‘Between Riverside and Crazy’ Onstage at The Public; The Chocolate Bar at the Benedum (Sat., 11/12/16)

1) Stephen Adly Guirgis has won a rep for writing plays that leave you laughing, shuddering, and amazed. His works include The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, an epic fantasy set in Purgatory, where Judas is on trial, and the dark 12-step comedy The Motherfucker with the Hat. Pittsburgh’s smaller theater companies have staged those two and others, and now The Public, the city’s largest company, is doing Guirgis’ winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Between Riverside and Crazy. Your friendly EC theater writer has not seen this one, but it is said to display Guirgis’ signature touches: surreal humor and tense personal drama springing from extreme characters placed in bizarre situations. The central character is a black ex-cop who retired from the NYPD after an incident in which he was shot several times by a white fellow officer. He’s haggling over a lawsuit for damages while dodging eviction from his Riverside Drive apartment, which is peopled by an odd crew ranging from the ex-cop’s son (an ex-con not yet cured of his criminal ways) to a spiritual/sexual healer called Church Lady. Therefore the action unfolds Between Riverside and Crazy. 8 p.m. Performances through December 11. At the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

Cioppino was well represented by pastry chef Meghann Walsh and asst. GM Dominick Mastrogiacoma, who served Dark Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Covered Bacon, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Balls, Chocolate Turtles, and Chocolate Marshmallow.

2) The ornate lobby and promenades of Benedum Center will once again be turned into a showcase of chocolate creations from some of the city’s best restaurants and chocolatiers. The Chocolate Bar, a fundraiser for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to be held tonight, will feature chocolate treats for attendees to both admire and consume. Participants include:  A519 Chocolate, Braddock’s Pittsburgh Brasserie, The Capital Grille, Cioppino, Enrico Biscotti, Il Pizziaiolo, Milk Shake Factory, Mon Aimee Chocolate, Nicholas Coffee & Tea, Nine on Nine, Revel + Roost, Sarris Candies, and Vallozzi’s Pittsburgh. Staycee Pearl Dance Project dancers and The Chocolate Girls will perform. DJ SMI will also be on had to provide the party tunes. Pittsburgh fashion icon Richard Parsakian will dress  models in chocolate influenced outfits. A true celebration of the confectionery arts! Don’t forget to brush your teeth after attending. 8 p.m. 237 7th ave., Cultural District.

Anastasia Crankovic (L) is dressed in a costume by Carol Luckner, with chocolate kiss buttons, while Nikki Knox wears a costume by Richard Parsakian. Hair and makeup by Izzazu Salon.

3) SongSpace, located at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh in Shadyside, continues its music series with Moors and McCumber. The duo met in 2005 at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Song School, an inspirational place that specializes in developing talented songwriters. After successfully jamming together at the festival and liking the results, they decided to team up. Heavily influenced by Crosby, Stills & Nash they not only sing very well together but also play many instruments between the two of them with James Moors playing guitars, ukulele, mandolin, and Irish bouzouki; and Kort McCumber skilled at keys, cello, guitars, Irish tenor banjo, Irish bouzouki, fiddle, mandolin, accordion, harmonica, and upright and electric bass.  Mike Phillips of the New Plains News writes, “The music of Moors & McCumber reflects many influences: a little blues, some bluegrass, a little Smokey Hills, and a skosh of Celtic to round out the mix. Singer/songwriter E.May, who spent part of her childhood in Pittsburgh, opens. 7:30 p.m. 605 Morewood Ave.

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