There’s a new play in Pittsburgh that I want to see, but my schedule is conspiring against me. In case I can’t attend, I thought I’d at least let everyone else know about it — maybe if there’s a strong, positive response, the theater will extend it for a while until I can get a bit of free time.

The play is “Harry’s Friendly Service,” by Rob Zellers.

Zellers also wrote “The Chief,” a hit play about Art Rooney Sr., founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This new play has other things to recommend it: an appealing cast, excellent production, great space (the O’Reilly Theatre) in which to enjoy it.

Plus the plot has resonance for me: set in the Rust Belt (Youngstown, Ohio), in 1977, when industrial layoffs were looming and small towns were in jeopardy. I grew up in that environment, when the major industries in my home town — steel and rail car manufacturing — were falling apart. In the current economic climate, it seems ever more important to look back on those years.

If you need a bit more temptation, here’s a little video promo the Public created:

I’ve been working with some very smart women on a project, and I’d like to ask your help on it.

The Project: SheHeroes

SheHeroes will showcase heroic women’s achievements through first-person video interviews. We will provide this free, inspiring and educational programming through videos on the SheHeroes website (http://sheheroes.org) and on zero profit DVDs.

SheHeroes is the brainchild of my friend Sue Nagle, whom I met in grad school at MIT. Also involved are another grad school chum, Elizabeth Kao and her sister Penelope — they are handling development. Yet another grad school friend, Melanie Dever has been extremely helpful in focus group testing the pilot. And fellow MIT alumna Sophia Yen is a co-founder. I’m providing technical guidance.

Already we have the support of key organizations like the Girl Scouts of Colorado. We’ve lined up terrific SheHeroes to interview. And we have an ace advisory team.

Please visit the website for all the details: http://sheheroes.org

We’re really excited about our progress … But there is much, much more to be done.

HOW TO HELP US CHANGE THE WORLD:

METHOD 1 — TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: We need feedback. Does SheHeroes sound valuable? Are there ways we could improve upon it? Tell us what you think of the pilot, which you can see on  the home page of the website. If you have a tween (child age 8 to 14), please ask them to watch and share feedback. http://sheheroes.org

METHOD 2 — WE NEED CONNECTIONS: Do you know a potential SheHero? (We’d be especially pleased to talk with Oprah….) Are you closely connected with an organization that might partner with us? Or a foundation or corporation that could support our cause?

METHOD 3 — IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE: We would be ever grateful. The website has info on donating. http://sheheroes.org

Our first $100k donors will be permanently recognized as the “founder’s circle” on the website. We have set a goal of raising $60k in 60 days, and reached $32k in the bank after our first 3 weeks. Donations are tax-deductible.

QUESTIONS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK: Please contact me or use the contact form or comments on the SheHeroes website.

Thank you!

PS: We’d love if you could share the SheHeroes story with others.

PPS: Even small donations help!

SheHeroes is a project of Kids Leadership Coalition, incorporated as a non-profit organization with a 501(c)3 filing in process.

Today feels like the most summery day of 2009 thus far.

My niece has become a fashionista at the tender age of three. The photo above is of her flower sandals. Given how much, much too big they are on her, she gets around pretty well. And she looks marvelous as she stumbles along.

(Photo credit: Flower princess, originally uploaded by cynthiacloskey.)

(Photo credit: Happy Earth Day, originally uploaded by cynthiacloskey.)

A revue may be the perfect way to see musical theater.

You get all the flashy singing and dancing, the lights and the costumes, and the live performance – outrageously talented people right before you.

And you don’t have to bend your mind around a musical’s plot, which in many cases makes little sense and exists only to glue together the musical numbers, and seems to take place in a world of mistaken identities, mysterious villains, and sudden ill-explained bursts of song and dance.

At home you can fast-forward a DVD to skip tortured dialogue; at the theater you can’t do anything but sit still and wait for the conductor to pick up his baton.

But a musical revue … that’s a different story. It’s a collection of songs  from multiple shows, and generally the best songs. A live greatest hits collection, , and not just the sounds but the visuals to boot.

The song writing team of John Kander and Fred Ebb created the music for some amazing shows: Cabaret, Chicago, Funny Lady, and New York, New York to name a few. The show that compiles their very best work is The World Goes Round. It’s sassy, sexy, and sometimes bitter, but with a sweet undercurrent and a lasting sense of optimism.

Here’s a little promo for the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s production of The World Goes Round.

My favorite numbers in the show were three I had never heard or seen before: “Sara Lee” (about the dessert brand), “Coffee in a Cardboard Cup,” and “Arthur in the Afternoon” (about a certain man on the side). The big hits are here too (with the notable exception of “Razzle Dazzle”); “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago was sweet and sad as you might hope.

The performers are Broadway professionals, and it shows. Amazing voices, excellent dancing, including some nice tap-dancing.

And where the Public’s previous show had actual swimming on stage (on in it, if you will), this one has roller skating. It’s the most athletic theater in town.

The show continues only through April 5 — this weekend. Find ticket and showtime info, and buy online on the Pittsburgh Cultural District website.

Disclaimer: The Public graciously provided me a complimentary ticket for this show.