Gina Vernaci News

Kyle Jean-Baptiste's legacy grew larger this week as a substantial gift from the Mackintosh Foundation, founded by acclaimed producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, helped to launch the official BW scholarship bearing Jean-Baptiste's name.

Cleveland's Playhouse Square announced this evening it will dim its marquee at 9 p.m. tomorrow, September 1, in honor of local and national up-and-coming talent Kyle Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste died on Friday, August 28 at the age of 21 after an accident at home, in which he fell off his mother's fire escape.

In her book, 'Dress Codes: of three girlhoods-my mother's, my father's and mine,' Noelle Howey writes, 'I have a dad who is a woman much like me, but with better legs. And when he was still male, I had a dad possibly like yours: sullen, sporadically hostile, frequently vacant. I had a dad who became a woman in order to be nice.' Noelle goes on to say, 'I have a family that survived a life in the closet . . . a traditional family . . . that would probably be the right wing's worst nightmare.'

o resounding applause, Gina Vernaci, the Executive Producer of Playhouse Square, the woman responsible for cobbling together each year's Key Bank Broadway Series, announced at the local KINKY BOOTS' press opening, that Cleveland's 32,000 subscribers constituted the largest body of audience for any of the toured Broadway cities. What she didn't share was that almost all the tickets for the local run of KINKY BOOTS are sold out. If you expect to see the show, run, don't walk to your computer or phone and order now (216-241-6000 or www.playhousesquare.org). Not later, now!

The GE Chandelier won't be the only glittering jewel in town for long when Playhouse Square welcomes Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and its legendary chandelier as part of the 2015-2016 KeyBank Broadway Series. The highly-anticipated 7-show Series was announced this evening by Playhouse Square Executive Producer Gina Vernaci to an eager and energized crowd of 2500+. One of the many highlights of the evening came as Vernaci announced that Playhouse Square would launch the national tour of Broadway sensation BULLETS OVER BROADWAY.

On opening night, when Corey Mach made his first appearance on stage in 'Flashdance The Musical,' the audience, after being prepped about his entrance by Gina Vernaci, Senior Vice President of Theater Operations, greeted him with a lengthy ovation. During the curtain call, the audience exploded in vocal and physical adoration when Mach came on stage. Then, when the 2006 Strongsville High School and 2010 Baldwin-Wallace alum put on an Indian's baseball cap, the Palace Theatre literally shook with unbridled excitement. Yes, this was a glorious 'welcome home Corey' celebration.

The Independent Presenters Network presents the 2014 national tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler, the new tour launched at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH, on March 4, 2014. BroadwayWorld has an exclusive look at the opening night photos below!

Matthew Bourne's SLEEPING BEAUTY: Gothic fairy tale, is a ballet not only for the ballet aficionado, but for the person who knows nothing about the dance form, but wants to see a well told tale, marvelously performed, as one will probably never see it again. As a male acquaintance, who only went because he had subscriber's tickets said to me the day after the performance, 'I never thought that I'd go to a ballet, but would say that it was one of the best things I've ever seen on stage.' Yes, this is an absolute MUST-SEE!

Spend an unforgettable evening as PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater present the classicGUYS AND DOLLS May 1 - June 30 at the Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. GUYS AND DOLLS is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series.

Tuesday evening, March 19th, 2013, PlayhouseSquare revealed its highly anticipated 2013-2014 KeyBank Broadway Series in the historic State Theatre. The exciting seven-show Series was announced by Senior Vice President of Theater Operations, Gina Vernaci, to a crowd of over 1,500+. The captivated audience began their evening with a surprise performance by Cleveland's own All-City Drum Line, who marched down the aisles to kick-off the event. The crowd was treated to video clips of the various productions in the Series, interspersed with Vernaci's playful and eloquent commentary. The evening was capped off with a special performance from Anne Brummel, star of the 2nd North American Tour of Wicked, who charmed the audience as Elphaba, while belting out the smash hit "Defying Gravity."

PlayhouseSquare revealed its 2013-2014 KeyBank Broadway Series yesterday evening in the State Theatre. The exciting seven-show Series was announced by Senior Vice President of Theater Operations, Gina Vernaci, and the evening was capped off with a special performance from Anne Brummel, star of the 2nd North American Tour of Wicked, which will be delighting Cleveland audiences once again with its return in December of 2013.

PlayhouseSquare's Senior Vice President of Theater Operations Gina Vernaci has been elected President of the Independent Presenters Network {IPN} at the semi-annual conference in Tampa, FL. Vernaci will serve a two-year term - the first woman to hold that position and only the fourth president in the organization's 20-year existence. IPN's slate of officers include Rich Baker (Fox Associates, St. Louis) and Norbert Mongeon (Providence Center, Rhode Island).

Spend an unforgettable evening commemorating the life and works of Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, as PlayhouseSquare and Great Lakes Theater present the musical SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, May 16 - July 8 at the Hanna Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. The production is a part of both the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare and the 50th Anniversary Season of Great Lakes Theater.

PlayhouseSquare today announced its line-up for the 2012-2013 KeyBank Broadway Series. The nation's largest performing arts complex outside of New York City, PlayhouseSquare is currently celebrating 90 years.

PlayhouseSquare honored Broadway producer Margo Lion with its highest award, the PlayhouseSquare Star Award for Achievement in the Performing Arts, at its annual Chairman's Dinner on Tuesday night.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons closes in Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare on July 17.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, this July, PlayhouseSquare returns to collaborating with acclaimed New York based producing agency The Dodgers, Carl Levin and Michael Minarik, to present a rare glimpse into the creation of live theater with Fat Camp. BroadwayWorld has confirmed online reports that Carly Jibson, Michael Buchanan, Janet Dickinson and Kate Loprest will all star in the developmental production.The show will run July 13-24.

This July, PlayhouseSquare returns to collaborating with acclaimed New York based producing agency The Dodgers; an association that has spanned nearly 30 years - starting with country pop/rock hit Pump Boys and Dinettes and reaching such lofty heights with the Tony Award® winning mega-sensation Jersey Boys. This time, in continuing its relationship with The Dodgers and their producing partners Carl Levin and Michael Minarik, PlayhouseSquare is proud to present a rare glimpse into the creation of live theater with Fat Camp. Debuting in 2009 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Fat Camp tells the tale of a summer spent at Camp Overton where secrets, sex, s'mores and self-image collide in a coming-of-age rock musical comedy.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons opens in Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare on June 22 through July 17.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons opens in Cleveland at PlayhouseSquare on June 22 through July 17.