Great Lakes Theater Festival Renamed GREAT LAKES THEATER

Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland's professional classic theater company, will streamline its name to Great Lakes Theater (GLT) beginning this summer. The company's move to eliminate the word Festival from its name is designed to establish a succinct moniker for the regional theater that accurately reflects its current seasonal structure and artistic programming.

Originally founded in 1962 as the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, the theater's name was changed to Great Lakes Theater Festival in 1985 to reflect the company's interest in diversifying production offerings beyond the work of Shakespeare. The company transitioned from a festival-style producing model to a seasonal structure in 1991.

"While we absolutely remain committed to producing the work of William Shakespeare and the classics, we no longer present plays in a festival-style format," said Todd Krispinsky, GLT's marketing and public relations director. "Our new name, Great Lakes Theater, is a refinement that more accurately communicates who we are as a company today and eliminates any potential confusion for audience members who associate certain expectations with words like ‘Festival.' Our Board and staff believe that our fiftieth anniversary season is the perfect occasion to make such a name change...as we embark upon a new and exciting chapter of our company's history."

The theater's transition to its new name will occur in phases. Marketing materials will reflect the change beginning in late July. The marquee and interior signage of the company's Hanna Theatre home at PlayhouseSquare will receive an update in August. Great Lakes Theater's redesigned website will launch in September.

Great Lakes Theater has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962. The first resident company of PlayhouseSquare, Great Lakes Theater will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary season in 2011-12. The theater's programming reaches 85,000 adults and students annually.

 

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