Thao performing in Pittsburgh, March 23.

Singer-songwriter Thao will perform at Mr. Smalls Theatre on Wednesday, March 23. American Songwriter wrote of her latest album last fall:

The artist brought [. . .] feelings of vibrancy and clarity to the new Temple Deluxe Edition. To make the lush new bonus songs, which are themselves overflowing with thoughtful string arrangements, Nguyen recruited a friend of hers in Seattle. It was a collaboration that started during the pandemic. Nguyen needed strings for a Tiny Desk recording and, for that, she tapped two cello-playing neighbors and arranger Alex Guy. And so when Nguyen needed strings for the deluxe release, she asked Guy, who helped happily.

“It was a chance to highlight the lyrical content of these songs,” Nguyen says. “And the emotions behind them. With full rock band arrangements, which I love, different attentions are paid in different ways. For these songs, I wanted to highlight their emotional bones.”

Doors open at 7:00 pm and tickets for the all-ages show are available online starting at $20. Mr. Smalls Theatre is located at 400 Lincoln Ave. in Millvale (map)

1957 Akira Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) at Row House Cinema, from February 11.

1957 Akira Kurosawa film Throne of Blood (蜘蛛巣城) will play at the Row House Cinema from February 11, part of a Shakespeare film series.

Akira Kurosawa retells Macbeth by replacing lords and kings with samurai and emperors in this rendition set in medieval Japan. Brutal, suspenseful, and visually stunning — this is by far one of the best Shakespeare adaptations ever made for the screen.

Ticket and showtime information is available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) in Pittsburgh, January 23 and 25.

The 2021 Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) will play in Pittsburgh on January 23 and 25. A synopsis from the distributor:

Satomi is fine being alone until an AI named Shion joins her class with a song and a promise to make her happy. While Shion’s musical numbers and princess gowns don’t quite pass as human, her antics bring Satomi closer to four other classmates. Together, they make memories worth saving, but even our most precious data can be erased.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online; the screening on the 23rd is in Japanese with English subtitles, while the screening on the 25th is dubbed in English.

2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) at Harris Theater, January 20 through 27.

The acclaimed 2021 Japanese film Drive My Car (ドライブ・マイ・カー) will play at the Harris Theater from January 20 through 27, 2022. A brief synospis from a December 7 NPR review:

The story follows a middle-aged Tokyo stage actor named Kafuku, superbly played by Hidetoshi Nishijima. He's a calm, mild-mannered guy who's been married for two decades to a screenwriter named Oto. We get a sense of their mutual devotion when we see Kafuku driving around in his bright red Saab, rehearsing his lines by listening to audio tapes that Oto has painstakingly recorded for him.

But their relationship is more complicated than it appears. Years ago, Kafuku and Oto experienced an agonizing loss that has led her to find solace — and perhaps something more — in relationships with other men. Kafuku has deep compassion for his wife, which doesn't make her betrayal any less painful. And then another tragedy strikes when Oto dies suddenly.

It will play at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map), and tickets are available online or at the door.

UPMC hiring bilingual Chinese-English Manager of Marketing Communications.

UPMC his hiring a bilingual Chinese-English Manger of Marketing Communications.

Description

UPMC International is seeking a Marketing Manager to support our China business. 

Overview:

In this role, you will develop and implement offline and digital projects directed to educate and inform potential patients, physicians, and partners for UPMC International. Supervise and provide guidance to design or production staff, to fulfill marketing and communication goals related to internal and external audiences. Responsible for the planning, development, production, and brand consistency of projects and of all levels, in support of UPMC's mission and vision and in alignment with business objectives.

2001 film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉) at Row House Cinema, from January 14.

The 2001 film Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉) will play at Row House Cinema from January 14 through 20.

This massively popular anime with fantastic animation and a very cool soundtrack from The Seatbelts is a house favorite. Like the original show, Cowboy Bebop is a sci-fi noir about a Star Wars-esque crew of bounty hunters trying to save a human settlement on Mars.

Tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Chinese beauty salon Wonder Beauty (首你亚美) coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

A new Chinese beauty salon, Wonder Beauty (首你亚美), is opening soon in Squirrel Hill, in a spot most recently occupied by Dalmo Optical. The owners of Squirrel Hill restaurant How Lee purchased the spot building at 5831 and 5833 Forbes Ave. (map), which also includes the former Jimmy John's, in March 2021. No word yet on what's planned for the former restaurant space next door.

Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Career Counselor / Product Manager (职业发展顾问及产品经理).

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Mandarin-speaking Career Counselor / Product Manager.

Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) in Pittsburgh, January 23 and 25.

The 2021 Japanese film Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて) will play in Pittsburgh on January 23 and 25. A synopsis from the distributor:

Satomi is fine being alone until an AI named Shion joins her class with a song and a promise to make her happy. While Shion’s musical numbers and princess gowns don’t quite pass as human, her antics bring Satomi closer to four other classmates. Together, they make memories worth saving, but even our most precious data can be erased.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in the North Hills, and tickets are available online; the screening on the 23rd is in Japanese with English subtitles, while the screening on the 25th is dubbed in English.

Japanese children's film Poupelle of Chimney Town (映画 えんとつ町のプペル) in Pittsburgh, from January 6.

The 2020 Japanese animated children's film Poupelle of Chimney Town (映画 えんとつ町のプペル) will play in Pittsburgh from January 6. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Poupelle of Chimney Town is the story of young Lubicchi living among the thick smoke from the chimneys of his isolated town, yearning to see the “stars” — to know the truth — his father always told him about. One Halloween night he meets Poupelle, a man made of garbage, and together they look to the sky as their adventure begins. Spectacularly beautiful, filled with inspiring performances and splendid music and sound effects, and produced at Tokyo’s famed STUDIO4ºC, Poupelle of Chimney Town brings laughter, tears and joy.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online, but note that some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.