MTG reprises ‘Next to Normal’

The Grapevine Center in Butler in cooperation with the Musical Theatre Guild will host four free performances of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Next To Normal.”

MTG will reprise its musical from last fall in May at its production center at the back of Memorial Park.

The rock musical explores how a suburban family copes with bipolar mental illness.

The Grapevine was able to secure grants and do fundraising so that these performances could be presented for free. The MTG performers have agreed to volunteer their time and their location.

The event is part of Grapevine’s “May is Mental Health Month” observance to help to educate the Butler community about mental health and eradicate some of the stigma associated with it.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. May 14, 15 and 16. A matinee performance is planned for 3:30 p.m. May 17. For tickets, call 724-283-1704.

Comedy night set at BLT

A stand-up comedy show is planned for Memorial Day weekend at the Butler Little Theatre, One Howard St.

The headliner will be Robert Punchur, a Butler native who has performed in New York, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, London and Australia.

This is his first time performing back home.

The featured act will be Neko White, who had a one-hour comedy special “Introducing Me.”

Kevin Lukacs of Butler will be the host for the evening. He is a Hobnob Theatre playwright and host of the Polymath Podcast.

Special guest will be Dillon Weston, a Butler native who regularly hosts Lava Lounge Comedy Night in Pittsburgh.

Shows will begin at 8 p.m. May 23 and 24.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. E-mail areteversatility@gmail.com.

Omnimax film features D-Day

PITTSBURGH — “D-Day: Normandy 1944” opens May 15 at the Carnegie Science Center’s Rangos Omnimax Theater.

The film tells the story of the Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944.

“D-Day: Normandy 1944” blends various filming techniques, such as computer-generated imagery, archival photos, animated cartography, aerial footage, and live action re-enactments.

It depicts five keys to victory, featuring the Liberty Ship, the Jeep, and the bulldozer, among others.

In honor of Armed Forces Day, active members and veterans of the U.S. military can receive a free ticket to see the film on May 16 by presenting their military ID at the ticket counter.

For more information and show times, visit CarnegieScienceCenter.org.

Phipps presents summer show

PITTSBURGH — Starting Saturday, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers its Summer Flower Show with unusual offerings from spiky porcupine tomatoes to stinky devil’s tongue arum.

The show runs through Oct. 5. The Butterfly Forest is open through Sept. 7. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and until 10 p.m. Fridays.

Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and students, and $11 for children age 2 to 18.

Meadowcroft marks 60th

AVELLA — Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village starts its 2015 season at noon Saturday.

This season, Meadowcroft celebrates the 60th anniversary of Avella farmer Albert Miller’s discovery of the Rockshelter, the oldest site of human habitation in North America.

Programs will include: a Walk through Prehistory with Venture Outdoors, June 6; Vintage Baseball with the Pittsburgh Franklins, June 13 and an Atlatl competition, June 20.

Visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org.