Film, Music & Theater   

The 10 plays of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle dramatize African-American life through a century of comedy and tragedy, aspiration and despair. Creating a dramatic microcosm of America, they rank Wilson with the country’s greatest -- Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. All but one of the 10 are set in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, where Wilson (1945–2005) grew up and matured his artistic vision. This is part three of Rawson’s survey of Wilson’s work, begun in 2020. Included are Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Seven Guitars and How I Learned What I Learned (Wilson’s 11^th play, a coda). Movies of Ma Rainey and Fences are optional extras.

Delve into the lives and personalities behind the music in this course on Richard Wagner, Clara Schumann, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the Mendelssohn siblings Felix and Fanny. We will uncover the fascinating stories, struggles, and creative passions that shaped these influential musicians, providing a deeper understanding of the human spirit that resonates through their masterpieces and performances.

Bruce Springsteen’s songs add to the soundtrack of the lives of his audience. From the celebrations of adolescence (Greetings from Asbury Park) through the turmoil of early adulthood (The River), and the social consciousness of middle adulthood (The Rising) to the acceptance of older adulthood (Western Stars), Springsteen wove a tapestry of the story of life in the America of his times. Through a lens of psychosocial development theory, we will explore how the artist’s sensitivity to the challenges of life tap into universal resonances for us as listeners, from our youth through middle age to older adulthood. Members will reflect on personal experiences of songs in their lifetimes.

Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Claude Rains, Raymond Burr! This list of Hollywood icons, actors not just accomplished but beloved, even idolized in their time, clamored to appear in films by the undisputed master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Come learn why as we watch and discuss some of Hitchcock's best films. Movies shown will include Spellbound, Strangers on a Train, Notorious, To Catch a Thief, and Rear Window.

This course will explore the roles and jobs of lead producers. For example, David Merrick was known for his publicity stunts while Arthur Freed transformed MGM musicals, bringing talent from Broadway to Hollywood. The course will follow the famous classic producer Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. as well as Cameron Macintosh, the commercially successful producer of many modern shows. Join us as we watch, learn about, and enjoy musicals from the “cheap seats.”

This course offers an exciting journey through the vibrant and diverse world of Latin American music. Members will gain an introduction to the rich musical traditions of Latin America, exploring genres like cumbia, salsa, and contemporary Latin American music from 1950 to 2020. Members will learn about the cultural, historical, and social contexts that have shaped these musical styles and their influence on global music trends, particularly in the United States.

This course examines music, media, and culture at a time of profound social upheaval. The intersection where they met in post-WWII America was pivotal. The effect they had on each other was unprecedented and altered them in ways that still impact society today. At the core is a classic struggle between art and commerce, innovation and orthodoxy, freedom, and control. With a mix of lectures, audio-visual elements, music, and discussion, this course will study why it is a story worth remembering and retelling through our personal narrative of the time.

The music of Finland has a rich history that includes many notable composers and performers. From the folk music traditions of Kalevala and Pelimanni, to the classical music of Sibelius and Salonen, the music of Finland is nothing short of wondrous. In this course, we will learn not only about the musicians that Finland has produced, but also about how the music reflects culture and even geography. We will also explore the contemporary styles that are popular in Finland today. For those attending OLLI at Pitt's upcoming trip to Finland, this course may also support the travel experience.

Explore the songs and times of the great songwriters of stage and screen. Using clips from Broadway, film, and television, we will share life stories, hits and misses, and appreciate their genius. Included in this course will be Wittman and Shaiman (Hairspray, Some Like it Hot), Lerner and Loewe (Brigadoon, Camelot), Jerome Kern (Showboat), Irving Caesar (Tea for Two), Harold Arlen (Somewhere Over the Rainbow) and others.

Despite his claim he would never join any club that would have him as a member, any list of great contemporary American film directors must include Woody Allen. The filmmaker's movie-a-year production schedule has included Annie Hall, Manhattan, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and other cinematic greats, four of which we watch and discuss as we explore what makes this Oscar-winning writer/actor/director unique. This will include one movie never covered in Mr. Shifren’s previous classes.