Opening Night for “Phantom of the Opera”; Grammy Nominated Cuban Music Group Tiempo Libre at Byham (CPs Wed., 2/18/15)

The touring company of “Phantom of the Opera” has two young phenoms in the lead roles: Chris Mann (The Phantom) recently starred in a PBS concert special showcasing his voice, while Katie Travis (as Christine Daaé) won last year’s prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition for singing AND acting talent.

1) The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe opens tonight in Pittsburgh.  What do Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Dallas Cowboys have in common? Both are pop-culture icons, with histories of glittering success and legions of devoted fans … although it’s been years since either of them won a big one. The Cowboys’ last Super Bowl title was in 1996, while no Lloyd Webber musical has become a major hit since a decade before that. But here’s the difference: Even Pittsburghers can enjoy his 1986 crowd-pleaser about the spooky genius who haunts an opera house. So put on your Lloyd Webber throwback jersey and your white one-eye mask, as this year’s road-show production of The Phantom of the Opera visits Benedum Center. 7:30 p.m. Through March 1. 237 7th St., Cultural District.

2) With a recent thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations, there is a renewed interest in Cuban culture.  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has tapped into this and is presenting the three-time Grammy nominated Cuban timba group Tiempo Libre. The group plays a Cuban style of music known as timba – a high-octane mix of Latin jazz and the traditional style of Cuban music called “son.”  The band’s musical director and pianist Jorge Gómez, says, their sound is “a mix of jazz with the flavor of Cuban music, like putting together Buena Vista Social Club and Chick Corea.

Tiempo Libre
photo: Elvis Suarez/GlassWorks MultiMedia)

”The group’s members —now based in Miami, Florida—grew up in Cuba, yearning for all types of American music, but were forbidden by the government to listen to radio stations broadcasting from outside the country (Cuba is only 90 miles from Key West, Florida. Plus the U.S. government was transmitting Radio and TV Martí into Cuba). The members of Tiempo Libre as teenagers would go on apartment building rooftops at night with their radios and homemade antennas of aluminum foil and wire clothes hangers to secretly tune in Miami stations. The allure of freedom and music proved to be too much, they left behind family and friends to journey to the U.S. and start a new life. The band is touring in support of their latest release My Secret Radio. Dancing in the aisles is encouraged by the band who create a party atmosphere where people can participate or chill and enjoy the show. 7:30 p.m. Byham Theater, 101 6th St., Cultural District.

3) Fifty Shades of Grey — Just in time for Valentine’s Day. Here it is, the film adaptation of one of 2011’s most read and most reviled novels. Anastasia Steele is a college senior who gets a chance to interview businessman Christian Grey. He’s young, he’s gorgeous, he’s filthy rich; everything a girl wants in a fella … and more! The more being that Christian is into bondage. She goes for him in a big way, but she’s not all that crazy about the paddles. Can these two wacky kids find love? It took writer E. L. James three novels to answer that question. Check Fandango for your local movie house.

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