Pittsburgh Musical Theater Applies Some ‘Grease’; Reds vs. Pirates + Free Shirt Friday (Fri., 4/29/16)

1) Grease is the word for a legendary musical with an odd history. One of the early rock musicals, Grease began as an underground hit, premiered by Chicago’s now-defunct Kingston Mines Theatre Company in a gritty storefront space in 1971. The writers were two young actors, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, who drew on their blue-collar upbringings to craft a show about the working-class teenagers of the late Fifties called “greasers” for their fascination with hair oil and cars. Reportedly, the original Grease had a much harder edge than the glitzier version that the duo rewrote for Broadway. Some critics felt the play had been scrubbed of its snarly soul—and it didn’t win a single Tony Award, despite multiple nominations—but audiences loved the spruced-up Grease. The initial Broadway production ran for eight years. It was made into a movie (with John Travolta, above), and songs like “Mooning” and “Beauty School Dropout” have resonated through countless re-stagings. 7:30 p.m. Continues through May 1. Pittsburgh Musical Theater is performing Grease at the Byham Theater, 101 6^th St., Cultural District. (MV)

2) The Pirates are back from an extended western states road trip. Tonight is a Free Shirt Friday with the first 20,000 fans receiving a Bucco’s T-Shirt.  Oh, by the way the opponent is our friends from down river the Cincinnati Reds. 7:05 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pIQVzn57is

3) Keanu – It may or may not please Keanu Reeves to know that he’s been a star long enough that people are now able to start doing riffs on his name. No, this action comedy has nothing to do with one of the biggest stars to ever come out of Canada. The Keanu of the title is actually a much-beloved cat who has been taken from his home. His owner, Rell, is so distraught that he enlists several friends to steal him back. Little do they realize that the cat-nappers are violent gang members and in order to free the pussy Rell and co. have to pose as drug dealers. The film stars Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, who just concluding their long-running, and at times ground-breaking, TV comedy show “Key and Peele.” Will Forte, Nia Long and Luis Guzmán put in an appearance. And there’s even a rumor, unconfirmed, that Mr. Reeves provides a voice for the kitty during one of the scenes. Check Fandango for screens and times. (TH)

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