Gina Vernaci News

Cameron Mackintosh announced today that his acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will relaunch its record-breaking tour of North America in October 2022.

Sara Bareilles' hit musical Waitress returns to Playhouse Square this May for a limited 5-week engagement at the intimate 550-seat Hanna Theatre. Playhouse Square launched the first national Waitress tour at the Connor Palace in 2017.

University of Illinois Springfield announces Choir of Man as part of the show's third U.S. tour. The performance is on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the UIS Performing Arts Center.

Playhouse Square announced today that Gina Vernaci plans to step down as president and CEO in February 2023 after a 39-year career with the organization.

Playhouse Square will be joining performing arts venues in the Northeast Ohio region and around the country to implement a safer return to full-capacity live indoor performances this fall by requiring all audience members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or if they cannot be vaccinated to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test, building another layer of protection onto the mask requirement introduced in late July.

Playhouse Square has announced WICKED will make its long-awaited return to Cleveland this holiday season at the KeyBank State Theatre, Dec. 8, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022. Tickets go on sale August 2 at 10:00 a.m.

On June 11, audiences returned to Playhouse Square for the first time in 15 months. The high-energy global phenomenon THE CHOIR OF MAN was waiting for them with lively songs, laughs and Labatt beer.

The Lion King will begin performances at the KeyBank State Theatre on Friday, October 1 for a limited engagement of 2 weeks (16 performances) through Friday, October 15. The opening night is Tuesday, October 5 at 7:30 PM. 

Through a virtual broadcast this evening, Playhouse Square revealed the five shows Cleveland audiences will enjoy live and in person as the KeyBank Broadway Series returns to its historic stages beginning this fall: THE PROM, PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, AIN'T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS and DISNEY'S FROZEN.

Playhouse Square's KeyBank Broadway Series is expected to return in Fall 2021. 

A nationwide event will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 9:00 p.m. to 12 midnight to call attention to the deep financial plight of the Live Event Industry.

The last of the KeyBank Broadway Series shows slated for Playhouse Square in 2020 are now on hold due to the current health crisis, according to Cleveland.com. Both Disney's a?oeFrozena?? and a?oeHamiltona?? - scheduled for late summer and early fall have been postponed, including the November production of a?oeTo Kill a Mockingbird.a??

Late last year Dobama invited a dozen or so people to do a series of interviews meant to focus a spotlight on the theatre's 60th anniversary. As an original member of the Dobama community I was one of those honored to be asked to participate. Here is my interview:

The Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) and Playhouse Square are elated to announce that in 2021 the Festival will permanently move to Playhouse Square a?" marking a new chapter for two of the region's most beloved cultural gems.

Playhouse Square will announce its lineup of shows for the 2020-2021 season of the KeyBank Broadway Series on Tuesday, March 3. The annual 'Launch Special' will stream live at playhousesquare.org and on Playhouse Square's official YouTube channel, beginning at 7:30 p.m., courtesy of Labatt.

Playhouse Square is has announced the return of HAMILTON for a six-week engagement as a Huntington Featured Performance, from September 22 through November 1, 2020. A limited number of season ticket packages including HAMILTON will be available to purchase on Monday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m. by calling 216-640-8800 or visiting playhousesquare.org.

Playhouse Square shines brightly today thanks to the dedication and foresight of individuals who saw the theaters as both a symbol of Cleveland's past and an inspiration for the future. To honor their efforts and further its not-for-profit mission, in 2014 Playhouse Square began to pursue its largest philanthropic effort, the $100 million Advancing the Legacy Campaign.

At today's meeting of the Playhouse Square Board of Trustees, Board Chair James Ratner announced Art J. Falco's intention to step down from his current role as CEO effective June 30, 2019 after 28 years of visionary leadership at the helm of the not-for-profit performing arts center. Falco will continue to serve as a Senior Advisor for Special Projects, focusing on real estate initiatives and specifically The Lumen apartment tower.

Over an online broadcast of the annual Broadway Launch Party this evening, Playhouse Square unveiled the seven shows that will be featured in the highly-anticipated 2019-2020 KeyBank Broadway Series: SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL, THE BAND'S VISIT, MEAN GIRLS, ANASTASIA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, MY FAIR LADY and Disney's FROZEN.

Playhouse Square will present a special performance of Disney's THE LION KING for individuals with sensory sensitivities, autism spectrum disorders and other sensory, social and cognitive challenges or issues and their families on Saturday, August 31 at 1:30 p.m. This marks the first-ever sensory-friendly performance of a touring Broadway show in Cleveland. Playhouse Square has previously presented sensory-friendly performances as part of the Children's Theater Series presented by University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's.