Russellton Rocks: Inaugural Concert at The Horseshoe Amphitheater

Russellton, PA was sizzling in both temperature and excitement on Saturday, July 13th, as the new No Offseason Entertainment Venue – The Horseshoe Amphitheater hosted its inaugural concert. Plans for the venue were first announced last summer, and just a year later, the vision has become a reality.

The gates to the Horseshoe Amphitheater opened at 5:00 PM, with the opening acts taking the stage at 6:15 and 7:30 PM. The early part of the evening had a festival-like atmosphere, with concertgoers trying to beat the almost oppressive heat of the day by enjoying the drinks and food stands offered, browsing the concert merchandise for sale, and setting up their chairs and blankets. The event featured country artist Justin Moore, with opening acts Sadie Bass and LECADE.

Sadie Bass, a contestant from season 22 of NBC’s “The Voice,” kicked things off with her impressive vocals and original songs, as well as a couple of covers, including a crowd-pleasing, playful rendition of the Gretchen Wilson song “Redneck Woman.” Concert attendee Emily Freed, from Albany, NY, said of Sadi Bass, “She was so good! I loved her energy!”

LECADE featured Pittsburgh native and country singer-songwriter Max King on guitar. King also pulled up a stool and joined LECADE for a couple of songs before it was announced that he had recently signed his own songwriting deal.

By the time Justin Moore took to the stage around 9:00 PM, the crowd had substantially grown, and the sun had set.  “When Justin came out, the crowd had gotten bigger and it was dark, so the stage lighting effects were more noticeable and looked really cool. The atmosphere was electric!” Commented attendee Madi Mroz of Mars, PA.

A standout moment of the evening was Moore’s rendition of the National Anthem, which came less than 30 minutes into his set. He acknowledged those that have served and are currently serving in the armed forces, police, firefighters, and first responders, to which the enthusiastic crowd chanted “USA, USA”.

The Horseshoe - Russellton, PA

Sadie Bass with Fans 7.13.24

LECADE & Max King 7.13.24

Justin Moore 7.13.24

Justin Moore Guitarist 7.13.24

Justin Moore Concert 7.13.24

The next concert scheduled at the Horseshoe Amphitheater is a fundraiser for the Tarentum Police Department to help purchase, train and put a K-9 unit into service. The concert will take place on Friday, August 9th, 20204 and features country artist Brian Kelly, formerly of the band Florida Georgia Line.

The Color Purple

The Color Purple - The Musical @ The Benedum Center

The Benedum Center in Pittsburgh, PA, came alive with the vibrant energy of “The Color Purple,” a musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The show’s powerful storytelling, soulful music, and exceptional performances left the audience spellbound.

Leading the cast was the remarkable Kayla Davion, who portrayed Celie— a mistreated young woman and her metamorphic, soul-stirring experiences through life. Davion’s portrayal was nothing short of extraordinary. Her emotional depth and vulnerability brought Celie’s struggles to life, and her superb singing voice resonated through the theater. When she sang, it felt like the entire room held its breath, captivated by her talent.

Another standout performance came from Maisha McQueen as Sofia. McQueen’s comedic timing was impeccable, injecting humor into the story without missing a beat. Her portrayal of Sofia—a strong-willed woman who refuses to be silenced—was both empowering and entertaining. McQueen’s stage presence and charisma were infectious, leaving the audience in stitches.

The show’s pacing was remarkable, keeping a face-paced, entertaining journey. Each scene seamlessly transitioned into the next, keeping the audience engaged and emotionally invested. The joyous score, featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, underscored the characters’ triumphs and tribulations.

While Kayla Davion and Maisha McQueen stole the spotlight, the entire cast delivered exceptional performances. From the spirited church choir singing to the heartwarming interactions between characters, every moment felt genuine and heartfelt. The entire ensemble truly shined, entertaining us with a celebration of resilience, love, and the human spirit.

Dinner & Drinks Before the Show - @ Ritual House

Beforehand, we dined out at Ritual House, located in downtown Pittsburgh. I highly recommend trying the Cavatappi Pasta, (vodka tomato cream sauce, grilled chicken, herb whipped ricotta) it was AMAZING! The vodka tomato cream sauce was perfection, with a goldilocks consistency – not too runny, not too thick – just right! Their recently re-tooled “Eclectic Cocktails” menu includes an Aphrodite drink which also hit the mark with just the right balance of sweetness and alcohol. For dessert, I tried a slice of the Seasonal Cheesecake, which was light, coated in a thin silky chocolate shell, and served with fresh blackberries and blueberries. So Y.U.M.M.Y! Overall, it was a fantastic meal from start to finish. It was my first visit to Ritual House, who utilizes the tagline “Savor Life’s Rituals” and I just may have to make going there one of mine!

Ritual House (ritualhousepgh.com)

Seasonal Cheescake @ Ritual House

Who's Holiday! A Who-larious Take On a Grown-up Cindy Lou Who!

Who's Holiday! at the Greer Cabaret Theater in Pittsburgh, from December 1-31, 2023, is a must see this holiday season for any adult fan of the classic, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The one-woman show is entertaining and attention grabbing from the very first moments and does not disappoint throughout! Without giving too much away, the show takes you on a journey that is a bit unexpected, eliciting all kinds of emotions, all while keeping you in stitches and well engaged. The improv and singing talents of Lara Hayhurst are exceptional. The set is funky and holiday spirit appropriate, making for great ambience and giving the audience a feeling like they are right up on the stage. The "Specialty Cocktails" menu that is available to order from during the show includes drinks aptly named "Cindy Lou's Who-Ville Booze" and "You're A Mean One" (which is neon green in color). For my party of six, it was a perfect way to spend an evening out with friends during the holiday season and we all thoroughly enjoyed the show! Recommend catching a showing if you can!

SOME SHOW CREDITS:

LARA HAYHURST (Performer) Cindy Lou Who

TREY COMPTON (Director)

ALEX RIGHETTI (Costume Designer)

TRAVIS KLINGER (Hair & Make-Up)

CAT WILSON (Lighting Designer)

BRUCE CUTLER (Set and Video Designer)

For more info & tickets: WHO'S HOLIDAY! (pittsburghclo.org)

Althought it was the Who's Holiday! show that brought us to downtown Pittsburgh for the evening, we decided to make a night of it and also have dinner beforehand at Sienna Mercato. We made reservations for the 2nd floor (Mezzo). The Expresso Martinis, Polpette (mozzarella stuffed meatballs), and Margherita Pizza were some the menu items that were fan favorites of the night. I was my first visit to Sienna Mercato, but if won't be my last -everything was delicious!

Website: Sienna Mercato | Italian Restaurant in Pittsburgh

After the show, we checked out the Miracle Pop-Up Bar on 6th Street. If a christmas tree and an ugly christmas sweater had a baby, this would be the result! The decor is over-the-top, but that is very much the appeal of it, that and the fact part of the proceeds benefit charity. Miracle on 6th Street is open daily 4PM-Midnight, 11/18-12/31. At the end of the 2023 season, Miracle will donate a portion of its proceeds from the retail sales of the Santa Pants, Christmas Carol Barrel and Santa’s Head mugs to Seva Foundation. For more information about Seva, visit www.seva.org. 

Miracle on 6th (@miraclepgh) • Instagram photos and videos