Roy Berko - Page 32

'LES MISERABLES' is a classic historical novel by Victor Hugo. It is probably one of the most noted literary pieces of the 19th century. 'LES MISERABLES,' Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel's musical adaptation of the novel has become an epic of the musical theatre stage.

The State Theatre in PlayhouseSquare is rocking. Rocking with sounds of the likes of Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Rocking with a full orchestra, a visually stimulating electronically enhanced production, and the story of Berry Gordy.

Dance Cleveland opened its 59th season in spectacular style with a performance of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet at E. J. Thomas Hall, on the University of Akron Campus. The company, which was founded in 1996, has two official schools, one in Aspen, one in Santa Fe, and a year-round Mexican outreach program.

'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' a version of which is now on stage at Great Lakes Theatre, is considered by many literary critics to be one of Shakespeare's 'lesser' plays. Not bad, just not up to the dramatic level of the great writer, though its farcical nature is often praised.

Clyde Simon, Artistic Director of convergence continuum, has a knack for finding off-beat, provocative plays that incite discussion and strong reactions from the theatre's loyal following. That group, and probably many more, will find themselves entranced by Martin McDonagh's black comedy, 'The Pillowman.'

The Westons of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, in Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, gives new meaning to the phrase dysfunctional family.

Lillian Hellman, author of 'The Little Foxes,' which is now in production at the Cleveland Playhouse, was a rebel with many causes. An independent woman in an era before the women's rights and liberation movements, she had strong political and societal opinions. Because of her liberal affiliations she was blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee. She was 'a smoker, a drinker, a lover, and a fighter, who took stands against and placed a negative spotlight on greed, ambition and misguided principles.' She was an advocate for the downtrodden. These principles are at the foundation of 'The Little Foxes.'

When the tour of 'So You Think You Can Dance' comes to the Connor Palace Theatre in Cleveland on October 20, it will expose the local community to the top ten contestants and some of the other dancers who got the attention of the judges.

Cormac McCarthy, the author of 'The Sunset Limited,' which is now on stage at none too fragile theatre, probes, in his script, the topics: Why would someone want to commit suicide? Why does one person turn to religion when angst-filled, while another rejects the concept of a deity? Is traditional education a negative or positive influence in dealing with problems? What is the meaning of life? Can a person change from killer to saint? It probes the decisions to end one's life, as well as human suffering.

Do you like close-harmonic singing? Are you harking back to experience the 'good' old days? Do you like to escape from the stressful world and just 'yak' at comedy shticks and revel in the ridiculous? Then the place for you to be is Beck Center where Cleveland's multi-award winning choreographer, Martin Cespedes, has added 'creative director' to his resume.

There's a new couple in town. The musical Theatre Project and Kent State's Musical Theatre program are joining forces to do a staged reading/sing-through of the musical 'Babes in Arms.'

Dobama may be entering its 55th year (I was present the moment founding artistic director Don Bianchi declared its existence), but it is actually in its first season. What? Late last season, the Dobama board voted to change the status of venue to that of a full professional theatre. This makes Dobama, like Great Lakes Theatre and Cleveland Play House, a stage where all actors are paid by equity standards and the production staff are members of the appropriate staging unions.

Theatre is representative of the era from which it comes. Seeing a play that reflects a specific time period can reveal the cultural attitudes of the people and society of that period.

Eric Lane is a prolific and prize winning playwright. His plays include 'Times of War,' 'Filming O'Keefe,' 'Floating,' and 'Dancing on Checkers' Grave.' Never heard of them? You are not alone. In spite of his recognition for writing some episodes for TV's 'Ryan's Hope,' his scripts are not on the list of the most published plays.

In 1932, Leni Riefenstahl attended a rally where Adolf Hitler spoke. She was so mesmerized by his public speaking ability that she reported that she had an apocalyptic vision that included a stream of water touching the sky and shaking the earth.

King John, who reigned as the monarch of England from 1199-1216, was the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the father of Henry III. The Shakespearean script concerning his reign is one of the true history plays by the Bard and is one of only two of his plays, the other being 'Richard II,' that are written entirely in script.

'By the time the show is over, you will have been taken on a journey more compelling and magical than you could have imagined. For this, I think, is our principal function-as we delight, provoke and entertain, we must always surprise.' These are Jackie Maxwell, the Shaw Festival's Artistic Director, hopes for those who attend one or more of the theatre offerings.

'The Frogs,' Stephen Sondheim and Burt Shevelove's musical adaptation of Aristophanes' ancient Greek comedy, had a novel introduction to the stage. In 1974 it was produced in Yale University's Swimming Pool by the Yale Repertory Theatre.