City Theatre Opens ‘The Real James Bond…Was Dominican’; City Winery Hosts The Silencers (Sat., 1/18/25)

THE REAL JAMES BOND … IS DOMINICAN  Written and performed by Christopher Rivas,
and developed with and directed by Daniel Banks. City Theatre. January 18 – February 16.

1) Growing up, Christopher Rivas was like many young boys who fantasized about being someone truly famous. Said Dominican-born Rivas in a recent interview, “I loved Bond as a kid. I would run around for hours in my tighty whities with all my nerf guns strapped to my body or hidden around the house, and I would imagine and play out these elaborate James Bond fantasy missions. I had the gadgets, the cool watch, the British accent, everything.” Imagine his surprise years later when, as a brown Latino student attending a white theater conservatory, he learned that the very person on whom Ian Fleming had based his many novels was a Dominican diplomat. His real name was Porfirio Rubirosa, an international polo champion, race-car driver and pilot, and who, as a renowned casanova, had married five times, to women including Barbara Hutton and Doris Duke. Rivas made his revelation into a one-man show which takes stage at City Theatre on January 18. An actor, author of two acclaimed books, podcaster, playwright, and storyteller, Rivas is locked and loaded with the lore of Hollywood. 5:30 p.m. 1300 Bingham St., South Side.(C.P.O)

2) The Silencers were one of Pittsburgh’s top bands in the early 1980’s and featured a talented lineup of rock and rollers that included Frank Czuri (vocals), the late Warren King (guitar), and the late Byrd Foster (drums). The group’s original material combined rock, new wave, R&B, soul, and reggae. Their main claim to fame was a video of the Silencers’ medley “Peter Gunn Theme/Remote Control/Illegal” which aired on MTV on the very day the network premiered in 1981. The video won several awards. The group released two major-label albums and three singles. Billboard magazine said of the Silencers’ debut LP Rock’n’Roll Enforcers: “The Silencers are armed with a hard hitting debut. Fronted by the aggressive vocals of Frank Czuri…the Silencers show an amazing command of rock history…This is slashing rock which goes for the jugular.” The Silencers have reloaded and you can celebrate The Silencers Live in 25. 7 p.m. at City Winery. 1627 Smallman St., Strip District. (R.H.)

Share on Social Media