Pittsburgh Post-Gazette du lieu suivant : Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 76

THE PCS TOP 50 CULTURM FORCES IN PITTSBURGH INNOVATORS FROM VITIIIII These rule-breakers work in established arts institutions or artistic disciplines but have managed to boldly infuse their work with high-quality inventiveness. REBELS WITH A CAUSE These outspoken people bravely share their unconventional opinions in this reserved city, sparking impassioned reactions as a result. 800-POUND GORILLAS 7ftese people lead organizations that are dominant in the region and therefore have the ear of many leaders outside the arts and entertainment industn'es. Thomas SokolowsW Director, The Andy Warhol Museum As the most outspoken leader in a local arts community that tries hard not to make Clear Channel The Post-Gazette Pavilion and Amphitheatre at Station Square lineups? Christopher Hahn Artistic director, Pittsburgh Opera Hahn gets the nod here, but he shares credit with general director Mark Weinstein and music director John Mauceri for the successful 7 Intelligent Dance Music. He timed it with a week of concerts, featuring no less than 26 of the 30 "Circuits artists in a half-dozen locations.

And that's just a week in the life of the city's most cutting-edge music presenter. He books a steady stream of avant-garde, noise, expenmen-tal jazz and goth concerts. Theiner's passion for the provocative extends to booking tours for overseas experimental groups with no profit for himself. Charlie Humphrey Executive director, Pittsburgh Filmmakers "Content over bandwidth," a slogan Humphrey coined in response to HDTV, could also be his personal motto. With idealistic verve, he challenges tired notions of what constitutes art and society.

Last fall's successful MediaTonic event was a "great example," he says, of "what we try to do: explode preconceived ideas of what is media, moving away from proscenium-based media like TV and movies." Filmmakers is experiencing its best year, an achievement clouded by the prospect of losing Point Park College students when the school sets up its own film program. Some may call Humphrey quixotic, but he's really a visionary who doesn't duck from the obligations of personal aims to get Pittsburgh in shape to claim the prominence it deserves in this new millennium. Anti-Flag Punk Anti-Statesmen: Chris Barker, Pat Thetic, Chris Head and Justin Sane. They've always been provocative; they're Anti-Flag. But with so many in this country seeking comfort in the flag and that ubiquitous Lee Greenwood song in the wake of Sept 1 1 touring with a name like Anti-Flag and shouting down the Bush administration while performing in the shadow of an upturned American flag, was guaranteed to either stir things up or get them killed.

Manny Theiner Director, Pop BusSSS Records; independent music presenter After the closing of the Millvale Industrial Theater due to building code violations, Theiner rebounded with the release of "Circuits of Steel: Electronic Music From Pittsburgh for the 21st Century," a two-CD, city compilation of if i waves, Sokolowski often finds himself out on a limb. "Without Sanctuary," the controversial exhibition of graphic lynching photographs, found a home at The Warhol, as did an edgy performance art series imported from New York City. Driven by a passionate concern for the future of the visual arts in Pittsburgh, he also publicly challenged the decision of the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts to abandon its curated exhibition program and the choice of a local sculptor (whose work he derided as "bowling to commemorate Pittsburgh native son Gene Kelly. Some think Sokolowski's public discourse is out of line, but his proactive stance administrative and Ellsworth Brown President, Carnegie Museums ol Pittsburgh Brown, whose power derives from his leadership of four cherished museums, won accolades this year for supporting expansions of the Carnegie Science Center and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Another building project is in the works at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and at The Andy Warhol Museum, Brown let the Warhol be the Warhol.

Gideon Toeplitz Managing director, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra By virtue of leading the city's largest and most prestigious arts organization, Toeplitz is already in a position of great power. But he squeezes every ounce of opportunity from any situation that could benefit the PSO, locally or internationally. Also, his leadership of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Alliance found him working with other groups to better the entire arts scene. Kevin McMahon President, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust In his first year here, McMahon has taken Pittsburgh's measure and likes what he sees, but he thinks we can do better. The Trust's period of imperial building having largely passed, McMahon wants to focus more on programming, including blockbuster events to increase cultural tourism, and he wants to develop small arts venues and nurture Cultural District constituents.

He may be the smallest of the 800-pound gorillas now, but he's growing. both feel-good and-. tragic She hopes to inaugt rate a new-play festival and is working I with managing director David Jobin to innovate offstage programming, especially for young adults. Natalie Forbes Executive director, Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society. Forbes has been an invigorating presence, booking excellent chamber groups and reaching out to the community and schools to fill spacious Carnegie Music Hall.

This season, she developed a project Pittsburgh has never seen before: five concerts in one weekend of the Orion String Quartet playing all of Beethoven's string quartets, an artistic and box-office success. KarlaBoos Founder and artistic director, Quantum Theatre A year of being able to work full-time for her own company has given Boos and Quantum greater stability, and new staff help is on the way. But Quantum remains purposefully freeform and innovative, a theater literally on the move, camping out in successive, unlikely new spaces and introducing playwrights Pittsburgh has rarely heard of, let alone seen. Arthur Ziegler and Barry Hannegan President and director of Historic Design Programs, Pittsburgh History Landmarks Foundation Each credits the other with the idea, so we honor both. Hannegan and Ziegler launched a public space design competition in 2001 that invited architects, land-1 scape architects and artists under the age of 35 to imagine how Pittsburgh's public-squares could be redesigned.

This year, they sponsored a similar competition for "orphaned spaces," raised the prize money to $10,000 and attracted 19 entries packed with fresh, inventive ideas. That's Clear Channel. "Mamma Mia" at the Benedum? Clear Channel. Controversial WDVE billboards? That's Clear Channel, too. Like it or not, Clear Channel is everywhere, the ultimate 800-pound gorilla of the entertainment industry.

It was four years ago this summer that the global conglomerate gobbled up DiCesare-Engler Productions in acquiring the nation's major concert promoters. It now operates TV and radio stations (WDVE, The 3WS, among others here), outdoor advertising displays and concert venues in 63 countries. It produces Broadway shows and tours, booking and sometimes managing those tours in dozens of cities, among them Pittsburgh, where its junior partners in the Pittsburgh Broadway Series are the Cultural Trust and the Symphony Society. There's also a sports division, responsible for monster truck shows and other noisy things. Faces of Clear Channel here are Rich Engler, presidentCEO of Clear Channel Entertainment Pittsburgh, and Lance Jones, vice president of CCEP and executive director of the Post-Gazette Pavilion; and John Rohm and Gene Romano, regional vice president and senior vice president of programming, respectively, for Clear Channel Communications.

financial and artistic revamping of the Opera. Former head Tito Capobianco may have been edgy earlier in his career, but he was conservative during his last decade at the helm. The company made its way onto the national cultural map this season, the first that Hahn and Mauceri programmed. Hahn's risks with two new productions "Don Giovanni" and "Lucia di Lammermoor" paid off, headlining a season of bold sets seen for years everywhere but Pittsburgh. Staging and singing has reached higher levels as well (including the Opera Center trainees), and audiences have responded.

Pittsburgh Glass Center A consortium of glass enthusiasts including Kathleen Mulcahy (artistic director), Post-Gazette chairman emeritus William Block Sr. (initial (under) and Allyson Halpern (director) persisted for eight years to create a world-class glass studio and teaching facility in Friendship. With the arrival of new executive director Dyana Curreri-Ermatinger and its first artist-in-residence, Robin Stanaway, the center's first class of students is breathing life into its furnaces and workshops. Tracy Brigden Artistic director, City Theatre In her first year as Marc Masterson's successor, Brigden's mainstage play selection has nudged City a bit closer to the cutting edge. In the studio theater, she has expanded City's own programming, j3 I I J' LUMINARIES 7ftese performers, who have earned real celebrity status, draw crowds and make Pittsburghers proud.

Frames courtesty of La Fond Gallery, South Side i Fred Rogers Author and host emeritus, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" Though he's no longer in the studio making television shows, Mister Rogers remains one A gathering of nurturers: from left, Stephanie Flom, Jay Dantry, Elvira Peake, Phyllis Moorman Goode, Kathleen Zimbicki, Marilyn Coleman and Roger Humphries. INNOVATORS FROM WITHOUT These independent artists create unusual work or devise distinct artistic events without the benefit of institutional support or widespread fame. W. I i hV'v if 1 1 NURTURERS hard-working folks labor behind the scenes to form and encourage the kind of support networks that enable artists and arts groups to thrive. Mariss Jansons Music director, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Jansons is a rare bird of a star the less he shows up in Pittsburgh, the more his fame grows.

He's gone from "Mariss who?" to a box-office guarantee whose very presence raises the artistic level of the PSO. His EMI disc of Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 with the PSO, released last fall, was the first the PSO had recorded since 1996. And his profile in the U.S. pales in comparison to that in his native Europe, where many critics and music lovers consider him one of the most inspiring living conductors.

Rusted Root Rock band: Michael Glabicki, John Buynak, Jenn Wertz, Patrick Norman, Liz Berlin, Jim Donovan. Pittsburgh's biggest-selling rock band just completed a national tour that started with colleges on the East Coast and moved on to prestige venues like the Fillmore in San Francisco and the House of Blues in Los Angeles. The band, which regrouped in the summer of 2000 after a hiatus, recently released its fourth major-label record, "Welcome to My Party," on IslandDef Jam. In August, Root will go back out on the road with Santana. busy neighbor.

Who else do you know who's had three books published in the Rast year? He's also been to the White ouse, accepted countless awards, received several honorary college degrees and delivered dozens of speeches. All that and he remains Pittsburgh's most gracious, effortless celebrity and willing role model. The Clarks Rock band: Scott Blasey, Rob James, Greg Joseph and Dave Minarik Pittsburgh's favorite rockers spent much of the past year in Nashville recording their second release on Razor Tie, "Another Happy Ending." But The Clarks were still a presence here, with "Born Too Late" all over local radio and as last year's largest draw at the I.C. Light Amphitheatre. This year, they've got two nights at Station Square to celebrate "Happy Ending." i 7 5 1 TAVX.

-V -i Michele de la Reza and Peter Kope Founders, Attack Theatre Without a doubt Attack Theatre fulfilled its promise this year by stretching, shifting and crossing the boundaries of dance. We saw it on video and by telephone at the Mattress Factory I've Got Two choreographing Squonk Opera's "Burn," working with Karta Boos and Pittsburgh Opera in "Carmen" and in its fantasyreality performances of "This Ain't the Nutcracker." In between, the troupe did a six-week residency at the Dillworth Traditional Academy, making "movement spies" out of third- and fifth-grade students. And, while we didn't see them at the Avignon Festival in France last summer, that stint will lead to a trip to Japan next year. Boxstep Band: Greg Ciston, tr Daddario, Jackie Dempsey, Eric Graf, Erin Hutter, Paul Labrise, Sarah Siplak and David Wallace An impassioned mini-orchestra with coed vocals, strings, intense dynamics and an English teacher known to e-mail people poems every Friday, Boxstep doesn't have much trouble standing out among local bands. Signed to Windy City indie Overcoat, they played a label showcase in support of their acclaimed release "The Faces All Look On" at the prestigious South-by-Southwest Music and Media Conference in March.

Karl Mullen Musician, artist, Club Cafe booking manager There was a weekend in March when Mullen had an art opening at Gallerie Chiz," his Karl Mullen Band was performing at the Empty Bowls Dinner for which he worked up a song with students from the Duquesne School District and he had a full weekend of shows he'd booked at Club Cafe. Mullen arnved from his native Ireland in 1976 and founded the band Carsickness. Since then, he's toned down musically, but his creative energy has never lagged. Sreyashi Dey Artistic director, Srishti Dances ol India Dey has taken an art form bom in the temples of India and challenged its possibilities by working with Western influences in music, poetry and drama. Her "Chitrag- anda" at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre lastfal set a standard for community arts groups, reinforcing feminist strengths (from a country where many women cannot fulfill their potential) along with embracing new chore1 ography and music.

..4 ') i 3 I PENNIES FROM HEAVEN These people really do provide something heavenly in the nonprofit arts world: money. Underdogs for now: from left, Mike Elko, Janet McCall, Andrew Paul, Sary Kaboly, Jon Rinaldo, Linda Benedict-Jones, Ken Gargaro and Mark Taylor. I Innovators on their own terms: top, Michele de la Reza; from left, Karl Mullen, Sreyashi Dey, Eric Graf and Peter Kope. i I I 1 UNDERDOGS EXPORTERS STANDARD DEARERS They have achieved artistic success with less money and fewer resources tinrmst, proving there are high-quality These residents have earned a national platform with their work and. in the process, have spread the word about Pittsburgh.

offerings beyond the mainstream institutions. These people contribute to the richness of the Pittsburgh arts scene by continually presenting strong work to devoted audiences. board of directors and the Summer Arts Festival Committee. She's also connected with artists around the region and is a storehouse of knowledge about them. She's a tireless supporter and active member of the art community, exhibiting local artists and regularly attending exhibition openings and programs in other art venues.

She's also an artist; one of her ceramic works is in the Westmoreland Museum of American Art collection. Jay Dantry Owner, Jay's Book Stall Jay's Book Stall is what a real bookstore looks like no muffins or CDs, just wall-to-wall books. Photos of its proprietor with dozens of the countless writers who've stopped in during the Book Stall's 35 years cover a board near the back door. The display is just a hint of Jay Dantry's stature as Pittsburgh's premier bookseller. Wedged among the ethnic restaurants and pizzerias of Oakland's Fifth Avenue, the Book Stall has endured both the tentacles of the University of Pittsburgh octopus and the locust-plague devastation of superstore chains.

Dantry survives yes, even prospers (if independent book- sellers ever really prosper) not only because he loves and knows books but also by the force of his visible presence in the community. Phyllis Moorman Goode Executive committee member, Multi-Cultural Arts Initiative For more than 1 0 years, as chair of the initiative funded by the Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation, Goode has worked to build African-American arts organizations and promote and foster cultural diversity across all organizations in all aspects of community life. Kathleen Zimbicki Director, Studio Gallery; artist As propnetor of her South Side gallery for 26 years, Zimbicki has given local artists a place to show and to meet seek advice and network. An exhibiting watercolorist herself she received the Best of Show award at the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society's annual last month she's also an enthusiastic and in-demand juror and teacher at Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Sweetwater. She's also chairwoman for the 92nd Associated Artists of Pittsburgh annual opening Sept 1 at The Andy Warhol Museum.

Marilyn Coleman Executive director, ProArts There's probably no small arts organization in Pittsburgh that hasn't been nourished in some way by ProArts' services: the workshops on marketing and fund raising, the free legal and business advice, the ticket service now selling on behalf of 45 groups. Coleman, a tireless networker, keeps it all running by raising funds, forging strong contacts with politicians and foundations and staying on top of trends that might affect her flock of small arts groups, many of which use ProArts' events as opportunities to share common struggles and concerns. Roger Humphries Jazz drummer, band leader and educator Creating a nursery for emerging young talent continues to be Humphries' focus. Aside from being a music teacher and band leader, Humphries can be found every Tuesday night hosting his jazz jam session at James Street Restaurant He is quite liberal about who he allows on the bandstand: His only requirement is that musicians have an understanding of the nuances of jazz. Over the years, hundreds if not thousands of young players have participated in the sessions, including drummers Tom Wendt, who regularly performs with organist Gene Ludwig.

and James Johnson III, who can be found behind the kit in pianist Ahmad Jamal's trio. Stephanie Flom Artistactivist This East Liberty activist loves to make things grow. As director of The Persephone Project and Art Gardens of Pittsburgh, she has promoted a burgeoning awareness of the mayfly through her whimsical Matisse-like cutouts that fluttered through a collaboration with Dance Alloy's Mark Taylor. Recently. Flom, a research fellow at the Studio for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University, saw her first artist-commissioned gardens bear fruit at the Frank Auto Parte on Bigelow Boulevard.

But her grandest achievement finally took root when, after 1 3 years of cultivation, the Kelly-Strayhorn Community Arts Center in East Liberty had its official opening in April. Elvira Peake Director, Clay Place; artist Peake has a substantial presence in Shadyside at her gallery, now in its 29th year, and as a past member of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce is off the beaten track, it's sung with precision, and it's getting rave reviews. Genaux also had an acclaimed tour with the Akademie fur Ate Musik and Rene Jacobs and performed at the Metropolitan Opera. generated international response, while programs included exhibiting two nationally known artists in conjunction with the International Sculpture Conference, co-hostma an international fiberart exhibition v-' i i and presenting a workshop by American I II i- ii ii.iii I. i I t.

mmm Barbara Luderowski Founderdirector Mattress Factory It's an indication of her accomplishments that the installation art museum Luderowski founded 25 years ago has moved in the public consciousness from an alternative space to one of the community standards. While continuing to shake up notions of what art is, Mattress Factory has received substantial grants from such mainstream agencies as the Department of Community and Economic Development of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and the Fisher Fund of the Pittsburgh Foundation. A $300,000 challenge grant from the NEH one of three awarded nationwide to an art museum in 2002 will support a permanent endowment for humanities education. Lake FongPost-Gazette Friendly hinders: Their generosity helps make it all possible: Teresa Heinz, left, "Anonymous" and Elsie Hillman. Lake Fong'Post-Gazette Mike Elko and Jon Rinaldo Concert promoters Don't mistake these two for partners.

We're not even sure they like each other. Why, then, would we pair them here? Because they represent the last defense against the corporate might of the Clear Channel dynasty, which ultimately means more entertainment choices for the city. Without Elko, who's to say if Pittsburgh would have seen the latest White Stnpes show? Without Rinaldo, who's to say if local hip-hop fans would ever see a hardcore rap show? And they've both done more than that of course. Ken Gargaro Artistic director, Pittsburgh Musical Theater There are a dozen small Pittsburgh theater companies working for tree and begging for performance space who wonder why Gargaro is an underdog. That's because PMT often seems an uninvited junior member of a Cultural District theater elite Broadway Senes, Public and (especially) CLO.

Two seasons after a reorganization that removed his name from the company's banner, Ga-garo, 53. is happiest as dean of PMT Richard E. Rauh Conservatory, which has found a comfortable home in the West End. Last year's experimental pop-rock theater season didn't generate the excitement Garcaro had hoped, but although the company st-ll rents the Byham from its competitor, most of its shows are popular successes. PMT remains a big company still on the verge.

Mart Taylor Artistic director, Dance Alloy Wlh a sliding economy knocking at fie door of tie Dance Alloy's Neighborhood Dance Center in Friendship, Taylor remained inside for the most part scheduling a record nine informal performances on the popular ComMOTION series and a creative trio of Showroom performances that tapped the talents of this likable company. Taylor threw a delectable "Soiree," based on Merce Cunningham's events, scored with the shifting interface of video and dance in "New Directions" and successfully celebrated the return of the mayfly with "Hello Love, Goodbye I'm Dead!" Gary Kaboly Director of exhibition, Pittsburgh Filmmakers In the past year. Kaboly and his staff have booked 260 films and fed moviegoers' appetites with an array of international choices. He helped "The Bread. My Sweet become a local sensation and also scored with "The Road Home," "Under the Sun" -and "Innocence." He programs the Regert Square.

Hams, Melwood Screening Room, Three Rivers Film Festival and resurrected the Byham summer senes. "As for being in the underdog category, WaPy Cox was always my hero, and I even enjoyed him as Mr. Peepers," Kaboly says. Janet McCall Executive director. Society for Contemporary Craft The p-esence at the 30th anniversary celebration last fall of guest of honor LVche jge (at the time the state's first lady) sonifies the society's prog-ess towa-d its goat of raising its p'ofiie and becoming an international leader in showcasing contemporaTf craft artsts.

This year, tne biennial coDetition hed memory of founder Elizabeth Raphael Rick Sebak producer With distinctive voice, warmth and documentary style, Sebak exports Pittsburgh -with local specials that get national amng and national shows that always include a nod to his hometown. After "The Stnp Show" was shown on nearly 200 PBS stations, Stnp District merchants found they developed a farflung following for their foodstuffs. Sebak's local shows have accounted for the sa'e of almost 1 62.000 tapes many to out-of-towners. He's now juggling a national prosed called "Sandwiches That You Wl Le" and the local "Happy Hobdays in Pittsburgh." He also pans two more prog'arns tor PBS. on cemetenes plus unusual buildings and other roadside stufl Chatham Baroque Early music ensemble: Julie Andrijesid and Emily Davidson (baroque vtcims), Patricia Halverson (viola da gamba) and Scott Pauley (theorbo, baroque guitar) This group not only puts Pittsburgh on the map for a small but ultra-dedcated group of enthusiasts but also for muse- love's in gene'al.

Through its tounng (15 dates this year) to its acclaimed CDs, Chatham Ba-oaue has fans aS over the woid. "Reel of Tutoch," released last summer, soi led the grjup's reputation as masters of ba-ocje dance muse wheh I showcased again its season senes both Sewxkley and PCsbuTjh- Indian artists Julia and Lucy Kanxer, i whose baskets are in the Smithsonian's linda Benedict-Jones Executive director, Silver Eye Center for Photography Since taking Silver Eye's reigns three I years ago, Benedict-Jones has elevated i photography's presence in the city and i spread Pittsburgh's reputation to a national audience. A fall exhibition of collectors' photograohs called attention to the rapidly expanding nationwide interest in historic and tine art photography, and annual juried membership exhibitions draw submissions from across the country. In March, Benedict-Jones was an invited portfolio reviewer at the prestigious Houston FotoFest April's benefit auction raised $56,000 flunng an economical distressed psnod. Andrew Paul Artistic director, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre Last year was financial rocky for PtsbiKgh's newest Equty theater, which had grcwn very fast but the work stayed stnyig artstcai'y.

Though Paul's new season is one p'-ay sma'ier. tree's a tour of Ireland crmsng up and a new piay-readng senes. The classics still come from the Eng'ish far on. wti fresher wo flowing from the fertile Insh imagination. The challenge aead: a more stable home than shay at City.

Melissa Martin and Adrienne Wehr Writerdirector and producer, "The Bread, My Sweet-Pittsburgh has been showcased on film in the past but Martin and Wehr have captivated film-festival audiences and runes around the country with their cinematic love letter to the city (filmed almost enti'eV in the Stnp Distinct). They worked on a shoestnng and did much of the heavy lifting themselves, from raising money to publicity. A romantic comedy starring Scott Baio and Knstin Minter, the movie drew sellout audiences in two separate engagements at FlSsburgh Filmmakers, which is tie movie back for a turd run ths month. VMM Genaux Opera singer Unlike CmdereBa, one of her regular roles, Genaux's climb to the too has been Instead of a fairy godmotner, she has the wise Ciaud.a Pmza. her voce teacher Pittsbur3h.

Pirca not on'y he'ped Genaux master technique, she encouraged the mezzo-sorrano to sing what she wits to instead of the usual anas. The sfatesy has paid off royaiy as the Be'tevue-based snger is the toast of critics everywhen A perfect example of her moid-breakng her CD, "Aras for FanneV released mAiriin Europe and September here. The music primarily through The Hillman Foundation Inc. and The Henry L. Hillman Foundation, and more than $10 million was distributed in 2001 to agencies in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Recipients included The Carnegie Museums and Library. Pittsburgh Chidren's Museum, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Phipps Conservatory, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and Westmoreland Museum of American Art Even more important is the support the Hillmans provide with their presence at many cultural events. Who but Mrs. Hillman would dress up as Peter Pan at her Elsie Awards to benefit WQED? Anonymous Philanthropists Check out the donor list of any arts group and you'll see "anonymous" listed wlh all the Mr. Mrs.

So-and-so's. Who could "anonymous" be? The Pittsburgh Symphony receved 118 anonymous donations last season, the Pittsburgh Public Theater 124. In addition, tree's an anonymous donor who gves $10,000 to three Putsburgh artists every year. At least one thing is known: these anonymi have dough, and the ony thing we need to know is that some of it supports the arts. Teresa Heinz and the Heinz family Philanthropists The Heinz family and its foundations, longtime supporters of arts and culture in the region, continued to broaden the scope and definition of their funding with more than $10 million in grants.

In addition to the Heinz Endowments' ongoing support of cultural institutions, maior funding was directed to the issues of urban design, arts education in public schools, individual artists and cultural diversity. Another philanthropic arm is the Heinz Family Foundation, which bestows the prestigious 5250,000 Heinz Award in Arts and Humanities. "Though Teresa Heinz spends less time in Pittsburgh since her mamage to Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, her three sons have begun to step up to the plate. Also stlt active locally is Cultural District visional Jack Hera's widow, Drue, whose contnbutions include ongoing supoort for the Drue Hera Lectures and the Heinz Architectural Center.

Henry and Elsie Hillman Philanthropists Tne Rnk at PPG was their most visible contribution to Pittsburgh test year, but it's the tip of the tebeTj when if comes to the of the Hillman family. They gve Susan Corbett Producer, Drue Heinz Lectures Corbett started her third year as producer of the lectures with all of her ducks in a row a carefully put-together lineup of writers, commentators, scientists and even a rabbi, as wei as a solid commitment from Heinz, the esteemed backer of literary causes. Then came Sept 11. Corbett battied through the pal and cancellations to maintain the series' Quality and its loyal audience base, the foundation of a program that attracts more than 20,000 for its eght events. Van Kaplan Executive producer, Pittsburgh CLO The CLO continues to tend with taste and care to one of the great Amencan cutural resources, musical comedy.

Its attempts to launch new work have been less successful, but soon Kaplan wi have a new showcase, a cabaret theater in which to feature some of the popular small musicals that have done muttiyear runs in other cities. Richard Armstrong Director, Camegie Museum of Art The Museum of Art has shown that maintaining a standard of excellence doesn't mean shutting out the local, as with Diane Samuels' solo exhibition. A greater commitment to photography included a popular exhibition of Pittsburgh photographs taken in the 1950s by the famed W. Eugene Smith, and the acquisition of the archives of fine art photographer Duane Michais, a McKeesport native who lives in New YonX. and the late photojour-nalist Charles "Teeme" Hams, who documented the Pittsburgh Afncan-Amencan community from the 1930s to the 70s.

A successful reception for Saturday art class students and alumni included reminiscences by noted realist and Pittsburgh native Philip Pearlstein. Terrence Orr Artistic director, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre To paraphrase Muhammed Ali, Orr and managing director Steven Libman can float like a butterfly, bolstering the PBT's classical repertoire with more sumptuous costumes and scenery and the announcement of a new Pittsburgh-inspired "Nutcrackec But they can also "Sting" like a bee, with a scintillating and intelligent foray into pop art, "Brand New Day." Ted Pappas Artistic director, Pittsburgh Public Theater. In his second year at the helm of Pittsburgh's premier nonmusical theater (in tandem with managing director Stephen Klein), Pappas continues a standard mix of classics, established work and an occasional new play, such as "Paper Doll," which hopes to reach Broadway. Next year's inclusion of some frankly commercial hits is less standard than surpnsrng. Photos by ANNIE O'NEILL TOST-GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER 1.