The NEXTpittsburgh event guide is underwritten by The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council.
What’s going on this week in Pittsburgh, April 11-17? Find out here. Be sure to visit each organization’s website and social media for Covid safety protocols. Know of a cool event? Email us.
Monday, April 11: Public Meeting at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Want to hear firsthand from library staff and trustees about recent accomplishments and plans for the coming year? The public meeting in the South Wing Reading Room includes a “State of the Library” presentation, an open question and answer session, time for personal conversations and a social gathering. Go here to submit comments or questions.
Monday, April 11: Robin Wall Kimmerer at Carnegie Music Hall
7:30 p.m.
With Earth Day around the corner, it’s the perfect time to hear this talk by award-winning botanist, professor and writer Robin Wall Kimmerer. A member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer will discuss her book, “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” as part of Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures’ Ten Evenings series. Buy tickets.
Tuesday, April 12: Pirates Home Opener at PNC Park
4:12 p.m.
Now that the MLB lockout is over — and winter appears to be in the rear-view mirror — we’re ready for the first pitch to be thrown. Celebrate the ballpark’s opening day — aka 412 Day — on the North Shore when the Pirates host the Chicago Cubs. A limited number of recently released tickets are available for $4.12 while supplies last.
Tuesday, April 12: Fashion Fair: Heart on a Sleeve x Willie Gee Trunk Show at True T Studios
4:12-8:12 p.m.
Be among the first to see — and be inspired by — the new unisex spring collection co-created by Pittsburgh-based fashion designers Malcolm Anthony Williams (Willie Gee) and Reggie Howze (Heart of a Sleeve). The collaborative haute couture line was created as part of a Queer Media Artist Residency with True T PGH.
Tuesday, April 12: History of Cuban Jazz at the Greer Cabaret Theater
5-7 p.m.
Add a spark to your Tuesday nights and celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with this free music series. Experience the rich history of Cuban jazz at tonight’s kickoff, when the world-renowned drummer and composer Hugo Cruz shares a multi-media presentation featuring live performance, videos and recorded music.
Wednesday, April 13: “Murder on the Orient Express” at the O’Reilly Theater
8 p.m.
Hop aboard the world’s most luxurious train where a murder mystery unfolds. Adapted by renowned playwright Ken Ludwig, Agatha Christie’s beloved 1934 classic will take on a new dimension with a fresh comic flair. Find out what ensues when a suspicious businessman is found murdered in his cabin after a freak snowstorm halts the train in its tracks. Join detective Hercule Poirot and the “motley crew of passengers” who all become suspects — from service staff to Russian royalty. Directed by PPT Artist Director Marya Sea Kaminksi, the production features a blockbuster cast now through May 1. Buy tickets.
Wednesday, April 13: Ecolution Fashion Gala at Carnegie Music Hall
8 p.m.
Did you know that the fashion industry is the planet’s fourth-biggest polluter? Designing locally and thinking globally, one of Pittsburgh’s most unique fashion shows is addressing the climate crisis by merging haute couture with thoughtful design. To illuminate this year’s theme of “Earth Matters Now,” 20 artists transformed sustainable, recyclable and organic materials into “stellar environmentally savvy ensembles.” Fashionistas will be treated to dance performances by slowdanger and Stacyee Pearl, tunes from DJ Soy Sos and entertainment by Miss Thea Trix. Buy tickets.
Friday, April 15: Queer Afterlives in Artist Archives with the Mattress Factory
12-3 p.m.
This month, the Northside museum is presenting a free event series celebrating what would have been the 64th birthday of artist Greer Lankton. The series coincides with the launch of a definitive online archive designed to celebrate the acclaimed artist. Today’s virtual symposium convenes archivists, scholars and artists “whose work engages with archives, the histories of Queer art and the identities it can reveal.” The symposium will also help guide final selections for an exhibition at Pitt’s University Art Gallery opening in the fall. Register for free.
Friday, April 15: “The Twenty-Sided Tavern” at the Greer Cabaret Theater
7 p.m.
Ready to play the part of a hero? The jokes — and the ale — will flow freely during this immersive theater experience produced by the Pittsburgh CLO Cabaret. Step into a tavern where you control the story, choose the characters, guide the hilarious hijinks and even encounter dungeons and dragons. Theater-goers will access the adventure via an innovative smartphone technology called Gamiotics. Buy tickets.
Saturday, April 16: Spring Wildflower Hike in Frick Park
10-11:30 a.m.
Spring is indeed springing so get out there! During this leisurely 1.5-mile hike with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, you’ll learn to identify many types of vibrant wildflowers found in Frick Park, including Virginia bluebell, trout lily and white trillium. Register for free.
Saturday, April 16: Eggstravaganza at the National Aviary
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Hop over to the North Side for an egg-cellent avian adventure! Stroll through lush tropical habitats, meet beautiful birds and join an egg-themed scavenger hunt. The springtime family fun also includes storytimes, creative crafts and take-home prizes. Buy tickets.
Saturday, April 16: SLAY: Artemisia Gentileschi & Kehinde Wiley at The Frick Pittsburgh
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
In what is certain to be one of the most significant art happenings in Pittsburgh this year, this first-of-its-kind exhibition pairs two masterpieces of the same subject painted 400 years apart. The first is by Artemisia Gentileschi, the most successful female painter of 17th-century Italy, and the second by Kehinde Wiley, the internationally acclaimed Black American contemporary artist. Both monumental paintings depict an Old Testament story in which the heroic Jewish widow Judith beheads the Assyrian General Holofernes and saves her city. The compelling juxtaposition aims to spark fresh questions and serve as catalyst for important conversations about timeless themes, including identity, power, inequality, oppression and war. Register for free tickets.
Saturday, April 16: Egg-stravaganza at Carnegie Museum of Natural History
10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Think you can find eggs and nests of all shapes and sizes — from tiny insects to giant dinosaurs — hidden throughout the museum? Follow egg-themed clues to search for specimens, earn stamps as you go, then collect your bag full of egg-citing springtime goodies to take home. Buy tickets.
Saturday, April 16: JADED Program Series Downtown
12-12:45 p.m. & 3-4 p.m.
A new public program series produced by the art collective JADED is celebrating the culture of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Anny Chen, Lena Chen and Caroline Yoo formed JADED in response to the horrific shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. Events will share local histories, preserve cherished family recipes and customs, and nurture intergenerational dialogue. Today’s lineup includes a Walking Tour of Chinatown led by Shirley Yee and a performance with Jason Chu, Alan Z and MC Tingbudong. View a schedule.
Saturday, April 16: August Wilson: The Writer’s Landscape at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center
12-5 p.m.
There’s no better place for the first-ever permanent exhibition dedicated to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Hill District native August Wilson. Don’t miss this unprecedented opportunity to be immersed in Wilson’s vision and see firsthand how the playwright “drew his greatest inspiration from the city and its people.” The 3,600-square-foot exhibit features interactive displays, projections, estate artifacts, and re-creations of ephemera spanning 100 years. Take a seat in the Hill District coffee shop that inspired Wilson’s characters and stories. Step into a replica of Wilson’s home office showcasing his manuscripts, record collection and beloved 1920s writing desk. Check out original objects featured in Wilson’s Broadway productions, including a 1956 Rock Ola 1448 jukebox. Augmenting the exhibit are audio recordings performed by award-winning actors such as Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Phylicia Rashad. Register for free tickets.
Saturday, April 16: Pop-Aganda: Revolution & Iconography at the Mattress Factory
6-8 p.m.
The latest exhibition to open at the Northside museum is at the cutting edge of art and also incredibly timely in light of current global events. Featuring new site-specific work by seven artists from Pittsburgh, Russia and around the U.S., it’s the fourth edition of Tavia La Follette’s ongoing Sites of Passage series — which serves as a “global interchange for the migration of ideas across political and cultural borders.” The opening event features installation walk-throughs, meet-and-greet time with the curator and some of the artists, and unique opportunities for the public to support Ukraine. The Pittsburgh Crepe Truck will also be on-site. Register for free.
Saturday, April 16: Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid” at 100 at the Harris Theater
7:30 p.m.
Today marks 133 years since the birth of one of the film industry’s most iconic figures. Pittsburghers are invited to celebrate the craft and legacy of actor, filmmaker and composer Charlie Chaplin during this one-night event. Watch a screening of the beautifully restored print of Chaplin’s groundbreaking 1921 film, “The Kid” followed by an illustrated talk and discussion presented by Pittsburgh-based mime artist and comedy choreographer Dan Kamin. Author of “The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin: Artistry in Motion,” Kamin trained Robert Downey Jr. for his Oscar-nominated performance in “Chaplin.” Buy tickets.
Sunday, April 17: Virtual Spring Festival of The Egg
Various times
Dive into spring with the Cathedral of Learning’s Nationality Room Committees. The virtual family festival is packed with interactive videos and an egg marketplace exploring a wide range of cultural traditions. Easter is the perfect time to check out video demonstrations spotlighting egg decorating, palm weaving, ethnic cooking, butter lamb carving, Easter customs, cookie baking, spring crafts, jelly bean games and more!
Sunday, April 17: Spring Mushrooms in Frick Park
10-11 a.m.
Have fun with fungi during this free Earth Month event hosted by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Join the 2-mile hike led by Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club’s Stephen Bucklin to discover different species found in spring, how to identify them, and what these fascinating fungi are up to. Register for free.
Sunday, April 17: Opening Day at Kennywood
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Kennywood’s open! Opening with refurbished attractions one week sooner than previously planned, the historic amusement park welcomes the general public on Easter Sunday. Celebrating its 125th anniversary, the season kicks off with the Swing into Spring Festival, which includes live music, family activities and expanded food and beverage offerings. As part of an multimillion-dollar renovation, Kennywood will unveil a refreshed gift shop, ticketing improvements, new walkways and directional signage, and upgrades to The Old Mill, Thunderbolt and Phantom’s Revenge. And on May 28, the beloved Kangaroo will reopen with a fresh coat of paint and LED lights. Buy tickets.
For more things to do in Pittsburgh, read 10 April events not to miss in Pittsburgh, from a Beer Barge to a Car Bazaar.
For live music, check out The 25 best concerts coming to Pittsburgh in April, from Jack White to Girl Talk.
This article was underwritten by The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, which champions the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing financial, professional, and political support for the arts and culture sector.