Thu., May 28 -- Comedy
Comedian Scott Paparcuri is wife-less, childless and hasn't had a day job in 16 years. His lifestyle affords him plenty of time to pursue the study of his favorite subject -- himself. "The only regret I have about doing standup comedy is that I am not able to watch me," he says. The Funny Bone is the next stop for Paparcuri, who has appeared on MTV, HBO and The Howard Stern Show. Andrea Bullard 7:30 p.m. ($8 plus two-drink minimum). Also 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 29, and 8 and 10:15 p.m. Sat., May 30 ($15 plus two-drink minimum). Station Square, South Side. 412-281-3130.
Thu., May 28 -- Stage
Should dark comedies about murder in the underbelly of mid-century British pop be your bag, hasten to the Pittsburgh Playhouse for the REP's staging of Mojo. Jez Butterworth's acclaimed 1995 play premiered at London's Royal Court Theatre. It's set in 1958, in a seedy club, amongst the men behind rising singing-and-dancing star Silver Johnny -- who panic after their boss is, erm, dismembered by a rival promoter. The professional cast, including Amadeo Fusca and Sam Turich, is directed by Kim Martin. Bill O'Driscoll 8 p.m. Continues through June 14. 222 Craft Ave., Oakland. $24-27. 412-621-4445 or www.pittsburghplayhouse.com
Thu., May 28 -- Music
Buddy Holly gets less play anymore than that irksome Don McLean song memorializing him. ("The day the music died," indeed.) We're not bitter, though -- and neither is Daphne Alderson, the much-lauded local cabaret chanteuse who visits Bricolage Theatre tonight and tomorrow with the tribute Words of Love. It's 50 years since the innovative Texas-born rocker died in a plane crash. Alderson and her band -- Elisa Kohanski (cello), Brian Stahurski (bass) and RJ Heid (percussion) -- summon the joy of Holly's music in new arrangements by Doug Levine and John Marcinizyn. BO 9 p.m. Also 9 p.m. Fri., May 29. 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $10. [email protected]
Fri., May 29 -- Anniversary
On this very day in 1959, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art first opened its doors. The Greensburg institution still celebrates painting, photography, sculpture and more, traditional and contemporary. But this weekend, it's also about cake: a replica of the museum crafted from cake stars in today's birthday festivities. And if tickets to Saturday's black-tie ball ($250) strain your budget, on Sun., May 31, the museum offers free admission from 1-4 p.m., complete with a birthday party featuring cupcakes (which were around 50 years ago) and karaoke (which wasn't). BO 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues Sat., May 30, and Sun., May 31. 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. 724-837-1500 or www.wmuseumaa.org
Fri., May 29 -- Chalk
Chalk up another arts coup for Pittsburgh. New York artist Julia Mandle brings her installation art, highlighting the need to stop and appreciate urban gems we often pass by, to arts hotspots on the North Side. Mandle led kids from the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in creating chalk shoes, which will leave a trail to amenities like the New Hazlett Theater and the Warhol Museum as they guide arts leaders through the neighborhood. Check out the kids and their shoes, costumes and pathways at a picnic tonight in Allegheny Commons. Bring your own grub. Melissa Meinzer 5-7 p.m. North Side. Free. 412-320-4610 or www.newhazletttheater.org
Fri., May 29 -- Stage
That big -- no, Great -- Depression produced a lot of musicals. Why not our littler one? Tonight premieres What Haven't Ya Heard?, by Rick Schweikert, Bob Marion and Jeff Michel. The stage musical is set at a bar where the regulars talk and sing about financial meltdowns and who's to blame. Tonight's show, at Uptown's Viaduct Studios, is prelude to Pop Up Pittsburgh's inaugural "Uptown on the Move" block party tomorrow. The afternoon-long event includes art exhibits, performances, a barbecue contest, literary readings, film, a neighborhood tour -- and a second performance of What Haven't Ya Heard? BO 7 p.m. (Viaduct, 622 Second Ave., Uptown). Also 1 p.m. Sat., May 30 (James Simon Sculpture Studio, 305 Gist St., Uptown). Both performances are donation-requested. 412-352-3417
Sat., May 30 -- Acting
Be in a movie. (Well, maybe, if you make final cut.) Warrior, Gavin O'Connor's action drama set in the world of mixed martial arts, needs loads of extras for an arena scene to be shot today at the Petersen Events Center. The production is raffling prizes for participants, and head-count determines a donation to the Fallen Heroes Fund. Call ahead for instructions. BO 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 3719 Terrace St., Oakland. 1-866-204-0621.
Sat., May 30 -- Rock
No, it's not technically the first day of summer, but with the year's first big concert at the Post-Gazette Pavilion tonight, it might as well be. And tonight's show is one you can kinda ease into: dreamy pop from Coldplay along with dreamy balladeer Pete Yorn and Howling Bells. Other shows at the venue in the next couple of weeks include Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction (June 10), New Kids on the Block (June 11) and No Doubt with Paramore (June 13). Aaron Jentzen 7:30 p.m. 665 Rt. 18, Burgettstown. $35-97.50 ($24.75 for lawn four-pack). 724-947-7400 or www.livenation.com
Sat., May 30 -- Comedy
It's laughs for cheap tonight, and for a good cause. UPS guy and comic Brad Ryan emcees a showcase featuring Chuck Krieger, John Evans (Last Comic Standing) and Mike Wysocki at the Harmarville Comfort Inn. Humor for Heroes proceeds benefit the Fallen Heroes Fund. BO 9 p.m. 2801 Freeport Road, Harmarville. 412-352-8558
Saturday May 30 -- Roller Ball
Nearly nomadic, Down & Derby has found itself settled into several venues since its inception: first a Penn Avenue living space, then Bellevue's now-defunct Key Room, and now, for several months, Belvedere's, in Lawrenceville. The hip roller-skating party celebrates its fourth anniversary tonight with a blowout bash, playing host to the finale of Decade's Most Wanted, a search for Pittsburgh's most fashionable. With tunes spun by Nugget and Rok One, the fashion show on wheels commences at 10 p.m. Andy Mulkerin 4016 Butler St., Lawrenceville. $6 with RSVP at www.downandderby.com, $10 at door. 412-687-2555
Sunday May 31 -- Rock
Jeffrey Lewis has an odd curriculum vitae: The 33-year-old New York rocker wrote a thesis on the comic book Watchmen and lectures on comics in addition to drawing them. But he is better known for his music, which toes the line between lo-fi/anti-folk and Dinosaur Jr.-style indie rock. And did we mention his entire album of Crass covers? He brings his eclectic taste to Club Café tonight behind his newest album, 'Em Are I, with his band Jeffrey Lewis & the Junkyard. As you might imagine, it's one of those rare records for which the album art and music are both enticing. Hand Drawn Mountains and Plat Maps open. AM 8 p.m. 56 S. 12th St., South Side. $10. 412-431-4950 or www.clubcafelive.com
Sun., May 31 -- Comics
New Dimension Comics looks to fill the void that Pittsburgh Comicon left in the calendars of Star Wars enthusiasts and Batman fanatics when it pushed its annual conference back to September. The store hosts the Pittsburgh Comic and Collectibles show at its Century III Mall location, and invites collectors and dealers to buy and sell toys, books and other comic-themed trinkets. Lucasfilm sketch artist Sean Pence and horror master Robert Brewer join the eclectic lineup of producers, artists and authors at this ultimate nerdfest. AB 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 3075 Clairton Road, West Mifflin. $3. 412-655-8661 or www.ndcomics.com
Sun., May 31 -- Spoken Word
Performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña travels the planet with his collective La Pocha Nostra and work that's been classified as "Chicano cyber-punk." Mexican-born Gómez-Peña has dressed as a Native American and wielded blunt scissors as if to wrench off his nose, ears and tongue; his work generally asks "Who do you think we are?" and "What are we doing here?" La Pocha Nostra plans workshops with local artists, and a Three Rivers Arts Festival performance of Corpo/Illicito: The Post-Human Society #69. Tonight, get a foretaste with Strange Democracy, Gómez-Peña's solo spoken-word piece, at the Mattress Factory. BO 7 p.m. 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. $10. 412-231-3169
Wed., June 3 -- Digital Media
Pittsburgh Filmmakers encourages prospective directors and cinematographers to unlock their inner Fellinis with free, beginners-only courses in digital-media art offered every Wednesday in June at the group's Melwood Avenue headquarters. Tonight's inaugural session covers still and video cameras, while successive courses teach the basics of Adobe Photoshop (June 10), digital-video editing (June 17) and posting videos to the Web (June 24). Seats are filling quickly, so call ASAP. AB 6-8 p.m. Continues through June 24. 477 Melwood Ave., North Oakland. Free. 412-681-5449
Thu., June 4 -- Rock
Brooklyn singer-songwriter Kevin Devine has been through the mill: Since his first release in 2002, he's been on (then off) a major label with 2006's Put Your Ghost to Rest, and logged nearly 600 shows in two-and-a-half years. In April, he put out Brother's Blood on the Favorite Gentlemen label, run by acclaimed indie band Manchester Orchestra. The album showcases Devine's understated tenor and rapid-fire lyrics, accompanied at times by his backing group Goddamn Band, and sometimes just skeletal acoustic plucks. AJ 6 p.m. Altar Bar. 1620 Penn Ave., Strip District. All ages. 412-263-2877 or www.altarbarpittsburgh.com
