PITT ARTS

Free Events This Week for Pitt Undergraduates Only!

Welcome! PITT ARTS Free group Arts Encounters include tickets and transportation. All who sign up for these sought-after arts events are expected to attend the entire program with the group.


1. Capitol Fools, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, September 21
2. Unyielding Now, Texture Contemporary Ballet, September 22
3. Rocio Molina, Pittsburgh Dance Council, September 23
4. Tropical Forest Hawai‘i Tour and Lei-making Workshop, Phipps, September 24 is now FULL
5. Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For, Pittsburgh Public Theater, September 30
6. The Sounds of NOW, Pittsburgh Symphony, October 1
7. Free Arts Encounters Protocols



1. Capitol Fools
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Thursday, September 21
Meeting Time: 6:35 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 9:00 p.m.


The Capitol Fools is a new musical parody group that performs satire skits with mind-boggling backward talking spoonerisms, breakneck costume changes, over-the-top impressions, and all new song parodies reflecting the day’s news. The Capitol Fools hold up a mirror to our crazy political culture through hilarious melodies and foolish reflections that inspire belly-laughter.


2. Unyielding Now
Texture Contemporary Ballet
Friday, September 22
Meeting Time: 7:05 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 10:10 p.m.


Join Texture Contemporary Ballet to experience the energy and power of dynamic movement by their incredible artists. Unyielding Now features three new works by young up and coming choreographers exploring different themes of human similarities and differences, celebrating the joy of togetherness, and drawing inspiration from the ocean, marine life, and its varied diversity and vibrancy.


3. Rocio Molina
Pittsburgh Dance Council
Saturday, September 23
Meeting Time: 7:15 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 9:30 p.m.


Spanish choreographer Rocío Molina has coined her own artistic language based on the flamenco style Radically free, she combines technical virtuosity, contemporary research, and conceptual risk in her pieces. In Caída del Cielo (Fallen From Heaven), Molina contrasts light and darkness, celestial and savage. Accompanied by a live band, Molina’s dancing goes deep into her roots while pushing the norms of movement and gender, making a loud declaration that flamenco is an expression of freedom that cannot and should not be domesticated.


4. Tropical Forest Hawai‘i Tour and Lei-making workshop is FULL!
Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
Sunday, September 24
Meeting Time: 12:30 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 3:15 p.m.


Tour the Tropical Forest Hawai‘i: Aloha ʻĀina with PITT ARTS. Lush greenery, fragrant flora and engaging interpretation stations bring to life the Indigenous Hawaiian culture of “Aloha ʻĀina” (“love of land”.) From the exhibit’s dramatic entrance, where a model canoe represents the first Polynesian voyages to Hawai‘i, guests will be transported to a world of new discoveries. After our special lei-making workshop, you are free to tour the rest of Phipps on your own.


5. Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For
Pittsburgh Public Theater
Saturday, September 30
Meeting Time: 7:10 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 11:00 p.m.


Produced by Billy Porter and featuring a stunning score, Billy Strayhorn: Something to Live For brings to life the remarkable true story of one of the greatest composers of all time. From his impoverished beginnings in Pittsburgh to his lifelong collaboration with Duke Ellington, this world-premiere new musical follows the highs and lows of Strayhorn’s career, the joys and heartbreak of his personal life, and the challenges he faced living as an openly gay Black man in mid-20th century America at the dawn of the civil rights movement.


6.The Sounds of NOW: Opening Weekend
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, October 1
Meeting Time: 1:30 p.m.
Estimated End Time: 4:45 p.m.


Long-time friend of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Hélène Grimaud, returns to interpret Schumann’s one and only Piano Concerto, written in a season pain as this pianist had to declare one of his fingers terminally lame. Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 culminates the evening, illustrating how he emerged from adversity and triumphed with another masterpiece.


7. Free Arts Encounters Protocols

Please take a moment to review the PITT ARTS protocols for participating in our Free Arts Encounters programs. Please read carefully so you are informed about how to best take advantage of this great opportunity to experience some of the most sought-after arts events in the city of Pittsburgh totally FREE to you!

First, please be aware of our policy regarding cancellations. Every cancellation that you make indicates that you may be an unreliable choice for our programs and your chances of being selected may decrease. Once a student accumulates two cancellations on their record they will no longer have the privilege of participating in PITT ARTS Free Arts Encounters programs. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but significant efforts and funds go into planning these events, and we hope they are not taken for granted.

Secondly, learn about our no show policy! If you don’t show up for one program, you are put on a warning list, and if you don’t show up for two programs, you are no longer eligible to participate in the awesome PITT ARTS programs.

We are sure you can appreciate that those who cancel or do not show up invariably cost wasted time in communications and wasted money, often upwards of $70 per student, for tickets, and transportation.

If you are ill or have a family emergency and cannot attend a Free Arts Encounter program, please call us at 412-624-4498 by 10 AM the day of the event or the Friday before a weekend event. In other words, we need enough advance notice of your non-participation so we can notify people who may be on a waiting list that they can participate—and please understand that we do not always have a waiting list. So cancellations really hurt!

Thanks for your consideration and see you on one of our Arts Encounters programs soon!