Roy Berko - Page 13

Calogero Lorenzo 'Chazz' Palminteri is a Bronx guy through and through. He lives and breathes New York Yankee pinstripes, is addicted to 'sauce,' and 'tawks' Bronxese.

OnStage's 2018-2019 rankings of musical theater programs ranked Cleveland suburban Baldwin Wallace University' as number 1 in the nation, indicating that it was the 'top destination for any student wanting to study musical theatre.'

What is art? What is friendship? What is the value of a piece of art? What is the value of friendship? These are just some of the questions which are put forth in Yasmina Reza's French-language play that has been translated into English by Christopher Hampton and is now in production at Blank Canvas theater.

Since 2012, Seat of the Pants, self-referred to as a 'band of storytellers,' has been traversing the countryside in various locations around Northeast Ohio, focusing their actions on 'sharing compelling narratives in unique spaces and developing an aesthetic rooted in imaginative staging and human connection.'

Convergence Continuum recently staged 'Rapture, Blister, Burn' a very well written clearly staged show, that highlighted the author's intent and purpose. It was a standout production.

In 1906, San Francisco had an intense earthquake and resulting fires. Little did my newly immigrant grandfather know that when he went to build 'shacks' in the city by the bay, that he would be part of what has recently become a new trend-building 'Little Houses.' He constructed many 200 square feet or less temporary homes, some of which became permanent residences.

Cleveland Height resident Eric Coble is the area's most prolific and successful contemporary playwright. His scripts have been produced locally, as well as on- and off -Broadway, and at a significant number of national theaters.

Having seen Audra McDonald's Tony Award winning Broadway performance of Billie Holiday in 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill,' I went to see the Beck production of the show with trepidation.

In this era, confusion and uncertainty are the present trend in many cutting-edge plays by a new breed of playwrights that Dobama is using as its writing stable.

What happens when a musical film earns over $131-million on a $35-million-dollar investment? If you are Andrew Lloyd Webber, you buy the rights and turn it into School of Rock The Musicalwith lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Julian Fellowes.

Musicals come in different forms. Musical comedies, such as 'Cinderella' and 'School of Rock' intend to entertain. Musical dramas--think 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'Come From Away,' and 'Hamilton,' relay thoughtful ideas in words, song and dance. The musical tragedy, such as 'Sweeney Todd' and 'The Kiss Of The Spider Woman,' which is now on stage at Blank Canvas, finds a 'victim' in a society which doesn't understand or appreciate them, resulting in dire consequences.

Agatha Christie, the 'Queen of Crime,' was a British writer of murder mysteries, noted for creating plays, books and short stories. They not only contained intriguing plot twists, which centered on scandalous murders, elaborate twists and turns, but revealed basic 'truths' that are not what they seem.

'On Stage' recently announced that Baldwin Wallace University's Music Theatre program has risen to number one calling it 'a top destination for any student wanting to study musical theatre.'

Before you ask, 'Yes, a helicopter lands on stage in the touring production of 'Miss Saigon,' now on stage at the KeyBank State Theatre, but, as with the production itself there is a 'but . . .'.