Jimmy Buffett Brings ‘Margaritaville’ to First Niagara; ‘Reduction’ Rises at New Hazlett (Thurs., 8/13/15)

1) A best-selling author, successful restaurateur, and beverage manufacturer will be making an appearance in the Pittsburgh area. Who might that be, you ask? Jimmy Buffett! The quintessential singer-songwriter has successfully transformed his brand of fun and vacationy party music into a series of books, restaurants, and libations. Oh, don’t worry, he still has time to visit with Parrot Heads (Buffett fans) in Pittsburgh every year. Some likely sounds on the setlist for Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band include “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” and “Fins.” Buffett, who upon college graduation worked for a while as a correspondent for Billboard magazine in Nashville, first started out performing in the country arena and busked for tourists in New Orleans. A busking trip to Key West gave him the inspiration for his island sound which is a unique mix of country, folk, pop, and tropical melodies. 8 p.m. First Niagara Pavilion. 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown.

2) Calling David Bernabo a mixed-media artist and performer may not help much because it leaves open the question “Well, yeah, but what does he do?” So, for an introduction, see the video above, which Bernabo co-composed, made, and performed in, as a member of the band/art ensemble Host Skull. (Bernabo is the guy in eyeglasses). He also dances with the companies Maree ReMalia/merrygogo and MODULES, and has recently composed a feature-length theater piece called The Reduction. For one night only, a full production of The Reduction is being performed at the New Hazlett Theater. The piece is billed as “semi-autobiographical,” which implies that it will semi-explain Bernabo, with the help of a cast featuring some of his frequent collaborators. 8 p.m. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (MV)

3) Who Framed Roger Rabbit? – This Disney film was hugely popular in it’s 1988 release. Based on a novel called Who Censored Roger Rabbit?, this blend of live action and hand-drawn animation made most of the Top Ten lists of the time and won four Oscars. (The most an animated film had won since Mary Poppins.) Bob Hoskins plays a hard-boiled detective who is assigned to a case in Toon Town, a part of L.A. where animated characters live. Hoskins was repeatedly singled out for his ability to make his interactions with the cartoon figures (added later) so believable. The film contained so many risqué references that Michael Eisner demanded cuts from director Robert Zemeckis. Zemeckis (having final cut approval) refused and so the movies was put out not as a Disney film but one of their Touchstone Pictures releases. When the Laser Disk version was released, rumors were confirmed – via frame-by-frame examination – that some of the animators did include naked shots of Jessica Rabbit, the film’s femme fatale. Kathleen Turner is the uncredited voice talent for Jessica Rabbit (who’s songs were sung by Amy Irving) and she got to deliver the movie’s most famous line: “I’m not bad … I’m just drawn that way.” 2:45 p.m. Row House Cinema, 4115 Butler St., Lawrenceville. (TH)

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