Judy Collins Will “Send in the Clowns” at CLMH; it’s “SCarie: The Musical” (CPs Thurs., 10/23/14)

1) Legendary songstress Judy Collins was a piano prodigy by age 13, and as she came of age, she used her music to rail against social and environmental problems. She’s known for reinterpreting traditional and contemporary folk music standards to create rich, insightful poetic-like songs about life’s ups and downs. Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger influenced her with their use of storytelling through songs about hard luck people. Collins, in turn, inspired others—Stephen Stills (Crosby Stills Nash) wrote the classic song “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes while breaking up with Collins. Collins’ version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” garnered her the Song of the Year Grammy Award in ’76. Opening is Ari Hest. 7:30 p.m. Carnegie Library Music Hall, 510 E. 10th St., Munhall.

2) Who dares to defy the curse of Carrie? The classic 1976 movie of Stephen King’s novel seems to have put a hex on further adaptations. Nothing about the Carrie 2 sequel was more gruesome than the critics’ reviews, and a big-budget Broadway musical version was a titanic flop. Bricolage Adventurous Theater is undaunted, however. You are invited to join the bloodbath—even wearing a prom gown, if you like!—as Pittsburgh’s highly experimental theater company stages SCarrie: The Musical, a romp that imagines the world’s scariest high schooler as a student at Taylor Allderdice. Adapted by Tami Dixon (creator of South Side Stories) and featuring rock music by Joel Abbott, SCarrie is preceded by a “Happy Half Hour” with spine-chilling drinks. Happy Half Hour is at 8:30 p.m.; show begins at 9 p.m. Through Nov. 8. 937 Liberty Ave., Cultural District.

3) Fun Facts about comedian Ian Bagg:
* He’s the the only known comic to have worked for famed director/producer Judd Apatow and not become a multi-billionaire.
* Ian went to school to be an explosives engineer, but a lucky chance at an open mic made him the volatile one.
* His one-hour special “Ian Bagg: Getting to F*cking Know You” premiered on Showtime in April 2013.
* You can catch Bagg’s radio/podcast show on XM Radio channel 160 or The ToadHopNetwork. (The Ian Bagg Show.)

Bagg will be appearing at the Pittsburgh Improv tonight at 8 p.m. with shows through Sunday. 166 E. Bridge St., The Waterfront, Homestead.

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