Pittsburgh Opera’s ‘Woman with Eyes Closed’ Opens at Bitz Opera Factory; First Night of Shen Yun at Benedum (Sat., 4/26/25)

WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED (chamber opera) by Jennifer Higdon, with libretto by Jerre Dye. Pittsburgh Opera. April 26 – May 4.

1) Mona’s son, Thomas, is an art thief. Among other priceless masterpieces she discovers in a secreted suitcase is Lucian Freud’s painting “Woman with Eyes Closed.” It’s true the famous painting was stolen from a Rotterdam museum in 2012 and has never been found. And it may be true that Thomas’s mother, the central character in Jennifer Higdon’s chamber opera, destroyed the work to save her son from investigators trying to solve the heist. And that may be fiction. But the point of Woman With Eyes Closed (a clearly ironic title given Mona’s plight) is deciding which is more important: family bonds or a piece of treasured art? There may be more than one answer. And so Higdon’s clever opera offers three distinct endings. To witness the fluid creativity of this work, Pittsburgh Opera patrons are encouraged to attend more than one performance. The Women With Eyes Closed run isa world premiere and almost sold-out. 8 p.m. At the company’s Bitz Opera Factory, 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District. (C.P.O.)

SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS (dance and theater extravaganza). Touring company at Benedum Center. April 26 – 27. 

2) In what has become an annual custom, the Shen Yun Performing Arts troupe visits Pittsburgh with a feature-length dance-and-drama show. Shen Yun’s productions may seem, at first, like a cross between Bollywood spectacle and some odd hybrid of Western dance, but they are distinctly Chinese. The performers’ mesmerizing movements and leaps are drawn from classical Chinese dance, which evolved over the millennia to incorporate elements of martial arts, acrobatics, storytelling pantomime, and spiritual expression. These elements are combined with modern stagecraft to dramatize folk tales and true stories from China’s long history. The show is presented by the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association, part of the larger Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) movement. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (M.V.)

3) Pittsburgh VegFest returns today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rockwell Park in the east End. The festival, which is for the benefit of Justice for Animals charitable organization, features some of the best veg food in Pittsburgh, music, shopping, speakers, food, yoga demos, and family friendly entertainment. This festival gives new meaning to the term “Veg-out.” 7514 Thomas Blvd, Point breeze.

Visitors watch artists at work in the Live Art section of Art All Night (Photo: Heather McCracken)

4) For 28 years Art All Night has provided a non-juried, non-censored art show. Not only that, but one that runs for 22 hours straight. Other features include children’s and on site collaborative activities, an art auction, live bands and even comedians. Artists can display their work and/or demonstrate how they make their art. Creators of film, video, and animation will also be able to showcase their art in a video lounge. This year’s happening will take place in Manchester. The event is free to both the artists and attendees. Runs from 4 p.m. today to 2 p.m. tomorrow. 929 Beaver Ave.

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