Roy Berko - Page 12

What do 'James and the Giant Peach,' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'George's Marvelous Medicine' all have in common? They were all written by Roald Dahl.

Blank Canvas has a niche audience. They love slasher, off-the-wall, ridiculous plotted plays, especially musicals.

'Come From Away' is a special musical that creatively tells a heart-wrenching story of compassion, caring and a display of the best of humanity with humor and pathos. It makes for one of those special moments in the theater. The touring production is beyond excellent and is an absolutely must see!!

It is reasonable, with the Cleveland Orchestra playing its annual 'Salute to America' at Blossom, just yards away, and POTUS going through what appears to be his childhood dream of having tanks, planes and fireworks light up the nation's capital for its birthday, that Porthouse Theatre get into the mood by staging 'Tintypes,' a musical revue with almost fifty patriot songs.

Viewing a new theatrical production is always an intriguing experience. This is especially true if the offering is a musical and has not had many workshops or readings. It is in these venues that the material is tested and adjusted based on reviewer and audience reactions.

It is entirely appropriate in this era of rising anti-immigrant feelings, the re-emergence of the White Supremacy movement, increased anti-Semitism, and having a President who believes in nationalism and Eugenics, that Cain Park revisit the historical foundations of this country via the musical 'Ragtime.'

Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma ushered in the era of book-centric American musicals that have been designated as musical comedies. The beginning, middle and ending structured stories normally contain singing, dancing, show stoppers, comedy, a few conflicts, and a satisfying ending, in a two-act format.

Theater history books refer to 'The Black Crook,' which opened in 1866 in New York, as the first book musical. According to 'Something Rotten!,' by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell (book) and Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick (music and lyrics that honor should go to 'Omelette.'

Though it seems like it will never be here, there will be summer and the Cleveland theater scene will heat up. Here's a list of some of the offerings that are being staged.

Check out our list of some of the top venues to check out when visiting Cleveland below!

Negative racial and ethnic stereotypes, anti-ageism, political philosophical differences, and border conflicts are not usual topics for a comic play. But, author Karen Zacarias, whose 'Native Gardens' is now in production at Cleveland Play House, believes 'humor humanizes' when what could be the basis of a blood bath becomes a pool of laughter with a purpose.

Chemical addiction is the 'compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol).' In those with addiction, the substance controls the person, rather than the person being able to control their desire to stop usage or change their addictive behavior.