TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES--2015

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene.  It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the subjective view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Only shows performed in 2015 which I reviewed were considered.  With the exception of Outstanding National Touring Production, selections were limited to local presentations though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres for their productions were considered.  No community theatre recognitions are included.  Actors are separated by gender, but not equity or lack of union affiliation, or leading or supporting roles.  Names are listed in alphabetical order, not in rank order.  Nominees designated by a * indicates my recognition as the most proficient in that category.
   
2015 OUTSTANDING NON-MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
A COMEDY OF TENORS, CPH
BECKY SHAW, Dobama
DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Ensemble
EINSTEIN, Actors’ Summit
EXACT CHANGE, CPT/PHSQ
FAIRFIELD, CPH
IN A WORD, CPT
ISAAC’S EYE, convergence continuum
KING LEAR, GLT
LEND ME A TENOR, Beck Center
MOTHERS AND SONS, Beck
OUR TOWN, Blank Canvas
SLOWGIRL, Dobama
SUPERIOR DONUTS, Dobama
THE CALL, Dobama
THE CRUCIBLE, CPH*

2015 OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
GODSPELL, Cain Park
HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse
THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT
VIOLET, Porthouse*

2015 OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A NON-MUSICAL
Beth Wood, IN A WORD, CPT
Celeste Consentino, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Ensemble
Clyde Simon, ISAAC’S EYE, convergence continuum
Don Carrier, BECK SHAW, Dobama
Exact Change, Scott Plate, CPT/PHSQ
Joseph Hanreddy, KING LEAR, GLT
Laura Kepley, FAIRFIELD, CPH
Laura Kepley, THE CRUCIBLE, CPH*
Leighann Delorenzo, SLOWGIRL, Dobama
Mathew Wright, THE CALL, Dobama
Nathan Motta, SUPERIOR DONUTS, Dobama
Neil Thackaberry, EINSTEIN, Actors’ Summit
Patrick Camaccio, OUR TOWN, Blank Canvas
Sarah May, MOTHERS AND SONS, Beck
Scott Simon, LEND ME A TENOR, Beck
Stephen Wadsworth, A COMEDY OF TENORS, CPH

2015 OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Ian Wolfgang Hinz and Joanna May Hunkins, GODSPELL, 
     Cain Park
Steven C. Anderson, VIOLET, Porthouse*
Terri Kent, HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse
Victoria Bussert, THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT

2015 OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION
John Crawford, HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse
Katie Nabors Strong, GODSPELL, Cain Park
Martin Céspedes, AMERICAN IDIOT, Beck*

2015 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Aled Davies, KING LEAR, GLT
Bobby Coyne, ISAAC’S EYE, convergence continuum
Brian Zoldessy, EINSTEIN, Actors’ Summit*
Dana Hart, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY 
     MARRIAGE PLAYS @ CPT
Esau Pritchett, THE CRUCIBLE, CPH
Geoff Knox, OR, Dobama
Greg Violand, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, 
    Lakeland
Greg White, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Ensemble
Joel Hammer, SUPERIOR DONUTS, Dobama
Keith Stevens, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Ensemble
Matt O’Shea, IN A WORD, CPT
Michael May, JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE, Karamu
Nate Miller, FARRAGOT NORTH, Ensemble
Robert Hunter, SUPERIOR DONUTS, Dobama
Scott Esposito, LEND ME A TENOR, Beck Center

2015 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Catherine Albers, MOTHERS AND SONS, Beck
Christine Howey, EXACT CHANGE, CPT/PHSQ
Lara Mielcarek, OR, Dobama
Liz Conway, IN A WORD, CPT*
Mary Ann Elder, STANDING ON CEREMONY THE GAY   
    MARRIAGE PLAYS, CPT
Miranda Leann Scholl, SLOWGIRL, Dobama
Toni DuBuono, VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND 
     SPIKE @ CPH

2015 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A MUSICAL
Jared Dixon, HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse
Jared Dixon, VIOLET, Porthouse
Pat Miller, BAT BOY THE MUSICAL, Blank Canvas*
Stephen Mitchell Brown, THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT

2015 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A MUSICAL
Amy Fritsche, VIOLET, Porthouse*
Giovanna Layne, THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT
Neely Gevaart, THE SPITFIRE GRILL, Beck

2015 OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN OF A NON-MUSICAL or MUSICAL
Benjamin Gantose and Beth Wood, IN A WORD, CPT
Bill Clarke, VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE,
        CPH
Cameron Caley Michalak. BECKY SHAW, Dobama
Charlie Corcoran, A COMEDY OF TENORS, CPH
Don McBride, LEND ME A TENOR, Beck Center
Nolan O'Dell, HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse
Laura Carlson, SLOW GIRL,  Dobama
Linda Buchanan, KING LEAR, GLT
Scott Bradley, THE CRUCIBLE, CPH*
Todd Krispinski, DONTRELL, WHO KISSED THE SEA, CPT

2015 OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jennifer Korecki, VIOLET, Porthouse
Jonathan Swoboda, HAIRSPRAY, Porthouse*

2015 OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Beau Reinker, TEAR IT OFF, convergence-continuum
Jeremy Dobbins, SLOWGIRL, Dobama*
Joshua Horvath, A COMEDY OF TENORS, CPH
Rob Milburn, Michael Bodeen, KING LEAR, GLT

2015 OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Charlotte Yetman, THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT
Lex Liang, THE CRUCIBLE, CPH
Martha Hally, KING LEAR, GLT
S. Q. Campbell, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Porthouse
William Ivey Long, A COMEDY OF TENORS, CPH*

2015 OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Beth Wood, Benjamin Gatose, Sam Fish, IN A WORD, CPT
CJ Pierce, ISAAC’S EYE, convergence continuum
Paul Miller, KING LEAR, GLT*
Paul Miller, THE SECRET GARDEN, GLT
Trad Burns, AMERICAN IDIOT, Beck

2015 OUTSTANDING ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Ian Hinz in THURGOOD, Ensemble
Ian Hinz, BENGAL TIGER IN THE BAGHDAD ZOO, Ensemble
Mike Tutaj—MARY POPPINS—Beck*

2015 OUTSTANDING NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
ELF THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
KINKY BOOTS
THE WIZARD OF OZ*

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance for staging the first full-production of MY HEART IS A DRUM.

Cleveland Public Theatre for their affiliation with National New Play Network, giving the Cleveland Theatre audiences availability to new play development.

Christine Howey and Scott Plate for their development and production of EXACT CHANGE, which not only appeared in local productions, but was selected as one of the top ten plays at the New York Fringe Festival

Cleveland Play House for its receipt of the 2015 Tony Award for Regional Theatres

If any names are spelled incorrectly, or there are errors in identifications, please let me know so I can change the permanent record on www.royberko.info.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2015 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES--2014

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene.  It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the subjective view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Only shows performed in 2014 which I reviewed were considered.  With the exception of Outstanding National Touring Production, selections were limited to local presentations though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres for their productions were considered.  No community theatre recognitions are included.  Actors are separated by gender, but not equity or lack of union affiliation, or leading or supporting roles.  Names are listed in alphabetical order, not in rank order.
   
2014 OUTSTANDING NON-MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
‘night MOTHER, Beck Center
BELLEVILLE, Dobama
EXACT CHANGE, none too fragile
GIDION’S KNOT, none too fragile
INFORMED CONSENT, Cleveland Play House
KIN, Dobama
SEMINAR, Beck Center
STRANDED ON EARTH, Theater Ninjas
THE ALIENS, Dobama
THE LITTLE FOXES, Cleveland Play House
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, none too fragile
A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION, Dobama

2014 OUTSTANDING MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
HOW WE GOT ON, Cleveland Play House
LES MISÉRABLES, GREAT LAKES THEATER
THE LIGHT IN THE PLAZA, Lakeland

2014 OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A NON-MUSICAL
Corey Atkins, BELLEVILLE, Dobama
Donald Carrier, SEMINAR, Beck Center
Jeremy Paul, STRANDED ON EARTH, Theater Ninjas
Laura Kepley, THE LITLE FOXES, Cleveland Play House
Nathan Motta, THE ALIENS, Dobama
Scott Plate, ‘night MOTHER, Beck Center
Sean Daniels, INFORMED CONSENT, Cleveland Play House
Sean Deery, GIDION’S KNOT, none too fragile
Sean Deery, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, none too fragile
Shannon Sindelar, KIN, Dobama
Nathan Motta, A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL     CELEBRATION, Dobama

2014 OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Jaime Castañeda, HOW WE GOT ON, Cleveland Play House
Martin Friedman, THE LIGHT IN THE PLAZA, Lakeland
Victoria Bussert, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Victoria Bussert, LES MISÉRABLES, GREAT LAKES THEATER

2014 OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION
Gregory Daniels, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Martin Céspedes, AS YOU LIKE IT, Great Lakes Theater
Martin Céspedes, FOREVER PLAID, Beck Center
Martin Céspedes, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center
Martin Céspedes, THE FROGS, Cain Park

2014 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Alexander V. Thompson, THE ALIENS, Dobama
Brian Kenneth Armour, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, none too fragile
Daniel McElhaney, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Blank Canvas
Daniel McElhaney, THE PILLOWMAN, convergence continuum
Grey Cross, LOBSTER ALICE, convergence-continuum
Matt O’Shea, BELLEVILLE, Dobama
Perren Hedderson, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Blank Canvas
Scott Plate, SEMINAR, Beck Center

2014 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Chris Howey, EXACT CHANGE, Cleveland Public Theatre & none too fragile
Chris Seibert, AMERICAN FALLS, Cleveland Public Theatre
Derdriu Ring, STRANDED ON EARTH, Theater Ninjas
Dorothy Silver, night MOTHER, Beck Center
Elena Kepner, KIN, Dobama
Ireland Derry, RIDE, none too fragile
Jen Kilka, Gidion’s Knot, none too fragile
Jessica Wortham, INFORMED CONSENT, Cleveland Play House
Laura Perotta, night MOTHER, Beck Center
Llewie Nunez, BELLEVILLE, Dobama
LucyBredeson-Smith, TERMINUS, convergence continuum
Maggie Lacey, THE LITTLE FOXES, Cleveland Play House
Sally Groth, PHOTOGRAPH 51, Actors’ Summit

2014 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A MUSICAL
Dan Folino, THE FROGS, Cain Park
Elijah Rock, BREATH AND IMAGINATION, Cleveland Play House
Greg Violand, MY FAIR LADY, Porthouse
Matthew Ryan Thompson, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center
Stephen Mitchell Brown, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater

2014 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A MUSICAL
Caitlin Houlahan, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Cyndii Johnson, HOW WE GOT ON, Cleveland Play House
Daphne Gaines, BREATH AND IMAGINATION, Cleveland Play House
Jodi Dominick, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
Kayce Cummings (Green), MY FAIR LADY, Porthouse
Lindsey Sandham Leonard, THE LIGHT IN THE PLAZA, Lakeland
Rebecca  Pitcher, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center

2014 OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN OF A NON-MUSICAL
Aaron Benson, ANCESTRA, CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE
Laura Carlson Tarantowski, OCCUPANT, Cesear’s Forum
Lex Liang, THE LITTLE FOXES, Cleveland Play House
Marcus Dana, KIN, Dobama
Russell Metheny, DEATHTRAP, Great Lakes Theater

2014 OUTSTANDING SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Ben Needham, , A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL     CELEBRATION, Dobama
Jeff Herrmann, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center
Jeff Herrmann, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
Jordan Janota, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Ron Newell, THE FROGS, Cain Park
Todd Krispinski, TITUS A GRAND AND GORY ROCK MUSICAL, Cleveland Public Theatre
Trad Burns, THE LIGHT IN THE PLAZA, Lakeland

2014 OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Bryan Bird, FOREVER PLAID, Beck Center
Joel Mercier, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
Jordan Cooper, LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Lakeland
Larry Goodpaster, “[title of the show],” Beck Center
Larry Goodpaster, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center
Nancy Maier, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Nathan Motta, THE FROGS, Cain Park

2014 OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Amanda Were, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
James C. Swonger, A CHRISTMAS STORY, Cleveland Play House
Clyde Simon (with music by Jeremy Allen), TERMINUS, convergence-continuum
Mikhail Fiksel, HOW WE GOT ON, Cleveland Play House
Richard Ingraham, DEATHTRAP, Great Lakes Theater
Tom Limsenmeier, BELLEVILLE, Dobama

2014 OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Esther M. Haberlen, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
Lex Liang, THE LITTLE FOXES, Cleveland Play House
S. Q. Campbell, MY FAIR LADY, Porthouse
Tesia Dugan Benson , A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION, Dobama

2014 OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Ben Gatose, TITUS A GRAND AND GORY ROCK MUSICAL, Cleveland Public Theatre
Jeff Nellis, BREATH AND IMAGINATION, Cleveland Play House
Marcus Dana, A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL     CELEBRATION, Dobama
Marcus Dana, BELLEVILLE, Dobama
Mary Jo Dondlinger, LES MISÉRABLES, Great Lakes Theater
Rick Martin, DEATHTRAP, Great Lakes Theater
Russ Borski, CARRIE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program
Trad A Burns, THE LIGHT IN THE PLAZA, Lakeland
Trad A Burns, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Beck Center
Zachary Svoboda, STRANDED ON EARTH, Theater Ninjas

2014 OUTSTANDING NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
PORGY AND BESS

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Daryl Waters for his musical arrangements for A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS:  AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CELEBRATION, Dobama

Eric Coble, for THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, his first on-Broadway production

Holly Holsinger, Chris Seibert, Renee Schilling and Sally Groth, for their development of ANCESTRA for Cleveland Public Theatre

Martin Céspedes’s choreography for the Cleveland Foundation’s Centennial gala

Mike Tutaj, videos, MARY POPPINS, Beck Center

The Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre program for producing an outstanding number of Broadway theatre cast members

Victoria Bussert and the Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre Program student company fir their quality production of THE MURDER BALLAD

If any names are spelled incorrectly, or there are errors in identifications, please let me know so I can change the permanent record on www.royberko.info.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2014 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES--2013

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Only shows performed in 2013 which I reviewed were considered.  With the exception of Best National Touring Production, selections were limited to locally produced stagings though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres for their productions were considered.  No community or educational theatre recognitions are included.  Actors are separated by gender, but not equity or lack of union affiliation, or leading or supporting roles.  Names are listed in alphabetical order, not in rank order.
   
2013 BEST NON-MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS
COCK, Dobama
FREUD’S LAST SESSION, Actors’ Summit
GOOD PEOPLE, CPH
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, GLT
ON THE LINE, none too fragile
RICHARD III, Great Lakes Theater
THE ICEMAN COMETH, Ensemble Theatre
THERE IS HAPINESS THAT MORNING IS, CPT
TIME STANDS STILL, Dobama
TWELVE ANGRY MEN, Blank Canvas
VENUS IN FUR, Cleveland Play House
WHITE PEOPLE, none too fragile

2013 BEST MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse
NEXT TO NORMAL, Lakeland Civic Theatre
SPAMALOT, Beck Center
SWEENEY TODD, Great Lakes Theater

2013 BEST DIRECTOR OF A NON-MUSICAL
Beth Wood, THERE IS HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, CPT
Corey Atkins, COCK, Dobama
Joel Hammer, THE BIG MEAL, Dobama
Laura Keply. GOOD PEOPLE, Cleveland Play House
Laura Keply, VENUS IN FUR
Nathan Motta, TIME STANDS STILL, Dobama
Patrick Ciamacco, TWELVE ANGRY MEN, Blank Canvas
Sean Derry, ON THE LINE, none too fragile
Sean Derry, WHITE PEOPLE, none too fragile
Sharon Ott, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Great Lakes Theater

2013 BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Eric van Baars, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse
Martin Friedman, NEXT TO NORMAL, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Scott Spence, SPAMALOT, Beck Center
Victoria Bussert, SWEENEY TODD, Great Lakes Theater

2013 BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION
John Crawford, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse
MaryAnn Black, SOUTH PACIFIC, Porthouse
Martin Céspedes, ANNIE, Beck Center
Martin Céspedes, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Great Lakes Theater
Martin Céspedes, SPAMALOT, Beck Center

2013 BEST PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Andrew Gombas, COCK, Dobama
Brian Zoldessy, FREUD’S LAST SESSION, Actors’ Summit
Chris Richards, SONS OF THE PROPHET, Dobama
Jonathan Wilhelm, SORDID LIVES, convergence continuum
Lynn Robert Berg, RICHARD III, Great Lakes Theater
Matthew Wright, THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, Cleveland Public Theatre
Robert, Branch, ON THE LINE, none too fragile

2013 BEST PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A NON-MUSICAL
Christine Howey, LIKE A DOBERMAN ON A QUARTER POUNDER, Cleveland Public Theatre
Derdriu Ring, THERE IS HAPPINESS THAT MORNING IS, Cleveland Public Theatre
Dee Hoty, RICH GIRL, Cleveland Play House
Heather Anderson Boll, TIME STANDS STILL, Dobama
Kate Hodge, GOOD PEOPLE, Cleveland Play House
Liz Conway, SORDID LIVES, convergence continuum
Tracee Patterson, MEDEA, Mamaí
Vanessa Wasche, VENUS IN FUR, Cleveland Play House

2013 BEST PERFORMANCES BY A MALE IN A MUSICAL
Chris Cowan, SWEENEY TODD, Great Lakes
Chris McCarrell, NEXT TO NORMAL, Beck Center/BW
Dougfred Miller, SPAMALOT, Beck Center
George Roth, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse
Gilgamesh Taggert, ANNIE, Beck Center
Hershey Felder,  MAESTRO:  LEONARD BERNSTEIN, Cleveland Play House

2013 BEST PERFORMANCES BY A FEMALE IN A MUSICAL
Aimee Collier, NEXT TO NORMAL, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Aimee Collier, SHE LOVES ME, Beck Center
Anna  Barrett, ANNIE, Beck Center
Miche Braden, THE DEVIL’S MUSIC, Cleveland Play House
Rebecca Pitcher, SHE LOVES ME, Beck Center
Sara M. Brunner, SWEENEY TODD, Great Lakes Theater

2013 BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Linda Buchanan, RICHARD III, Great Lakes Theater
Patrick Ciamacco, Andy Dudik and Noah Hibek, WORKING, Blank Canvas
Russ Borski, HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, Beck Center
Todd Krispinsky, THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT MORNINGS IS, Cleveland Public Theatre
Trad Burns, NEXT TO NORMAL, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Wilson Chin, RICH GIRL, Cleveland Play House

2013 BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
Jennifer Korecki, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse
Joe Korecki, THE DEVIL’S MUSIC, Cleveland Play House
Larry Goodpaster, SHE LOVES ME, Beck
Nancy Maier, NEXT TO NORMAL, Beck/Baldwin Wallace

2013 BEST SOUND DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Dana Duke, Big Twig Studio, Brian Caiazza, Brett Keyser, video/sound/photography, STRUCK, CPT
Shane Cutlip, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Porthouse

2013 BEST COSTUME DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Charlotte Yetman, SWEENEY TODD, Great Lakes Theater
David Kay Mickelson, BELL, BOOK and CANDLE, Cleveland Play House
Esther Haberlen, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Great Lakes Theater

2013 BEST LIGHTING DESIGN IN A NON-MUSICAL OR MUSICAL
Marcus Dana, COCK, Dobama
Trad Burns, NEXT TO NORMAL, Lakeland Civic Theatre

2013 BEST NATIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION
Matthew Bourne’s SLEEPING BEAUTY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Trad Burns for continued excellence in scenic and lighting design

Cleveland Critics Circle for creation and support for Clevelandtheaterreviews.com

Roe Green for continued financial and participatory contributions to the Cleveland area theatrical scene (Cleveland Play House, Kent State University, Cleveland Critics Circle)

Sean Derry/none too fragile, continued excellence in selection of small format, thought provoking, well staged scripts

Miles Sternfeld and Sean Szaller for THE WHO’S TOMMY, Broadway Fights AIDS fundraiser

If any names are spelled incorrectly or there are errors in identifications please let me know so I can change the permanent record on www.royberko.info.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2013 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

Festival’s FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will entertain many, but . . .

When Joseph Stein, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock joined forces to write FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, now recognized as one of the greatest of American musicals, they did so in order to create an homage to their heritage.  A heritage which included hundreds of years of Jews in eastern Europe, whose life style and lives had been destroyed by pogroms (uprisings), forced evacuations, and ultimately by the “final solution,” the Holocaust. 

This was a life spent in the shtetels (villages) where they developed a culture of traditions, traditions which included the way they prayed, ate, dressed, did business, got married, and interacted not only with each other, but those non-Jews who controlled the politics of the regions.  They spoke Yiddish, a language that not only held words which carried their traditions, but had a spoken cadence that was identifiable. There was music (the haunting cantorial sound and Klemzer melodic beats), as well as literature, and artistic styles.

These traditions are the guts of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, for, as Tevya, the central character indicates, without these traditions these people had no guidelings for how to live their lives.

The musical is set in the tiny village of Anatevka, in Tsarist Russia, in 1905.  It is loosely based on TEVYE AND HIS DAUGHTERS, written by the Yiddish writer and humorist, Sholom Aleichem (which in Hebrew means “peace be with you).  The action centers on a poor milkman with five daughters and his attempts to maintain his religious and societal customs, while internal attitude changes and outside influences exert their control over his people.  His faith is challenged when his three older daughters break from the accustomed patterns and the Tsar evicts all the Jews from his village.

The story is carried through not only words, but significant and meaningful music and lyrics.  The score includes such classics as “Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “To Life,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Now I Have Everything,” “Do You Love Me,” and “Far From the Home I Love.”

FIDDLER is a story of people, who, over many centuries, have fought to create an existence held together by their religion and way of life.  Therefore, any production of FIDDLER has to be steeped in the sounds and practices of those specific customs.  Unfortunately, the Stratford production, under the direction of Donna Feore, only hints of that.  It misses out on developing the cadence of the language, the beauty of some of the traditions, and even the pronunciation of the spoken Hebrew. 

Feore explains these choices in her program comments, “A Story That Speaks to Us All.”  Yes, as she states, Fiddler is about generalized human values, but, most importantly, as conceived by the writers, it is about a micro-Jewish society, not a universal society.  As such, there must be fidelity to the customs of that specific society.  If the director and the cast don’t understand those rituals, the foundation of the musical is lost. 

Feore goes on to say that, “FIDDLER’S vocabulary of movement must be consistent with the culture.”  She did that well in the dance numbers, but missed in the real vocabulary, the spoken vocabulary and the vocabulary of customs.

On the positive side, the three older daughters, as portrayed by Jennifer Stewart, Jacquelyn French and Kelly Hutton sing well and develop clear and believable characterizations.  André Morin and Mike Nadajewski, both of whom have nice singing voices, are excellent as Motel and Perchik.

The choreography, the orchestration and the set, complete with visual reference to famous Jewish painter, Marc Chagall’s symbolic flying figures, is excellent.

Scott Wentworth, though he feigns the movements and the sounds, doesn’t succeed in creating a real Tevya.  He doesn’t seem to have the life experiences, nor has he been properly directed, to develop the needed vocal cadence, Tevye’s hand and body movements which are based on keeping time with the cantorial music, nor the bend at the knees and twisting movement commonly done while praying.  In addition, at times, rather than displaying the underlying wonder of the character, who even when pontificating is a well intentioned man, resorts to angry shouting.   This is not Sholem Alcheim’s Tevya.

Barbara Fulton, an understudy for Golda, misses the qualities that underlie the woman’s loving nagging, the very essence of the “Yiddisha” momma.  She has none of the required sound cadence. 

Gabrielle Jones’s misguided attempts at a “Jewish accent,” is more mocking than real.  Why is Paul Nolan (Fyedka), the only Russian with a heavy accent? 

One must wonder why the usually emotionally laden “Sabbath Prayer,” besides being expressively flat, did not portray the community coming together illustrating the traditional religious belief present in all of the village.  Why are traditional Jews entering and leaving places of habitation without kissing the doorframe mezuzah?  Why are the married women not wearing shaytles (wigs)? Why is the beloved rabbi being played like a fool, to garner laughs, rather than a delightful character.  The questions could go on and on.

Capsule judgement:  Those who are unfamiliar with real Eastern European Yiddish/Jewish traditions, will find Stratford’s FIDDLER ON THE ROOF to be an acceptable, maybe even a delightful experience.  Those who know the customs should be outraged by Feore’s tradition-light approach with her attempt to make the woes of Anatevka and the annihilation of Eastern Europe Jewry, into a universal story.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF runs through October 20, 2013 at the Stratford Festival.  For information and tickets call or go to: For individual tickets call 800-567-1600 or go on-line to http://www.stratfordfestival.ca

TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES--2012

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Only shows performed in 2012 which I reviewed were considered.  Selections were limited to locally produced stagings, so none of the professional touring shows are recognized, though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres were considered.  Actors are not separated by gender, equity or lack of union affiliation, or leading or supporting roles.

           

2012 BEST DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS

4000 MILES, Dobama (Director:  Joel Hammer)

OF MICE AND MEN, Blank Canvas  (Director:  Patrick Ciamacco)

PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre Civic Theatre (Director:  Martin Friedman)

THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre (Director:  Sarah May)

THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, Beck Center for the Arts Center (Director: Eric             Schmiedl)

THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House (Director: Giovanna Sardelli)

2012 BEST MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Beck Center for the Arts (Director:  Scott Spence)

MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, Actor’s Summit (Director:  Neil Thackaberry)

SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program (Director: Victoria Bussert)

2012 BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION

Gregory Daniels, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

Martin Céspedes, ANNIE, Beck Center for the Arts

Martin Céspedes, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Beck Center for the Arts

2012 BEST PERFORMANCES IN A THEATRE PRODUCTION

Brian Zoldessy, THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre

Dorothy Silver, 4000 MILES, Dobama

Dorothy Silver, THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, Beck Center for the Arts

Elizabeth Conway, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Patrick Ciamacco, OF MICE AND MEN, Blank Canvas

Russell G. Jones, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House

2012 BEST PERFORMANCES IN A MUSICAL PRODUCTION

Beachman, Kelvette, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Mercury SummerStock

Coleen Longshaw, THE COLOR PURPLE, Karamu

Dan Folino, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Beck Center for the Arts

Jesse Markowitz, AVENUE Q, Cain Park

Lindsey Mitchell, MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, Actor’s Summit

Zach Adkins, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Eric Coble for his creation of three plays that were produced in the Greater Cleveland area, THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, GIRL’S GUIDE TO COFFEE and A CAROL FOR CLEVELAND

Michael Bloom and the Board of the Cleveland Play House for the foresight to move the theater company into Allen Theatre complex on Playhouse Square 

Patrick Ciamacco, the heart and sole of Blank Canvas, the area’s newest professional theatre

Reuben Silver, for a career of outstanding work as producer, director, educator, and actor

Roe Green for her sponsorship of the Cleveland Critics Circle             clevelandtheaterreviews.com blog site

The Members of the Cleveland Critics Circle for the creation of             clevelandtheaterreviews.com, a reader friendly site for composite reviews of local critics

In addition, recognition to the following for making the 2012 theatre scene in the Cleveland area stimulating and memorable:

PLAYS/MUSICALS

A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, Dobama (Director:  Nathan Motta)

AVENUE Q, Cain Park (Director:  Russ Borski)

GOD OF CARNAGE, Dobama (Joel Hammer)

IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting             Program (Director:  Ron Wilson)

LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts (Director:  Scott Spence)

NEXT FALL, Blank Canvas (Director:  Pat Ciamacco)

THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT, Dobama (Director:  Dianne Boduszek)

THE WORLD GOES ROUND, Porthouse (Director:  Shawn Morrissey)

PERFORMERS

Anderberg, Therese, IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS, Case/Cleveland Play             House MFA Acting Program

Ari, Bob, RED, Cleveland Play House

Barnett, Dyrell, THE COLOR PURPLE, Karamu

Barrett, Anna, ANNIE, Beck Center for the Arts

Beachman, Kelvette, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock

Belser, Andrea, THE BLUEST EYE, KARAMU

Bistok-Bunce, Amy, DEVIL BOYS FROM BEYOND, convergence continuum

Black, MaryAnn, DAMN YANKEES, Porthouse

Boukis, John Paul, AVENUE Q, Cain Park

Bush, Kimberly, LEGALLY BLOND, Beck Center for the Arts

Carrier, Donald, TEN CHIMNEYS, Cleveland Play House

Chervony, Margo, A GIRL’S GUIDE TO COFFEE, Actors’ Summit

Ciamacco, Patrick, HELLCAB, Blank Canvas

Cikra, Alex, AUGUST:  OSAGE COUNTY, Weathervane

Day, Brandyn Leo Lynn, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, Beck Center for the Arts

DeBoir, Katherine, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Deike, Andrew, A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, Dobama

Elder, Maryann, STANDING ON CEREMONY:  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAY, Cleveland Public Theatre

Elersich, Aaron, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Espisito, Scott, THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre

Fagan, Shawn, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House

Fields, Mitchell, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Folino, Dan, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Glavan, Michael, DAMN YANKEES, Porthouse

Glover, Jeff, NEXT FALL, Blank Canvas

Glymph, Avery, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House

Griffin, Zach, MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, Actor’s             Summit

Hancock, Todd, AVENUE Q, Cain Park

Harrison, Randy, RED, Cleveland Play House

Hart, Dana, ANTEBELLUM, Cleveland Public Theatre

Hart, Dana, STANDING ON CEREMONY:  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAY, Cleveland Public Theatre

Hartley, Mariette, TEN CHIMNEYS, Cleveland Play House

Hinckley, Christa, IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program

Hobbs, Lauryn Alexandria, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock

Hoffman, Laurel, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Kartali, Charles, A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS, Cleveland Play House

Kendall, Jeremy, THE MOTHERFUCKER WITH THE HAT, Dobama

Kenderes, Joe, OF MICE AND MEN, Blank Canvas

Kennedy, Kyra, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

Kinsey, Sarah, THE MISANTHROPE, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting             Program

LaShawn, Mikhaela, THE COLOR PURPLE, Karamu

Lockshine, Elliot, A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS, Cleveland Play House

Markowitz, Jesse, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock

Marshall, Brian, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock

Marshall, William Clarence, LOWER NINTH, Ensemble Theatre

McEvoy, Anne, NEXT FALL, Blank Canvas

O’Byrne, David, THE MOUSETRAP, Great Lakes Theatre

O’Shea, Matt, 4000 MILES, Dobama

Patterson, Tracee, GOD OF CARNAGE, Dobama

Penca, James, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

Reilly, Caitlin Elizabeth, LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts

Ring, Derdriu, GOD OF CARNAGE, Dobama

Ring, Derdriu, THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre

Ruttle, Kelli, THE WINTER’S TALE, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting             Program

Sniadak-Yamoloski, Dawn, MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN             WEDDING, Actor’s Summit

Spencer, Stephen, A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS, Cleveland Play House

Spencer, Stephen, IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program

Spencer, Stephen, THE MISANTHROPE, Case/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program

Sturgis, Nisi, IN THE NEXT ROOM, Cleveland Play House

Sweeney, Nicholas, ANTEBELLUM, Cleveland Public Theatre

Taggett, Gilgamesh, ANNIE, Beck Center for the Arts

van Baars, Eric, DAMN YANKEES, Porthouse

Woodward, Tom, A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, Dobama

Woodward, Tom, MIDDLETOWN, Dobama

TECHNICIANS

Boeman, Melanie, costumes, ANTEBELLUM, Cleveland Public Theatre

Bruns, Tradd, set design, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Beck Center for the Arts

Burns, Tad, ANNIE, Beck Center for the Arts

Burns, Trad, scenic and light design, XANADU, Beck Center for the Arts

Burns, Trad, set and light design, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Carlson, Laura, set design, 4000 MILES, Dobama

Carlson, Laura, set design, MIDDLETOWN, Dobama

Conley, Janet, scenic art work, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock

Dana, Marcus, light design, A BRIGHT NEW BOISE, Dobama

Ferrell, Alan  Scott, scenic design, AUGUST:  OSAGE COUNTY, Weathervane

Herrmann, Jeff, set and light design, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the             Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

Krispinsky, Todd, set design, THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, Beck Center for the Arts

Merckx, Ken, fight design, ROMEO AND JULIET, Beck Center for the Arts

Mickelson, David Kay, costume design, IN THE NEXT ROOM, Cleveland Play House

Nagy, Keith, scenic design, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Needhmam, Ben, set design, LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts

Pieritz, Terry and Russ Borski, with Larry Nehring, puppets for AVENUE Q, Cain Park

Raiford, Michael, set design, IN THE NEXT ROOM, Cleveland Play House

Scribner, Tiffany, set design, IN ARABIA WE’D ALL BE KINGS, Case/Cleveland             Play House MFA Acting Program

Swonger, James, seound design, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House

MUSICAL DIRECTORS

Buck, J. T., MY MOTHER’S LESBIAN JEWISH WICCAN WEDDING, Actor’s             Summit

Garrett, Ryan Fielding, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Program

Goodpaster, Larry and Yurich, Dennis, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, Beck Center for the Arts

Goodpaster, Larry, ANNIE, Beck Center For The Arts

Goodpaster, Larry, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Goodpaster, Larry, LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts

Goodpaster, Larry, XANADU, Beck Center for the Arts

Long, Kevin, THE WORLD GOES ROUND, Porthouse

Robinson, David, AVENUE Q, Cain Park

Swoboda, Jonathan, DAMN YANKEES, Porthouse

CHOREOGRAPHERS

Céspedes, Martin, LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts

Céspedes, Martin, XANADU, Beck Center for the Arts

Crawford, John, DAMN YANKEES, Porthouse

Morrissey, Shaw, THE WORLD GOES ROUND, Porthouse

If any names are spelled incorrectly or there are errors in identifications please let me know so I can change the permanent record on www.royberko.info.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2012 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

Times Theatre Tributes--2011

TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES--2011

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the mind of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Only shows performed in 2011 which I reviewed were considered. Selections were limited to locally produced stagings, so none of the professional touring shows are recognized, though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres were considered. Actors are not separated by gender, equity or lack of union affiliation, or leading or supporting roles.

2011 BEST DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS:
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
RACE (Beck)
THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)

2011 BEST MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS:
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)
CHICAGO (Porthouse)

2011 BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION:
Céspedes, Martin , JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Beck)

2011 BEST PERFORMANCES IN A THEATRICAL PRODUCTION:
Mitchell, Lizan, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
Kendall, Jeremy, A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
Caraballo, Daniel, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Hart, Dana, ST. NICHOLAS (Ensemble)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
Roe Green for her major contribution and underwriting of the Fusion Festival at the Cleveland Play House.

The staff, Board of Directors and management of the Cleveland Play House for their farsighted move to Playhousesquare.

Gina Vernaci, in working with New York’s Dodger Productions, to bring the developmental project, THE FAT CAMP to the Hanna Theatre.

Cleveland Play House, PlayhouseSquare Center, Cleveland State University for the re-creation of the Allen Theatre.

Jeremy Paul, Theatre Ninjas, for continued creativity in development of new and creative theatrical presentations.

Celeste Cosentino for giving new life to Ensemble Theatre.

Thanks to the following for making the 2011 theatre scene in the Cleveland area stimulating and memorable:

PLAY/MUSICAL
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)
A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
CHICAGO (Porthouse)
COMPANY (Fairmount PAC)
DARWINII (CPT)
DADDY LONG LEGS (CPH)
HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Beck)
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV (CPH)
PASSING STRANGE (BW/PHSQ)
RACE (Beck)
RENT (BW)
THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
THE MIRACLE AT NAPLES (congruence-continuum)
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
TRYING (Cesear’s Forum)
WOODY GUTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG (Actors’ Summit)

DIRECTOR
Bobgan, Raymond, INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
Bussert, Victoria, PASSING STRANGE (BW/PHSQ)
Bussert, Victoria, RENT (BW)
Caird, John, DADDY LONG LEGS (CPH)
Cesear, Greg, TRYING (Cesear’s Forum)
Céspedes, Martin and Spence Scott, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR
DREAMCOAT (Beck)
Cosentino, Celeste, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Douglas, Timothy, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
Edwards, Michael Donald, THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
Hammer, Joel, A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
Hoffman, Geoffrey, MIRACLE AT NAPLES (congruence-continuum)
Kent, Terri, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Kepley, Laura, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV (CPH)
May, Sarah, RACE (Beck)
Paul, Jeremy, MY BARKING DOG (Cleveland Public Theatre)
Paul, Jeremy, THE EXCAVATION (Theatre Ninjas)
Sternfeld, Fred, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)
Sternfeld, Fred, COMPANY (Fairmount PAC)
Thackaberry, Neil, WOODY GUTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG (Actors’ Summit)

PERFORMER
Anderson Boll, Heather, MY BARKING DOG (Cleveland Public Theatre)
Arnold, Curt, VALPARAISO (convergence-continuum)
Bergeron, Ryan, JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA (Beck)
Bestic, Tricia, TRYING (Cesear’s Forum)
Black, Maryann, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Brault, Pierre-Jacques, DR. DOOLITTLE (Mercury Summerstock)
Bredeson-Smith, Lucy, VALPARAISO (convergence-continuum)
Bruner, Sara, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (GLT)
Caraballo, Daniel, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Carthens, Kyle, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Cataan, Ursula, COMPANY (FPAC)
Cleveland, Adrianna, DREAMGIRLS (Cain Park)
Colerider, Glenn, TRYING (Cesear’s Forum)
Culver, Tim, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Domingue, Nina, YA MAMA! (CPT)
Eckstrom, Brittany, HAIRSPRAY (Beck)
Emeka, Justin, RACE (Beck)
Emerick, Sandra, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Esposito, Scott, ASSASSINS (Lakeland)
Farrell, Diana, JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA (Beck)
Floyd, Aric Generette, THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
Gehlert, Rachel, TIGERS BE STILL (Dobama)
Gorell, Andrew, PRESENT LAUGHTER (CWRU/CPH AC)
Grandillo, Sean, big, THE MUSICAL (FPAC)
Hammer, Joel, THE SEAFARER (Dobama)
Hancock, Robert Adelman, DADDY LONG LEGS (CPH)
Hart, Dana, ST. NICHOLAS (Ensemble)
Holsinger, Holly, INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
Hudak, Zac, FIVE BIRDS (convergence continuum)
Hudak, Zac, THE MIRACLE AT NAPLES (convergence continuum)
Kelly, Kevin Joseph, HAIRSPRAY (Beck)
Kendall, Jeremy, A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
Keyster, Brett, DARWINII (CPT)
Kline-Messner, Paula, BECKY’S NEW CAR (Actors’ Summit)
Koesters, Nick, MY BARKING DOG (Cleveland Public Theatre)
Lawrence, Rod, PASSING STRANGE (BW/PHSQ)
Leach, Andrea, RENT (BW)
Learned, Brint, ASSASSINS (Lakeland)
Lee, Heather, BACKWARD IN HIGH HEELS (CPH)
Little, Kristi, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Mackay, Donald Sage, SOMETHINGS AFOOT (CPH)
McEvoy, Anne, INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
McGinnis, Meg, DADDY LONG LEGS (CPH)
Mitchell, Lian, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
Morgan-Moyer, Cerris, LEGACY OF LIGHT (CPH)
Nehring, Larry, THE SEAFARER (Dobama)
Patterson, Tracee A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)
Patterson, Tracee, COMPANY (Fairmount PAC)
Pedlow, Amelia, LEGACY OF LIGHT (CPH)
Perrotta, Laura, CABARET (GLT)
Plate, Scott, A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
Ratell, Dylan, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Scerbak, Erin , GRIZZLY MAMA (Dobama)
Sage, Donald Mackay, THE GAMES AFOOT (CPH)
Scott, Aungelique, RACE (Beck)
Seibert, Chris, INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
Simon, Clyde, THE BOYS IN THE BAND (convergence continuum)
Stump, Tina, HAIRSPRAY (Beck)
Taylor, Myra Lucertia, THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
Thompson, Matthew Ryan, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
(Beck)
van Baars, Eric, HELLO DOLLY (Porthouse)
Violand, Greg, THE UNDERPANTS (Beck)
White, Jon, RENT (BW)
Whitworth, Paul, THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
Woodson, John, CABARET (GLT)
Woodward, Tom, RACE (Beck)

Composite cast
A STEADY RAIN (Dobama)
DADDY LONG LEGS (CPH)
HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
MONSTER PLAY (Theatre Ninjas)
MY BARKING DOG (CPT)
MY NAME IS ASHER LEV (CPH)
THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (Beck)
THE MIRACLE AT NAPLES (convergence continuum)
THE GAME’S AFOOT (CPH)
THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
WOODY GUTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG (Actor’s Summit)

TECHNICIANS
Borski, Russ, costume design, DREAMGIRLS (Cain Park)
Burns, Trad, lighting design, JERRY SPRINGER, THE OPERA (Beck)
Burns, Trad, lighting design, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
(Beck)
Burns, Trad, set design, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)
Conway, Daniel, scenic design, THE GAMES AFOOT (CPH)
Gantose, Benjamin, light design, MONSTER PLAY (Theatre Ninjas)
Gould, Richard, set design, RACE (Beck)
Horvitz, Joan, set design, INSOMNIA THE WAKING OF HERSELVES (CPT)
Ingraham, Richard, MY BARKING DOG (Cleveland Public Theatre)
Metheny, Russell, set design, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (GLTF)
Mitchell, Joseph, set design, HUCK AND HOLDEN (Ensemble)
Needham, Ben, scenic design, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (Beck)
Richards, Matthew, light design, LEGACY OF LIGHT (CPH)
Studley, Christopher, lighting design, THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (CPH)
Tucker, Craig, costume design, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)

MUSICAL DIRECTION
Anderson, Michael, WOODY GUTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG (Actors’ Summit)
Garret, Ryan Fielding, PASSING STRANGE (BW/PHSQ)
Goodpaster, Larry, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (Beck)
Krol, John, ASSASSINS (Lakeland)
Swoboda, Jonathan, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Swoboda, Jonathan, COMPANY (Fairmount PAC)
Swoboda, Jonathan, HELLO DOLLY! (Porthouse)
Webb, Matthew, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (GLTF)
Williams, David, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (FPAC)

CHOREOGRAPHY
Black, Maryann, CHICAGO (Porthouse)
Céspedes, Martin, HAIRSPRAY (Beck)
Céspedes, Martin, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Beck)
Crawford, John, HELLO DOLLY! (Porthouse)
Daniel, Gregory, RENT (BW)
Daniels Greg, DREAMGIRLS (Cain Park)
Reilly, Caitlin Elizabeth, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (Beck)
Robertson, Pandora, THE LIFE OF GALILEO (CPH)
Weinberg-Katz, Bebe, COMPANY (FPAC)

If any names are spelled incorrectly or there are errors in identifications please let me know so I can change the permanent record on my blog.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2011 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

NOTE: THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE A CERTIFICATE ATTESTING TO THEIR RECOGNITION SHOULD E-MAIL ME @ royberko@yahoo.com. PLEASE INCLUDE THE ADDRESS TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATE(S) SHOULD BE MAILED!

Times Theatre Tributes--2009

TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES--2009

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the mind of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve special recognition.

Only shows performed in 2009 which I reviewed were considered. Selections were limited to locally produced stagings, so none of the professional touring shows are recognized, though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres were considered. Actors are not separated by gender or leading or supporting roles.

If there are any spelling errors on the list please let me know so I can change the permanent record on my blog.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2009 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

NOTE: THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE A CERTIFICATE OF THEIR RECOGNITION SHOULD E-MAIL ROY BERKO ( royberko@yahoo.com). PLEASE INCLUDE THE ADDRESS TO WHICH THE CERTIFICATE(S) SHOULD BE MAILED!

2009 BEST OF THE BEST DRAMAS:
BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
no CHILD (Cleveland Public Theatre)
YELLOWMAN (Karamu)

2009 BEST OF THE BEST MUSICALS:
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
PIPPIN (Cain Park)

2009 BEST OF THE BEST PERFORMANCES:
Dominguez, Nina, no CHILD (CPT)
Folino, Dan, SWEENEY TODD (Lakeland)
Hammer, Joel, BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
Koesters, Nick, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)
Little, Kristi, YELLOWMAN (Karamu)
Mach, Corey, PIPPIN (Cain Park)
Nottage, Mary Jane Nottage, WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (CPT)
Primous, Kyle, YELLOWMAN (Karamu)

Also, thanks to the following for making the 2009 theatre scene in the Cleveland area stimulating and memorable:

PLAY
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (CPH)
DREAM/HOME (Dobama)
EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
FOR BETTER (Actors’ Summit)
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
INHERIT THE WIND (CPH)
MAHALIA ( CPH)
no CHILD (Cleveland Public Theatre)
OPTIMUM PRIME FOR PRESIDENT (Fourth Wall)
PANGS OF THE MESSIAH (JCC)
PIPPIN (Cain Park)
RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (CPT)
YELLOWMAN (Karamu)

DIRECTOR
Bussert, Victoria, A LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
Bussert, Victoria, PIPPIN (Cain Park)
DeLorenzo, Bart, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
Gordon, Seth, INHERIT THE WIND (CPH)
Kent, Terri, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)
Maudlin, Michael, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
Messina, Jenna, OPTIMUM FOR PRESIDENT (Fourth Wall)
Ortenzi, Lisa, no CHILD (Cleveland Public Theatre)
Paul, Jeremy, CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
Plate, Scott, BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
Robbins, Sonya, DREAM/HOME (Dobama)
Spence, Scott, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Sternfeld, Fred, YELLOWMAN (Karamu)
Thackaberry, A. Neil, FOR BETTER (Actors’ Summit)
Thomas, Rohn, ODD COUPLE, Porthouse
Verciglio, Joe, H.R. (Dobama)
Woods, Beth, WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (CPT)

PERFORMER
Bredeson-Smith, Lucy, CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
Bredeson-Smith, Lucy, BIG LOVE (convergence-continuum)
Bruno, J. R., [title of show], (BW/PLAYHOUSE SQUARE)
Busser, John, THE GOOD DOCTOR (Ensemble)
Cataan, Ursula, THE SHADOW BOX (CSU-Summer Stages)
Chanenka, Lydia, THE SHADOW BOX (CSU-Summer Stages)
Cranendonk, Terence, CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
Crouch, Kevin, THE SEAGULL (GLTF)
Cummins, Jackie, THE ALICE SEED (CPT)
Dixon, Ed, INHERIT THE WIND (CPH)
Domingue, Nina, no CHILD (CPT)
Farley, Keythe, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
Felder, Hershey, BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM (CPH)
Folino, Dan, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Folino, Dan, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY ITCH (Hi Fi Concert Club)
Folino, Dan, SWEENEY TODD (Lakeland)
Foust, Joe, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
Garrigan, Alison, SWEENEY TODD (Lakeland)
Germany, Carly, TEN MORE MINUTES FROM CLEVELAND (Dobama)
Halling, Michael, HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION (CPH)
Hammer, Joel, BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
Harper, Ciara, THE WILD PARTY (BW)
Hawkes, Robert WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (CPT)
Jaeck, Scott, INHERIT THE WIND (CPH)
Kennedy, Mimi, THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS (CPH)
Koester, Nick, BLASTED (B&C)
Koesters, Nick, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)
Koesters, Nick, TEN MORE MINUTES FROM CLEVELAND (Dobama)
Kozlenko, Val, CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
Little, Kristi, YELLOWMAN (Karamu)
Mach, Corey, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
Mach, Corey, PIPPIN (Cain Park)
May, Andrew, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (GLTF)
May, Andrew, TWELFTH NIGHT (GLTF)
May, Michael, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (Beck)
May, Michael, MILITANT LANGUAGE (B&C)
Myor, Jennifer, ME AND MY GIRL (Mercury)
Nagel, Maryann, GREY GARDENS (Beck)
Nottage, Mary Jane, WHY TORTURE IS WRONG AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM (CPT)
Patterson, Tracee, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
Prentice, Christian, OUROBOROS (convergence-continuum)
Primous, Kyle, YELLOWMAN (Karamu)
Rosenfeld, Ethan, PANGS OF THE MESSIAH (JCC)
Roth, George, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Beck Center)
Schwartz, Layla, CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
Seman, Larry, FOR BETTER (Actors’ Summit)
Sills, Brian, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
Smith Kelly, PETER PAN (Beck)
Smith, David Anthony, TWELFTH NIGHT (GLTF)
Soto, John Paul, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
Stewart, Paul Anthony, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (CPH)
Thomas, Scott, MILITANT LANGUAGE (B&C)
Van Baars, Eric, 14 (Kent State University Theatre)
Van Baars, Eric, ODD COUPLE (Porthouse)
Violand, Greg, THE SHADOW BOX (CSU-Summer Stages)
Weldon, Alyssa, BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
White, Tom AUTOBAHN (CWRU MFA ACTING PROGRAM)
Williams, Leigh AUTOBAHN (CWRU MFA ACTING PROGRAM)
Williams, Natasha Yvette, MAHLIA (CPH)
Zoldessy, Brian, CLEVELAND HEIGHTS (JCC/CCC)
Zoldessy, Brian, THE ODD COUPLE (Fairmount)

Composite cast
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
BLACKBIRD (Dobama)
CRAVE (Theatre Ninjas)
DREAM/HOME (Dobama)
FOR BETTER (Actors’ Summit)
HEAVEN’S MY DESTINATION (Cleveland Play House)
I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
LADY (Bang and Clatter)
ODD COUPLE (Porthouse)
OPTIMUM FOR PRESIDENT (Fourth Wall)
RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
THE RECEPTIMNIST & HR (Dobama)

TECHNICIANS
Borski, Russ, set and costume design, GREY GARDENS (BECK)
Borski, Russ, set design, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Beck Center)
Burch, Ted, THE LADY WITH ALL THE ANSWERS (CPH)
Burns, Trad, scenic and lighting design, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION (Beck)
Couture, Francois-Pierre, BEETHOVEN, A I KNEW HIM (CPH)
Davis, Jeff, lighting design, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (CPH)
Davis, Jill, set design, ALL’S WELL THAT END’S WELL, CWRU MFA Acting Company
Folino, Dan and PJ Toomey, special effects, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Gould, Richard, set design, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (BECK)
Herrmann, Jeff, set design, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (GLTF)
Herrmann, Jeff, set design, THE WILD PARTY (BW)
Hu, Tiffany, costume design, CINDERELLA, Mercury Summerstock
Karpinski, Todd, set design, DREAM/HOME (Dobama)
Kata, Takeshi, set design, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (CPH)
Kondilas, Tom, video designer, BIG LOVE, convergence-continuum
McBride, Don, set design, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Metheny, Russell, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, (GLTF)
Michalak, Amber, painting of the set, PANGS OF THE MESSIAH (JCC)
Middleton, Rayna, costume design, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)
Needhanm, Ben, scenic design, PETER PAN (Beck)
Roech, Michael, scenic design, THE RECEPTIONIST & H.R. (Dobama)
Savage, Lee, set design, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (CPH)
Smith, Jim, set design, BIG LOVE, convergence-continuum
Sparano, Jenniver, costume design, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Tarantowski, Laura Carlson, set design, PANGS OF THE MESSIAH (JCC)
VanCurtis, Jeffrey, costume design, ALL’S WELL THAT END’S WELL, CWRU MFA Acting Company
Williams,, Gage, set design, TWELFTH NIGHT (GLTF)
Yetman, Charlotte, costume design, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROO (GLTF)
Yetman, Charlotte, costumes, THE WILD PARTY (BW)

MUSICAL DIRECTION
Carney, Eddie, GOODSPELL (Mercury Summer Stock)
Carney, Eddie, ME AND MY GIRL (Mercury Summer Stock)
Garrett, Ryan, musical accompaniment, [title of show] (BW, PLAYHOUSE SQ)
Goodpaster, Larry, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (Beck Center)
Goodpaster, Larry, PETER PAN (Beck)
Krol, John, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
Maier, Nancy, PIPPIN (Cain Park)
Taylor, Brian, THE WILD PARTY (BW)
Webb, Matthew, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
Yurich, Dennis, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Hi Fi Concert Club)

CHOREOGRAPHY
Brault, Pierre-Jacques, CINDERELLA (Mercury Summer Stock)
Brault, Pierre-Jacques, GODSPELL (Mercury Summer Stock)
Céspedes, Martin PETER PAN (Beck)
Céspedes, Martin, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS (GLTF)
Céspedes, Martin, EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL (Beck)
Céspedes, Martin, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE (Playhouse Square)
Céspedes, Martin, PIPPIN (Cain Park)
Céspedes, Martin, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (GLTF)
Céspedes, Martin, THE WILD PARTY (BW)
Deering, Lynn, RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET (CSU-Summer Stages)
Van Baars, Eric, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Porthouse)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Michael Bloom, Fusion Fest, CPH
Jewish Community Center for their good intentions in commissioning a play that would commemorate the Cleveland Jewish Community
Eric Coble for his authorship of ‘H.R.’ and ‘FOR BETTER’
Margi Herwald Zitelli for her authorship of ‘OPTIMUS PRIME FOR PRESIDENT’
Sarah Morton for her authorship of ‘DREAM/HOME’
Mercury Summerstock for the initiation of “My First Musical Program,” a program which makes available performances to children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend live theatre.
Roe Green, for her financial backing of the JCC Arts program, as well as her contributions to the Kent State University Theatre and Dance programs
John Cameron for his authorship of ‘14’

Times Theatre Tributes--2008

TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES--2008

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the mind of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve special recognition.

Only shows performed in 2008 which I reviewed were considered. Selections were limited to locally produced stagings, so none of the professional touring shows are recognized, though actors, directors and technicians who were imported by local theatres were considered. Actors are not separated by gender or leading or supporting roles.

If you would like to read any of my reviews for the year, please go to www.royberko.info, enter the blog and click on “2008 Reviews” or click on the name of the producing theatre and scroll through their performances. Reviews from previous years may also be accessed.

Please excuse any errors in name spelling. If there is a mistake please let me know (royberko@yahoo.com) and I will correct it in the blog announcement and your certificate.

Certificates will be mailed to the sponsoring theatre by the end of January with a request to forward to the individual recognized recipients.

Thanks to the following for making the 2008 theatre scene in the Cleveland area stimulating and memorable:

PRODUCTIONS
ALICE (Porthouse)
ANYTHING GOES (Porthouse)
BROOKLYN BOY (JCC/CCC)
BROOKLYN, THE MUSICAL (BW/PHS)
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (Karamu/Dobama)
COLDER THAN HERE (Dobama)
DOUBT: A PARABLE (CPH)
GOLDA’S BALCONY (Actors’ Summit)
GOLDSTAR, OHIO (CPT)
HAROLD AND MAUDE (Cain Park)
I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN TO ME BY A
YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA (Dobama)
IN THE CONTINUUM (CPT)
INTO THE WOODS (GLTF)
MACBETH (GLTF)
ORANGE FLOWER WATER (Bang and Clatter)
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (CPH)
PROOF (ACTORS’ SUMMIT)
RAISIN IN THE SUN (CPH)
TALKING HEADS 2 (BECK)
THE CARPETBAGGER’S CHILDREN (Ensemble)
THE CRUCIBLE (GLTF)
THE HISTORY BOYS (Beck)
TWO ROOMS (Charenton/CPT)
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL (Beck)

DIRECTORS
Amster, Peter PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (CPH)
Barr, Drew, THE CRUCIBLE (GLTF)
Bellamy, Lou, RAINSIN IN THE SUN (CPH)
Bobgan, Raymond, THE OTHER SIDE (CPT)
Bussert, Victoria, BOOKLYN, THE MUSICAL (BW/PHS)
Bussert, Victoria, INTO THE WOODS (GLTF)
Bussert, Victoria, HAROLD AND MAUDE (CAIN PARK)
Colombi, Lucia, THE CARPETBAGGER’S CHILDREN (Ensemble)
Earnest, Matthew, ALICE (Porthouse)
Fee, Charles, MACBETH (GLTF)
Gordon, Seth, DOUBT, A PARABLE (CPH)
Hammer, Joel, COLDER THAN HERE (Dobama)
Kent, Terri, ANYTHING GOES (Porthouse)
Loewy, Jacqui, TWO ROOMS (Charenton/CPT)
May, Sarah, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (Karamu/Dobama)
May, Sarah, THE HISTORY BOYS (Beck)
McConaha, Sean, ORANGE FLOWER WATER (Bang and Clatter)
Paris, Andy, GOLDSTAR, OHIO (CPT)
Sias, Tony, IN THE CONTINUUM (CPT)
Silver, Reuben & Thackaberry, Neil, GOLDA’S BALCONY (Actors’ Summit)
Spence, Scott, URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL (BECK CENTER)
Turney, Wayne, PROOF (Actors’ Summit)
Zoldessy, Brain, BROOKLYN BOY (JCC/CCC)
Zoldessy, Brian, I HAVE BEFORE ME A REMARKABLE DOCUMENT GIVEN
TO ME BY A YOUNG LADY FROM RWANDA (Dobama)

PERFORMERS
Andres, Barbara (Doubt, A Parable)—CPH
Besler, Andrea (I Have Before Me…Rwanda)—Dobama
Black, MaryAnn (Anything Goes)—Porthouse
Boll, Heather Lea Anderson (Colder Than Here)—Dobama
Budin, Noah (Brooklyn Boy)—JCC/CCC
Clarke, Gerald (The Wiz)—Cain Park
Cope, Jessica L. (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Cross, Chaon (Pride and Prejudice)—CPH
Culler, Kathleen (Main-Travelled Roads)—Actors’ Summit
Davies, Aled (All’s Well That Ends Well)—GLTF
Davies, Aled (The Crucible)—GLFT
DiBlasi, Stephen (Brooklyn, the Musical)—BW/PHS
Dooley, Sheffia, Randall (Caroline, or Change)—Karamu/Dobama
Dorn, Franchelle Stewart (Raisin in the Sun)—CPH
Elliott, Kelly (Boom)—CPT
Emerick, Sandra (Anything Goes)—Porthouse
Felder, Hershey (George Gershwin Alone)—Cleveland Play House
Flaherty, Christian (Caroline, or Change)—Karamu/Dobama
Folino, Dan (The History Boys)—Beck
Ford, Tom (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Frederic, Michael (Doubt, A Parable)—CPH
Grover, Jeffrey (TWO ROOMS—Charenton/CPT
Gulick, Lissy (Carpetbagger’s Children)—Ensemble
Hart, Dana (The History Boys)—Beck
Hawkes, Robert (Talking Heads 2)—Beck
Joyce, Daniel Damon (Glass Menagarie)—CPH
Kahl, Betsy (Urinetown: the Musical)—Beck Center
Kartali, Charles (The Christmas Story)--CPH
Kartali, Charles, (Brooklyn Boy)—JCC/CCC
Kimberly Brown (In the Continuum)—CPT
Klika, Jen (ORANGE FLOWER WATER—Bang and Clatter
Kusak, Doug (This Is How It Goes)—Bang and Clatter
LaVonn, Erika (Raising in the Sun)—CPH
Lewellen, Hester (Carpetbagger’s Children)—Ensemble
Mach, Corey (Harold and Maude)—Cain Park
Matthew Wright (Urinetown: the Musical)—Beck Center
May, Andrew (The Crucible)—GLTF
McElhaney, Daniel (ORANGE FLOWER WATER—Bang and Clatter
McEvoy, Anne (Between Life and Death)—CPT
McEvoy, Anne (Colder Than Here)—Dobama
Miller, Scott (I Have Before Me…Rwanda)—Dobama
Morton, Sarah (TWO ROOMS—Charenton/CPT
Nagel, Maryann (Harold and Maude)—Cain Park
Nottage, Mary Jane (Carpetbagger’s Children)—Ensemble
Patterson, Tracee ((The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical)—Beck Center
Petty, Malika (Brooklyn, the Musical)—BW/PHS
Petty, Malika (The Wiz)—Cain Park
Pote, Emily (Alice)—Porthouse
Riddle, John (Altar Boyz)—Beck Center
Roth, George (The Fantastics)—Ensemble
Silver, Dorothy (Golda’s Balcony)—Actors’ Summit
Silver, Dorothy (Talking Heads 2)—Beck
Snow, Charene (Doubt, A Parable)—CPH
Stefanko, Joey (The Christmas Story)—CPH
Thackaberry, Constance (Proof)—Actors’ Summit
Thomas, Matthew Martin (The History Boys)—Beck
VanBaars, Eric (The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical)—Beck Center
Violand, Greg (Urinetown: the Musical)—Beck Center
Wells, Ker, (Living Tall)—Cleveland Public Theatre
Wright, Mathew (My Favorite Year)—Beck Center
Wyse, Alex, (Honk)—Mercury Summer Theatre

COMPOSITE CASTS
Colder Than Here (Dobama)
Doubt, A Parable (CPH)
Goldstar, Ohio (CPT)
Into the Woods (GLTF)
Orange Flower Water (Bang and Clatter)
Proof (Actors’ Summit)
Talking Heads 2 (Beck)
The Carpetbagger’s Children (Ensemble)
The History Boys (Beck)

TECHNICIANS
Borski, Russ, costume design (The Wiz)—Cain Park
Borski, Russ, set design ((The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical)—Beck
Brassard, Gail, costume design, (Pride and Prejudice)—CPH
Burns, Trad, lighting and set design (Goldstar, Ohio)—CPT
Burns, Trad, lighting design (Altar Boyz)—Beck Center
Burns, Trad, set and light design (The History Boys)—Beck
Center
Coates, Norman, lighting design (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Davis, John, sword fight sequences (My Favorite Year)—Beck Center
DiBernardo, Dale, costumes (Damn Yankees)—Carousel
DiBernardo, Dale, set design (The King and I)—Carousel
Gilliam, Michael, lighting design (George Gershwin Alone)—CPH
Herman, Jeff, scenic design (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Ingraham, Richard, sound design (I Have Before Me…Rwanda)—Dobama
Johnson, Pat, costume design (Alice)—Porthouse
Koharchik, Robert, set design (Pride and Prejudice)—CPH
Kovach, Robert, set design (The King and I)—Carousel
Kozak, Stan, sound design (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Leonard, Joy James, set design (Noises Off)—CPH
Lincoln, Michael, lighting design (Glass Menagerie)—CPH
Moxley, Star, costume design (Macbeth)—GLTF
Needham, Ben, set design (Brooklyn Boy)—JCC/CCC
Needham, Ben, set design (Peter Pan)—Beck Center
Ostaszewski, Michel, projections (Two Rooms)—Charenton/CPT
Pardess, Yael, scenic design (George Gershwin Alone)—CPH
Parkman, Russell, set design (Doubt: A Parable)—CPH
Patton, Fritz, original music and sound design (The Crucible)—GLTF
Pauna, Steve, set design (Alice)—Porthouse
Smith, Vicki, set design (Raisin in the Sun)—CPH
Thackaberry, Neil, visual effects(Golda’s Balcony)—Actors’ Summit
Tulenson, Nathan, sound design (Two Rooms)—Charenton/CPT
Williams, Gage, scenic design (Macbeth)—GLTF
Yetman, Charlotte, costume design (Into the Woods)—GLTF

MUSICAL DIRECTION
Andersen Wolfgang, Nancy (Anything Goes), Porthouse
Espino, John Jay, (Into the Woods)—GLTF
Maier, Nancy (Brooklyn, the Musical), BW/PHS
Morris, Evie (Main-Travelled Rloads), Actors’ Summit
Ricci, Jodie (Harold and Maude), Cain Park
Ridley, Ed (Caroline, or Change,) Karamu/Dobama

CHOREOGRAPHY

Black, MaryAnn (Anything Goes)—Porthouse
Cespedes, Martin (Into the Woods)--GLTF
Cespedes, Martin ((Urinetown: the Musical)—Beck Center
Cespedes, Martin (The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical)—Beck Center
Cortez, Hernando (Altar Boyz)—Beck Center
Merckx, Ken, (Macbeth)—GLTF (fight choreography)
Pesce, Vince, (The King and I)—Carousel

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Joyce Casey, for her continued dedication to making Dobama a high quality entity.

Sean Derry and Sean McConaha of The Bang and Clatter for having the “chutpsa” to open a new theatre in downtown Cleveland with no parking!

Gina Vernaci and Victoria Bussert for their new collaboration between Playhouse Square and Baldwin-Wallace College.

Gina Vernaci for her continued excellent coordination and program development for Playhouse Square Foundation.

Great Lakes Theatre Festival for the creation of a superb new theatre space in the reburbished Hanna Theatre.



THE BEST OF THE BEST

I have been asked why I don’t select my “best of the best” for each season. So, to satisfy those requests, I present my selections:

2008 BEST OF THE BEST DRAMAS:
Golda’s Balcony (Actors’ Summit)
I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady from
Rwanda (Dobama)
The History Boys (Beck)
Two Rooms (Charenton/CPT)

2008 BEST OF THE BEST MUSICALS:
Brooklyn (BW/Playhouse Square)
Caroline, or Change (Karamu/Dobama)
Into the Woods (GLTF)

2008 BEST PERFORMANCES:
Andrea Belser (I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a
Young Lady from Rwanda (Dobama)
Dorothy Silver (Golda’s Balcony)—Actors’ Summit
Dorothy Silver (Talking Heads 2)—Beck Center
Mathew Wright (Urinetown: the Musical)—Beck Center
Sheffia Dooley (Caroline, or Change)—Karamu/Dobama