Lineup
KDKA-TV and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust have so much fun in store for this year’s one-hour, TV-only special edition of our city’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration. Learn about some of this year’s performers and stay connected to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for more updates!
FRZY
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Frzy has made his footprint on hip-hop as one of the industry’s most versatile recording artists. Embodying the hard working, true grit reputation of the city from which he comes, he continues to reach new heights in his career while also maintaining a strong relationship with his hometown community.
Frzy’s music career launched after winning several notable rap battles, including DJ Kay Slay’s Hot 97 ‘Drama Kings’ at the Pyramid Club in New York City. His intense performance earned him a spot on Nelly’s St. Lunatics Tour, where he performed alongside Naughty by Nature for crowds of 30,000. Frzy soon after became the official spokesperson for the Subway Melt, while also adding Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Machine Gun Kelly, Wale, and others to his performance resume.
Frzy released his debut album in 2016, titled God King Slave — a 24-song, double-disc album that highlights his skills as an artist and writer like never before.
Mariand Torres & Nick Duckart
The extremely talented – and married – duo of Mariand Torres and Nick Duckart joins Pittsburgh’s signature New Year’s Eve celebration all the way from New York City.
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Mariand got bit by the musical theater bug in college and has been flying high on Broadway ever since! She is most known for performing the role of Elphaba in Wicked, both on Broadway and in the National Touring company. She has also been seen in the original cast of In Transit, Broadway’s first a cappella musical, in the Japan World premiere of Prince of Broadway, in the original off-Broadway cast of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 and the Off-Broadway workshop of School of Rock.
Nick is an actor, singer, and voiceover artist living in New York City. Originally from Hialeah, Florida, Nick Duckart has been seen all around North American in the National Tour of Come From Away, as Kevin J./Ali. Nick has also been seen starring on TV in the USA Network’s Burn Notice, and on NBC on The Blacklist and The Arrangement.
Eric Jones
Eric Jones has made a name for himself in the world of magic. Armed with sleight-of-hand, Eric dazzles his audiences with his digital dexterity. He uses these tools to deceive, entertain and astonish his audiences with his mind-blowing illusions. Ordinary, everyday items become objects of fancy as Eric delicately handles them. Coins multiply, cards fly, and audiences stunned.
An award-winning performer, Eric's magic has been showcased at Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA, New York City's Monday Night Magic, the longest-running Off-Broadway magic show in NYC, Masters of Illusion and on Comedy Central.
Eric has appeared on television in 19 countries spanning 5 continents and has wowed dozens of A-List celebrities all over the globe with his Breathtaking close-up magic. As an author, performer, consultant, magician, and corporate entertainer. His expertise is sought out by Fortune 500 companies such as Merrill Lynch, State Farm, and Coca-Cola. As a corporate entertainer, Eric Jones performs some of the most spellbinding illusions imaginable that leaves the audience mystified.
Eric was a contestant on Season 2 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us where he successfully fooled the duo and managed to trick the two masters of magic. Eric Jones was a semi-finalist on Season 12 of NBC's America's Got Talent.
Eric Jones was the first magician to perform at Liberty Magic in Pittsburgh, and his show completely sold out. He returned later in the year (2019) for a reprise engagement of his show Impossible. Eric also appeared on Liberty Magic @ Home during the Trust’s ‘intermission’ and remains one of the top artistic advisors and supporters of Liberty Magic. While no return date is set for Liberty Magic to reopen its doors, Eric will most certainly return to Pittsburgh someday to dazzle audiences again.
Hadestown
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh is preparing for the return of PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh in 2021 with a special visit from the Tony-winning Best Musical Hadestown. As the first show scheduled on the new seven-show season, Hadestown is a beguiling and hopeful journey to the underworld and back. Coming in September, the show’s vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, singers, and musicians includes three Fates who guide the audience along the way. These three are also featured in the show’s recently-released holiday album, If The Fates Allow: A Hadestown Holiday Album, now available for purchase and streaming. Exclusively for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, The Fates will share a special message of hope and their original holiday song, “Purple Snowflakes.”
Featuring the cast of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Hadestown, If The Fates Allow: A Hadestown Holiday Album offers both solace and celebration as we head into a winter season like no other. Starring Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad as "The Fates" and featuring the entire Hadestown cast, this album includes beloved holiday classics, songs composed by Hadestown's own Anaïs Mitchell, Yvette Gonzales-Nacer, and Liam Robinson, as well as gems waiting to be rediscovered, all in a sound steeped in blues, folk, ragtime, and jazz that has made Anaïs Mitchell's groundbreaking musical a phenomenon. This 14-track album is sure to lift your spirits and keep you livin' it up this holiday season.
Tune in to KDKA-TV at 11 pm, or stream online at CBSN Pittsburgh — a 24/7 local streaming network that makes it easier than ever to get KDKA News and our specialty programming, like Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2021!