CMU Staging ‘Into the Woods’; Social House 7 Features Japanese Fare in Beautiful Setting (Thurs., 2/27/20)

1) The Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Into the Woods has been a subject of aesthetic controversy since its 1987 Broadway debut. Some call this mashup of dark fairy tales a masterpiece, some consider it brilliant but flawed, and some just say Whaaat? To complicate things, many people know Into the Woods only from the 2014 movie version (see clip above), which has brilliances and flaws of its own. The musical deserves a viewing live on stage, and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama is presenting it that way. See Little Red Ridinghood and the Wolf, Cinderella, and the rest of the mysterious gang in CMU’s Purnell Center for the Arts. 8 p.m. Continues through February 29. 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (MV)

2) Izakaya restaurants flourish in Japan where the business class meets for drinks and sushi and other small dishes. Liken these portions to that of a tapas bar, and consider that Izakayas are popular because they represent the best of informal dining.  In Japan. On Seventh Street, downtown, you can expect the very same, yet with a diverse twist. Here the menu offers Korean and other Asian accents from Brussel sprouts with kim-chee to sesame chicken or pad thai. The atmosphere is far more festive than what one might find in Tokyo, and the preparation of your order accommodates the typical American’s shorter patience. In addition to a superb lunch and dinner fare, Social House 7 also offers something unique in Pittsburgh. On one or more Saturdays of each month, from 2 to 4, you can join in a sushi rolling class and learn more than just the basics (reservations needed for class and January and February’s are sold out). 123 7th Ave., Downtown. (P.Orr)

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