Beck Youth Theater Presents CATS May 13-21

Beck Youth Theater, in collaboration with the Beck Center Dance Workshop, presents the internationally renowned CATS May 13-21, 2011 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with 3 p.m. matinees on Sunday, May 15 and Saturday, May 21. A special student matinee performance is also scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, May 19.

Based on the popular poetry of T.S. Eliot, CATS tells the story in song and dance of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats when one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer. From the composer of The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar, this landmark show is pure entertainment from start to finish. A true musical theater phenomenon, Cats ran for a record-setting 21 years in London and more than 18 years on Broadway.

Featuring a cast of nearly 80 Beck Center students ages 6 to 19 years, CATS is directed by Jonathan Kronenberger, Beck's associate director of Theater Education. "Performing CATS with this many actors and dancers requires a new way of imagining the storytelling and a new way of rehearsing," said Kronenberger. Choreography for this production of Cats is led by Melanie Szucs and Devon Shriver and features 20 dancers from Beck's Dance Workshop."It has been an exciting challenge and a great learning opportunity for everyone involved," added Kronenberger.

This production also provides unique opportunities behind-the-scenes. Not only are Beck students working as stage crew, a course in make-up technique specifically for CATS began in February that will allow students to be part of the make-up team. Additionally, the cast was treated to a special "felinity" workshop led by New York actress and Beck Center alum Lisa Kuhnen. Ms. Kuhnen was a cast member of the international production of Cats and shared her experiences with the cast, and showed them how to move, react and behave "cat-like" for their roles.

Tickets for Cats are $12 for Adult/Senior and $10 for Children/Student (18 and under). Special discounted rates are available for groups of 13 or more. For tickets, visit www.beckcenter.org or call 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

Beck Center's production of CATS is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals. The show is sponsored by Cox Communications and Music Is Elementary. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this production with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. This production is also generously supported by the public through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies, and gallery exhibits featuring regional artists. For more information about the Beck Center, visit www.beckcenter.org.

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