Roy Berko - Page 8

Find out what's happening at theaters all across Cleveland!

This and other personal tales are the core of John Cullum: An Accidental Star. Stories about the golden days of the American musical and his friendships with the likes of Richard Burton, Robert Goulet, and Julie Andrews, told in his home-style manner, is interspersed with songs from shows in which he appeared.

In these days of angst, many theaters have attempted to stream various types of entertainment. The formats have been mostly musical reviews, with a few scripted musicals being attempted.

Call Me Elizabeth, which was recently streamed by Youngstown Playhouse, is a solo performance piece about the early life of Elizabeth Taylor. It was written by Kayla Boye and is set in May 1961.

BERKO PREVIEWS:  BWU PRESENTS BARS, PORTHOUSE REOPENS, DOBAMA ADOPTS LOVE AND RESPECT PROGRAM, CHRISTINE HOWEY AT MALTZ, PHSQ SET TO REOPEN

Beck's stream is a total must see!

VERB BALLETS BRIGHTENS THE PANDEMIC WITH AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF 'GOING SOLO'

Beck Center has a sterling reputation of cultivating talented performers who go on to success in hit Broadway shows and associated tours. Some of the theatre's alums will perform in a virtual engagement which runs March 5 to March 28, 2021, as part of Beck Center for the Arts' 87th Professional Theater Season.

With pop, gospel, and reimagined classics, The First Noel tells the story of a family that must confront the grief of the past in order to reunite and celebrate the joy of the present. Join Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb and CWRU/CPH MFA alum Lelund Durond Thompson for a special behind-the-scenes look of their musical The First Noel. This holiday concert will feature performances of select songs and exclusive interviews with the creative team. A moving and uplifting gift for the entire family!

Colton Ryan, CLE Playreading Group, Cleveland Play House, Near West Theatre, and more!

Separated by a pane of plastic to protect themselves from spreading Covid, the Loush sisters referred to their sexual antics and skills, referred to the political and social world around them, sang with vitality, and tried to take their viewers on an escape from reality. Part of it worked, part didn’t, but the duo can’t be accused of holding back.

In this pandemic era, where the best we can hope for are performances in Brady family-like shadow boxes, it is exciting to find arts companies going beyond the norm to bring about entertainment while still following the Covid protocols.

In 2012, when Baldwin Wallace's number one nationally ranked musical theater program, in conjunction with Beck Center for the Arts, produced SPRING AWAKENING, my capsule judgement read: 'SPRING AWAKENING is an emotionally stirring, relevant, and well-staged production.'

Becky Mode, the co-creator of Fully Committed, the one-person play which was selected by Time Magazine as one of the top plays of 2000, is a producer, actor and playwright. The play's co-creator, Mark Setlock, is a native Clevelander and graduate of Kent State, who won the 2000 Outer Critics Circle Award for his solo performance in the off-Broadway production of their script.

In this age of Black Lives Matter movement and other civil rights unrest, a performance piece such as, ...OR DOES IT EXPLODE?, is both relevant and fulfills the obligation of the arts to produce works that reflect that era from which is comes.

It is with great shock and sadness that Cleveland Play House shared the news of the passing of Managing Director Kevin Moore. On Saturday, October 24th, Kevin tragically died possibly due to a pulmonary embolism or heart attack. He was 59 years old.

Nathan Motta, the Artistic Director of Cleveland's Dobama Theater states, 'Needless to say, the 20/21 season is going to look different. However, while the Dobama stage will be dark, there are many opportunities for extraordinary engagement. First, we will be collaborating with Resident Filmmaker Brian Devers and Endeavors Productions to create high-quality, filmed theatre performances that will reach a broad online audience. Second, we are leaning in to our mission of producing important new scripts through the commission and development of three world premiere plays. Finally, Dobama staff and artists will use this time of suspended in-person productions for expanded engagement with members, supporters, and the larger community through masterclasses, Q&As, happy hours, and more.'

According to Cleveland Critics Circle and Akron AKRON [Ohio]BEACON JOURNALEntertainment writer, Kerry Clawson, 'At the end of last school year, the University of Akron theater program had two full-time faculty members and three staff members. Now it has none.'