Hard to believe, but as far as I could tell, there is no pure Playhouse Square thread on the board.  If there is and I missed it, feel free and move this there. 

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/tony_brown/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1190449995132170.xml&coll=2

Hanna Theatre to be renovated, be home to Great Lakes Theater Festival

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Tony Brown

Plain Dealer Theater Critic

The Hanna Theatre, one of the most historically and architecturally significant structures in downtown Cleveland, will undergo a radical renovation that could give the city a 21st century theater unlike any other in the country.

 

Officials at Playhouse Square Foundation and Great Lakes Theater Festival on Friday confirmed the long-rumored plans for the Hanna, which opened in 1921 and quickly became one of the premier Broadway-show venues outside New York City.

 

More at http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/tony_brown/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1190449995132170.xml&coll=2

Thanks for creating a Playhouse Square thread. I'm also surprised there wasn't one already!

Well, they have started work on the upscale pizza joint in the Hanna building as of about two weeks ago.

 

And across the street, the Moko construction sign is up in its window.

 

And the Starbucks is adding a second floor to its location at Euclid/E.14.

DAS is doing a window replacement and facade repainting on the United Way headquarters.

And the Starbucks is adding a second floor to its location at Euclid/E.14.

Sweet!  I expect to be at that Starbucks quite often starting in October.  I think they've always had an upstairs that's just been closed off, hasn't it?  Maybe business is picking up to the point where they finally need the space.  Does anyone know whether the Euclid corridor renovations leave more sidewalk room on that side of the street allowing for a patio too? 

I was wondering what was going on at United Way. Thanks.

 

That is good news about $tarbucks. I noticed the stairs there on several occasions and wondered if why they never converted the whole space from the previous occupants.

I was really disappointed to hear about Michael DeAloia's departure from the city earlier this month.  Having met with him and some of the high tech companies he has brought downtown (specifically to the Playhouse Square area) I got the impression of a very ambitious, able, and competent leader, with some very real plans for technology development in Cleveland.  The story surrounding his departure is certainly less than clear (apparently spurred by the failure to attract the support of other development officials to land some division of Apple Inc. downtown), but I'm at least glad to hear he's staying in Cleveland.

 

BTW, SchoolOne is the business that was supposed to move from Elyria into that building in Ohio City that burned just 4 weeks before its move-in date.  However, it was a blessing in disguise, according to the CEO, who mentioned to me that they have grown much faster than they expected and would have run out of space in the W.25th location by now anyway.

Awesome!  Now if someone could just donate some money to renovate the E. 14th Street Theater.  We've got makeshift dressing rooms in the upstairs office space (cuz the actual dressing doom only fits four people) and the audience seating area is less than ideal (giant pillars in the middle of the room that interfere with sight lines, etc.).  I believe it used to be a restaurant once upon a time, hence the awkward layout.

man i can't wait for all these projects to start getting underway. I think this area will really bloom pretty soon. I am really excited to finish school and be able to start my own architecture firm in the home of my ancestors; cleveland. Will the silver line have a stop at playhouse square? i am sure it will... just curious.

^I think that there will be a stop on East 12th

Does anyone know  ... 

 

  *  What are they building in the Hanna Building, 1st floor, on Euclid Avenue?  If it's a restaurant, what kind?

 

  *  What ever happenned to the plans of Playhouse Square to develop the parking lot at East 17th & Euclid into a brand new, mixed-use building??

 

 

It is a restaurant going into the Hanna, but I can't remember what kind.

It is an upscale brick oven pizza place.., Bricco or something.

Yes, the restaurant is going to be Bricco.  They are scheduled to open in January.  This is their second location, the other is in downtown Akron, and it will have the same menu.  http://www.briccoakron.com/

 

Their kitchen is adjacent to the E. 14th Street Theater and they cater We Gotta Bingo.  At one time there was a restaurant that took up the entire space that is now broken into the theater and the Euclid space they are renovating, it must have been a very large place. 

 

I have to say that the highlight of my week is Saturday nights when we do two shows back to back and the chef makes us all dinner.  None of the dishes he has whipped up are even on the menu, he just creates something for us, and it's always been great.  Hopefully they will be able to draw customers aside from just theater patrons.  I know well from working at Star that if there was no theater, no one came for dinner to that nabe, we often didn't even bother to open on non-theater nights.

BTW, How is the show doing?

Very well, thanks. The audiences are really having a good time.

Besides the Euclid Corridor, I didn't know that so much construction/renovation was going on in Playhouse Square! Now, downtown will have both an upscale bowling alley AND an upscale pizza joint. Next, I'm thinking gourmet corned beef...*lightbulb*

Tinkerbelle,  welcome to UrbanOhio!

Tinkerbelle,  welcome to UrbanOhio!

 

Thanks!

She (he?) has quickly become a very active, inquisitive and informed poster. I also echo the welcome!

She (he?) has quickly become a very active, inquisitive and informed poster. I also echo the welcome!

 

Me? Why, thank you!

 

I'm a she btw.

I was 99% sure that someone with a name like Tinkerbelle was a she. But ya never can tell for sure 100%!

 

You're welcome.

Next, I'm thinking gourmet corned beef...*lightbulb*

 

Not sure about the gourmet part, but we have nationally-renowned covered. Slyman's on St. Clair (31st-ish) has served the likes of GWB (boo). On a recent visit, Rachel Ray said it was the best corned beef sandwich she had ever had, beating out all the NYC delis she'd been to.

 

From Crain's:

 

(read all the way to the end for the teaser...)

 

Playhouse Square Foundation adds to Theater District stable

 

By STAN BULLARD

 

4:30 am, December 10, 2007

 

Playhouse Square Foundation, operator of the restored theaters in downtown Cleveland and producer of property makeovers in the city’s Theater District, is the new owner of the long-vacant former Cowell & Hubbard jewelry store building at 1305 Euclid Ave.

 

With the purchase, the foundation assumes control of an underused stretch of frontage on Euclid Avenue, which is drawing interest from real estate developers and businesses thanks to construction on the street of the Regional Transit Authority’s $200 million Silver Line. The RTA project is creating dedicated lanes for hybrid diesel-electric buses connecting Public Square, University Circle and the Woodmere [we'll have to excuse this little typo] transit station. It also is dressing up the streetscape and sidewalks along the route.

 

Jack Herrick, president of Realty Investors Co. of Cleveland, which owned the Cowell & Hubbard building, said the company decided to sell after it was approached by multiple parties interested in the structure. The foundation was one of four groups — but not the first — that submitted written offers for the property, he said.

 

The foundation paid Realty Investors $1 million for the two-story, 43,000-square-foot building on Oct. 22, according to Cuyahoga County land records.

 

Art Falco, Playhouse Square Foundation president, said the foundation bought the property because it occupies the key southeast corner of East 13th Street and Euclid.

 

“We have a lot of ideas for what we might get in there,” Mr. Falco said. However, he said it likely will be next year before a course is set for the property.

 

Mr. Falco noted the city of Cleveland’s Civic Vision 2000 master plan identifies the corner as a potential housing site. He said the storefront also gives the building a possible showroom for a consumer products or industrial design firm, which would be in keeping with a use envisioned by promoters of a Design District on Euclid.

 

Ned Hill, vice president for economic development at Cleveland State University who is involved in the Design District effort, confirmed that the Cowell & Hubbard building would be of interest to his group as a location for design talent or a showroom.

 

The Playhouse Square Foundation is a partner in the Idea Center building, which houses technology firms and ideastream, the umbrella organization for Cleveland’s public broadcasting stations. The Cowell & Hubbard building occupies the same block as four of the foundation’s theaters and the Idea Center.

 

Cowell & Hubbard, a jewelry store company dating to 1861 in Cleveland that later was purchased by out-of-town interests, constructed the building in 1920 and operated there until 1981, according to “The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.”

 

Mr. Herrick said the building was constructed so that it can accommodate construction of more floors atop it.

I think he meant the northeast corner of E. 13th and Euclid.  The southeast corner is occupied by Star Plaza.

Crain's seems to get their corners wrong pretty frequently.  Ah well.

 

THEATER

Hanna Theatre, under renovation, wins Cleveland Foundation grant

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Tony Brown

Plain Dealer Theater Critic

The final stage of the world's largest theater-restoration project began this week when crews began ripping hunks of concrete and metal out of the historic Hanna Theatre in downtown Cleveland.

 

As hard-hatted workers tossed debris from the balcony onto the floor of the 1921 theater Tuesday, the Cleveland Foundation announced a $750,000 grant, to the project to remake the Hanna into the new, high-tech home of Great Lakes Theater Festival.

 

More at http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1198057160320050.xml&coll=2

 

 

Now if only they could build a condo tower, an additional hotel and more unique restaurants so they can capture theater patrons money before and after shows.

 

However, I'm sure the "green" project (or what ever its called) will help as well.

History buffs need not fear, however. The new Hanna will hold around 500 seats, down from the original 1,400, arranged on three sides of a "thrust" stage. But it will retain the historic and architectural details of its neoclassical past.

 

Does this mean that they're tearing out the balcony?

^No, the balcony will be reconfigured.

Wow- super cool.  Cleveland's lucky to have two high caliber professional theater companies in town, in addition to all the alternative stages.  After some shaky financial times, it's great to see GLTF in such a great-sounding position.

99% fantastic (only the interior garage connection bothers me... surprise!).  I heard about the LEED stuff yesterday and was very pleased.  This should be another wonderful renovation!

99% fantastic (only the interior garage connection bothers me... surprise!).  I heard about the LEED stuff yesterday and was very pleased.  This should be another wonderful renovation!

 

Hmm, there already is covered access to the parking garage through the Hanna annex (but not from the balcony level). 

99% fantastic (only the interior garage connection bothers me... surprise!).  I heard about the LEED stuff yesterday and was very pleased.  This should be another wonderful renovation!

 

OK, I admit I didn't even notice that part of the article.  Well we can't expect suburban theater goers to actually touch a sidewalk, can we?!

Hmm, there already is covered access to the parking garage through the Hanna annex (but not from the balcony level). 

 

Ok, so I'm 99.9% thrilled!  Besides, they are improving the sidewalk entrance too, so I can't really complain.

check out the renderings of the new Hanna-very cool

http://greatlakestheater.org/greatlakestheater/ThebrstrongPROJECTstrong/AVirtualTour/tabid/287/Default.aspx

Playhouse Square's "Jersey Boys" sets a new Cleveland one-week Broadway show record

 

by Tony Brown

Monday July 14, 2008, 5:37 PM

 

Oh, what a week.

 

Last week, the tour of "Jersey Boys," the Broadway show about the Four Seasons that is at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre through Sunday, July 20, set a new Cleveland box office record.

 

More at http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2008/07/oh_what_a_week_last.html

I heart Playhouse Square :-D

I thought Wicked was wickedly funny and entertaining.  Unfortunately, I will miss Jersey Boys, but will try to get to Macbeth and A Christmas Carol later this year.

Jersey Boys was fun to watch (warning for kids: F-word employed at least 100 times, LOL).  We have the Broadway Series.  Need to liven up the area after shows.  Even Starbucks was closed.  Bricco, Star, and Hamiltons WERE open for our dining and imbibing pleasure, but the main action is in the parking garages where people jockey for position to stream out of downtown.  I guess you could walk to E4th, sigh.  Playhouse Square with it's big screens, electric news signs,  and angular urban spaces could be an incredible outdoor space for events or even just for sitting at a hypothetical outdoor cafe and people watching.  I do not know why it has not taken off.

Jersey Boys was fun to watch (warning for kids: F-word employed at least 100 times, LOL). We have the Broadway Series. Need to liven up the area after shows.   Even Starbucks was closed. Bricco, Star, and Hamiltons WERE open for our dining and imbibing pleasure, but the main action is in the parking garages with people streaming out of downtown. I guess you could walk to E4th, sigh. Playhouse Square with it's big screens, electric news signs, and angular spaces could be an incredible outdoor space for events or even just for sitting at a hypothetical outdoor cafe and people watching. I do not know why it has not taken off.

 

I think it's coming.  Patience.

eh?  teaser?  you should know better than to expect patience on this board!

 

If anyone has any pull, I'd like to throw in my two cents -- I'd like to see Huron between Euclid and Prospect converted from a through street and encouragement of a more walkable E. 4th-type development.  With plazas at both ends, several redeveloped buildings already, very little through traffic, and a little distance from E. 4th, it seems like it could be turned into something special.  Particularly if the office tower is built at 9th and Prospect.

 

 

^That's kind of funny.  Can I assume you did not live in Cleveland (or were young) in the 1980s?  What you describe is pretty much how the street was configured in the 1970s up until Star Plaza was built: the street was one way and narrow and head extra wide sidewalks.  It didn't seem to do much back then to encourage commercial development, but times have sure changed, so maybe it's worth another shot.

 

Anyone have some photos of the old Huron Road mall?

^next to the Osborne building, there is a small parking garage that has one and only one entrance on Huron. If you got rid of the traffic, you'd shut down that garage.

And this is bad how? :)

When I was reading CH Jake's post I was thinking the same exact thing stated by StrapHanger in his follow up post.  The Huron Rd plaza was basically highly toted at the time and then just became a wind swept ed disaster (very bleak...not alot of street life).  Urban planners tried to correct the problem about 10-12 years ago by putting the street back in.

i don't think it'd work.  Essentially the whole street would have to be redeveloped.  It is basically full with little businesses... other than the buildings that are currently in the district of design footprint.  You'd have to toss all those people out on the street.

^Hmmmm, disruptive street reconstruction...sounds familiar.  I agree it wouldn't be very practical in the near term.

 

I actually remember thinking they kind of blew it when they rebuilt the street after digging up the old plaza design.  They could have left the sidewalks a little wider, but instead went for a pretty wide roadway.  Same thing when they rebuilt Prospect downtown- the curb lane is about 1.5 lanes wide if I remember correctly.

The curb lane on Prospect is nice for bicycling- as there is enough room between parked cars and the through land to ride a bike and not be in door swing range.