An overview of some local Fall ’07 theatre offerings
Around this time every year I’m asked, “What should I see this fall?” I can’t tell you what to see, at least not until I’ve seen the productions, but I can tell what’s scheduled at some of the local theatres and give a quickie preview of what each show is about.
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE CENTER
‘CHICAGO’
October 9-14
A razzle dazzle musical tale of sin and celebrity.
‘THE DROWSY CHAPERONE’
October 16-28
A musical comedy with tons of laughs and the most 2006 Tony Awards of any musical that opened last year on Broadway!
Hal Holbrook in ‘MARK TWAIN TONIGHT’
November 3
Samuel Clemens returns to the banks of the Cuyahoga River when Hal Holbrook comes to Playhouse Square.
DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
November 13-18
Disney Theatrical Productions have created an exciting stage version of the phenomenal Disney’s High School Musical!
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
November 27 –December 9
What seems like an open-and-shut murder case becomes a twisted puzzle of prejudice and intrigue.
Tickets: 216-0241-6000 or 1-800-766-6048 or online at www.PlayhouseSquare.org
HANNA THEATRE
‘FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT’
September 12-December 2
The latest version of the inventive and scathing production that pays homage to Broadway’s biggest shows and brightest stars.
Performance times are Wednesday through Friday evenings at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm and Sunday at 2:00pm.
Tickets: 216-241-6000 or 1-800-766-6048 or online at www.PlayhouseSquare.org
DOBAMA
‘TAKE ME OUT’
August 17th - September 9th, 2007
A Tony-award winning play in which a major league baseball player announces that he is gay. Dobama’s impressive production explores character, friendship, and what it means to be a man. (Note: The show contains full-frontal male nudity) For a review of this show: www.royberko.info
Presented at Cleveland State Factory Theater, East 24th Street and Chester Avenue
For tickets call 216-932-3396 and leave a message. Tickets will be held for you at the performance. Or go on-line at www.ticketleap.com.
KALLIOPE STAGE
‘DEAR WORLD’
September 27 - October 21 2007
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman, Book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Based on the play THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT by Jean Giraudoux, it asks, “Who will save Paris from greedy oil tycoons determined to blow it up in search of black gold?” Enter a madcap rescue team of bohemians who believe poetry, love and idealism conquer all.
Box Office: 216.321.0870 or tickets@kalliopestage.com
KARAMU
‘PURLIE VICTORIOUS’ (Classic Comedy) by Ossie Davis
September 28 - October 21
Newly ordained preacher, Purlie Victorious Judson, returns to his family’s sharecropper cabin to reacquire the local church and ring the “Freedom Bell.”
‘BLACK NATIVITY’ (Gospel Musical) by Langston Hughes
December 7 -30
Black Nativity is focused on the religious and spiritual aspects of the Christmas story. It is performed with gospel music and colorful costuming within a dance context.
GREAT LAKES THEATER FESTIVAL
‘ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’ by Joseph Kesselring
A drama critic learns that his beloved maiden aunts are homicidal and that insanity runs in his family. Bodies in the window seat, murder as an act of kindness and Teddy Roosevelt leading a charge. Let the fun begin!
‘MEASURE FOR MEASURE’ by William Shakespeare
One of the Bard’s problem plays, often classified as a comedy, in which the Duke of Vienna leaves the government in the hands of a strict judge who is known to be a hard-liner on matters of sexual immorality. Let the conflicts begin!
‘ARSENIC AND OLD LACE’ and ‘MEASURE FOR MEASURE
‘ are presented in repertory from September 21-October 21
‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ by Charles Dickens
November 23-December 23
Tiny Tim, Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. Let the holiday season begin!
Tickets” 216-664-6064 or www.greatlakestheater.org
BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS
‘REFLECTIONS’ (PEGGY SINGS LEIBER AND STOLLER) by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
September 14 – October 7
WORLD PREMIERE…A kaleidoscope of beautiful love songs, hilarious send-ups of Broadway, haunting tunes of days gone by, and reflections of the pure joy of living.
‘DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’ by Linda Woolverton, Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
November 30 – December 30
The Beck continues its holiday tradition with this third and final production of the classic Disney musical with many of the same cast. Fred Sternfeld again directs.
‘HOLY GHOSTS’ by Romulus Linney
September 28 – October 21
A tale of a Smokey Mountain sect blends both drama and dark comedy which builds to a startling climax.
‘ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (ABRIDGED)’ by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
November 16 – December 16
CLEVELAND PREMIERE…a wild evening concerning everything you didn't get around to reading in high school and college!
Tickets: 216-521-2540
THE BANG AND CLATTER
‘THE DEAD GUY’ by Eric Coble
September 21-October 21
You have one million dollars to spend in seven days. At the end of that time, the audience decides how you are going to die!
’BUG’ by Tracy Letts
November 2-December 2
Things are going well for a waitress with a fondness for cocaine and a soft spoken Gulf War drifter, until her abusive ex-husband is released from prison.
‘POUNDING NAILS IN THE FLOOR WITH MY FOREHEAD’ by Eric Bogosian
December 7-December 30
A one-man show that delivers searing commentary on topics from panhandlers to barbecue-crazed millionaires.
Tickets: 330-606-5317
NEAR WEST THEATRE
‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’
November 16 - December 2
Based on the Academy Award winning animated feature.
Plays performed at St. Patrick’s Club Building, 3606 Bridge Avenue,.
Tickets and information call 216-961-9750
THE CLEVELAND PLAYHOUSE, MAINSTAGE
‘MAN OF LA MANCHA’ by Dale Wasserman
Drury Theatre, September 14 – October 7
Winner of five Tony Awards, the “Dream the Impossible Dream” musical, is an adventure narrated by a prisoner who recounts a fable of righting all wrongs and winning the heart of one’s true love.
‘SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE FINAL ADVENTURE’ by Steven Dietz
A mystery featuring the world’s greatest detective, the King of Bohemia, a notorious photograph, a kidnapping, and of course, Holmes’ great nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
‘THE CHOSEN’ by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok
Drury Theatre, November 2-25
Set amid the intellectual and religious turmoil of the 1940’s in America, the play dramatizes the universal challenges of coming of age and a heartfelt path to understanding and reconciliation.
‘A CHRISTMAS STORY,’ adapted by Philip Grecian
Bolton Theatre, November 29 – December 23
Based on the movie filmed in Cleveland in 1983, this classic holiday comedy is a funny and sweet tale of growing up in the 1940s. Suitable for ages 5 and up –back by popular demand!
Tickets: 216-795-7000
New at CPH: Sweetwater Restaurant Group, operated by Gary Lucarelli, will operate a public restaurant in the space formerly occupied by The Cleveland Play House Club. The new restaurant, Stages at The Cleveland Play House, opens in mid- September.
ACTORS’ SUMMIT
‘ROUNDING THIRD’ by Richard Dresser
September 13-30
The tumultuous journey of two Little League fathers, with different philosophies of life and winning, who co-coach a team to the climactic championship game.
‘MEDEA’ by Euripides, translated and adapted by Robinson Jeffers. October 18-November 4
Having saved her husband’s life, Medea is spurned by him when he re-marries for political power. She wreaks aweful and awful revenge on him.
‘A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES’ adapted to the stage by Jeremy Brooks and Adrian Mitchell
November 29-December 23
Dylan Thomas’s boyhood memories of Wales.
Tickets: 330-342-0800. Mail orders can be sent to Actors' Summit, 86 Owen Brown Street, Hudson, OH 44236, and email orders may be sent to: info@actorssummit.org
CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
GORDON SQUARE THEATRE
Oct. 11- 27: ‘AT-TEN-TION SPAN: A FESTIVAL OF 10-MINUTE PLAYS.’ An evening of work by local and national writers.
Nov. 9 –11: ‘THE Y-HAVEN PROJECT’
An original work created and performed by the Men of Y-Haven based on their personal experiences.
Dec. 6 –22: ‘THE SANTALAND DIARIES’
David Sedaris' hilarious retelling of his days as a Macy’s elf.
JAMES LEVIN THEATRE
Oct. 18 – Nov. 3: ‘Osama the Hero” by Dennis Kelly. In this angry, explosive, controversial new work, garages are blowing up all over the neighborhood and vigilantes hunt down someone to shoulder the blame. Ohio and regional premiere
Nov. 8 –18: “LITTLE BOX’
A series of staged readings modeled after the successful Big Box series but on a smaller scale. Designed to foster works by local playwrights and producers at an earlier stage of development.
Nov. 29 – Dec. 22: ‘PULP’ by Patricia Kane, music by Amy Warren and Andre Pluess, lyrics by Patricia Kane.
A sexy and over-the top all female musical comedy takeoff of the lesbian pulp fiction of the 1930’s through the 1950’s. Ohio and Regional Premiere.
Tickets: 216.631.2727 or go to www.cptonline.org.
