The opening night audience for YENTL failed to give the standard Cleveland standing ovation. This might be construed as an omen that there was a disconnect between the viewers and the production. It's too bad. YENTL is an important script, which tells a fascinating story of a writer, ahead of his time, who weaves Jewish history with modern issues. I wanted so much to really be swept away by the production. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
Home. Identity. Secrets and lies. An African-American attorney with a career on the rise is shocked to discover she has an Iraqi half-sister in Wendy Graf's newest play, a hard-hitting drama about family conflict and clashing cultures. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, the world premiere of Closely Related Keys opens Feb. 22 at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.
Cleveland Play House (CPH) will begin the New Year with a captivating production of Yentl. Based on the short story 'Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy' by Isaac Bashevis Singer and adapted for the stage by Leah Napolin and Singer, Yentl tells the story of a young Jewish woman rebelling against the limitations placed upon her gender by society. This incredible CPH production will be directed by Michael Perlman and will run from tonight, Jan. 10 - Feb. 2 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.
Cleveland Play House (CPH) will begin the New Year with a captivating production of Yentl. Based on the short story "Yentl, the Yeshiva Boy" by Isaac Bashevis Singer and adapted for the stage by Leah Napolin and Singer, Yentl tells the story of a young Jewish woman rebelling against the limitations placed upon her gender by society. This incredible CPH production will be directed by Michael Perlman and will run from Jan. 10 - Feb. 2 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.
ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER is an often amusing, thought provoking play about what happens when the lives of mismatched people collide in complicated ways that highlight hurt and the challenges of individuals who don't know who they are or how to be in the world. The Ensemble production doesn't quite reach the quality of the play's writing, but does hold attention and leaves the audience thinking.
Beck Center for the Arts' 80th theater season opens on Friday, September 20 with the award-winning musical She Loves Me. Since its humble beginning in 1933 as Lakewood Little Theater, the organization has grown to be one of the largest arts organizations in Northeast Ohio, serving nearly 60,000 constituents annually with dynamic theater, arts education, exhibits and outreach programming.
ShPIeL-Performing Identity has announced the North Shore theatrical premiere of The Invasion of Skokie, by Steven Peterson and directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith at the theatre in the Mayer Kaplan JCC of the Jewish Community Center of Chicago, 5050 Church Street in Skokie, IL. Previews are Wednesday, May 22, Thursday, May 23 and Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. Opening/press night is Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule continues Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. through June 23. Preview tickets are $25. Tickets to The Invasion of Skokie are $28 and are currently on sale online at shpieltheatre.com or 800.838.3006. Student tickets are $10 to all performances, based on availability. Senior tickets are $20. Half-priced tickets are sold, one hour before curtain at box office, based on availability. Group Tickets for parties of 10 or more receive a discounted rate and are available by calling 847.814.8206. Free post-performance discussions are available Thursdays and selected additional performances. Go to http://shpieltheatre.com/ for complete post-performance discussions and the guest leaders schedule.
Cleveland Play House's The 2013 New Ground Theatre Festival lit up the three stages in the Allen Theatre complex starting on May 2nd with parts running through the 19th.
Celebrating its 80th theater season, Beck Center for the Arts has announced an eclectic 2013/2014 Professional Theater season that includes three regional premieres and the first locally produced premiere of a Broadway smash hit musical. Known for its diverse theatrical productions, Beck Center's new season features compelling dramas, award-winning musicals and hilarious comedies for Northeast Ohio audiences.
STRUCK, now on stage as Cleveland Public Theatre is an interesting piece, much in the vein of Arthur Kopit's WINGS, which had a startling production at Beck Center starring Dorothy Silver, in which the ramifications of a person having a stroke is investigated.
From May 2-11, 2013, Cleveland Play House (CPH) will showcase a variety of new work from nationally recognized artists in its annual New Ground Theatre Festival. The centerpiece of this showcase of new work by America's most exciting playwrights is the world premiere production of Rich Girl, written by Victoria Stewart and directed by CPH Artistic Director Michael Bloom, featuring Tony Award-nominated actresses Dee Hoty and Liz Larsen. A festival highlight this year is an interdisciplinary presentation in partnership DANCE Cleveland of three performances of The Better Half by Chicago-based Lucky Plush Productions, with the help of funding from Arts Midwest Touring Fund with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts.
It is the purpose of THE CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS to recognize outstanding Cleveland area productions, performers, directors and others who were involved in those offerings during the 2012 year. Awards are considered for those theatres which the members review and the categories agreed upon by the members of the organization. (For a listing of these theatres go to: clevelandtheaterawards.com)
It's Friday and time for another regional news recap! Today, we take you around the country - and beyond - with the most-read theater stories for the week of December 10! Scroll below to see what made news in your area!
There is an air of an impending explosion about to happen in Amy Herzog's 4000 MILES, now on stage at Dobama Theatre. Interesting, though the artillery never goes off, the 90-minute play captivates and absolutely holds attention.
Don't just hunker down during Cleveland's upcoming season of discontent and snow, support the local theatres. BTW…tickets or gift cards to local theatres make great holiday presents!
Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Philip Gerson's new playApeshit (note: if unprintable, please spell it Apesh!t) directed by Bob Jaffe on Monday, July 23 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).
