City Theatre Presents “South Side Stories” ; Theresa Caputo, Long Island Medium at the Benedum (CPs Sun., 1/12/14)

1) One of the best things about Pittsburgh is the number of stories the city holds. Playwright and actress Tami Dixon brings us a montage of tales in South Side Stories at the City Theatre. Preparations for Dixon’s one-woman show included two years of research: she sat in a chair on E. Carson St. with a sign that read, “Tell Me A Story About the South Side.” Many long-time residents on the flats as well as the slopes offered their stories, about subjects including the notorious parking chair (and their impressions of more affluent city neighborhoods) and many others. The result is a vibrant performance with many characters, and Dixon plays them all with the zest and spunk we expect from our South Side neighbors. 2 p.m. 1300 Bingham St., South Side.

2) Everyone’s favorite Empire State psychic, Theresa Caputo, better known as TLC’s star of “Long Island Medium,” appears at the Benedum Center for a special interactive live reading. Caputo is a typical wife and mother, except for that one little difference: she can communicate with the dead. A certified medium with the Forever-Family Foundation, she will perform readings with audience members and share stories about her own life and experiences. Caputo’s hope is to bring closure to grieving individuals,as she did with this 9/11 widow. Are you a skeptic? Come see for yourself. You just might become a believer. Limit 8 tickets per customer. 3 p.m. 237 7th St., Cultural District.

3) Ethiopian singer/songwriter Meklit makes a stop at Club Cafe to give us a cultural booster shot. Meklit’s unique style combines strands of jazz, folk, and East African music for a mellow sound that this cool picker likens to a hybrid of Erika Badu and Fiona Apple. Her cross-genre work has gained Meklit popularity around the globe and has landed her performances at SXSW and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Critics have received her with open arms and predict that she will become the “modern queen of soul” (SFJAZZ).  Audiences can expect haunting songs like “Leaving Soon,” and perhaps a peek at her new album, due out in March. Stay ahead of the mainstream and check her out; we may see her winning a Grammy in a year or two. 8 p.m. 56-58 S. 12th St., South Side.

4) Domino and snowball effects collide in Big Wooden Horse’s production of Stuck, presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Theatre at the Byham Theater. Poor Floyd gets his kite stuck in a tree, along with everything he uses to try to get it down. It’s okay if the kids get fidgety in this interactive performance, perfect for children ages 3 – 10. With original music and a little moral about cause and effect, Stuck delights kids and parents alike. 2 p.m. 101 6th St., Cultural District.

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