ACTOR’S SUMMIT
330-374-7568 or go to www.actorssummit.org
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM and Sundays @ 2 PM
EINSTEIN (January 15-February 1)—Brian Zoldessy, as Albert Einstein, invites the audience into his home to set the record straight. Remember, it’s all relative.
THE BOOK CLUB PLAY (February 26-March 15)—A famous filmmaker chooses Ana’s book club to be part of his next documentary with comic results.
BAD JEWS (April 16-May 3)—She is the family’s “Superjew,” he is an assimilated atheist. This comedy asks, “who gets the sacred family heirloom?”
ALWAYS . . . PATSY CLINE (May 28-June 21)—A musical tribute to Patsy’s spirit and a celebration of her music. Yes, “Crazy,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and 17 more.
BECK CENTER
216-521-2540 or http://www.beckcenter.org
8 p.m. evenings, 3 p.m. matinees
MARY POPPINS (December 5-January 4, 2015)—The supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical in its local premiere.
DOGFIGHT (February 6-March 15)—In collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University’s Music Theatre Program, this musical, based on the film of the same name, centers on three young Marines, who, in 1963, before the night of their deployment, learn the power of compassion. (Studio Theatre)
LEND ME A TENOR (March 27-April 26)—Ken Ludwig’s farce, with mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and lots of slammed doors, follows Tito Morelli, the fiery-tempered Italian superstar, who arrives in Cleveland to star in a local opera, and then disappears.
THE YOUNG MAN FROM ATLANTA (May 29-June 28)—Horton Foote’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama tells the story of a Texas couple’s attempt to make sense of the death of their son.
BLANK CANVAS
440-941-0458 or www.blankcanvastheatre.com
TBA
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE
216-241-6000 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com
7:30 Wednesday-Saturday, 2:30 Saturday and Sunday
FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE (January 23-February 15)—Main Stage--His woman left him, he’s broke, and it’s almost five o’clock in the morning. But don’t worry about our hero. All he needs is the right music—and the right guys—to get him through. Enter five guys named Moe, stepping out through his radio to cajole, comfort and jazz him with dozens of whimsical hit songs from the extraordinary Louis Jordan.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (February 25-March 7)—The Helen—CPH and CWRU/MFA program perform Phillip Barry’s romantic comedy focusing on the mixed-up lives of the rich and famous who seemingly “have it all.”
THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE (February 27-March 22)—Main Stage--Jura’s daughter, renowned pianist Mona Golabek, brings her mother’s true tale of survival and triumph to the stage. Featuring live performances of classics by Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy. Content and themes include war and the Holocaust.
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (April 3-April 26)—Main Stage—Siblings Vonya and Sonia are contentedly discontent to pass into their twilight years sipping coffee and watching for blue herons. However, when their fading B-movie-star sister descends upon their quiet country home with sexy boy toy Spike, chaos ensues. (To read my review of the New York production go to: http://www.royberko.info, click on Broadway, scroll down to “Absurd Vonya and Sonya and Masha and Spike delights.”
FAIRFIELD (May 1-May 24)—Outcalt Theatre—Clevelander Eric Coble’s play examines how we each determine what’s appropriate and inappropriate, and whether “We Shall Overcome.” (Content Advisory: Play contains strong language, including profanity and derogatory terms, mild violence, innuendo, and frank conversations on race.)
CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
216-631-2727 or go on line to www.cptonline.org
FIRE ON THE WATER: PART FOUR OF THE ELEMENTS CYCLE (January 29-February 14)—7:30, Gordon Square Theatre--This concluding work will focus on how the environment can shape identity and will celebrate the remarkable recovery of Cleveland’s waterways.
STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS (March 5-21)-- 7:30, Gordon Square Theatre--Back by popular demand, this powerful series of short plays promote marriage equality and the power of love to overcome.
IN A WORD (April 16-May 2)—7:00, James Levin Theatre--Two years have passed since Fiona’s eight-year-old son mysteriously vanished. As she delves back into her memories of that fateful day to find the missing piece.
DONTRELL, WHO KISSED THE SEA (May 21-June 6)—7:00, James Levin Theatre—It’s a month before his first day in college and Dontrell Jones III wakes up from a dream that will change his life. The young man’s unconventional journey begins with swimming lessons, and ends in a boat drifting into the sea to meet his grandfather’s spirit.
JOHANNA: FACING FORWARD (May 28-June 13)—7:30 Gordon Square Theatre--Based on the true story of Johanna Orozco, a Cleveland teen who survived a gunshot wound to the face by her boyfriend in 2007 and whose story sparked a nation-wide movement against teen domestic violence
convergence continuum
convergence-continiuum.org or 216-687-0074
Thursday-Saturday @ 8
ISAAC’S EYES (March 20-April 11)—A quirky look at what drove Isaac Newton, a brilliant but troubled farm boy, to become one of the modern world’s greatest thinkers.
WOLVES (May 8-30)—A female narrator tells an urban fable that takes place during a long and terrible night at the apartment of Ben, his roommate and one time boyfriend, Jack.
DOBAMA
216-932-3396 or www.dobama.org
check the theatre’s blog for performance times
A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION (December 5-January 5, 2015)—A musical that weaves together characters, story lines and pieces of music about hope, joy, and the beauty of the human spirit.
SLOWGIRL (January 23-February 15)--A teenager is sent to her reclusive uncle’s retreat in the Costa Rican jungle to avoid the aftermath of a tragic accident. In the days that follow, they are forced to face the choices they’ve made and what they both are truly running from.
BECKY SHAW (March 6-March 29)-- When a couple of newlyweds set up their abrasive and confident friend with a sexy and strange new co-worker, it’s the blind date from hell.
SUPERIOR DONUTS (April 24-May 24)-- When his donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago is vandalized, an uninspired, ex-hippie, seems both hapless and indifferent. But when an African-American college student enters the doors of Superior Donuts, both men are changed forever.
ENSEMBLE THEATRE
216-321-2930 or http://www.ensemble-theatre.com
Friday and Saturdays @ 8, Sundays @ 2
THURGOOD (January 31-February 22)--Brings to life a civil rights giant who attended Fredrick Douglas High School in Baltimore, as well as Lincoln University where his class mates were the likes of poet Langston Hughes and Musician Cab Calloway.
BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO (April 24-May 17)—Cleveland Heights native Rajiv Joseph’s play about the lives of two American Marines and an Iraqi translator whose lives are forever changed by an encounter with a quick-witted tiger who haunts the streets of war-torn Baghdad. Starred Robin Williams on Broadway.
GREAT LAKES THEATER
http://www.greatlakestheater.org or 216-241-6000
Wednesday-Saturday @ 7:30, Saturdays @ 1:30, Sunday @ 3.
DIAL M FOR MURDER (February 27-March 22)—An ex-tennis professional married his wife for her money. Now he plans to kill her for the same reason, convinced that she is having an affair. When his precise murder plot goes awry, can he improvise an equally deadly plan B?
THE TEMPEST (April 10-26)—Along a magically tempestuous journey, passions are unleashed, villainy is thwarted and a family is reunited in Shakespeare’s comic and cathartic tale of romance and renewal.
LAKELAND COMMUNITY THEATRE
440-525-7134 or http://lakelandcc.edu/academic/arts/theatre/index.asp
VIOLET (January 30, 31, February 6, 7, 13, 14 @ 7:30, February 1, 8, 15 @ 2)--Tony nominated musical tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey, by bus, from her farm in North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to be healed.
none-too-fragile
www.nonetoofragile.com or 330-671-4563
evenings at 7:30, matinees at 2:00
THE LONESOME WEST (February 5-21)--Marin McDonagh’s contemporary Irish play about the murderous goings-on in the Western Ireland town of Leenane.
GOD OF CARNAGE (April 24-May 9)-- Two sets of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. As the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening evolving into chaos.
PLAYHOUSESQUARE
216-241-6000 or go to www.playhousesquare.org.
See the website for specific dates and times
STOMP (January 16-18)—Connor Palace--The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments--matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps--to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.
PIPPIN (February 3-15)—Connor Palace--Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, PIPPIN is noted for such Broadway standards as “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic To Do,” “Glory,” “No Time at All,” “Morning Glow,” and “Love Song.” (For Roy Berko’s review of the Broadway show go to http://www.royberko.info, go the Broadway link and scroll to PIPPIN.)
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN (February 4-15)—Outcalt Theatre-The longest running solo play in Broadway history, the insightful play about the ways men and women relate, or don’t relate.
HAL HOLBROOK IN MARK TWAIN TONIGHT (February 21)--Fifty years ago, a young actor took the stage in a tiny off-Broadway theater and introduced the world to a man they would never forget. The actor was Hal Holbrook and the man was Mark Twain.
DIRTY DANCING (March 3-22)—Connor Palace--Tells the story of Baby and Johnny, two independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring such songs as “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.”
POTTED POTTER (March 26-29)—Ohio Theatre--Whether you camped outside a bookstore for three days awaiting the release of the “Deathly Hallows” or you don't know the difference between a “horcrux” and a “Hufflepuff,” the comedy, magic and mayhem makes for perfect entertainment for the entire family.
KINKY BOOTS (April 7-19)—Connor Palace—Based on a true story, the musical follows a struggling shoe factory owner who works to turn his business around with help from Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. Together, this unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… proving that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world. (For Roy Berko’s review of the Broadway show go to http://www.royberko.info, go the Broadway link and scroll to KINKY BOOTS.)
AMERICA’S GOT DOWNTON (April 18)—Ohio Theatre—Direct from London’s West End, Luke Kempner creates more than thirty characters in this parody that blends celebrity visitors with well-known characters from Downton Abbey. Cultures clash and eras hilariously collide to help the cast save the estate from financial ruin – again!
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (April 24-26)—Connor Palace--The classic musical love story filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song.
RAIN-A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (May 3)—State Theatre--A live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. It includes such songs as “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together” and “Hey Jude.”
I LOVE LUCY: LIVE ON STAGE (May 15-17)—Connor Palace--It’s 1952 and you are a member of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience awaiting the filming of two oh-so-familiar I LOVE LUCY® episodes and the sidesplitting antics of America’s favorite foursome – Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel – are presented live on stage.
THE MUSICAL THEATER PROJECT
http://www.MusicalTheaterProject.org or 216-529-9411 for tickets and information
(productions staged in review format with narration)
OVER THE RAINBOW (The Songs of Harold Arlen)--January 18 @3 PM—Main Stage Theatre Tri-C Metro—A national survey found that Arlen’s “Over the Rainbow” was the most beloved song of the 20th century!
FINE ROMANCE (The Love Song Cabaret)—February 15—Vosh Lakewood (area’s newest entertainment venue, 1414 Riverside Drive, Lakewood) @ 7 PM—Puts a spotlight on the many faces of love.
SWING’S THE THING!—Saturday, March 21 @ 8 PM—Ohio Theatre, and Saturday, April 11, 7 PM—Lorain County Community College—A salute to the electrifying Swing Era, a golden age for musical theatre history.
BEHIND THE MUSICAL: HELLO, DOLLY—Sunday April 26 @ 3 PM—Chagrin Falls High School Performing Arts Center—From Carol Channing to Pearl Bailey to Barbra Streisand, the musical is 50 years old and still “going strong.”
