Opening Night for demaskus’ “Wine in the Wilderness”; Will Butler of Arcade Fire Plays brillobox (CPs Thurs., 3/12/15)

1) Wine in the Wilderness, by Alice Childress and produced by demaskus Theater Collective, is set in Harlem during the race riots of 1964, which were set off when a black teenager was fatally shot by a police officer. The play deals with issues of personal, racial, and gender identity amid the turmoil.

In ‘Wine in the Wilderness,’ this painting is at the center of a search for meaning.

We meet an African American artist working on a painting—and finding a most unexpected “muse” to guide his efforts—while chaos reigns in the streets outside his apartment. Last performed in Pittsburgh decades ago, Wine in the Wilderness is being revived by demaskus Theater Collective, a new group whose mission is to “make known the messages of the marginalized.” The Collective will follow up with another history-based play (Marilynn Barner Anselmi’s You Wouldn’t Expect) in the fall. Meanwhile, Shaunda Miles, founder and CEO of demaskus, is directing Wine.  There are two types of tickets for tonight’s performance, one is a dinner, discussion, and performance ticket for $30 (5:30 p.m.); the other is a performance ticket for $20 (7 p.m.). Opens tonight and runs through Mar. 15. Peirce Studio, Trust Arts Education Center, 805-807 Liberty Ave., Cultural District.

2) “You have to have the will to win, though,” Win Butler said of his brother, Will, on The Colbert Report. Both Win and Will Butler are members of Arcade Fire, a Grammy-winning indie rock band from Montreal. Win Butler’s quote has become increasingly applicable the past few years. Whether co-writing Her’s Oscar-nominated score, which Arcade Fire performed, or showing up for guitar and keyboard duties during live shows, Will Butler definitely brings plenty of, well, “will” to the group. He released his first solo album, titled Policy, March 10, just in time for his show at brillobox. The first single, “Take My Side,” sounds like it has all of Arcade Fire’s earnestness, with perhaps a bit more garage rock. TEEN opens. 9:30 p.m. 4104 Penn Ave., Bloomfield. This event has SOLD OUT.

3) The Pens are back on home ice tonight as they face-off against the Edmonton Oilers. The Pens are aiming for a high playoff position and a win would keep them on that path. 7 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

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