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The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is thrilled to be presenting the first in a series of variety show activations in conjunction with Marianne Vitale’s On Liberty: A Summoning, a six-month sculpture exhibition transforming SPACE Gallery into an immersive bar and stage environment. The foundation of the gallery sits above a defunct but culturally rich nightlife destination. For decades, 818 Liberty Avenue was one of Pittsburgh’s most storied nightlife addresses—home to The Music Box, The Staircase Lounge, The Twilight Room, Lenny Litman’s Copa, and the legendary Pegasus—where figures ranging from Miles Davis and Billie Holiday to Divine once took the stage. On Liberty pays homage to this legacy with evenings of music, spectacle, and irreverent performance.

The first evening references The Music Box, as re-imaged by Vitale. In 2013, Vitale staged the infamous The Missing Book of Spurs for Performa. It became the stuff of legend, a performative continuation of her exploration of Western frontier culture. With Vitale’s Music Box, Raymond Scott serves as core inspiration. Composer and bandleader Pete Drungle will lead a swinging septet of Pittsburgh musicians, performing throughout the evening. The house band, if you will.

The program features three acts: beloved drag angel Kiko Soirée, serving a feast of emotion and storytelling; Alex Tatarsky, who has performed original solo pieces at venues including La Mama, Playwright Horizons, Abrons Arts Center, The Kitchen, and MoMA PS1; and Broadway star Sis Thee Doll, delivering a live vocal set steeped in theatrical glamour and cabaret flair. The evening features artist and provocateur Michael Portnoy as master of ceremonies, guiding the program’s three acts, contributing his signature performative interventions throughout night.

The evening launches a series of live activations that will periodically transform the gallery into a history-laden performance space throughout the exhibition’s run.

On Liberty: A Summoning as an exhibition will run from May 1 to October 11, and is curated by Benjamin Tischer of New Discretions.