Featuring 30 international companies and artists from 20 countries, including representation from Pittsburgh’s own arts community, the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts (a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust) is electrifying downtown with never-before-seen theater, dance, music, visual arts and immersive experiences!
The last Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts was in 2013 (following Festivals in 2008 and 2004), and since then the Trust has doubled the Festival’s length and tripled its attractions, presenting more than 500 opportunities for everyone – locals and visitors alike – to experience groundbreaking international works in Pittsburgh… reinforcing our reputation as a premier global destination for arts, entertainment, and culture.
Among the Festival’s many must-see offerings this year are a number of very literary — and literature-inspired — performances and premieres: an acrobatic interpretation of the quintessential Georges Perec essay, “Species of Space”; a genre-bending look at The White Album by Joan Didion; a pulp-fiction secret agent star of more than 300 books (published in Israel from the 1960s through the 80s) brought to life with Foley sound effects (more on that below)… and more!
We recommend spending some time clicking through the Pittsburgh International Festival of Firsts’ full event listings, but we’ve also highlighted some of their more literary offerings right here on Littsburgh for your convenience!
This post is brought to you in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
⭐️ Littsburgh Pick: This special production is going to be super-fun. We had no idea there was an Israeli James Bond (the star of over 300 books, a “karate expert with ‘sexy hands'”)… and now that we know about him, we can’t wait to see visiting artists from Tel Aviv bring him to life through the fine art of Foley! We’re huge Frankenstein fans, too, so the fact that this is paired with a Bricolage production of Frankenstein — complete with vintage commercial spoofs, vocal acrobatics, and even more Foley! — makes this a must-see for us. Perfect for a pre-Halloween date night!
Fictional worlds collide when larger-than-life stories of Frankenstein and Karate Man Patrick Kim are told in old-fashioned radio play style. Pittsburgh’s own Bricolage Production Company pairs with Tel-Aviv’s Hanut31 to present this two-part limited-run engagement using Foley sound effects in front of a “live” studio audience!
Radio Play: The Adventures of Karate Man, Patrick Kim
Presented by Hanut31 – Theater & Gallery
Hanut31 tells the immortal story of secret agent Patrick Kim and his thrilling adventures. Patrick Kim was the fictional secret-agent star of more than 300 books, published by eight different writers, in Israel from 1960s through the 1980s. The pulp fiction work, Inspired by James Bond and Bruce Lee films, combines Cold War drama, Karate fighting, and sex.
“He’s huge, he’s tough, He’s flexible, he’s firm,
His chest erects like two iron shields,
His tough muscles bounce like bunnies,
He’s a lean, mean fighting machine!
The name is Kim. Patrick Kim.”
“Who is Patrick Kim? The karate expert with the ‘sexy hands’ is the protagonist of a series of paperback adventure novels in Hebrew, replete with dramatic descriptions of their hyper-masculine protagonist and his romantic interludes, as well as thrilling action. Chronicling the adventures of the 2-meter-tall Korean-American secret agent with muscles of steel, the books were very popular in Israel throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s; becoming a cult hit. Although written over the years by a bevy of different writers (all writing under pseudonyms), the distinctive style is consistent throughout, with phrases like ‘sexy hands’ (ידיו המסוקסות) becoming an instant nostalgia trigger for those in the know…” — Midnight East
Midnight Radio’s Frankenstein
Presented by Bricolage Production Company
It’s Alive! But, what is it? A monster? A mistake? 200 years after it was brought to life, Midnight Radio reanimates Mary Shelly’s masterpiece, Frankenstein, like you’ve never seen or heard it before!
Go back in time as the company spins the horrific tale of a tenacious young scientist hell-bent on recreating human life. A creature born so hideous, he was forsaken by his maker and shunned by society. Watch Frankenstein’s monster come alive with Foley sound effects, vintage commercial spoofs, and a dizzying array of vocal acrobatics!
If you enjoy Midnight Radio presenters Larger Than Life, Bricolage’s full-length version of Frankenstein will run November 1-10, 2018. Tickets and more information can be found on the Bricolage Production Company website.
Don’t miss out: The world premiere of Bricolage Production Company & Hanut31 Theater & Gallery’s Frankenstein & Karate Man Patrick Kim runs from Thursday, October 25th – Saturday, Oct 27th!
Accessibility: Audio Described, Braille, Large Print, Wheelchair Seating
Midnight Radio features Braille and large print programs. Audio Description is available on Saturday, October 27th at 2:00pm. Bricolage’s space at 937 Liberty Avenue is designed for wheelchair access and features all-gender restrooms. Bricolage is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all patrons. Bricolage encourages patrons to identify any specific accommodations that would make their experience more enjoyable by contacting Fred Frances at 412-471-0999 or fred@webbricolage.org.
This show is not recommended for children under the age of 13.
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