PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST

ANNOUNCES THE

2019 – 2020 COHEN & GRIGSBY TRUST PRESENTS SERIES

2019 – 2020 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series IMAGES

PITTSBURGH, PA – Believing that “art is for everyone,” the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust employs a diverse range of programming divisions to present performing arts that appeal to all ages and interests. Through the Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series, the Trust offers exciting live music from world-renowned performers, innovative theater, unforgettable dance showcases, and uproarious comedy and parody shows. With such a range of offerings, this unique series is both accessible for theater newcomers, and appealing to even the most seasoned arts aficionados.

Kicking off on September 26, 2019 with hip-hop duo—and classically trained instrumentalists—Black Violin, the 2019-2020 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series offers something for everyone:

2019 – 2020 Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series

  • Black Violin
    September 26, 2019 | 7 p.m. | Byham Theater

    Black Violin is composed of both classically trained violist Wil Baptiste, and violinist Kev Marcus. The duo, from South Florida, began playing together in their high school orchestra class. Their genre-bending sound has often been described as “classical boom.” Black Violin currently performs with DJ SPS and drummer, Nat Stokes.

    Black Violin’s Impossible Tour will spread the message that anything is possible and there are no limits to what one can achieve, regardless of circumstance. As Wil Baptiste puts it, “When you come to a Black Violin concert, there are so many people in the audience experiencing something together. To me, that's what our show does, it brings people together. Not only that, you're being inspired, you're being uplifted, you're able to see something you probably have never seen before."
     
  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live!
    September 28, 2019 | 7 p.m. | Byham Theater

    The hilarious Peabody Award-winning hit TV comedy is coming to Pittsburgh with an all-new Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour! Join show creator and original host, Joel Hodgson, and the world’s greatest – and only – movie-riffing robots, Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy, as they take you on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made.

    Mystery Science Theater 3000 has earned its place in history as one of the Top 100 TV Shows of all time and is currently a hit show on Netflix. Now you can sit in the same theater with your favorite characters and experience this comedy phenomenon in a universally acclaimed LIVE event.
     
  • MasterChef Junior Live!
    October 6, 2019 | 7 p.m. | Benedum Center

    Something tasty is heading to your hometown! Don’t miss this year’s newest hit tour – MasterChef Junior Live! MasterChef Junior Live! is coming to the Benedum Center on October 6. This all-new production brings the culinary hit TV show MasterChef Junior directly to you, LIVE! Featuring head-to-head cooking competitions with past MasterChef Junior all-stars and fan favorites, Q&A sessions, and an overall immersive audience experience fun for all ages. Bring the whole family to see MasterChef Junior Live! It’s a recipe guaranteed for a good time.
     
  • Catapult
    October 10, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. | Byham Theater

    As seen on America’s Got Talent, Catapult is an amazingly imaginative combination of humor, movement, music, story-telling, and sculpture. You won’t believe your eyes as you watch these incredible artists become a mountain, a full-size elephant, a helicopter, a house with a window, and people inside the window. You will never figure out how they do it, and you won’t know what they will make next – you will be surprised and delighted, again and again. Under the direction of Adam Battlestein (Choreographer, Creative Director, and Master Teaching Artist for Pilobolus Dance Theatre for 19 years), Catapult reached the finals of Season 8 of America’s Got Talent.
     
  • That Golden Girls Show! A Puppet Parody!
    October 11 – 12, 2019 | Various Times | Byham Theater

    Set in that sassy Miami house in 1985, That Golden Girls Show is one of Off-Broadway’s biggest smash hits that parodies classic Golden Girls moments with puppets! Get set for an evening of cheesecake, laughter, jazzercise, shoulder pads, sex, and the elegant art of the quick-witted put-down. From Sophia’s get-rich-quick schemes to Rose’s tales from St. Olaf, from Blanche’s insatiable hunt for men and the Fountain of Youth to Dorothy’s daily struggle to make sense of her life and manage her roommates--all the while fending off a certain pesky ex-husband, once and for all. Devoted fans will fondly remember our four girls from Miami; and for the first-timers, this will be a joyful introduction to the brilliance of that television series. This show contains strong adult language and themes.
     
  • Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin
    October 17, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. | Byham Theater

    Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin will embark on a series of tour dates throughout the fall of 2019. Carpenter and Colvin—longtime friends for over 30 years— will appear on stage together as an intimate acoustic duo, swapping songs and sharing stories. These special shows will feature the acclaimed songwriters performing material from their vast catalogues, as well as some of their favorite songs.
     
  • The Office – A Musical Parody
    October 18 – 19, 2019 | Various Times | Byham Theater

    "The world's most elaborate inside joke, created with a whole lot of love, just for fans." - Mashable

    It's a typical morning at Scranton's third-largest paper company until, for no logical reason, a documentary crew begins filming the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin. Don't miss this hilarious, unauthorized parody of the hit TV show, The Office, now playing at The Jerry Orbach Theater in New York City. This show contains strong adult language and themes.
     
  • A Tuba to Cuba: Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Yusa and Special Guests
    October 30, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. | Byham Theater

    Preservation Hall was founded in 1961 to promote traditional New Orleans jazz in all its authenticity. Legendary players like George Lewis, Sweet Emma Barrett and Kid Thomas Valentine, all rooted in the formative years jazz, were its original stars. That generation is long gone now, yet the hall is still in business and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band continues to tour the world.

    Therein lies a paradoX: how does an institution based on an early 20th century musical culture prosper in the 21st? When asked that question on the occasion of the Hall’s 50th anniversary, Creative Director Ben Jaffe had a ready answer: “This anniversary is about the neXt fifty years.”  The band’s tour will feature music exploration inspired by their Cuba/NOLA history. 
     
  • Taj Express
    November 6, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. | Byham Theater

    Taj Express explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies that have been entertaining billions of people in India for generations. Through a fusion of film, dance, and music, this dazzling international sensation took audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society during its 2017 US tour. The production is a high-energy celebration of new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture, and deep traditions, featuring colorful costumes, joyful dance, and thrilling live music.
     
  • A Very Electric Christmas
    November 30, 3019 | 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. | Byham Theater

    A young bird named Max gets blown off-course when flying south for the winter and lands himself at the North Pole. As Max tries to make his way home, he encounters friendly caroling worms, dancing poinsettias, Nutcracker soldiers, mischievous mice, and an evil Rat King! Brighten your holiday with this magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits, including Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey, and Tchaikovsky.
     
  • Pure Yanni
    December 9, 2019 | 7:30 p.m. | Benedum Center

    A legendary composer and performer unlike any other, Yanni has brought hundreds of millions of people throughout the world together through his beloved albums and his incredible live performances. The Greek multi-instrumentalist has been called no less than “the modern-day composer” by music lovers all over the world. And truly, Yanni’s talent knows no bounds, just as his music knows no borders. With more than 40 platinum and gold albums worldwide, Yanni has sold a staggering 25 million albums globally. Yanni’s live concerts are an experience unlike any other. Combining several genres in a single composition, Yanni’s timeless melodies are overflowing with bright, deep sound.
     
  • Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
    December 10, 2019 | 8 p.m. | Benedum Center

    Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for 35 years! Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics along with a selection of compositions from Chip’s groundbreaking Fresh Aire series which introduced the distinctive Mannheim sound to all of America. The program celebrates the group’s recent anniversary of 30 years since the first Christmas album and 40 years since the first Fresh Aire album and includes dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. Experience the magic as the spirit of the season comes alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller. Their holiday CDs have become synonymous with Christmas and continue to occupy top spots on Billboard’s Seasonal Charts every year!
     
  • Straight No Chaser: The Open Bar Tour
    December 18, 2019 | 8 p.m. | Benedum Center

    If the phrase “male a cappella group” conjures up an image of students in blue blazers, ties, and khakis singing traditional college songs on ivied campuses... think again. Straight No Chaser (SNC) are neither strait-laced nor straight-faced, but neither are they vaudeville-style kitsch. They have emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fanbase, numerous national TV appearances and proven success with CD releases. Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music that is moving people in a fundamental sense... and with a sense of humor. On the road, Straight No Chaser has built a reputation as an unforgettable live act.
     
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas Live!
    December 28, 2019 | 1 p.m. | Byham Theater

    Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in the all-new touring production, A Charlie Brown Christmas - Live on Stage! Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they produce their own Christmas play and ultimately learn the true meaning of the season. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Live on Stage! is a present the whole family can enjoy! Adapted from Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story of the spirit of Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas - Live on Stage! features the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi, as well as a concert of beloved holiday carols performed by the Peanuts characters. There’s no better way to discover the magic of the season!
     
  • One Night of Queen
    April 6, 2020 | TBD | Byham Theater

    In 2000, Gary Mullen won ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes Live Grand Finale, with the largest number of votes ever received in the show’s history. The record of 864,838 votes was more than twice that of the runner-up. Gary began touring on his own, and in 2002, formed a band, The Works, to pay tribute to the rock legend, Queen.

    One Night of Queen, performed by Gary Mullen and The Works, celebrates its 15th anniversary tour, having played more than 2,000 shows throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and Asia. One Night of Queen is still rocking audiences worldwide, as the show captures the lights, sound, pomp, and showmanship, paying tribute to, arguably the greatest rock band of all time, Queen. The show does go on!

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The Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series features an exceptional season of dazzling area premieres, returning favorites, and one-of-a-kind performances for all ages. Featuring music, dance, comedy, theater, and everything in between, the Series brings an array of national and international award-winning performers to the Cultural Trust’s unique stages. Cohen & Grigsby has been the presenting sponsor of the Trust Presents Series since the 2008-2009 season.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts-lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment and residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation, and creativity.  Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. TrustArts.org | @CulturalTrust on Facebook · Instagram · Twitter