In a clipping from the San Francisco Examiner, Duquesne native Earl “Fatha” Hines poses with San Francisco nightclub owner Leonard Martin after signing a lifetime guaranteed contract in 1967. Hines, who died in 1983, is regarded as one of the most influential jazz and pop music piano players of all time. (Tube City Almanac file)
When then-city councilman Scott Adams first took office in Duquesne, longtime resident Arnold Staples handed him a folder filled with history and information regarding the city’s favorite son and jazz legend Earl “Fatha” Hines.
Sitting right next to Adams was Councilwoman Elaine Washington, who caught a peak of the exchange. Intrigued, she told Adams, “I’ll take that” and grabbed the folder.
While she personally likes different artists of that music genre, Washington wanted to ensure that Hines, who is far more instrumental in jazz than many might realize, was properly recognized in his hometown.
He always called Duquesne home, said Washington. “He didn’t say Pittsburgh. He said, ‘Duquesne’.” As a result, Washington has been working with the Pennsylvania State Historical Preservation Office to designate Hines’ childhood home at 600 Priscilla Ave. as a historical landmark.
Some “Twelfth Night” cast members have more than one role. From left, assistant director Kinsley Beachler also portrays Feste and a priest, in a scene with Ella Mizera (Sebastian/Officer) and Madeline Sclichter (Olivia/Valentine). (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
William Shakespeare’s ”Twelfth Night,” presented by Young Shakespeare Society of Pittsburgh
Where: McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St.
When: Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
One of William Shakespeare’s classic comedies soon will grace the stage at McKeesport Little Theater, with several twists to definitely provide audiences with a different perspective.
Back in The Bard’s day, Twelfth Night marked one last hurrah as the official end of the winter holidays on the twelfth night after Christmas.
Cast and crew of Young Shakespeare Society of Pittsburgh present their interpretation of “Twelfth Night” beginning Friday (June 24) and running through Sunday (June 26). There’s definitely some partying going on, but with contemporary clothing for costumes befitting teen and college-age revelers.
YSSP was co-founded in 2019 by Theo Fantozzi and Ella Mizera, to provide teens and young adults with performing, directing and designing experience in Shakespeare productions.
The Little Wretches will give a benefit concert Saturday (June 4) to support the McKeesport Little Theater Juniors.
A spokesman said the concert also will showcase the folk-rock group’s album, “Red Beets & Horseradish.”
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at McKeesport Little Theater, 1614 Coursin St. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.
“Red Beets & Horseradish” is named after a relish or side-dish usually served around the holidays of Easter or Passover by various ethnicities of Eastern Europe. The Little Wretches are an acoustic ensemble whose songs tell stories of their Mon Valley roots.
The songs on the album involve vignettes and portraits of people who’ve suffered—old people, sick people, crazy people, people who are alone—but the heart of the songs lies not in the suffering of the characters but in the indomitable faith and humor that sustains them.
For more information about The Little Wretches, visit their website or find them on Facebook.
Members of the cast of Serra Catholic’s “Beauty and the Beast” rehearse the entertaining “Gaston” dance scene. (Photo courtesy Serra Catholic High School)
If you go...
Serra Catholic High School presents: “Beauty and the Beast”
Where: School gymnasium, 200 Hershey Drive, McKeesport
When: Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 for students, available from any cast or crew member, in the main office, at the door, or by contacting fedorc@serrahs.org.
With the available talent of this year’s Serra Catholic High School musical cast, director Jesse Bush said it seemed appropriate to grant a request.
“‘Beauty and the Beast’ has been highly requested over the years,” Bush said. “This seems like the right year to perform it.”
A full house is anticipated for each performance of the family-friendly show, which opens at 7 p.m. this Friday (April 29) at the school along Hershey Drive in McKeesport. It continues at 1 and 7 p.m. April 30, with a concluding matinee at 2 p.m. May 1.
Frances Dell Bendert as Mom and Bailey Lee as herself rehearse a scene from "Papa." (Coleman Ray Clark photo courtesy New Hazlett Theater)
If you go...
‘Papa’ by Bailey Lee
Where: New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, Pittsburgh
When: 8 p.m. April 7; 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. April 8
Tickets: General admission $25, artists $15 with promo code, students $15 with valid ID. (412) 320-4610 or at www.newhazletttheater.org
An original play with strong ties to the McKeesport area is making its world debut this Thursday at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh.
“Papa” is the story of Hall Lee, who came to the United States from the farmlands of China when he was approximately 15 years old, settling and living most of his life along Jenny Lind Street in McKeesport.
Bailey Lee, his granddaughter, wrote the play, created the concept, and stars as herself in the production. It’s about things her grandfather suppressed to protect the family and assimilate into American culture, plus the sometimes complicated relationship among three generations of Asian Americans, Lee said.
Sharing their perspectives on their roles in "Mamma Mia!", seated, are Kaitlyn Majewski as Donna Sheridan and Cooper Kuchma, who plays bass guitar. Standing, from left, are Nya O'Neil as Tanya, Collin Klein as Bill Austin, Leila Wertz from the ensemble, Jonah Higdon as Sky, and Autumn Tavaglione as Sophie Sheridan. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
‘Mamma Mia!’
Where: McKeesport Area High School Auditorium, 1960 Eden Park Blvd.
When: Opens Thursday, March 31 and continues Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m., with a Saturday, April 2 matinee at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens. Available via mckmusical@gmail.com, or presale at the high school through Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 and noon to 1:30, and Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m.
“Mamma Mia,” McKeesport Area High School’s spring musical, was selected as a fun, upbeat experience for students and audience alike.
“The team chose this show before auditions,” co-producer Sarah Persin said. “We knew we wanted to do something really fun and really upbeat. COVID interfered with our shows for the last two years, so we wanted to be sure this year’s show was a real hit.”
The musical is based on songs by ABBA, woven into a storyline set on a Greek island as 20-year-old Sophie Sheridan and her mother Donna Sheridan are making final preparations for her wedding.
Sophie, on a quest to find her father so he can walk her down the aisle, stumbles upon her mother’s diary from the year she was born. In it are details suggesting three possibilities, so she invites them all, without telling Donna.
Nora Keleschenyi (Katherine), Austin Phelan (Bill), Colby Miller (Jack Kelly), and Kason Sciullo (Romeo) rehearse a scene from the musical “Newsies.” (Kristen Keleschenyi photo special to Tube City Almanac)
If you go...
‘Newsies’
Where: East Allegheny Junior-Senior High School, 1150 Jacks Run Rd, North Versailles, PA 15137
When: April 7–9 with shows each night at 7:30 p.m. along with a 2 p.m. matinee on April 9.
Disney’s “Newsies” will mark the first “post-pandemic” musical performance at East Allegheny Junior-Senior High School. It has been an interesting journey these past two years to raise the curtain on spring musicals.
“Awesome 80’s Prom,” a play adapted to include musical vignettes, was performed in the outdoor court of the junior-senior high school in April of 2021.
“A Pirate’s Tale,” the show originally planned for 2020 but was cancelled, was performed just a few months after Prom with masks required and auditorium seating in every other row. (Many of the students who were originally cast in “A Pirate’s Tale” returned for the show including a number of 2021 graduates.)
A mixed cast of McKeesport Little Theater veterans and newcomers to that venue are in final rehearsals for the comedic mystery "Exit the Body." Missing from the photo is Cory Sigler. (Bonnijean Cooney Adams photo for Tube City Almanac)
When a successful mystery writer rents a cottage in New England for a change of scenery while seeking inspiration for her next novel, the result isn’t exactly what she anticipated.
That’s the situation Kacie Greenlief as novelist Crane Hammond finds herself in as she makes her McKeesport Little Theater debut in “Exit the Body.”
Written by Fred Carmichael, it premiered in 1961, which led to some decisions whether to update to 2022 for the MLT production.
Ultimately, the show that opens Friday (March 11) and continues March 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20, remains set in 1961, including using a rotary phone to dial “0” to reach the operator.
Dylan Stramaski plays Horton in the MLT Juniors’ production of “Seussical.” The show opens this Friday. (Submitted photo courtesy Jennifer R. Vertullo, McKeesport Little Theater)
When: Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m., with a special Thursday show at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, then Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m.
Bright sets and colorful costumes reflect the enthusiasm of young actors — veterans and newcomers alike — as they take the stage for McKeesport Little Theater Juniors’ production of “Seussical,” which opens Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Although adult productions have resumed, this is the first time the Juniors have performed as a group since their 2020 show, “Into the Woods.”
The family-friendly show features familiar Dr. Seuss characters as the Cat in the Hat (Jonah Higdon) narrates the tale of Horton the Elephant (Dylan Stramaski), and his adventures as he tries to save a population of tiny Who people living in a speck of dust on a clover.
Lori Stramaski and Amy Majewski teamed up to co-produce “Seussical,” under the leadership of Dorothy Fallows as director. Their children, Dylan and Kaitlyn, senior members of the Juniors, not only have lead roles, but took on the task of choreographing the show.
Strains of “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” greeted visitors to Serra Catholic High School as the band prepared for a playoff football game — while also getting in some practice for McKeesport’s Salute to Santa Parade.
The band is seeking alumni — even those who have not picked up a flag or an instrument in years — to march along with current students in this Saturday’s parade.
It was also a time to reminisce and celebrate a successful competition season, where the group was named the 2021 Tournament of Bands Western Expansion Region Group 1A champions for “El Matador.”
“I am unbelievably proud of them,” band director Jesse Bush said. “I couldn’t be happier with how they performed this season.”
