Cirque Dreams; Pittsburgh Plays Petty; Three Rivers Classic Happen Today (Fri., 12/29/17)

Ornaments on a Tree. Photo Credit: Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Courtesy of Cirque Productions.

1) Oh my goodness! It’s “snowmen, penguins, angels, reindeer, toy soldiers … and of course Santa, with soaring acrobatics, gravity-defying feats, elaborate production numbers, illusions, and more.” Yep, it’s Cirque Dreams Holidaze, the touring holiday spectacle that is part three-ring circus, part Broadway-style musical, and 100 percent OK for small children as well as adults. Now in its 10th year, the show comes from Florida-based Cirque Productions, which sends out multiple casts to perform across the U.S. The word on the street (and in the press) is that it’s a real crowd-pleaser. 7:30 p.m. tonight, and two shows tomorrow. Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (MV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvgexEXbmoM

2) Tom Petty’s music exists outside of time. Take “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” which sounds like a cut from Heartbreakers’ classics like 1979’s Damn the Torpedoes or 1981’s Hard Promises. However, it appears on 1994’s Wildflowers, his second solo album. It was a hit then, even as grunge and boy bands ruled the airwaves, and it sounds just as fresh now. The local musicians of Pittsburgh Plays Petty, a tribute at Mr. Smalls, will mourn and celebrate the legendary singer-songwriter, who died October 2 at 66. The lineup includes veterans such as Bill Deasy, formerly of The Gathering Field, and Jim Donovan, formerly of Rusted Root and now of Sun King Warriors. Chet Vincent of Chet Vincent & The Big Bend will perform, as will Nathan Zoob, an accomplished solo artist and a member of Wreck Loose. Angela Autumn, who has appeared on CBS’s “Pittsburgh Today Live” and at the Feed More Festival at Stage AE, will also play. Wicked-good guitarist Byron Nash is also on the bill. For the complete lineup, check out the event page. Tickets sold out quickly, so a second night has been added for January 6, 2018. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

3) Attention sports aficionados: There’s a great opportunity beginning today to watch several NCAA Division I hockey teams battle for the top prize in the Three Rivers Classic hockey tournament, presented by Robert Morris University. Other teams competing are Providence College, Lake Superior State University, and Arizona State University. This is day one of the two-day tournament. First game starts at 4:30 p.m. PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

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