Texture Ballet Opens ‘Echoes & Illusions, Arrows in Action at Preserving, Sketch Lab Volume 3 (Fri., 9/18/26)

September 17, 2026/Rick Handler

ECHOES & ILLUSIONS (dance) Texture Contemporary Ballet. September 18-20.

Artists of Texture Contemporary Ballet performing 'Shadow and Light.' (Photographer: Rachel Harman) — Artists of Texture Contemporary Ballet performing ‘Shadow and Light.’ (Photographer: Rachel Harman)

1) Integral to any stage performance (unless produced in broad daylight, as Texture Contemporary Ballet has daringly done before) is theatrical lighting. Clearly for a dance company, the audience must be able to see the movement on stage. But Artistic Director Alan Obuzor has literally flipped the switch. In his new dance, Shadows and Light, Obuzor has given his dancers high-beam flashlights to illuminate creative movement defined in the absence of light. In this mesmerizing opening performance of a full program called Echoes & Illusions, Texture has again “raised the barre.” A collection of intimate works by Obozur and Associate Director Kelsey Bartman follows, as does new work by Madeline Kendall Schreiber, the company’s resident choreographer, in which a coven of witches go mad. The final piece,

Disintegration and Restoration of the Individual, created by resident dancer Jillian Sinko, defines the beauty of individualism within the confines of social conformity. Immerse yourself in a world of Echoes & Illusions staged at the New Hazlett Theater. 7:30 p.m. 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side.(C.P.O.)

Arrows in Action. (Photo by Kelsey Runge)

2) Arrows in Action released their new album, I Think I’ve Been Here Before, last September. It marks their first release signed to a label, and they’ve been touring heavily including headlining the UK for the first time, and appearing at major festivals including Vans Warped Tour Summer School Tour, and Download Fest. Arrows in Action has also been in action collaborating and partnering with bands like Magnolia Park, Hot Topic, Vans, The Pretty Cult, New Noise, and Dark Matter. Arrows in action has been described as a next-gen pop-infused rock crossover and are on a hot growth trajectory. They have a hot new single out, “Cheekbones,” from their I think I’ve Heard This Before LP. Special guests are Good Boy Daisy and Instant Crush. 6 p.m. Preserving, 1105 Fifth Ave., Basement, New Kensington. (R.H.)

The comedic geniuses at Sketch lab Report Volume 3 hard at work.

3) After extensive testing in the Arcade Comedy Theater laugh factory, Sketch Lab Report, Vol. 3 is ready for market. Their description states, “It’s been another year of goofing off in the laboratory, and our comedy writers are experimenting with an all-new set of madcap hypotheses. From evil twins to dog shows to Shakespearean takes on Pittsburgh lore, this sketch show blends comedic styles and subjects to deliver 14 laugh-out-loud scenes in one rigorously silly Report.” Sketch Lab presents Vol 3, features scenes written by Writers: Nick Buchheit, Caroline Cook, Hannah Doty, Joe Karbowski, Anna McAnallen, Sharief McDougle, Mercy Odhner, Max Rubinstein, Sarah Schultz, Alexa Schwartz, and Zivan Vasquez. Cast includes Michael McBurney, Jenna Chung, Plumm Dunkley, Beth Geatches, Sean Hale, Jeffrey Johnson, Jenny Malarkey, and AJ Wittman. Swing Actors: Misty Lynne Cauthen and Devin Marshall. Directed by Parag S. Gohel. Sketchlab runs through September 20. 8:30 p.m. Arcade Comedy Theater, 943 Liberty Ave., Cultural District.