Posted October 31, 200816 yr Post news, personal experiences and questions about what's going on with shows, performances and events Cleveland's performing arts district -- one of the nation's best and biggest. Don't post development/construction news and comments here. Post that at: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14187.0.html I'll start off with some love from the WSJ...... OCTOBER 31, 2008 An Old House Made New By TERRY TEACHOUT Cleveland When Noël Coward, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne wanted to tune up "Design for Living" before bringing it to Broadway in 1933, they opened the show at the Hanna Theatre in downtown Cleveland. Theaterwise, that's about as historic as it gets. Now this grand old building, built in 1921, has been taken over by the Great Lakes Theater Festival and remodeled to make it suitable for modern repertory theater. The "new" Hanna, designed by the Cleveland firm of Westlake Reed Leskosky, has been turned from a 1,421-seat Broadway-style house into an intimate 548-seat thrust-stage theater whose seating and public areas flow together seamlessly, thus encouraging playgoers to come early and use the Hanna as a meeting place. At the same time, the charmingly elaborate architectural detail of the original interior has been preserved. I can't imagine a more pleasing place in which to see a show. More at http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122540736020486027-lMyQjAxMDI4MjM1MTQzMDE3Wj.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 1, 200816 yr I saw "Into The Woods" by the Great Lakes Theater Festival at the Hanna today with my sister. It was OUTSTANDING! We've been to shows in New York, London and Toronto and considered this performance to be of Broadway quality. The acting, singing, music and effects were tremendous. Theater itself is worth seeing, even if you aren't into live performances. It's a great mix of new and old. Here's some crappy pictures I took with my cell phone camera until a guy told me it wasn't allowed....... "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 3, 200816 yr ^Ha, I saw "Into The Woods" by the Great Lakes Theater Festival at the Hanna with my sister. Though we went a few weeks ago on that National Free Theater day. I agree that it was awesome (though I thought the singing was just ok for some of the actors...but they are more of a theater troupe that supplemented with BW musical theater majors). Loved the Hanna itself. Our row's seats were like dining room chairs. The row behind us was couches...it very cool and comfortable. I also liked that you could sit at the bar and watch the show.
November 3, 200816 yr I saw "Into the Woods" with my boyfriend's sister, lol (and my boyfriend and his grandma and his brother and his dad's girlfriend). The Baker's Wife was a bit weak, but the woman who played the witch was really good. The theatre was amazing as well, although they totally missed out on the opportunity to build a larger women's restroom!
November 3, 200816 yr Cant wait for Spamalot to come back to Playhouse Square, went to see it when it was here 2 years ago and plan on going again. Its playing march 31 to april 5
November 4, 200816 yr I think the title of this thread is a little confusing. The Cleveland Playhouse is a different entity and in a different location than Playhouse Square, and the theaters that make up Playhouse Square. For one thing, the Cleveland Playhouse employs a lot more local talent (on stage and off) than Playhouse Square. A lot of people get confused so I thought I'd mention it since it's a little confusing to say the Cleveland Playhouse Square.
November 4, 200816 yr Cant wait for Spamalot to come back to Playhouse Square, went to see it when it was here 2 years ago and plan on going again. Its playing march 31 to april 5 I saw Spamalot in London at the Palace Theater. It was awesome to hear all the Brits in the theater singing along and whistling to "Always look on the bright side of life"! I'll never forget it. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 19, 200915 yr cross posted from the other playhouse square thread..... PlayhouseSquare to host International Children's Festival in May 2010 By Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer October 19, 2009, 12:17PM PlayhouseSquare will host the first International Children's Festival from May 3 to 8, 2010. Built around the theme "Celebrating the world we share," it will include performances, workshops, exhibits and a Global Village. The festival, which will be presented by PlayhouseSquare's Community Engagement & Education Department, has been in the works for several years. More at cleveland.com: http://www.cleveland.com/musicdance/index.ssf/2009/10/playhouse_square_to_host_inter.html
December 14, 200915 yr 'Wicked' makes big green (nearly $7 million) in recent Cleveland run By Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer December 14, 2009, 12:56PM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Neither snow nor recession nor bad behavior can put a dent in Cleveland's multimillion-dollar love affair with "Wicked." More than 93,000 Northeast Ohioans paid nearly $7 million to see the third stopover in Cleveland in as many years by the touring Broadway phenomenon. It left town Sunday after a four-week run. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2009/12/wicked_makles_big_green_nearly.html You cant count me as one of the 93,000 people that saw Wicked while it was in Cleveland this year.
October 10, 201014 yr I'm smilling ear to ear right now. If you have never seen this or missed it in 2008, this is a MUST SEE: http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2010/10/jersey_boys_returning_to_cleve.html
October 11, 201014 yr I have yet to meet the person who did not have a glowing review of Jersey Boys. I'm definitely going next year. I'll have to make a note for February 21st, the date tix go on sale to the general public.
October 11, 201014 yr Saw Blue Man Group yesterday. I didn't expect it to be so funny! You can tell they regularly update the show, because they were parody-ing some rather current things.
October 12, 201014 yr ^yes it was, there was much more to it than pounding paint on a drum. The GigiPad was pretty darn funny.
October 12, 201014 yr ^yes it was, there was much more to it than pounding paint on a drum. The GigiPad was pretty darn funny. It was indeed. I also enjoyed the pre-show on the message boards. Them talking back and forth reminded me of CDM and his alternate egos on UO, lol.
March 29, 201114 yr 2011-2012 Broadway Series announced! PlayhouseSquare Broadway Series 2011-12: A whole lotta New York, a little bit of Cleveland All seven shows on next season's iteration of Cleveland's most popular performing arts subscription series have been on Broadway in either the current season or last, but one will be locally produced with one of the downtown theater district's tenants, a Broadway Series first. Four of the shows -- "Million Dollar Quartet" (which will launch its national tour here as it kicks off the series Oct. 11-23), "Memphis," "The Addams Family" and a revival of "La Cage Aux Folles" -- are still up and running on the Great White Way. Another two -- "Come Fly Away" and a revival of "Hair" -- were up and running in New York last year. And the final show of the season -- an extended, eight-week run of the 2010 Broadway revue "Sondheim on Sondheim" -- will be staged by Great Lakes Theater Festival with support from PlayhouseSquare. http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2011/03/broadway_series_2011-12_a_whol.html
October 4, 201212 yr Very good coverage from Fox News!!?! http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1878230827001/patronage-of-the-arts-alive-and-well-in-cleveland/
October 5, 201212 yr Very good coverage from Fox News!!?! http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1878230827001/patronage-of-the-arts-alive-and-well-in-cleveland/ This guy was great. And athletic. p.s. Check out 5:01
October 5, 201212 yr I'm trying to understand why the producer chose NOT to film in Playhouse Square?? :wtf:
October 8, 201212 yr EDIT: wow I looked all over for this thread. Now I've moving this post here.... Go see "The Imaginary Invalid" showing now at the Hanna Theater on Playhouse Square. It's a modernized version of Molière's 17th century comedy of the same name. Very very funny, raunchy, political, musical and well acted and performed by the Great Lakes Theater Festival. I went on opening night Friday and was disappointed the theater wasn't sold out. Go see it. You'll love it! I did! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 16, 201411 yr PlayhouseSquare mourns the passing of Ray Shepardson PlayhouseSquare is heartbroken to learn of the death of founder Raymond K. “Ray” Shepardson on Monday, April 14, 2014. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and all those who knew him. Call it luck or call it fate, Ray Shepardson was undoubtedly in the right place at the right time when, as an employee of the Cleveland Board of Education, he was looking for a suitable meeting space for teachers and came across a series of abandoned theaters. With incredible foresight and vision, he believed that restoring and revitalizing those theaters would transform downtown Cleveland. His powers of persuasion convinced others that the theaters were an irreplaceable resource. Following a grueling seven-year run of presenting 200-300 performances each year before the theaters were fully restored, Shepardson went on to play starring roles in theater restoration projects in Columbus, Detroit and St. Louis, and has consulted on more than 35 major restoration projects all over the country. http://www.playhousesquare.org/news/detail/playhousesquare-mourns-the-passing-of-ray-shepardson
April 16, 201411 yr Very sorry to hear this. I'm sure he and my father are back together again and sharing stories. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 26, 20178 yr Russo Brothers join Cleveland team planning immersive theater production based on Eliot Ness and Torso Murders http://www.cleveland.com/onstage/index.ssf/2017/02/russo_brothers_join_cleveland.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
September 26, 20195 yr Playhouse Square lost one of its saviors this week. Generations of Clevelanders will always be forever in her debt ... what a woman: Lainie Hadden, 88, bubbly and persuasive civic crusader, died Friday Updated 4:55 PM; Today 4:39 PM By Grant Segall, The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio - Bubbly, witty and determined, Elaine “Lainie” Grasselli Hadden championed Playhouse Square and many other Cleveland causes. Hadden attended the Cleveland Orchestra on Sept. 19 and died the next day at University Hospitals. She was 88. A slim woman with a regal crown of hair, Hadden was best known for leading the drive that turned a clutch of decrepit 1920s theaters into Playhouse Square, the nation’s biggest complex of stages outside New York. In 1972, as president of the Junior League, she raised $25,000 to help a driven Ray Shepardson save the Euclid Avenue theaters from the wrecking ball. She also deployed an army of women and children to scrape scrub and restore the theaters. She once called them “the Augean stables of Cleveland,” alluding to squalid sites of myth. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2019/09/lainie-hadden-88-bubbly-and-persuasive-civic-crusader-died-friday.html
November 7, 20195 yr Hooray! Hamilton returning to Playhouse Square next summer. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/11/broadway-megahit-hamilton-heading-back-to-cleveland-next-fall-ticket-packages-on-sale-monday.html When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 5, 20205 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 17, 20214 yr Playhouse Square re-opens in person shows starting June 11! When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 26, 20214 yr Looks like Lion King is coming back to Playhouse Square! Official announcement coming May 3. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
May 3, 20214 yr And here’s the official announcement: Lion King at PHS this October 1-15. Tix on sale June 21 When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 17, 20213 yr Choir of Man at PHS was extended an additional two weeks - now plays through July 25. People are excited to see live theater! When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 26, 20213 yr Cleveland Play House announces 2021-22 season https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/06/cleveland-play-house-announces-2021-22-season.html CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Play House is back for its 106th season with five mainstage performances slated for the fall, winter and spring. Oct. 23-Nov. 14: “Where Did We Sit On The Bus?” Written by Brian Quijada, directed by Matt Dickson Nov. 27-Dec. 22: “Light It Up!” Written by Jason Michael Webb and Lelund Durond Thompson, directed by Christopher Windom CPH will host the world-premiere of “Light It Up!,” a family-friendly Cleveland-themed holiday musical featuring original jazz, gospel and rock songs by Jason Michael Webb. Feb. 5-27, 2022: “The Three Musketeers” Adapted by Catherine Bush from novel by Alexandre Dumas, directed by Laura Kepley March 5-27, 2022: “Antigone” Adapted by Emily Mann from play by Sophocles, directed by Lauren Keating April 30-May 22, 2022: “I’m Back Now” By Charly Evon Simpson When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
June 29, 20213 yr Choir of Man at Playhouse Square was extended again - now running through August 8. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
August 17, 20213 yr Choir of Man extended AGAIN - now running through Sept 18. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
September 13, 20213 yr The wife and I are finally seeing Choir of Man Friday evening at PHS. It closes Saturday and that show is sold out , so you only have a couple more chances to see it. We’re also excited to be seeing Lion King in October. Heres an update on rehearsals. Also, PHS announced this week that attendees must show proof of vaccination or a negative covid test for admission as of mid-September. Bring your vaccination cards! When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
September 29, 20213 yr The new mural in Playhouse Square is a gift from Myles Garrett. @urbanetics_took better pictures: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
September 29, 20213 yr It's awesome to see local athletes / celebrities make these types of installations happen. Would be great to see even more do it. Already, this mural adds such a nice pop of color and interest to the district, livening up the wall next to the PHS sign. More of this please!!
October 1, 20213 yr https://www.playhousesquare.org/events-tickets/events/comeback/ When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
February 10, 20223 yr Les Mis will kick off the Playhouse Square 2022/23 Broadway season in October. Cleveland is the first city to get the touring show coming off its pandemic hiatus. The balance of the season will be announced in April. https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/02/les-miserables-to-kick-off-playhouse-squares-2022-23-keybank-broadway-series-in-october.html When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 22, 20223 yr Playhouse Square Broadway Series Season announcement on April 22 at 10am(?): KEYBANK BROADWAY SERIES SEASON PREVIEW Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 10 a.m. E.T. Watch online at playhousesquare.org or youtube.com/playhousesquare Announcement: https://www.playhousesquare.org/seasonpreview?elqTrackId=a0c6c96f239740f5a719626971ea4a5b&elq=2a9ac4f4845c48f89f1fd6d80ee02465&elqaid=531&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=348 Streaming event link: https://www.playhousesquare.org/events-tickets/series-season-tickets-packages/season-ticket-services/seasonpreview/ When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 3, 20223 yr Great to see the Cleveland International Film festival at its new venue at Playhouse Square. Well worth your patronage and a step up over Tower City for sure. Saw two films today that I enjoyed, "Cow" and "A Love Song". https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2022/cow https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2022/a-love-song
April 13, 20223 yr Playhouse Square Broadway Series announced: “Our first full lineup of shows in more than two years is here, starting with returning classics, LES MISÉRABLES and CATS. New favorites making their Cleveland debuts on the series include BEETLEJUICE, HADESTOWN, TINA--THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and SIX. Indeed something for everyone.” Separate from the season, they announced some other shows that will be coming: HAMILTON, COME FROM AWAY (this show is outstanding), Disney's ALADDIN, DEAR EVAN HANSEN and RIVERDANCE. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 14, 20223 yr On 4/12/2022 at 8:11 PM, Boomerang_Brian said: Playhouse Square Broadway Series announced: “Our first full lineup of shows in more than two years is here, starting with returning classics, LES MISÉRABLES and CATS. New favorites making their Cleveland debuts on the series include BEETLEJUICE, HADESTOWN, TINA--THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and SIX. Indeed something for everyone.” Separate from the season, they announced some other shows that will be coming: HAMILTON, COME FROM AWAY (this show is outstanding), Disney's ALADDIN, DEAR EVAN HANSEN and RIVERDANCE. The season looks interesting so I subscribed to season tickets last night. (Saturday night week 1, mezzanine row k on the side.) It’s really quite reasonable price-wise AND they let you pay in installments for no additional cost. So for less than $60/month (for 12 months), my wife and I get decent seats for 7 shows plus season ticket holder benefits, including early ticket sales for Hamilton (coming this December). Highly recommend! When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
August 9, 20222 yr Quite a resume for Playhouse Square’s new leader: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
August 9, 20222 yr Yeah, this is Big! Art and Gina have been fantastic, but this really seems to up the game a bit
August 25, 20222 yr Hamilton at Playhouse Square pre-sale started today for subscribers. I’m going to the matinee on Sunday Dec 11. I’m proud that PHS can support a six week run. (Early Dec through mid-Jan, if you’re curious.) Here’s the announcement on general ticket sales: When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
October 9, 20222 yr I went to Les Mis at PHS last night and it was outstanding. Guess who else went? The guys who wrote it. https://twitter.com/lesmizus/status/1578483336162705408?s=46&t=WNOnngkLq3d9AmiYv6BRvw I’m not sure why the Tweet isn’t embedding, but it’s a lovely picture of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil in the State Theater When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
December 5, 20222 yr Interesting move. I wonder if this forces the old City Club building’s absentee owner to step up and do renovations to get other tenants When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
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