Sebastian Maniscalco Plays Heinz Hall; Fred Armisen Brings “Comedy for Musicians” to Mr. Smalls (Fri., 3/1/19)

1) You don’t have to be an Italian-American to appreciate comedian Sebastian Maniscalco’s humor, but it helps. Topics include a childhood home that was always filled with food and gossiping with his mother over the phone about all the trouble his cousins have gotten into. He was born in Chicago and started performing in bars and bowling alleys while a waiter at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. His career got a boost when Vince Vaughn invited him and three other comedians to tour with him in 2006. The tour was the subject of the documentary Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days and 30 Nights — Hollywood to the Heartland. Maniscalco has since appeared in three Showtime specials, most recently 2016’s “Why Would You Do That?” He was a guest on the seventh season of Jerry Seinfeld’s web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Most recently Maniscalco had his first movie role as Johnny Venere in the Academy Award-winning film Green Book. His 2018 memoir is titled Where You Wanna Eat? He plays Heinz Hall. 7 and 9:30 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (CM)

2) Different comedians have different styles. Fred Armisen‘s humor is hilariously offbeat. He is best known for his performances as a cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” and as co-star and co-creator of the recently ended IFC sketch comedy series “Portlandia.” He is also the bandleader and drummer for NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” house band, The 8G Band. On “SNL” he did funny impressions of Barack Obama and Prince. He has received several Emmy nominations for his work as a writer and actor, and won two Peabody Awards. One as part of the “SNL” political satire cast, the other for “Portlandia.” Tonight Armisen will be bringing his Comedy for Musicians But Everyone is Welcome show to Mr. Smalls Theatre. Sold out. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.

3) The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is holding an event for art and dance aficionados for the closing weekend of DanceFilm. It is a collection of contemporary dance made
for the screen by international artists and a tribute to several early industry innovators. DanceFilm is guest curated by Carolina Loyola-Garcia, the exhibition also includes programs by REDIV (Iberoamerican Network of Dancevideo) and IMARP (Imagens Em Movimento a Céu Aberto Ribeirão Preto). The thematic elements include visibility within borders, social justice, the aging body, love, the body in space, and the creative impulse, among others.

The closing weekend will culminate in a reception at SPACE tonight at 6:30 p.m. with a talk by curator Loyola-Garcia. At 7 p.m. a ticketed performance featuring AlbaFlamenca will begin and then at 8 p.m. the closing reception will commence and the exhibition will be opened to the public to celebrate the exhibition’s farewell. During the closing reception, at 8:30 p.m., there will be a free performance by internationally renowned actor, mime, choreographer, and
movement theater artist, Mark C. Thompson. Space Gallery, 812 Liberty Ave., Cultural District.

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