Tickets remain for Pittsburgh Opera presentation of world premiere of In A Grove, based on short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, March 1 and 3.

Tickets still remain for the last two days of the Pittsburgh Opera's presentation of In A Grove, based on short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, on March 1 and 3.

Music by Christopher Cerrone, libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann, based on the short story by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

A silent, expectant grove. A violent encounter between a man, a woman, and a notorious brigand.

Seven testimonies, each proposing a different perspective on the crime. Akutagawa’s classic short story “In a Grove,” which inspired the plot of Kurosawa’s renowned film Rashomon, offers a searing investigation into the impossibility and elusiveness of truth.

Epic and intimate, timeless and devastatingly timely, the story’s structure lends itself powerfully to music’s ability to conjure—via repetition and variation—how human perception, memory, and desire are fallible, imprecise, and subject to interference.

Join us for this unique world-premiere experience in a place where the ground shifts beneath your feet—a space of ambiguity and clarity, of beauty and menace, and of fragility and strength.

Readers should use the POASIA promo code to receive 20% off their tickets for the March 1 and 3 shows. The theater is located at 2425 Liberty Ave. in the Strip District (map).

Japanese Breakfast in Pittsburgh, May 5.

The band Japanese Breakfast will play at the Roxian Theatre on May 5. Flood Magazine describes its latest album, in part:

But if its arc echoes that of other great albums, Jubilee is still frequently surprising and adventurous. “Savage Good Boy” is an approachable pop confection with a sticky, snarky conceptual hook at its core; it’s written from the point of view of an absurdly rich man trying to convince a woman to flee earth with him in the face of apocalypse (and who knows, maybe seize responsibility for repopulation! We’ll sort that out later…). “Be Sweet,” co-written with Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing, was meant for another artist but Zauner opted to keep it; here, it casually becomes one of the most undeniable ’80s-influenced pop songs you’ve ever heard.

Tickets for the 7:00 pm show are available online. Printed proof of vaccination is required to enter. The Roxian Theatre is located at 425 Chartiers Ave. in McKees Rocks (map).

Five more Ghibli films announced for Pittsburgh theaters in 2022.

Earlier this week, GKIDS announced the first two installments of its 2022 Ghibli Film Fest lineup. Overnight, the year's other selections were made public.

• Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫)) - April 3 and 6 (English dubbed), April 4 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) - May 15 and 18 (English dubbed), May 16 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し) - June 26 (English dubbed), June 27 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) - July 31 and August 3 (English dubbed), August 1 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Only Yesterday (おもひでぽろぽろ) - August 28 (English dubbed), August 29 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Howl's Moving Castle (ハウルの動く城) - September 25 and 28 (English dubbed), September 26 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し) - October 30 and November 2 (English dubbed), November 1 (Japanese with English subtitles)

Tickets are currently available for the shows at local Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, though more locations are likely to be announced closer to each show.

2021 animated Japanese film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (劇場版 呪術廻戦 0) in Pittsburgh, from March 17.

The 2021 animated Japanese film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 (劇場版 呪術廻戦 0) will play in Pittsburgh from March 17. From the distributor:

When they were children, Rika Orimoto was killed in a traffic accident right before the eyes of her close friend, Yuta Okkotsu. "It's a promise. When we both grow up, we'll get married." Rika became an apparition, and Yuta longed for his own death after suffering under her curse, but the greatest Jujutsu sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, welcomed him into Jujutsu High. There Yuta meets his classmates, Maki Zen'in, Toge Inumaki, and Panda, and finally finds his own determination. "I want the confidence to say it's okay that I'm alive! While I'm at Jujutsu High, I'll break Rika-chan's curse." Meanwhile, the vile curse user, Suguru Geto, who was expelled from the school for massacring ordinary people, appears before Yuta and the others. "This coming December 24th, we shall carry out the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons." While Geto advocates for creating a paradise for only jujutsu sorcerers, he unleashes a thousand curses upon Shinjuku and Kyoto to exterminate all non-sorcerers. Will Yuta be able to stop Geto in the end? And what will happen when breaking Rika's curse...?

It is currently scheduled to play at Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Monaca, with screenings in Japanese or dubbed in English, though tickets are not yet available.

Day & Night: a Hobi and Yoongi Birthday Cupsleeve Event, March 26 at Ineffable Ca Phe.

Organizers of local BTS fan events are holding another one on March 26 in honor of J-Hope and Suga's birthdays. It will run from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm at Ineffable Cà Phê in Lawrenceville (map).

"Future Tense: Microcinema Screening" with several Chinese, Taiwanese filmmakers, March 24 at The Andy Warhol Museum.

The Andy Warhol Museum will host "Future Tense: Microcinema Screening," featuring several Chinese and Taiwanese filmmakers and currated by Barbara London and Ellen Larson, on March 24.

We are living in a time of crisis. Anxieties about the future and questions concerning the sustainability of the planet and its inhabitants have never felt more urgent. Future Tense asks how artists approach these and other global uncertainties in relationship to identity, home, and environment. Selected videos highlight both the fragility and resilience of human ingenuity in relationship to nature, space, and place. Collectively, the artists included in this program direct themselves towards the future. They look to the past to reclaim lost histories while simultaneously imagining new possible futures. Participating artists: Imani Dennison, Fang Tianyu, Thomas Allen Harris, Pedro Neves Marques, Joan Michel, Su Yu-Hsin, Wang Mowen, and Zheng Yuan.

The event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and tickets will be available online soon.

Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ), Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) announced (so far) for Ghibli Fest dates in Pittsburgh.

Each year, distributor GKIDS brings several Studio Ghibli films to theaters across the country as part of a Studio Ghibli Fest, and today two selections were announced for April and May: Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫) and Ponyo (崖の上のポニョ) , respectively.  Tickets are now available for showings at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, and Monroeville, though more films and theatres will be announced later:

• Princess Mononoke - April 3 and 6 (English dubbed), April 4 (Japanese with English subtitles)
• Ponyo - May 15 and 18 (English dubbed), May 16 (Japanese with English subtitles)

Carnegie Mellon University hiring Assistant Director, International Development - University Advancement; "strong written and oral communication skills" in English and Mandarin Chinese required.

Carnegie Mellon University is hiring an Assistant Director, International Development - University Advancement, with "superior interpersonal skills including strong written and oral communication skills in English and Mandarin Chinese" required.

Carnegie Mellon is enjoying its most productive fundraising years in its history, raising more than $950M over the last three years. University Advancement (UA) supports the entire CMU community in building relationships with key constituencies and securing the financial resources the university needs to continue its ascent. As the division grows, we are seeking an assistant director, International Development. This is an exciting opportunity if you thrive in an interesting and challenging work environment. Reporting to the associate director, International Development, you will be responsible for alumni and parent engagement and annual fund and leadership annual giving for the Greater China region. You will help to recruit and retain volunteers as well as guide them in all aspects of the CMU networks based in the region. Your responsibilities will include coordinating engagement events both in-person and virtual with alumni and parents in the region, planning comprehensive solicitations in collaboration with the Annual Giving team, donor and volunteer stewardship, and personal cultivation and solicitation of prospects. You will maintain a portfolio of 50-60 prospects and will be expected to travel internationally 4-5 times per year for 2-3 weeks at a time (once regular travel to China is possible). You will be an integral member of the International Development team working in close collaboration with the Alumni and Constituent Engagement team.

2022 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival lineup announced.

Individual tickets are now on sale for the 2022 Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival, which runs from March 18 through 31 at the Row House Cinema. This year's lineup includes:

• The Island of Cats (ねことじいちゃん) 
• Samurai Rebellion (上意討ち 拝領妻始末) 
• Stray Dog (野良犬)

• It's a Summer Film (サマーフィルムにのって)

• Matango (マタンゴ)

• Dragnet Girl (非常線の女)
• Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (漁港の肉子ちゃん)
• Tokyo Drifter (東京流れ者)
• Poupelle of Chimney Town (映画 えんとつ町のプペル)
• Pale Flower (乾いた花)
• Sonatine (ソナチネ)
• Hold Me Back (私をくいとめて)
• Cure (キュア)
• On-Gaku: Our Sound (音楽)

Plus, there's a collection of "Japan's Craziest TV Gameshows." Individual tickets are now available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler Street in Lawrenceville (map).

Concert film BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh, March 12.

The BTS concert film BTS Permission to Dance on Stage - Seoul: Live Viewing will play in Pittsburgh on March 12.

‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE -SEOUL’, a performance for BTS and ARMY to dance together live. Join us as BTS and ARMY become one once again with music and dance in this unmissable live concert experience broadcast from Seoul to cinemas around the world! ‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE’ is the latest world tour series headlined by 21st century pop icons BTS, featuring powerful performances and the greatest hit songs from throughout their incredible career. The earlier Los Angeles shows were seen by approximately 813,000 people across the four sold-out shows, making them one of the most successful shows in 2021. Don’t miss ‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE -SEOUL: LIVE VIEWING’ to see RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook on the big screen in your local cinema on Saturday, March 12 only. We don’t need permission to dance~♬

Tickets are not yet on sale, but the movie will play at 4:30 and 8:30 pm at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson. Additional theaters are likely to be announced later.