First Night Pittsburgh Announces Events, 12/31

Celebrate New Year's Eve in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's First Night® Pittsburgh 2011. This family-friendly community event is presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, with generous support from lead sponsor Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. During this momentous weekend of entertainment, the city will revel in a joyous celebration of the arts: dance, music, theater, comedy, magic, visual art and film, plus hands-on activities for children and adults.

"During this exciting weekend for Pittsburgh, First Night will serve as a gateway of fun and entertainment offering an incredibly diverse selection of programming on New Year's Eve," said David O'Brien, Executive Vice President, Government Services and External Affairs for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. "First Night presents a creative, affordable, and healthy New Year's Eve celebration that makes the most of our city's wealth of artistic talent. Highmark is proud to mark its fifth year as the lead sponsor of First Night."

Adds Kathryn Heidemann, Director of First Night Pittsburgh: "We're thrilled to welcome tens of thousands of First Night visitors, including the many Winter Classic patrons, to the heart of the Cultural District. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to host this community event and to introduce Pittsburgh to premiere artists such as the Neo-Futurists, a Chicago-based theater company, and acclaimed saxophonist Tia Fuller, among many others."

First Night® Pittsburgh begins at 6 pm with the Dollar Bank Children's Fireworks Display and performances by One World Tribe on the Dollar Bank Stage, followed by the First Niagara First Night® Parade at 8 pm. This year's parade will have a "Winter Wonderland" theme with penguin puppets and Iceburgh as a programming thread to the Winter Classic. The evening concludes with a performance by Tower of Power and the First Night® tradition, The Countdown to Midnight and Future of Pittsburgh Grand Finale atop Penn Avenue Place. The Highmark Stage, where all the First Night® revelry concludes, is located on Penn Avenue next to Fifth Avenue Place. The newest venue is the former Bally's Building, which will have half a dozen workshops and activities.

Among the 125 events and activities held in 50 venues throughout the Cultural District, other special First Night® Pittsburgh attractions include the First National Bank Family Tent; Equitable Gas marquee performances featuring Squonk Opera at the Byham Theater and the Neo-Futurists at the O'Reilly Theater; Tia Fuller (who has performed with Beyoncé) at the Trust Arts Education Center; First Night Around the World international performances at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture and other venues. For a complete listing of events, visit firstnightpgh.org or call 412-456-6666.

To join the celebration, simply purchase an all-access First Night® Pittsburgh 2011 Button. A First Night® button costs only $8 in advance, $10 at the door; children age 5 and under are admitted for free. First Night® buttons are available at participating Giant Eagle stores, at The Box Office at Theater Square, online at www.firstnightpgh.org, and by calling 412-456-6666.

Due to their overwhelming popularity and limited seating in Cultural District theaters, a free General Admission Seating Voucher is necessary to see the performances of Squonk Opera, the Neo-Futurists, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Attack Theatre, Dan Kamin, Pittsburgh Gospel All City Choir and Jason Hudy's Magic Show. Vouchers are available at The Box Office at Theater Square beginning Wednesday, December 7, 2010. Simply show a First Night® button to obtain one seating voucher per production. The Box Office at Theater Square is located at 655 Penn Avenue between the O'Reilly Theater and Katz Plaza.

There will be general admission waiting lines for performances at all "vouchered" venues. Patrons will be seated on a space-available and first-come, first-served basis once voucher holders have been accommodated. Box Office hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm and Sunday, noon to 6 pm.

First Night needs volunteers for numerous jobs-from button checkers to activity helpers to parade assistants. Families, co-workers, school groups and individuals of all ages are needed to help us ring in 2011 in a fun, alcohol-free, family-friendly way. To volunteer with First Night, sign up at www.firstnightpgh.org.

First Night® Pittsburgh 2011 Sponsors as of release date include: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as the lead sponsor, Dollar Bank, Equitable Gas, First National Bank, First Niagara Bank, Giant Eagle, and PNC.

First Night® Pittsburgh 2011 Community Supporters include County of Allegheny, The Buhl Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and Richard King Mellon Foundation.
First Night® Pittsburgh 2011 Media Partners include Trib Total Media, KDKA TV, BOB 96.9 FM, Q 92.9 FM, Radio Disney, STAR 100.7, WDUQ 90.5 FM, 91.3fm WYEP and Y108.

First Night® is the largest one-day outreach event of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Founded in 1984, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has led the way for the creation and ongoing development of Pittsburgh's award-winning Cultural District. Utilizing the arts as a means for transforming a formerly blighted downtown, the Cultural Trust today welcomes over a million visitors annually to thousands of performances, gallery exhibitions and community events.

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