Spice up the semester with cultural happenings

It’s only the third week of school and already you’ve seen more of the library than you… It’s only the third week of school and already you’ve seen more of the library than you would have liked. The local party and bar scenes are losing their appeal, and the next football game is almost two weeks away. Where can you turn when you’ve got a hankering for something exciting, creative and artsy? Why to PITT ARTS of course. They have the quick fix to curb your cultural cravings and help you get out of your campus-life slump.

PITT ARTS is a program run by the University designed to engage Pitt undergraduates with the lively arts community that is going on around them. It provides free tickets, free transportation and free food to some of the area’s hottest cultural events. Each week an e-newsletter is distributed to their mailing list announcing the upcoming events, and students simply sign up online to reserve their seats.

This week, for example, showcases Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s current show, “Henry,” and a Carnegie Museum of Art luncheon held here on campus. Often times, these events include special bonuses, such as meeting with the artistic director before a performance or having a talkback with actors after a show.

Perhaps you found a show that you would like to attend, but it is not on the PITT ARTS schedule. Does that mean you have to pay full price? Not with PITT ARTS around. The “Attack of the Cheap Seats” program helps you get to the event you want at a price that means you won’t have to eat Ramen for the rest of the week. You can place an order for up to four tickets (usually one week in advance) and even bring non-Pitt people as your guests. Venues that are part of this program include the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Quantum Theatre and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, as well as others.

If you can’t squeeze the arts into your schedule this week, here is a list of some upcoming opportunities:

Free studio classes for Pitt students at the Carnegie Museum of Art

Sign up by Sept. 22 for “I Can’t Draw” or “Creating with Clay”

Pitt Night at the Opera, Benedum Center

Sept. 30 at 8 p.m.

Verdi’s “Rigoletto”

Includes transportation, pre-opera talk, desserts, discussion

Student Tickets: $18

Pitt Night at the Ballet, Benedum Center

Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.

“Carmen”

Includes transportation, pre-performance dessert reception with members of the PBT artistic staff

Student Tickets: $15

Pitt Night at the Symphony, Heinz Hall

Nov. 5 at 8:00 p.m.

“Ecstasy”

Student Tickets: $18