ManWithNoName

This is a good vent, though. Plan your friend's tours well. I have a friend coming in from Cincinnati the weekend of Ingenuity...guess where we are going? I think that should be fantastic, coupled with some nice chow and a few other spots of interest. Cleveland in the summer is usually pretty cool with lots to do all over the region but you are right...one bad event leads people back to the ol' "Mistake on the Lake" idea of the town. We have so much to offer here (tons of arts, food, entertainment, relatively cheap living, A HUGE FREAKING FRESHWATER LAKE, and so on) that I am surprised we haven't garnered more positive attitudes. Bad self-esteem is something tough to ditch, though.

Thanks, Blinker! It is sad to see that after weeks of conjecture that, beyond one statement, the Beck is still silent on this. I think it is one of those things were residents that are concerned just want to know, at this point. If Beck stays, cool...let's help it out. If it leaves, fine...let's replace it.

This isn't completely true, at least statistically. Sure, there are more people from outside the city that visit the Beck than inside, but that is hardly a reason to move (as I would argue that probably more people visit Crocker Park from outside the city than within...otherwise it would fold tomorrow). In fact, it shows that people from the Sprawl will travel inland to get quality arts and entertainment. If we look just at numbers from the two cities in question (since Beck isn't moving to Avon or Bay and is just as close to many residents in outside communities like Fairview Park, Rocky River and even hunks of Bay than it will be on the furthest end of Westlake (nearly Lorain County). I read a stat that about 25% of patrons for shows are from Lakewood vs. about 12% from Westlake. For classes and such, it was higher in favor of Lakewood, like 28% I think compared to 10% from Westlake. So they are currently looking at nearly 1/3 of their audience for classes and 1/4 for shows coming from the town where they live. This might change the other way around when they move but is it worth it? And couple with that the fact that BIG arts spenders for non-profits like the Gund Foundation and Cleveland Arts Foundation (or whatever it is called...the name escapes me) will dry up as they move away from THEIR intended recipients, namely arts organizations in urban settings. They have already been quoted as saying that well is out of reach of Beck if Westward they go. I think the only benefit for Beck is the short term when they get a new theater and some quick money. The long term impact will be a watering down of the Beck name and style (more "pop" shows vs. meatier productions) and potential irrelevancy when compared to the continually growing and changing downtown venues (keep an eye out for cool Great Lakes Theater Festival stuff in the next couple of years, for example). If producing theatrical productions and teaching kids music was all about money, then I would support the argument that the Beck move but if that were the case, I shudder to think what the arts would be (reality television and MTV hints at this).

Beck doesn't need a new location, they need a new building. This became new location when they had a carrot dangled in their face that would potentially solve their financial woes but assuming some debt and helping to cover the costs of a new building. If the City of Lakewood would pony up cash to compete with this developer, this might not be an issue. But like many inner ring suburbs, Lakewood is cash strapped and this just isn't possible. As for moving to Gordon Square, isn't CPT and Near West enough theater for one block? I would hope that Beck would look at that model for developing an area. It would be cool if Beck were part of a larger neighborhood re-growth that would include shops, restaurants, etc. I think they are looking at the fact that their prices are going WAY up for their product. When I had a chance for my daughter to take a class there (ballet...she was 6) I jumped. It was nice but pricey and my daughter's enthusiasm for it was, well, typical for a 6 year old. I found that the same sort of class was offered by Lakewood Recreation that was WAY cheaper and offered the same opportunities and even they had a huge show at the end of the class (and all the class sessions of all ages) that packed the Lakewood auditorium! Not bad for way less money. The other issue is that the theater charges professional theater prices on par with Great Lakes Theater Festival or Cleveland Playhouse but offers only amateur level theatrics, great for community theater but inconsistent when compared to the more polished fare found around town. Don't get me wrong, I have seen some stunning theater at the Beck but I have also seen amateurish productions for the same cost. The people that can afford this live out West, not in towards the city. Beck is, instead of trying to serve its surrounding community with the theater it wants, needs, and can afford it instead has a program that is in search of a neighborhood that can afford it. Very different from the model at CPT and Near West, I would think. MWNN