Legendary Keyboardist Rick Wakeman Plays Palace; CMU Has ‘Tiger at the Gates’ (Thurs., 10/3/19)

1) Rick Wakeman is one of the musicians who put the “progressive” in progressive rock. Inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the longtime keyboardist for Yes, he’s had a prodigious solo career mixed in with his stints with Yes, and he has been recognized worldwide for his composing as well as his playing since the early-1970s albums The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Wakeman also displays a wicked sense of humor—but he’s a good sport, frequently poking fun at himself. (His Hall of Fame acceptance speech was one example.) The chance to see Wakeman live in concert is a golden opportunity, and behold, the time has come: Wakeman visits The Palace Theatre on his Grumpy Old Rock Star tour. Expect the music to be piano-intensive, drawing on recent work like 2018’s Piano Odyssey album. You might even hear a Beatles tune done in the style of Prokofiev. Add Wakeman’s inimitable patter and it’s like Victor Borge for the 21st century, only more so. 8 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg. (MV)

2) The First World War broke out swiftly and escalated madly, slaughtering millions. French writer Jean Giraudoux was a twice-wounded veteran. In his 1935 play The Trojan War Will Not Take Place—translated by Christopher Fry as Tiger at the Gates—Hector tries to persuade his fellow Trojans that fighting to let their prince keep an abducted woman would be madness. Will common sense prevail? 8 p.m. Continues through October 12. Purnell Center for the Arts at Carnegie Mellon, 5000 Forbes Ave., Oakland.  (MV)

Thursday, October 3

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