Cleveland Theatre + Broadway News

BWW Reviews: WHAT MAKES A MAN EXPLORED at Actors' Summit

(5/20/2013) -

Cleveland Play House Produces Reading of '8'

(5/20/2013) -

BWW Reviews: Unnerving Musical about the Crime of the Century at Convergence-Continuum

(5/20/2013) - Musicals have come from various sources. There has been the tale of an illiterate flower girl who was transformed into a proper woman (MY FAIR LADY), a Biblical Jewish youth who became a leader in Egypt (JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT), a prince who kept searching for his corner of the sky until he realized that it was right where he was (PIPPIN), and a big nosed sassy New York girl who transformed herself into a famous vaudeville star (FUNNY GIRL).

Now Playing Onstage in Cleveland - Week of 5/19/2013

(5/19/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/19/2013 for Cleveland

2nd Annual Bike for Beck Rides Comes to Lakewood Today

(5/19/2013) - Be on the lookout for one-of-a-kind hand-decorated bikes all around Lakewood as part of Bike Your Art Out, an art installation publicizing Connect to Beck's second annual Bike for Beck bicycle tour today, May 19, 2013. With over a hundred riders and several hundred more attendees at Beck Fest following last year's bicycle tour, the inaugural event was a tremendous success. This year, C2B hopes to build on last year's accomplishments and offer even more activities, art displays, food, music, and other cycling-related fun.

convergence-continuum Presents First-Ever Musical THRILL ME, Now thru 6/8

(5/17/2013) - convergence-continuum continues its 2013 Season: Ruled by Passion with its first-ever musical: the Ohio premiere of Thrill Me: the Leopold & Loeb Story, book, music and lyrics by Stephen Dolginoff.

Tickets Go on Sale Today for GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY National Tour!

(5/17/2013) - AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale today, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

Columbus All-City Orchestra to Perform Free Concert, 5/22

(5/16/2013) - Conducted by CSO Associate Conductor Peter Stafford Wilson, the Columbus All City Orchestra will present a free, public concert on Wednesday, May 22, at the Southern Theatre at 7:30pm. Now in its sixth year, the orchestra's 50 members are selected from musicians in grades 9-12 attending Columbus City Schools. The program is tuition free for students and is funded by The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, The Paul Duke Foundation, and The Morris and Emma Woodhull Fund of The Columbus Foundation.

Latin Superstar JUANES to Play the Palace Theatre, 6/11

(5/15/2013) - In both critical respect and global commercial success, Juanes has become the leading all-Spanish language music artist in the world. With multi-platinum worldwide sales of more than 12 million albums, a Grammy Award, and a record-setting 17 Latin Grammy Awards, it's evident that millions of fans have adopted the songs of this poetic rocker as virtual anthems for Latino pride, prayers for peace, and the strength of love. With record-setting chart runs for multiple #1 albums and singles, it's no wonder that Billboard recently declared Juanes Latin music's 'Star of the Decade.'

BWW Reviews: Acting Overshadows Esoteric Script at Cleveland Public Theatre

(5/15/2013) - Philip Ridley, the author of TENDER NAPALM, now being staged at Cleveland Public Theatre, was trained as an artist. His paintings, like his plays, are characterized by using a palate of colors, splashed all over. There is also a bizarre quality to his writing which is fairly typical of 1990s British 'In-Yer-Face' theatre. Theatre that is filled with fantasy, dark surrealism, which leaves the audience asking, 'What the hell is going on?'

Blank Canvas Theatre Presents MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, Opening 5/24

(5/14/2013) - MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG begins in the present and moves backwards, tracing the lives of wealthy, jaded composer Franklin Shepard and his two estranged friends through each milestone of their personal and professional lives (good and bad). The show ends with a touch of rueful irony, as the three best friends at the start of their careers face a bright future: young, talented and enthusiastic about the worlds waiting to be conquered.

BWW Reviews: THERE IS HAPPINESS (and Absurdity) at Cleveland Public Theatre

(5/13/2013) - If you went to college, and took a course in poetry, you'll find yourself morphing back and wishing that your professors had had a romp in the grass, and expressed themselves with such absurd hysterical language, as the duo in THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, which is getting a fine production at CPT.

THE PITMEN PAINTERS Opens 5/31 at Beck Center for the Arts

(5/13/2013) - Beck Center for the Arts presents The Pitmen Painters, May 31 through July 7, 2013 in the intimate Studio Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are now on sale.

Now Playing Onstage in Cleveland - Week of 5/12/2013

(5/12/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/12/2013 for Cleveland

Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett's GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY to Kick Off National Tour, Oct 2013

(5/10/2013) - AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

Dee Hoty Among Honorees at Cleveland Play House's 2013 Hall of Fame Induction Luncheon

(5/8/2013) - Cleveland Play House (CPH) will host their 17th Hall of Fame Luncheon on Tuesday, May 14th in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. This year's honorees have contributed to the success of CPH through many different avenues, and their professional accomplishments have accentuated CPH's proud history. This year's recipients include Dorothy and Frank Draz, Dee Hoty, Barclay Leathem and Jack Weston. Also being recognized is The Women's Committee of Cleveland Play House, which will be presented with the Heritage Award by Roe Green for their contributions to CPH.

CMSD Students Present AIDA as 14th Annual All-City Musical

(5/8/2013) - The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) will present itsfourteenth annual All-City Musical, AIDA to crown the District's 2012-13 series of All-City Arts Programming. The production features the talents of over fifty CMSD students from across the District and will take place on the stage of the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare,May 31 - June 2, 2013. Tony Sias, Director of Arts Education for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, co-directs the production with Kimberly Brown. Aida, which features music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, is based on the book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. It was originally directed on Broadway by Robert Falls and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. The CMSD All-City Musical production is produced through special arrangement with Music Theater International (www.mtishows.com).

Final Artist Production Development Clinic for 2012-13 Season Slated for 6/15

(5/8/2013) - Through the generous support of KeyBank, the final Artist Production Development Clinic for the 2012-13 season will be held June 15 at the Lincoln Theatre (769 E. Long St.) from 8:30am-4pm. This free, one-day informational clinic will offer local artists and arts organizations one-on-one Q&A and networking opportunities with consultants and theatre staff.

BWW Reviews: NEW GROUND...New. Theatre. Festival, Light up Cleveland Play House

(5/7/2013) - Cleveland Play House's The 2013 New Ground Theatre Festival lit up the three stages in the Allen Theatre complex starting on May 2nd with parts running through the 19th.

BWW Reviews: LOVE STORY, THE MUSICAL Showcases BW Talent at the 14th Street Theatre

(5/7/2013) - Fanatics of chick flicks virtually swoon when they hear the words, 'Love means you never have to say you're sorry,' or someone hums a bar or two of 'Where Do I Begin?' Ah, yes, Andy Williams crooning the theme song from the 1970 film, LOVE STORY, which starred Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw and holds the #9 place on the American Film Institute's list of 'most romantic films of all time.'

Beck Center Announces 2013/2014 Theater Season

(5/7/2013) - Celebrating its 80th theater season, Beck Center for the Arts has announced an eclectic 2013/2014 Professional Theater season that includes three regional premieres and the first locally produced premiere of a Broadway smash hit musical. Known for its diverse theatrical productions, Beck Center's new season features compelling dramas, award-winning musicals and hilarious comedies for Northeast Ohio audiences.

GUYS AND DOLLS On Sale Now at the Hanna Theatre

(5/6/2013) - Spend an unforgettable evening as PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater present the classicGUYS AND DOLLS May 1 - June 30 at the Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. GUYS AND DOLLS is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series.

Now Playing Onstage in Cleveland - Week of 5/05/2013

(5/5/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/05/2013 for Cleveland

BWW Reviews: Creatively Conceived and Thought-Provoking WORKING at Blank Canvas

(5/4/2013) - Probing into the lives of real people often yields fascinating theatre. The classical musical CHORUS LINE was based on interviews that Elyrian, James Kirkwood, wove into a fascinating tale of the true life and theatrical experiences of Broadway singers and dancers.

Cleveland Orchestra Public Square Concert Set for 7/1

(5/3/2013) - The Cleveland Orchestra, under the direction of William Eddins, will perform The Star-Spangled Spectacular brought to you by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, its 24th annual free community concert in downtown Cleveland, on Monday, July 1, on Public Square. The family-friendly concert and pre-concert festivities will be hosted by WCPN ideastream's Dee Perry.

Voting Opens for the 2013 BroadwayWorld Awards! Vote Now for the Best of the 2012-13 Theatre Season...

(5/2/2013) - The Tony Awards Nominators had their say earlier this week and now it's your turn! We're pleased to announce that voting has now opened for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards!

convergence-continuum to Present First-Ever Musical THRILL ME, 5/17-6/8

(4/30/2013) - convergence-continuum continues its 2013 Season: Ruled by Passion with its first-ever musical: the Ohio premiere of Thrill Me: the Leopold & Loeb Story, book, music and lyrics by Stephen Dolginoff.

The Cleveland Orchestra Appoints Alexandra Preucil as Assistant Concertmaster

(4/30/2013) - Music Director Franz Welser-Most and The Cleveland Orchestra today announced the appointment of a new Assistant Concertmaster and a new member of the second violin section. Alexandra Preucil has been appointed Assistant Concertmaster.

Now Playing Onstage in Cleveland - Week of 4/28/2013

(4/28/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 4/28/2013 for Cleveland

BWW Reviews: THE LYONS Roars at Dobama Theatre

(4/27/2013) - Nicky Silver's absurdist play, THE LYONS, gets an excellent production at Dobama. The balance between comedy and tragedy should get positive audience response and inspire some personal awareness.

Playhousesquare Presents Pajanimals: Pajama Playdate Today

(4/27/2013) - For the first time ever, The Jim Henson Company's Pajanimalsare packing their bags and hitting the road to bring a brand new live musical production to PlayhouseSquare today, April 27 for one performance only.

The Cleveland Orchestra Announces Gordon Square Residency

(4/26/2013) - The Cleveland Orchestra presents its inaugural neighborhood residency in Northeast Ohio from May 11 through 17, 2013, in Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District. During this first residency, the Orchestra will offer 16 events in the community throughout the week, including performances by Cleveland Orchestra musicians, ensembles from the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Youth Chorus, a Cleveland Orchestra concert preview, and educational programs for local students. All of the events will be free and open to the public. Leaders and representatives from Gordon Square businesses and associations have partnered with the Orchestra to plan and host the week's activities.

High School in the Spotlight: Napoleon High School, OH

(4/26/2013) - Today, we're thrilled to feature the Napoleon High School Drama Club under the direction of Teresa Morgan, Taylor Moyer, and Jim Murcko!

BWW Reviews: RICH GIRL, a Sure to Please the Audience Production at Cleveland Play House

(4/25/2013) - The plot: self-made vindictive wealthy person, inhibited daughter, handsome suitor who may be after her money, parent attempts to torpedo the relationship. Sound familiar? It should. That's basically the storyline of the Henry James novella WASHINGTON SQUARE and the play and film, THE HEIRESS. It's also the basic description of Victoria Stewart's RICH GIRL which takes from the past, but the play which is opening Cleveland Play House's 2013 NEW. THEATRE. FESTIVAL., adds comedy, infuses a little intrigue, and takes a 21st century twist.

BWW Reviews: THE ICEMAN COMETH, a Four-Hour Marathon at Ensemble

(4/23/2013) - Eugene O'Neill, along with such writers as Anton Chekhov, Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, transformed western theatre. They transitioned the stage from a place for escapist ideas into a mecca for the examination of real life problems. The quartet laid the foundation for what is now known as 'the modern theatre' and laid the groundwork for such luminaries as Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and William Inge.

Now Playing Onstage in Cleveland - Week of 4/21/2013

(4/21/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 4/21/2013 for Cleveland

Nick Jr.'s The Fresh Beat Band Returns to PlayhouseSquare, 11/22; Tickets on Sale Today

(4/20/2013) - The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon's preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series of the same name, are giving fans one more chance to see them live as they hit the road again for 60 performances on their nationwide concert tour. The Live concert comes to PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre on Friday, November 22 at 6:30 pm for on performance only! The wildly popular The Fresh Beat Band Live in Concert Tour will resume on Nov. 12, 2013 in San Antonio, TX.

THE ICEMAN COMETH Plays Ensemble Theatre, Now thru 5/12

(4/19/2013) - Ensemble Theatre concludes its critically acclaimed 33rd Season with THE ICEMAN COMETH by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz with assistant director Valerie Young, tonight, April 19 - May 12, 2013.

COLUMBUS FIRST to Join Gallery Hop with a Pet Adoption Fair Beginning 5/4

(4/17/2013) - The Columbus First Free Will Baptist Church (49 E. Third Ave.) will join the Short North's Gallery Hop for the very first time by hosting a Pet Adoption Fair in its parking lot. Located just one block east of High Street between Second and Third Avenues, the church will host a Pet Adoption Fair for six consecutive Gallery Hop dates beginning May 4.

Beck Youth Theater Presents BYE BYE BIRDIE, 5/10-19

(4/17/2013) - Beck Center Youth Theater presents the Broadway hit musical comedy, Bye Bye Birdie, May 10-12 and 17-19, 2013 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays with a special student matinee performance 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16. Tickets are now on sale at beckcenter.org.