The Wailers Play the Roxian; Kinetic Theatre Previews ‘The Speckled Band’; Lucius at Arts Festival (Thurs., 6/13/19)

1) Renowned reggae royalty the Wailers, the legendary backing band for Bob Marley, have stayed true to their Jamaican musical roots and are led by longtime member Aston “Family Man” Barrett. A few of the new members have familial ties to the original lineup. Lead singer Josh Barrett is a distant cousin of the Family Man himself. After Marley’s death in 1981, his band continued to tour and release music, sometimes with other artists and sometimes just as a group. They play an average of 200 shows per year and are no strangers to the ’Burgh. Marley’s last concert was at the Stanley Theater (now the Benedum). The Wailers have played at numerous area venues since then. Now they visit the newly opened Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks, where they are sure to perform classic cuts, such as “No Woman, No Cry” and “Buffalo Soldier.” Let the positive vibrations lighten your mood and move your feet. 7 p.m. 425 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks. (RH, CM)

Here we see David Whalen (seated) as Sherlock Holmes and James FitzGerald as Watson in 2016’s ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles.’ Now the duo are doing it again for ‘The Speckled Band’ at Kinetic Theatre.

2) The enduring popularity of Sherlock Holmes is no mystery. We love him because he solves mysteries, he combines a superhuman intellect with a quirky human personality, and he’s British. Many Sherlock stories have been adapted for stage and screen, but only one by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself—and Pittsburgh’s Kinetic Theatre is staging it. The Speckled Band premiered in London in 1910. Based on The Adventure of the Speckled Band, a short story that Doyle considered perhaps his best, the play was quite successful. Then later, for reasons that remain a mystery, The Speckled Band slipped under what we modern folks call “the radar” for many years. Kinetic’s production is the Pittsburgh premiere. Memorable characters include the very creepy Dr. Rylott and a speckled snake, hence the title. Kinetic presents The Speckled Band with a star-studded cast playing the humans: David Crawford, James FitzGerald, Martin Giles, Lisa Ann Goldsmith, Jessie Wray Goodman, Wali Jamal, Arjun Kumar, R. Daniel Murphy, John E. Reilly, Ethan Saks, Sam Tsoutsouvas, and David Whalen as Holmes. 8 p.m. Performances continue through June 30.In the Charity Randall Theatre at the Stephen Foster Memorial, 4301 Forbes Ave., Oakland. (MV)

3) If you missed Lucius’s free show at Hartwood Acres last year, here’s your second chance. They are playing another one at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival. This rock band is from Brooklyn and has somewhat more of a pop sound. Latest album is Nudes, an acoustic collection of old songs, new songs, and a Lead Belly cover featuring Roger Waters from Pink Floyd: “Goodnight, Irene.” 7:30 p.m. Dollar Bank Main Stage, Point State Park. (EC, CM)

4) Does anybody still write letters? As in, on paper? Three performing and visual artists asked their friends to write them letters about what it’s like to communicate in the digital age. The responses, they say, ranged from profound to hilarious. And then, taking off from there—after a couple of years of development (part of which you can see above)—the artistic team produced A Letter Compiled from All Letters. It’s a theatrical piece that merges dance with projected video, high-tech sound, and old-school materials, including lots of wood and paper. The chief co-creators are director and choreographer Maree ReMalia, multimedia artist Gigi Gatewood, and performer Lillian Cho. They are joined by many others for both the design work and the performance. The artists’ statement says the piece explores a state in which “definitions for what is actual and virtual continue to blur … as human bodies try to resist, succumb, absorb, utilize, control, and react to them all.” This sounds radical. Bring your phone, and see if you can resist texting while the show unfolds. 8 p.m. Runs through June 15. A Letter Compiled from All Letters is co-presented by the New Hazlett Theater at 6 Allegheny Square East, North Side. (MV)

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Rick Handler

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