Comedian Paula Poundstone at CHMH; Split Stage Running ‘The Last Five Years’ (Sat., 1/27/18)

1) Comedian Paula Poundstone has been generating laughs for many years. She won the American Comedy Award for “Best Female Stand-Up Comic “ in 1989. Poundstone worked as a political correspondent for “The Tonight Show” and “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” in the ‘90s, and appeared on game shows “Hollywood Squares” and “To Tell the Truth” throughout the 2000s. She was a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” and In 2017, she debuted a new science-comedy-interview series on NPR called “Live from the Poundstone Institute.” Poundstone has also had her own comedy specials and show on HBO and has a new book: The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness. She will be bringing her infamous, razor-sharp wit to Pittsburgh for a night of stand-up at Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall. 8 p.m. 510 E. 10th Ave., Munhall.

2) Split Stage Productions has brought adventurous musicals to Westmoreland County, with recent numbers such as Spring Awakening and Side Show. Now they are presenting a musical that bends time’s arrow and once triggered a lawsuit. The Last Five Years tells the story of a failed marriage from two viewpoints: the husband relates his side in chronological order while the wife presents hers in reverse, from breakup back to first meeting. Writer/composer Jason Robert Brown based the story on his own failed marriage—perhaps too closely, for after the show premiered in 2001, Brown did some rewriting when faced with legal action from his ex. Aside from these peculiarities, music fans like The Last Five Years for its intricate, unusual songs and melodies. Split Stage is performing The Last Five Years at The Theatre Factory. 8 p.m. Performances through February 3. 235 Cavitt Ave., Trafford. (MV)

3) The Pitt men’s basketball team and Coach Kevin Stallings—whose had a challenging job of trying to rebuild a new team with his style of play this season— take on the Syracuse Orange. This game comes after an especially tough loss to NC State this past week. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. Next up is an away game Wednesday against the Miami Hurricanes. Hail to Pitt! Petersen Events Center, 3719 Terrace St., Oakland.

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