Scott Tady: Ambridge play recreates Old Economy's birth & struggles; Mr. Big went out with a bang

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before.

A group of godly people practice celibacy to purify themselves as they await the Messiah's second coming. Together, they toil to build a society where they can follow their simple, pious path.

That's the real-life story of The Harmonists, founders of Old Economy Village in Ambridge.

Their tale will be told via a new play, "The Golden Rose," conceived by London Cain and premiering this June at his Iron Horse Community Theatre, in Ambridge.

Expect a play with an edginess often not found in history books, or on Old Economy Village grade school field trips.

Turns out, that 19th century Harmonist Society wasn't as harmonious as the outside world was led to believe

"Underneath this harmonious exterior was a very divided and disgruntled community," Cain said in an email to supporters invited to a Jan. 20 read-through of the play's script. "When a man (Count de Leon) who claimed to be the Messiah was invited, along with his entourage, into their so-called heavenly community, all hell would break loose."

Decisions made there amid the society's power struggle determined the fate of the Harmonists and impacted the future of what became Ambridge, which celebrates its bicentennial this year.

"The Golden Rose" sounds very interesting. The show debuts June 14 for eight dates, with tickets on sale now at ironhorsetheatrecompany.com.

Casanova for a good cause

One of the valley's most popular pop-rock bands, Casanova and the Divas, will entertain March 22 at the Friends of Ady's Army fundraiser at the Aliquippa American Serbian Club.

Casanova and the Divas, featuring now international recording artist Valentina Cherico, will perform from 6- 8 p.m., with DJ Chuck Webb spinning '80s and '90s bangers from 9 to 11 p.m.

Valentina's current pop single, "Dance Until The Sunrise," has drawn listeners from Italy, Germany, Canada, Bolivia, the U.S. and United Kingdom, says her proud papa Mickey Cherico, guitarist for Casanova and a prominent local rocker for decades.

Presale tickets, which include a meal, have gone on sale for the Friends of Ady's Army show costing $15 in advance at J.W.Hall's Steak and Seafood Inn in Hopewell Township and at Moon Township Honda. Tickets will cost $20 at the door.

The money will help the family of Adyson Franz, a 16-year-old sophomore at Hopewell High School, who last September was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. Her family has health insurance, though there are many additional costs that insurance won't cover, the event's planners and GoFundMe page administrators, say.

Chinese auction basket tickets, a 50/50 drawing and commemorative bracelets sold at the merch table will help offset some of the family's costs.

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What's up with Ghost Hounds?

Ghost Hounds singer Tre Nation posted on Facebook last week, "For the few who are asking: I have no plans to perform in Pittsburgh over the next four months, solo or otherwise."

Very interesting, especially since the Pittsburgh blues-rock band's Feb. 16 show at The Roxian is still happening.

I reached out via email to the band's publicists who confirmed the Roxian show will take place but didn't address my question on whether Ghost Hounds have replaced, or will need to replace, Nation.

Those would be huge shoes to fill, as Nation is a dynamic frontman.

Last year, Ghost Hounds lead guitarist Johnny Baab left the band without public comment.

Founded by billionaire/Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner Thomas Tull, Ghost Hounds have opened stadium shows for the Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks, and warmed arena audiences for Bob Seger and Guns N' Roses.

Lots of buzz for this movie

"HIVE," a documentary about a Pittsburgh area beekeeper, gets an encore screening at 3:15 p.m. Sunday at the Lindsay Theater in Sewickley. The second screening was added due to popular demand, as an earlier matinee screening quickly sold out.

Moon Township filmmaker Ryan Matthew Rust got his cameras up close to the action in "HIVE," striving to show the importance of honeybees to life on earth, subscribing to Albert Einstein’s thoughts that “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left.”

Rust chose as cinematographer, Ryan Kroboth of Scott Township, who played a pivotal role in filming two seasons of the History Channel's "The Food That Built America."

The 25-minute "HIVE" is the first offering in The Lindsay’s third annual Emerging Filmmakers Showcase, which includes a 30-minute Q&A with the filmmaker and the featured beekeeper, known as Hank B.

Keep abreast of The Lindsay's local film initiatives, and schedule of Oscar-nominated movies, at thelindsaytheater.org.

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Mr. Big was all that & more

I went to behold a beast of a bass player.

And Billy Sheehan didn't disappoint, demonstrating bass-playing skills few if any mortals can match.

Though his Mr. Big bandmates, particularly robust-voiced singer Eric Martin and guitar wizard Paul Gilbert, captivated equally, as the rock band's farewell tour entertained a sold-out Jergel's Rhythm Grille last Sunday.

Gilbert, a Greensburg native, reiterated he belongs in any conversations about western Pennsylvanian guitar greats, unleashing clean, fast and hard-but-melodic riffage, powering Mr. Big songs like set-launchers "Addicted to That Rush" and "Take Cover," and underrated tracks such as "Alive and Kickin'" and "Road to Ruin." Gilbert electrified the audience with a stunt where he stroked his guitar strings with a buzzing, handheld power drill.

Looking genuinely humbled by the hometown support, Gilbert's late-set extended solo began with his muscular take on the theme from "Rocky," before swooping off into more fiery realms.

Sheehan set aside his double-necked bass guitar for a more traditional-looking bass as he, too, took a solo spotlight, letting his fingers dance across the fretboard, plucking notes with unparalleled speed and fluidity.

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Martin's strong singing highlighted the 1991 chart-topper "To Be With You".

Some 20 songs in, his voice still sounded resolute, though Martin encouraged the crowd to join him in shouting the chorus of a spirited romp through Humble Pie's "30 Days in The Hole."

Next up, all four band members swapped instruments; drummer Nick D'Virgilio (ex-Spock's Beard) grabbed a guitar, Gilbert sat at the drum kit, Martin commandeered the bass and Sheehan quite capably handled lead vocals as the band ripped through a garage-rock version of The Rascals' "Good Lovin'."

With time winding down, Martin thanked fans for their decades of support and reassured them the individual band members would remain active in other musical projects after Mr. Big's farewell tour ceases.

For the Jergel's finish line, Mr. Big whipped out a third straight fun cover, The Who's "Baba O'Reilly," with Gilbert treating the hometown crowd to some Pete Townsend-worthy windmill guitar strikes.

For this farewell show, Mr. Big ended with a bang.

And a shout-out to Jergel's and concert promoters Drusky Entertainment for a 7 p.m. Sunday start time. Felt good being home by 11.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor. Reach him at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Iron Horse play recreates Old Economy's story; Mr. Big ends strongly