Petipa’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ Danced by the Russian Grand Ballet; James Bay Plays Stage AE (Wed., 9/28/16)

After a hundred-year beauty sleep, Princess Aurora visits Pittsburgh with her new squeeze Prince Désiré in the Russian Grand Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty.”

1) Long before Walt Disney’s animated film—and more than a century before the Disney Company stirred controversy by filing for a trademark on the name “Princess Aurora”—the princess was delighting Russian theater fans of all ages as the title character in the ballet The Sleeping Beauty. The now-classical ballet premiered in Saint Petersburg in 1890. With music by Tchaikovsky and choreography by the grandmaster Marius Petipa, its artistic credentials are impeccable. And The Sleeping Beauty is one of those spectacular, big-production-number ballets that has a little bit of everything— from a wicked fairy’s curse to a dramatic reawakening scene (when the princess is revived from her hundred-year slumber by a lover’s kiss), and a climactic wedding scene in which the dancing guests include fairytale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and her prince, and Puss in Boots. Pittsburghers can see this internationally known ballet performed in an authentic Russian style, as the Russian Grand Ballet brings The Sleeping Beauty to town on its U.S. tour. 7:30 p.m. At the Byham Theater, 101 6^th St., Cultural District. (MV)

2) This month, James Bay will play Stage AE. The performance is another line on an already impressive resumé for the young English singer-songwriter. Bay began plucking his uncle’s old guitar while still a lad growing up in Hitchin, England. By 18, he was living in Brighton, a coastal town, busking, appearing at open mic nights. Then it was on to the capital—London. He headlined smaller shows and opened for bigger ones, the biggest arguably for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park in 2013. Other opening spots included one for Stevie Wonder, also in London, and a stateside supporting gig for similar wonderkid Hozier. Bay’s had plenty of success in the studio, beginning with his platinum-selling single, “Hold Back the River.” That song appears on Bay’s debut album, 2015’s Chaos and the Calm. And just this February, Bay won the Brit Award for Best British Male Solo Artist. Portland, Oregon trio Joseph opens. Doors open 7 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

3) Our battlin’ Buccos are in the third game in a crucial four-game home series against the Chicago Cubs. Tonight at the ball yard is Zombie Night with a pregame costume contest and Zombie night T-shirts to the first 1,000 ticket buyers. Hopefully the Pirates will perk up or they will join the walking dead in terms of looking for a wildcard playoff spot! 7:05 p.m. PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

Allegheny County Radical Days:

PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Free admission 7–8pm
Celebrate RADical Days with a free hour-long concert at Heinz Hall! Assistant Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong leads the orchestra in a program full of musical storytelling. Music lovers young and old will be swept away by Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Sea and Sinbad’s Shipfrom Scheherazade, dance 
to Copland’s Hoe Down from Rodeo, and thrilled by Dukas’ iconic Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Duquesne University Young Artist National Concerto Competition winner Julian Rhee joins the Pittsburgh Symphony for the final movement
 of Brahms’s Violin Concerto. General admission; tickets may be reserved at the Heinz Hall box office or at pittsburghsymphony.org/rad. 600 Penn Avenue (Downtown)  · pittsburghsymphony.org

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