February 17, 20223 yr I hope they get a good price for it so they can quickly move on to Act II! They killed it with The Lumen so I'm excited to see what the next plans are. Would love more sexy glass high-rises around Playhouse Square
February 17, 20223 yr 4 hours ago, cadmen said: Hopefully the sale frees up capital for Act ll. Unfortunately the foundation spokesman says no. "Szymanski wrote, adding that the organization has “no intention” of developing another apartment building." https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2022/02/playhouse-square-to-list-the-lumen-luxury-apartment-building-for-sale.html Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 17, 20223 yr 20 minutes ago, Dougal said: Unfortunately the foundation spokesman says no. "Szymanski wrote, adding that the organization has “no intention” of developing another apartment building." https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2022/02/playhouse-square-to-list-the-lumen-luxury-apartment-building-for-sale.html Hmmm This totally contradicts what everyone expects - An Act !!
February 17, 20223 yr 38 minutes ago, Dougal said: Unfortunately the foundation spokesman says no. "Szymanski wrote, adding that the organization has “no intention” of developing another apartment building." https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2022/02/playhouse-square-to-list-the-lumen-luxury-apartment-building-for-sale.html A maskirovka perhaps!? However i wouldnt expect a yes at this time anyway. Wait until it is actually sold before commiting to another building
February 17, 20223 yr Just now, B767PILOT said: Wait until it is actually sold before committing to another building Exactly.
February 17, 20223 yr Yep. "No intention" can legally mean no present intention so long as the board has not acted. Or maybe they plan condos this time and only ruled out apartments. I'm just quoting the story, not crepe-hanging. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
May 25, 20223 yr Corporate disentanglement prefatory to resale? Aside: it annoys me when the Greyhound station is called Art Deco. It's really Streamline Moderne. AD emphasized vertical lines; SM emphasizes horizontal. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/downtown-cleveland-greyhound-building-may-be-starting-new-ride Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
May 25, 20223 yr 2 hours ago, Dougal said: Corporate disentanglement prefatory to resale? Aside: it annoys me when the Greyhound station is called Art Deco. It's really Streamline Moderne. AD emphasized vertical lines; SM emphasizes horizontal. https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/downtown-cleveland-greyhound-building-may-be-starting-new-ride I think this would be the coolest building in Cleveland to rehab. I'm a sucker for AD/SM art and architecture, something we definitely don't have enough of around these parts.
May 25, 20223 yr Savannah, Georgia had their old Greyhound station rehabbed into a gorgeous restaurant called The Grey that kept its Streamline Moderne style throughout. Not only was is one of the best meals I have ever had, but it was easily one of the most memorable restaurant settings as well. Highly recommend if you're ever in Savannah!
May 25, 20223 yr Savannah may be my favorite American city. I've been there several times but l'm not familiar with that converted Greyhound station. I'll have to look for it next time l'm visiting.
July 9, 20222 yr Memories... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 9, 20222 yr Memories indeed. In 1976 l graduated from college and got my first two Cleveland jobs. I worked in the OR at St. Alexis hospital in the day and Playhouse Playhouse Square at night. I have to admit as interesting as working in surgery is l enjoyed Playhouse Square much more. Worked there until the early 80's when the Junior League took over and got rid of most everyone at my level. It was necessary though. We were all amateurs putting on shows with very little money or connections. The woman from the League had the moneyed connections in the form of their husbands and without them Playhouse Square wouldn't be what it is today.
July 9, 20222 yr Here is an Ideastream special from 10 years ago on the saving and restoration of Playhouse Square. https://www.pbs.org/video/wviz-pbs-ideastream-specials-staging-success-playhousesquare-story/
July 10, 20222 yr 8 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said: Thank you, Ray Shepardson. And his staff, including my father James Prendergast who wrote grant applications. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 10, 20222 yr @KJP, do you or anyone else have a synopsis of where the principal players of the Playhouse Square revitalization ended up afterwards? A "where are they now" follow up? Thanks.
July 10, 20222 yr No, but I ran into a guy from Scranton, PA on Facebook who worked at Playhouse Square in that same era. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 10, 20222 yr I love history - but - How many of you were also thinking? “ok- big TMUD round 2 on Friday - @KJP’s posting in the Playhouse Square thread - it’s Lumen 2!” Edited July 10, 20222 yr by CleveFan
August 16, 20222 yr https://www.cleveland.com/news/2022/08/craig-hassall-playhouse-squares-incoming-new-president-and-ceo-sees-big-room-for-growth-in-attendance-development.html What a breath of fresh air! This guy is exactly the type of leader PHS needs. PHS has so much more potential and should be attracting more visitors from surrounding states let alone across Ohio.
August 16, 20222 yr I was reading the article this morning without first noting the author. I got about one third through it and it hit me that it had to be Steve Litt's reporting, which it was. His style gets old after a while. Even when he is writing about positive events or developments, he cannot help frame them with his tried and true Cleveland negatives. It is like he does't even have to type them out a new...he has them stored in his computer and he just has to punch a key and up they pop.
August 16, 20222 yr I remember a while back it was mentioned that the powers that be at Playhouse Square were interested in having a dedicated movie theater in the district... something upscale that I would imagine would also have a good slate of arthouse films. I wonder if that is still on the table and something that will figure in the new leader's calculus.
August 16, 20222 yr 2 minutes ago, plinth857 said: I remember a while back it was mentioned that the powers that be at Playhouse Square were interested in having a dedicated movie theater in the district... something upscale that I would imagine would also have a good slate of arthouse films. I wonder if that is still on the table and something that will figure in the new leader's calculus. I have always thought that would be an incredible idea. This coming from somebody who attended many movie matinees with my grandmother on the Square when I was a small kid.
August 16, 20222 yr 23 minutes ago, plinth857 said: I remember a while back it was mentioned that the powers that be at Playhouse Square were interested in having a dedicated movie theater in the district... something upscale that I would imagine would also have a good slate of arthouse films. I wonder if that is still on the table and something that will figure in the new leader's calculus. I wonder if @muskymight have some insight into this?
August 16, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, plinth857 said: I remember a while back it was mentioned that the powers that be at Playhouse Square were interested in having a dedicated movie theater in the district... something upscale that I would imagine would also have a good slate of arthouse films. I wonder if that is still on the table and something that will figure in the new leader's calculus. Could the balcony of the Allen aka Upper Allen serve that purpose? I don't think it is currently being used very much, is it? Edited August 16, 20222 yr by LibertyBlvd
August 16, 20222 yr I always thought a cinimateque type theatre would be so cool. but also (since tower city closed) a multiscreen megaplex with housing over it on the SE corner of prospect and E14th. close to campus, downtown residential is getting bigger, use for film fest
August 16, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, Htsguy said: I was reading the article this morning without first noting the author. I got about one third through it and it hit me that it had to be Steve Litt's reporting, which it was. His style gets old after a while. Even when he is writing about positive events or developments, he cannot help frame them with his tried and true Cleveland negatives. It is like he does't even have to type them out a new...he has them stored in his computer and he just has to punch a key and up they pop. Craig sounds great, I am excited to see what he does and he seems to be all in on Cleveland. But jeez, all that native 'woe is us' Cleveland mentality coming from Litt is ridiculous.
August 16, 20222 yr Lol, Litt’s article was “over the top” in immediately framing Cleveland as a “shrinking industrial mid-continent city with a perennially bruised ego” by the second paragraph. And no direct flights to London. We know that Cleveland is not London but geez… Anyway, I’m excited about the “get” of Hassall by Playhouse Square and the possibilities for the continued growth of the district as an Arts center. @plinth857- I like the idea of a movie house at PS showing more art films and Sundance type stuff - I think it would add a cool dynamic to the district. To @LibertyBlvdjust want to remind you that a city doesn’t have to be gigantic to become an arts center capable of pulling off first class productions - I think of Stratford, Canada as an example. Cleveland’s got the capability of being an amazing arts center if the right people are involved towards that goal. PS is already an attraction and just needs to continue to be fully fostered and appreciated. The Lumen added a great dynamic to the neighborhood and hopefully, at some point there will be more investment and development in the district. Edited August 16, 20222 yr by CleveFan
August 16, 20222 yr 4 hours ago, mrclifton88 said: Craig sounds great, I am excited to see what he does and he seems to be all in on Cleveland. But jeez, all that native 'woe is us' Cleveland mentality coming from Litt is ridiculous. Litt always does that... Steven Litt's "Cleveland" in the article = a smallish 360,000 people in city limits, which suits his narrative... (he also understates London's metro population by half or more...) Playhouse Square's "Cleveland" = 3,600,000 people in NEO (still the #17 CMSA in the 2020 Census despite all you read about shrinking population... often from Litt.)
August 16, 20222 yr 5 hours ago, Whipjacka said: I always thought a cinimateque type theatre would be so cool. but also (since tower city closed) a multiscreen megaplex with housing over it on the SE corner of prospect and E14th. close to campus, downtown residential is getting bigger, use for film fest Quite some time ago, I believe this very thing was suggested - they wanted to acquire the old Greyhound station and retain it's outer architecture for it. But at that time, the multi-modal center near the stadium was still a possibility.
August 17, 20222 yr 5 hours ago, plinth857 said: Quite some time ago, I believe this very thing was suggested - they wanted to acquire the old Greyhound station and retain it's outer architecture for it. But at that time, the multi-modal center near the stadium was still a possibility. I always saw that building as a future city target, surrounded by a couple of residential towers on the bus lots and plenty of room to grow to the north. Only a 15 minute walk from the warehouse district.
August 17, 20222 yr 9 hours ago, originaljbw said: I always saw that building as a future city target, surrounded by a couple of residential towers on the bus lots and plenty of room to grow to the north. Only a 15 minute walk from the warehouse district. If someone tries to put a f$%^ing City Target in the Greyhound station I will lose my mind.
August 17, 20222 yr 20 minutes ago, Ineffable_Matt said: If someone tries to put a f$%^ing City Target in the Greyhound station I will lose my mind. Then we’d have the coolest Target in the country as a complement to the most beautiful grocery store in the country. (Downtown Heinens). I can think of many worse fates for the Greyhound building. (And just to be clear, I’m NOT advocating for this, I just don’t think it would be that bad. I’m still hoping City Target goes in Tower City for transit purposes. Tower City Target, ha) When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
August 17, 20222 yr 21 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said: There is a big difference between Toronto and Cleveland. Toronto is the NYC of Canada. I am not sure Cleveland could pull off anything like that. That's what I was hearing years ago when everyone was asking why Cleveland can't do what Toronto is doing. don't sell it short so quickly -- that's not true. playhouse square has had its share of premieres. in fact, jacques brel was so beloved in the 1970s it has become synonymous with playhouse square cleveland. to date that's its phantom: Playhouse Square also hosted countless top stars over the years. from Paul Robeson to Bruce Springsteen, Mae West to Joan Rivers, Harry Houdini to David Copperfield, plus local talent like Bob Hope, Sammy Kaye, Burgess Meredith, Paul Newman, and Hal Holbrook. It hosted many top shows, including the American premiere of “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” and the world premieres of “High Tor” and “Design for Living.” It premiered W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Constant Wife,” with leading director George Cukor sitting on stage and prompting the famous Ethel Barrymore. Playhouse Square originally featured plays, musicals, vaudeville, and movies. The latter two have given way to concerts, comedy, lectures, graduations, weddings, and more. The Stillman Theater: Opened in 1916, near the corner of East 12th and Euclid Avenue, it was the first theater on upper Euclid Avenue. Local director Joe Garry may be biased, having helped save the theaters in the 1970s with a staging of “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” that went for 522 performances—an Ohio record. After years of wide travel, Garry says flatly of Playhouse Square, “It’s the greatest arts center in the world.” more: https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/PlayhouseSquare100031021.aspx
August 17, 20222 yr 10 hours ago, mrnyc said: don't sell it short so quickly -- that's not true. playhouse square has had its share of premieres. in fact, jacques brel was so beloved in the 1970s it has become synonymous with playhouse square cleveland. to date that's its phantom: Playhouse Square also hosted countless top stars over the years. from Paul Robeson to Bruce Springsteen, Mae West to Joan Rivers, Harry Houdini to David Copperfield, plus local talent like Bob Hope, Sammy Kaye, Burgess Meredith, Paul Newman, and Hal Holbrook. It hosted many top shows, including the American premiere of “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” and the world premieres of “High Tor” and “Design for Living.” It premiered W. Somerset Maugham’s “The Constant Wife,” with leading director George Cukor sitting on stage and prompting the famous Ethel Barrymore. Playhouse Square originally featured plays, musicals, vaudeville, and movies. The latter two have given way to concerts, comedy, lectures, graduations, weddings, and more. The Stillman Theater: Opened in 1916, near the corner of East 12th and Euclid Avenue, it was the first theater on upper Euclid Avenue. Local director Joe Garry may be biased, having helped save the theaters in the 1970s with a staging of “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” that went for 522 performances—an Ohio record. After years of wide travel, Garry says flatly of Playhouse Square, “It’s the greatest arts center in the world.” more: https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/features/PlayhouseSquare100031021.aspx The Stillman lobby is now the Statler garage entrance. And some of the lobby walls detail still remains.
August 18, 20222 yr On 8/16/2022 at 8:03 AM, Htsguy said: I was reading the article this morning without first noting the author. I got about one third through it and it hit me that it had to be Steve Litt's reporting, which it was. His style gets old after a while. Even when he is writing about positive events or developments, he cannot help frame them with his tried and true Cleveland negatives. It is like he does't even have to type them out a new...he has them stored in his computer and he just has to punch a key and up they pop. I was trying to find Litt’s email address several months ago so I could send him an email about this very same thing. His constant, repetitive negativity. The same tired phrases he uses in every article are a cliche at this point. It seems Cle.com doesn’t show the columnists’ email addresses anymore and I’m not going to send him a twitter message as I don’t tweet. Litt’s writing aside, this person sounds like a positive for Playhouse Square.
August 18, 20222 yr 13 minutes ago, jeremyck01 said: I was trying to find Litt’s email address several months ago so I could send him an email about this very same thing. His constant, repetitive negativity. The same tired phrases he uses in every article are a cliche at this point. It seems Cle.com doesn’t show the columnists’ email addresses anymore and I’m not going to send him a twitter message as I don’t tweet. Litt’s writing aside, this person sounds like a positive for Playhouse Square. His email address is: [email protected]. You should send him an email and hopefully he'll be responsive to it.
August 18, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, TBideon said: It's so odd the Cleveland Play House was/is nowhere near Playhouse Square. I have to remind myself sometimes when I look for it downtown. Isn't it now housed in the old Hanna Theatre? Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
August 18, 20222 yr 3 hours ago, Dougal said: Isn't it now housed in the old Hanna Theatre? It is now at the Allen Theater and two newer venues (circa 2012) adjacent to the Allen. Edited August 18, 20222 yr by LibertyBlvd
August 18, 20222 yr I wish Cleveland had their own Blue Man Group! I saw them in PHS a few years ago, and one of their big balls somehow got pushed below the 2nd level balcony and shattered a chandelier over some of the audience. Also while that was going on, I watched some dude dive bomb to hit this thing and face planted in the aisle, he failed horribly. Totally chaotic scene but hilarious that all that happened within a span of 30 seconds. I absolutely loved everything about their show and went to go see it in Vegas a few years after their theater tour. They are awesome, wishful thinking that their theater presence is brought here to stay in Cleveland. Edited August 18, 20222 yr by tastybunns
August 19, 20222 yr 9 hours ago, tastybunns said: I wish Cleveland had their own Blue Man Group! I saw them in PHS a few years ago, and one of their big balls somehow got pushed below the 2nd level balcony and shattered a chandelier over some of the audience. Also while that was going on, I watched some dude dive bomb to hit this thing and face planted in the aisle, he failed horribly. Totally chaotic scene but hilarious that all that happened within a span of 30 seconds. I absolutely loved everything about their show and went to go see it in Vegas a few years after their theater tour. They are awesome, wishful thinking that their theater presence is brought here to stay in Cleveland. i am glad you mentioned blue man because i can tell you the next best thing. the original blue man in nyc had a few clevelanders. i knew one back then from lorain, so thats how i heard about that. you know how it is. 😂👍 but yeah it would be great for ps to have something similar. and to premiere more original plays. get to writing all you aspiring playwrights!
August 19, 20222 yr Really? I logged in for a speculative arts conversation in the Projects & Construction thread? Edited August 19, 20222 yr by ExPatClevGuy
August 19, 20222 yr 14 minutes ago, ExPatClevGuy said: Really? I logged in for a speculative arts conversation in the Projects & Construction thread? Maybe the single funniest thing from that show!
October 2, 20222 yr Long overdue Upcoming Playhouse Square facelift to include colorful new marquees for principal theaters https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/10/upcoming-playhouse-square-facelift-to-include-colorful-new-marquees-for-principal-theaters.html
October 2, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, freethink said: Long overdue Upcoming Playhouse Square facelift to include colorful new marquees for principal theaters https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/10/upcoming-playhouse-square-facelift-to-include-colorful-new-marquees-for-principal-theaters.html Some renders of the marquee project: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
October 2, 20222 yr I hope to love it. I really love the old style of marquees with all the bulbs. I just hope it doesn't look too cheep and cartoonish as that type of gold can look plastic-ey Definitely more colorful, and i like the thought process that went into each design. What does everyone think?
October 2, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, willyboy said: I hope to love it. I really love the old style of marquees with all the bulbs. I just hope it doesn't look too cheep and cartoonish as that type of gold can look plastic-ey Definitely more colorful, and i like the thought process that went into each design. What does everyone think? I expect that they are trying for the similar gold look that is on the chandelier supports and gateway arches -- and in general I have to say that I was skeptical of both when announced but they turned out better than expected. So here's hoping for the same for the new marquees. I think this is a good move, however. They old marquees were quite beat up and they seem to have trouble keeping up with the light bulb-burnouts. Moving to LED lights should be an improvement (although my own personal experience with LEDs is that while some can indeed last a very long time, a small number wink out far prematurely. So hopefully the LEDs used here are all easily replaceable.) I hope that all the marquees have some similarities so that they tie the entire theater district together.
October 2, 20222 yr 1 hour ago, willyboy said: I hope to love it. I really love the old style of marquees with all the bulbs. I just hope it doesn't look too cheep and cartoonish as that type of gold can look plastic-ey Definitely more colorful, and i like the thought process that went into each design. What does everyone think? OMG!!! NO.... Please leave the marquees alone The Gold is cringeworthy lol Replacing the marquees is like tearing down the old Hippodrome for a parking lot
October 2, 20222 yr 57 minutes ago, B767PILOT said: OMG!!! NO.... Please leave the marquees alone The Gold is cringeworthy lol Replacing the marquees is like tearing down the old Hippodrome for a parking lot No, it is absolutely not like tearing down the old Hippodrome. Come on. These aren’t even the original marquees. It’s perfectly reasonable to critique the concept without making nonsensical comparisons. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
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