Pittsburgh, U.S.A. — Two of Pittsburgh’s largest cinemas, Chartiers Valley Stadium 18 in Bridgeville and North Versailles Stadium 18 are now fully digital. The theatres underwent a number of upgrades in the past several months including a conversion from 35mm projection to state-of-the-art digital projection, digital surround sound and Digital Real D 3D.

“Digital projection is the way the movie industry is moving. Converting to high-quality digital systems allows Chartiers Valley and North Versailles theatres to present the best possible cinema experience available,” said Phil Zacheretti, president of Phoenix Big Cinemas which manages the two mega-plexes. “The theatre upgrades and renovations reinforce the owner’s commitment to offer a state-of-the-art entertainment destination.”

In honor of the cinema updates, both sites have several special offers and events scheduled. During the opening weekend of Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit,’ each guest will receive a free popcorn with every admission to film. Guests can also become fans of the cinemas’ Facebook pages for a chance to win a year of free movies and a $500 concession gift card. Finally, for the highly anticipated release of the Pittsburgh film starring Tom Cruise, both sites are offering special advance showings of ‘Jack Reacher’ on Thursday, December 20 at 9:00 PM and Midnight. In addition, all guests attending the ‘Jack Reacher’ shows on Thursday will receive a Free Popcorn and free Jack Reacher Poster.

Opening on Friday, December 21, Chartiers Valley Stadium 18 and North Versailles Stadium 18 will play new releases including ‘Jack Reacher,’ ‘This Is 40,’ ‘Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away,’ as well as, recent releases such as ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,’ ‘Monsters Inc. 3D’ and ‘Guilt Trip.’

Chartiers Valley Stadium 18 and North Versailles Stadium 18 offer Gift Cards and online and advance ticketing through MovieTickets.com. Guests can join the free “Motion Picture Points” rewards club to earn points for free popcorn, soft drinks and movie tickets at both locations. Both cinemas offer plentiful parking and their convenient locations provide easy access for the surrounding communities. Knoxville-based Phoenix Big Cinemas Management manages the cinemas for the Pittsburgh based ownership group.

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KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, the spectacular production at MGM Grand Las Vegas, and Marvel Custom Solutions team up to tell the story of this acclaimed live production through an all-new, collectible comic book. KÀ #1 will debut at the Marvel booth (#2329) during Comic Con International in San Diego, July 12 – 15, 2012.

“To see our live KÀ performances transform from the theatre to ink on pages in a comic book is an incredible opportunity for our entire team,” said Marie-Hélène Gagnon, Artistic Director of KÀ. “By aligning ourselves with the premier brand of comic book creators, we have produced an illustration of KÀ that depicts the story very vividly and stays true to the plot. Marvel and its team of creators have been great to collaborate with and have embraced the story of KÀ and the expectations of Cirque du Soleil.”

“Marvel’s proud to bring the exciting, out of this world action and adventure of KÀ to life in this all new comic book,” said Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief, Marvel Worldwide. “This is a great comic for fans of all ages, whether they’re long-time fans of Marvel, KÀ or new to both exciting brands of storytelling.”

KÀ fans attending Comic Con International can take home the heroic journey of Imperial Twins separated by war who encounter adventure and peril at every turn on their quest to reunite their kingdom.

“What’s more jaw-dropping, the majesty of the Imperial Court…the dynamic dance of their martial arts display…the overwhelming might of the invading archer army…the desperate fight for survival in the storm-tossed seas…or the tantalizing glimpses at the future threats that await the Twins?” said Marvel Editor Bill Rosemann. “Readers can decide for themselves when they feast their eyes on the all-out spectacle that writer Bryan J.L. Glass, artist Wellinton Alves and cover artist Michael Del Mundo have crafted in this world premiere debut issue.”

KÀ #1 will be distributed at Comic Con International in San Diego at the Marvel booth in July. A limited amount of books also will be available at comic book stores in select markets. In addition to the print copy of the comic book, fans will be able to access the KÀ customized comic book by utilizing Marvel’s cutting-edge digital comics reader.

Fans can get an inside look at the making of the comic book by visiting www.kacomicbook.com. Featuring sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes information, including line art, storyboards and more, this site will serve as a hub for details on the collaboration. Fans will be able to receive information on how to get their own copy of the comic book. On Twitter, fans can tweet about the collaboration to @Cirque and @Marvel using the #KAComicBook hashtag.

About KÀ:
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil is a heroic journey of love and conflict set within ever-changing theatrical landscapes that conjure an entire empire on stage. Presented exclusively at MGM Grand Las Vegas, KÀ unfolds on a colossal, 360-degree rotating stage which forms the backdrop for this cinematic journey of aerial adventure and perpendicular acrobatics. For more information visit www.ka.com.

Image Courtesy of  Cirque du Soleil

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London, UK – Whether you are visiting as a family, travelling with a loved one or celebrating with a group of friends, Orlando really does have something for everybody.

There are plenty of options when it comes to creating the perfect holiday, whether you want to experience Florida at a resort or if you choose to rent your own villa in Orlando.

Orlando is the theme park capital of the world, home of Walt Disney World Resort, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, SeaWorld and so much more. There has never been a better time to explore Orlando and discover all it has to offer. Visit the Magic Kingdom for a day full of excitement, and why not add even more magic to your trip and visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

For the animal lovers, visit Discovery Cove where you can swim with dolphins, snorkel with amazing fish and come face to face with a shark in Sea Venture, a new underwater walking tour! Once the sun has set, you can go to watch La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil, exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort, and experience a mesmerizing, unforgettable evening of acrobatics.

If you could do with a little pampering after the excitement of the roller coasters, Orlando is home to some fabulous spas, and no holiday would be complete without a little rest and relaxation. If you are travelling with your family don’t be put off, as a lot of the resorts in Orlando have spa menus for children! For a little retail therapy, there are fabulous collection of shopping centers, outlet villages and boutiques, all very close to each other – another great way to unwind.

For thrill seekers hunting for some adventure outside of the theme parks, hang gliding, jet skiing, zip wires and snorkeling are just a few of the exciting outdoor activities you can take part in on your holiday. If you are looking for something equally as exciting but maybe a little more romantic, why not try a hot air balloon ride over the treetops to watch the sun set?

With such an extraordinary amount of attractions, theme parks and activities available in Orlando, it’ll be a challenge to fit it all in.

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Cirque du Soleil  presented a wholly unique and exclusive performance for the 84th Academy Awards on Oscar Sunday, February 26. The one-time-only event featured the largest Cirque cast ever assembled for a single act.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54694-cirque-du-soleil-84th-academy-awards-exclusive-performance-danny-elfman. More than 50 international artists from Cirque du Soleil productions around the world converged in Los Angeles to bring the dynamic showcase to life.

The act featured aerialists, Icarian acrobats, hand balancers, dancers and characters from IRIS, A Journey through the World of Cinema along with the 15-member Banquine team from Viva ELVIS in Las Vegas and a hand balancer from Zarkana, direct from Moscow’s Kremlin State Palace Theatre.  The act was accompanied by music from Academy Award-nominated composer Danny Elfman, who scored the music for Cirque du Soleil’s IRIS, A Journey through the World of Cinema.

Cirque du Soleil presented the performance as a tribute to the movie theatre experience incorporating signature Cirque acrobatic elements and imagery along with classic film clips.

The act marked the second time Cirque du Soleil performed during an Academy Awards telecast.  The troupe’s first appearance, at the 74th Academy Awards, sparked discussions about creating a permanent show at the theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and resulted in the creation of IRIS.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 were presented on Sunday, February 26, at the theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network as well as being televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

About Cirque du Soleil
Since 1984, the company has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in over 40 countries in more than 300 cities on six continents. Cirque du Soleil has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries.

Image Courtesy of    http://www.flickr.com/photos/beaconradio/

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Tonight at the newly renamed Hollywood and Highland Center, the Academy Awards will be delivering Oscar magic all night under the auspice of returning host Billy Crystal. The silent triumph of ‘The Artist’ is leading the buzz at the moment but until the cameras turn on inside the dazzling auditorium, the bets are on.

This year marks the 84th time around that Hollywood’s finest gather to celebrate the last years cinematic triumphs, but there has rarely been so much debacle before the big night; after years of faithful audiences, the ABC network reports a drop in recent years from a steady 60 to 70 million viewers to a mere 40 millions. In comparison, the Super Bowl finals could draw more than 110 millions viewers.

Another issue was the departure of producer Brett Ratner who left along with this years initially announced host, Eddie Murphy – not to mention the sudden and unfortunate bankruptcy of Eastman Kodak which brought on a complicated naming and promotional issue and jeopardizes the Academy’s continuous use of the facility for the Oscar show.

The biggest problem, though, is the dwindling number of viewers. Why have movie lovers forsaken the prestigious ceremony?

Some believe the major issue is that the general audience never really watches the movies that end up being celebrated by the contemporary Academy. In the last decade, the selected nominees have increasingly been influenced by art, emotions and indie productions; only few box office hits seem to cut it when it comes to Best Picture or leading performances – James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ being a notable exception.

The movies at this years Oscars are haunted by slow performances at the box office – The Artist, despite formidable reviews, only managed to make 28 million dollars, in comparison with ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’ which raked a whopping 1,3 billion dollars last year.

As the general public see less and less of the nominated movies, their interest and excitement in the competition at the Oscar slumps. There is no fun in watching the celebration of movies you never heard of.

To compensate for the low level of recognizable names on the nomination list, the Academy have attempted to boost the entertainment quality of the event itself, including younger hosts, more comedy and more glamour. Last year’s double hosting by the sweet Anne Hathaway and spaced out James Franco was one of the low points of these initiatives so the return of Billy Crystal in a welcomed treat for Oscar buffs. Tonight makes his ninth time as Oscar host and the 63 year-old holds a great record as a terrific entertainer.

Despite the Academy’s struggle to get things in place for the night of the golden statue, millions of people worldwide will tune in tonight for the exquisite pleasure of watching the finest of Hollywood, gather in a media production extravaganza, including an ambitious slated performance of Cirque du Soleil in a one-time-only event by a rumored more than 50 performers, their biggest troupe ever.

Billy, we’re ready for you!

Image Courtesy of  Bob D’Amico / ABC

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Cast members from The Beatles Love by Cirque du Soleil performed live at the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center. All 60 dancers and acrobats from Love performed to a specially edited track by Producer Giles Martin, featuring songs from the two-time Grammy Award-winning Love album.

Iconic artist and philanthropist Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year at this special event celebrating his exceptional artistic achievements as well as his philanthropic work. The sold-out tribute to McCartney benefits MusiCares’ emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery programs.

Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute — now in its 22nd year — provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures that members of the music community have a place to turn in times of financial, medical and personal need.

Additional performances included multi-Grammy winning artists and current Grammy nominees Tony Bennett, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, and Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas; Grammy winning artist Duane Eddy; multi-Grammy winning artists Norah Jones, Alicia Keys and James Taylor; two-time Grammy winning artists Diana Krall and Neil Young with Crazy Horse; two-time Latin Grammy winning artist Sergio Mendes; and current Grammy nominee Katy Perry.

The evening also featured a special performance by 14-time Grammy winning artist and 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year Paul McCartney. Love, a Cirque du Soleil creation and co-production with Apple Corps Ltd., celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles and is presented exclusively at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

This joint artistic venture marks the first time that The Beatles company, Apple Corps, has agreed to a major theatrical partnership. The project was born out of a personal friendship and mutual admiration between the late George Harrison and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte.

Since its June 2006 premiere, Love has performed over 2,000 shows for more than 4.3 million people. Recently named “Best Show in Las Vegas” by USA Today, Love has been voted “Best Show in Las Vegas” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal for four consecutive years and continues to be a celebrity favorite.

In February 2011, The Beatles’ Grammy Award-winning Love album and ‘All Together Now’ documentary made their digital debuts, exclusively on iTunes.

Image Courtesy of Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

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