WHAT’S NEWS IN MCKEESPORT
UPCOMING EVENTS
WITH LIFESPAN
Enjoy a night out at LifeSpan’s
CASHTOBERFEST on Friday, Oct. 11,
from 5 to 10 p.m. at Salvatore’s— Curry
Road, Whitehall. Tickets are $25 each and
include two numbers on a ticket, dinner
buffet, beer, music and dancing. Cash
winners need not be present. Visit any
LifeSpan Center or call 412.464.1300 for
tickets.
HALLOWEEN BLOWOUT
Mon Valley Senior Resource Center
412.664.5434
Olympia Shopping Center
4313 Walnut Street
McKeesport, 15132
Wear your favorite costume to the
Halloween Blowout on Thursday, Oct. 31.
Entertainment by the Belairs, costume
contest, food, games and more. Cost: $10.
CELEBRATE THE SEASON AT THE
CHRISTMAS PARTY ON DEC. 6!
Join entertainers Daryll & Kim for a
sing-along of your favorite Christmas
songs. Enjoy the food and more surprises.
RENZIE MARKET
Dates: Every Saturday until Oct. 12
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine
Address: Gravel lot on Tulip Drive
behind the McKeesport’s #2 Fire
Department in Renziehausen Park
Contact: Renzie Market on Facebook
Food — Art — Crafts — Clothing
PITTSBURGH BALLET
THEATRE’S TERRENCE S.
ORR TO RETIRE AFTER
22 YEARS AS ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR
After leading the company for 22 years,
Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr has
announced he will retire in June 2020 after
celebrating the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s
upcoming 50th Anniversary Season.
Over more than two decades as artistic
director, Orr has grown the company’s
repertory with more than 20 new
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commissions and dozens of acquisitions.
He has debuted ambitious story ballets
like “La Bayadère,” “Romeo et Juliette”
and “A Streetcar Named Desire;” curated
major masterworks by dance giants
like Jerome Robbins, Jiří Kylián and
Twyla Tharp; and provided a platform
for emerging choreographers, including
from within the company. His original
production of “The Nutcracker” has been
a Pittsburgh classic for close to 20 years.
During his tenure, the company has
grown its ticket sales, school enrollment
and campus. It has debuted the country’s
first professional sensory-friendly
production of “The Nutcracker” and
increased accessibility and educational
programming in the theater, studio and
community.
“I have made Pittsburgh my home
and certainly my life,” says Orr, who has
lived in Sewickley with his wife, PBT
Ballet Mistress Marianna Tcherkassky,
since becoming PBT artistic director in
1997. “It has been exciting to watch the
company grow and rise to incredible
heights.
“We’ve developed a distinct voice and
special place in the city where you can
experience the great classics, the great
choreographers and the emerging voices
moving this art form into the future. It
has been my honor to lead this company
for the past 22 years and great privilege
to lead it through its 50th anniversary. I
want to thank the dancers, musicians and
patrons who have become like family. You
have made my time here something I will
always cherish.”
Orr, a California native, began his dance
career at San Francisco Ballet, where he
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became a principal dancer by age 17. He
went on to lead a celebrated career at
New York City’s American Ballet Theatre
(ABT), rising from corps de ballet to
principal dancer. He joined ABT’s artistic
staff while he was still performing and
served as ballet master from 1978 to 1997.
He has staged works for ballet companies
worldwide, including the Royal Ballet at
Covent Garden, the Paris Opera Ballet,
La Scala, Australian Ballet and National
Ballet of Japan.
“Hundreds of students and professional
dancers can attest to the immeasurable
influence and passion that Terry
passes on to future generations,” says
Dawn Fleischner, chair, PBT Board of
Trustees. “Terry is beloved by the entire
organization and we can’t say enough
about the indelible legacy he created in
Pittsburgh. His vision has set the stage
for an exciting future for this company
and we will be forever grateful for his
leadership.”
“It’s been a real privilege and honor
to work in partnership with Terry over
the past 13 years and he will be greatly
missed,” says Harris Ferris, Executive
Director. “I look forward to supporting
the board in the search and transition in
artistic leadership.”
Orr will close his career with PBT by
leading celebrations for the company’s
50th Anniversary Season, which opens in
October at the Benedum Center.
The season will honor the company’s
history with a five-production lineup
featuring “Giselle” with the PBT
Orchestra (Oct. 25-27), “The Nutcracker”
(Dec. 6-29), PNC Presents “Beauty and
the Beast” (Feb. 14-23), “Here & Now”
at the August Wilson African American
Cultural Center (March 20-29) and
“Balanchine & Tchaikovsky” with the
PBT Orchestra (April 17-19) as well
as exciting repertoire to be performed
on tour on prestigious national stages
including the Chautauqua Institution,
Northrop at University of Minnesota and
others.
For ticketing and program information,
please visit pbt.org. n