Texture Contemporary Ballet Opens ‘Sound in Motion;’ ‘Annie’ Onstage at Benedum; The Clarks Play The Lamp (Fri., 3/14/25)

SOUND IN MOTION  presented by Texture Contemporary Ballet. At the New Hazlett Theater. March 14-16

1) The swan song production of Texture Contemporary Ballet’s 2024-25 season, Sound in Motion, is a full evening with three acts that promises to deliver a diversity of dance long to be remembered in this company’s 14th year on the Pittsburgh stage. Artistic and Executive Director Alan Obuzor’s program includes the premiere of “The World We Inherited,” a new work by resident dancer Madeline Kendall Schreiber with evocative lighting by Bob Steineck. A technically-challenging performance set to J.S. Bach’s Concerto No. 1 in D Minor will follow. And as the evening intensifies, a live R&B collaboration with Pittsburgh-based musician D.o.B., entitled “Big Mad!” will close the house. There’s lots to anticipate but now’s the time to motivate. Get to your feet and make some noise. The New Hazlett Theater, 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (C.P.O.)

ANNIE (musical) by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin. Touring company presented by PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh. March 14-15. 

2) Not many Broadway musicals are adapted from comic strips, but among them is one of the greatest of any kind. Annie won seven Tony Awards in 1977, including the major ones for Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score. Since then, the show has been revived and toured in productions worldwide—with the latest North American tour visiting Pittsburgh for a three-performance run. Lyricist Martin Charnin was inspired to create the musical after reading a collection of “Little Orphan Annie” comics. The long-running daily strip, launched by cartoonist Harold Gray in 1924, featured a spunky 11-year-old girl who escapes a hard life in an orphanage when she’s taken in as a ward by one of the country’s richest men, Oliver (Daddy) Warbucks. The cartoon artist kept the series popular for decades by having Annie and Daddy drawn into various exotic adventures, often involving sinister bad guys such as gangsters or subversive agents or evil conspiracy leaders. Time and again, Annie’s grit combined with Daddy’s clout would save the day.

For the musical, lyricist Charnin teamed with playwright Thomas Meehan and composer Charles Strouse to create a new story. It’s a highly embellished origin story, in which Daddy and Annie are just starting to form a deep parent-child bond when they are tested by events that threaten to split them apart. The show turned out to be both heartwarming and rollicking, as well as appealing to anyone who’s ever been a parent or a child—which covers a lot!  The new touring Annie plays at Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (M.V.) 

3) The Clarks continue to build on their foundation of playing solid working-class rock. The group gained a strong local following in the early ’90s gigging at clubs like Graffiti and Nick’s Fat City and have remained together and active long after nearly every other band on the scene during that era called it quits. After over 35 years, 11 albums, countless gigs and zero line-up changes, The Clarks have gone from being a regional favorite to a local institution. And the band members, who formed The Clarks at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, have never forgotten their home turf. Their most recent studio album is 2018’s, Madly in Love at the End of The World, released on the Clarkhouse Entertainment label, although the group has released a retrospective album, a live album, and an EP since then. Streaming now is a new single, “No. 9.” The Clarks say about it, “It was written by Noah Minarik and Greg Joseph, and as described by the band, ‘The story of persuasion and manipulation is nothing new. How many times we fall for it is the real story, the weakness of the fool. Is she a friend, a lover or a family member? Noah brought in a very cool dark musical groove and a killin’ bass line. From there Greg added a story to match. Scott refined the vocals and the band created a song that pulses into a new musical direction.’” The Lamp Theatre March 14 and 15. 8 p.m. Sold out. 222 Main St., Irwin. (R.H.) 

A spotlight “sunflower” effect shines down on The Clarks as they play at Stage AE in 2019.

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