Stop by the Millvale Music Festival to hear some great local bands, check out sculptor John RodRhodenen's "Determine to Be" exhibit, or grab a bite at the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival — here's what to do in Pittsburgh this weekend.
Visual Art
The first major retrospective of the work of important 20th-century Black sculptor John Rhoden has come to the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The Alabama-born 's life spanned the century and circled the globe. “Determined to Be: The Sculpture of John Rhoden,” a collaboration between the AWAACC, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Art Bridges, includes more than 40 works in bronze, wood and stone along with archival letters and photos. It continues through Oct. 27
Theater
Famed playwright Christopher Hampton’s 2006 drama “Embers” adapts a 1940s Hungarian novel about the reunion between a retired general and his childhood friend, who disappeared following a fateful hunting trip four decades earlier. Set in the penumbra of the lost Austro-Hungarian Empire, “Embers” stars Jack Wetherall (TV’s “Queer As Folk”) and local favorites Sam Tsoutsouvas and Susie McGregor-Laine. It’s staged by Kinetic Theatre Company at Carnegie Stage, in Carnegie, Thu., May 15,ch through May 25.
Music
Local favorites including NASH.V.ILL, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, Gene the Werewolf, Jack Swing, Meeting of Important People and Miss Freddye’s Blues Band join, oh, about 300 other acts at this year’s Millvale Music Festival. The area’s biggest showcase of local music talent takes place in the streets, in the bars and more. There’ll be 28 stages, not forgetting 60 visual artists, spoken-work performers and comics. It’s happening the evening of Fri., May 16, and all day Sat., May 17, and it’s all free.
Opera
Tudor history goes operatic as Resonance Works stages a rare Pittsburgh performance of Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena.” The tragedy recounts the trial and execution of one of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn, and her relationship with one of his (four) future wives, Jane Seymour. Two acclaimed vocalists, soprano Katy Lindhart and mezzo-soprano Tahanee Aluwihare, star alongside Jason Zacher as Henry. There are two shows, on Fri., May 16, and the Sun., May 18, matinee, both at Oakland’s Charity Randall Theatre, and both featuring the Resonance Chamber Orchestra and chorus.
Food
For its 10th year — and after a two-year hiatus — the Pittsburgh Pierogi Festival returns to its very first site, SouthSide Works. This year’s celebration of Eastern European dumplings features two dozen vendors from as far afield as Michigan and Texas. There are also pierogi-inspired brews and cocktails, a pop-up marketplace, local pierogi mascots and live music (yes, including polka, duh). The ticketed Peoples Natural Gas-sponsored event is Sat., May 17.
Festival
Starting Tue., May 20, City of Asylum hosts Bridges — City of Asylum Pittsburgh Creative Summit, four days of free talks and musical performances exploring and celebrating free expression. Guests including Irish novelist Colum McCann, former Guantanamo detainee Mohameduou Ould Slahi, award-winning journalist and author George Packer, and Helge Lunde, head of the International Cities of Refuge Network, will look into everything from community building to the future of philanthropy. There’s even a May 23 cookout. The events are at Alphabet City and the North Side’s CCAC campus.
