NEXTpittsburgh – The dog days of summer are here, bringing with them champion Frisbee-playing canines, popcorn-flavored ice cream, Pokémon Go on bikes, and plenty of chances to venture off the beaten path. Fuel up that Vespa, grab a sunhat and get out there.
1. Quantum Theatre’s Peribañez in Mellon Park: August 5-28
This month, the tranquil Mellon Park Rose Garden will be reinvented as the rural Spanish countryside. Marking the first play by Spanish writer Lope de Vega (a contemporary of Shakespeare) ever produced by Quantum, Peribañez tells the story of young newlyweds Peribañez and Casilda who are part of a close-knit community of peasant farmers. When the Commander’s obsessive love for Casilda is revealed, the couple must make difficult decisions and sacrifices to save their marriage. Directed by Megan Monaghan Rivas and Tlaloc Rivas, the drama features a cast of 10—including three talented young actors from CMU. Amidst the lush Shadyside garden, the spectacle of the Spanish Golden Age will come to life via live folk music, cockfights, and dancing, along with evocative costumes, lighting and set design. Added bonus? Every performance includes complimentary Spanish-themed bites. Attendees can even picnic in the park before the show, with a $15 gourmet box dinner from Feast On Brilliant. Buy tickets.
