COMEDY} Jamie Lissow performs five shows over three days at Pittsburgh Improv. The Los Angeles-based comic had a half-hour Comedy Central stand-up special in 2009, and has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show and Last Comic Standing. Lissow also stars with Rob Schneider on the upcoming Netflix series Real Rob. KU 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Continues through Sun., Oct. 25. 166 E. Bridge St., Homestead. $17. 412-462-5233 or www.pittsburgh.improv.com
{COMEDY} What to do with a low-budget 1966 cult-classic devil-worship thriller that has a 0 percent critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes? That is widely considered one of the worst films ever? That people know of only because Mystery Science Theater 3000 mocked it? Well, you stage your own live reading of Manos the Hands of Fate — with an allfemale cast. Matt Buccholz’s Alternate Histories teams with Arcade Comedy Theater for WoManos The Hands of Fate tonight. BO 8 p.m. 811 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10. 412-339-0698 or www. arcadecomedytheater.com
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much totally different than the last time you saw it. In a lengthy overhaul that closed the building down, the Greensburg landmark’s exterior was modernized, with new landscaping, and its interior is nearly 50 percent larger, including new ne space and for both exhibits an education and community com programming. This weekend offers offe two chances to celebrate. ce Tonight’s Sky’s Sk the Limit Grand Reopening Dance Party (7:3011 p.m.; $75) $7 features Tracksploitation, Tracksplo DJ Gordy Gord and live music by Beauty Slap. (A ( VIP pre-party and pre-p cocktail cockt party are sold out.) s On Sun., Oct. 25, S the museum’s m Free Community Day (11 a.m.3 p.m.) p.m offers offer live entertainment enter including includ Colonel Colon Eagleburger’s Eagleb Highstepping Highst Goodtime Goodtim Band, puppet shows, sh puppet-making and puppet-m more. BO 221 2 N. Main St., Greensburg. Gr 724-837-1500 724-837-150 or www. thewestmoreland.org thewestmo
{ART} “Without light, there is no life,” wrote Jane Haskell. The Pittsburgh-based artist, who died in 2013, created numerouss local exhibitions where light ht dominated. She also served d as a board member at Carnegie Museum of Art. To celebrate ate her influence, the Jewish h Community ty Center of Greater Pittsburgh h holds the opening reception for Jane Haskell: Drawing in Light, the first in-depth pth examination on of Haskell’s ’s work. The e exhibition, n, at the Fine e Perlow Weiss Gallery and Berger er Gallery, includes about bout 30 light sculptures, s, paintings and drawings. KU 6-9 p.m. 5738 Forbes Ave., Squirrel rrel Hill. Free. 412-521-8010 521-8010 or www.jccpgh.org gh.org
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{PARTY}} The venerable rable Westmoreland eland Museum of American Art looks pretty tty
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Any burle burlesque worth its saltiness saltine is also dosed with w humor. But SuicideGirls: Suic Blackheart Blackhe Burlesque’s geekBurlesq culture spin on this classic art a form has been earning it ea world tours to and halls. The sold-out h produced by show, prod
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Oakland. $15-30. 412-622-8866 or www.pittsburghlectures.org
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Memento Mori
{STAGE} A Brooklyn kid becomes a songwriter with dozens of signature hits and, eventually, a name performer herself. But from “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” to her iconic album Tapestry, Carole King is also the subject of a Tonyand Grammy-winning show. Beautiful — The Carole King Musical combines her famous tunes with King’s personal story of heartbreak and rebirth, and her relationships with the likes of songwriting partner Gerry Goffin. Starting tonight, the North American tour of Beautiful visits the Benedum Center for eight shows courtesy of PNC Broadway in Pittsbugh. Abby Mueller stars as King. BO 7:30 p.m. Continues through Sun., Nov. 1. 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $45-100. 412-4564800 or www.trustarts.org
Art by Mary Mazziotti
online alt-beauty/indie-culture community SuicideGirls, costumes its high-energy striptease numbers in Star Wars stormtrooper masks, Clockwork Orange derbies, Donnie Darko bunnysuits and more, from Zelda to Orange is the New Black. The fall tour hits the Rex Theater tonight. BO 9 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side. $30 (VIP: $90). 21 and over. rex.greyareaprod.com
the end of Gourmet magazine after a 68-year run, no one was more surprised than then-editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl. She channeled her reaction to Gourmet’s closing into a cookbook, My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life (Random House). Through her attention to detail, Reichl, a New Yorkbased memoirist, restaurateur and six-time James Beard Award-winner, changed the way we think about cooking. Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Monday Night Lectures series hosts Reichl tonight at Carnegie Music Hall. KU 7:30 p.m. 4400 Forbes Ave.,
+ MON., OCT. 26 {WORDS} When Condé Naste announced
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+ WED., OCT. 28 {COMICS} Ed Piskor’s critically acclaimed, internationally selling graphic history of hip hop keeps rolling. The Pittsburgh-based artist’s obsessively detailed, wildly entertaining books, done in classic-comics fashion, are up to Hip Hop Family Tree Book 3, covering 1983-84 and the rise of such icons as Run-DMC, The Fat Boys and the Beastie Boys, and the formation of Def Jam Recordings. Piskor himself breaks for a book-signing today at Phantom of the Attic Comics. BO 4-7 p.m. 411 Craig St., Oakland. 412-621-1210 or www.phantom-attic.com
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