Review of the Reviewer's Reviews: Tom Kuby

You capture the evening performance [ LES BALLETS TROCKADERO de MONTE CARLO], succinctly, cogently, colorfully and so in synch with my feelings and interpretation AFTER reading your prose. Thanks for sayng how I would like to describe what I saw, heard and felt!

Tom Kuby

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

Trocks: Men en pointe delight audience at Ohio Theatre

A sold out, standing room only audience displayed abandoned delight, complete with “bravos” and much applause, at the January 29 performance of LES BALLETS TROCKADERO de MONTE CARLO, lovingly called by their many admirers, The Trocks. The program was sponosored by DANCECleveland and Cuyahoga County Community College.

What was all the shouting about? On the surface, men were dancing in tutus, en pointe, many portraying roles such as the Swan in SWAN LAKE, traditionally reserved for women. Sound like a device to get people into the theatre? It is. But these are not guys who just spoof and do pratfalls. This is an international troupe of well trained ballet dancers who have added to the usual male role in ballet of being partners who carry the females around, are given a few minutes of solo circle leaps and a few bravado movements. They are ballet dancers who have wonderful senses of comic timing and an ingenious choreographer. This is the company that the New York Times dance reviewer terms, “Partly Goofy, Part Glorious, All Man.” I might add, “Totally audience pleasing.”

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is an all-male ballet corps which parodies the conventions and clichés of romantic and classical ballet. It has been around since 1974 and has toured the world to great accolades.

The troupe, which last appeared in the area around fifteen years ago, opened their program with SWAN LAKE, ACT II, danced to the music of Tchaikovsky. This, their signature piece, tells the story of a beautiful princess, turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer, who is saved by the love of a prince. It's probably the world's best known ballet. But, if you haven't seen the Trocks version, you haven't seen SWAN LAKE. Consisting of beautiful toe work, fine partnering, glorious costumes, a princess with facial stubble, pratfalls and comic interactions between the dancers, the audience transitioned between “bravos” and hysterics.

PATTERNS IN SPACE was a “post modern dance movement essay” in which three mismatched dancers tried their best to hold the audience's attention with creative movements, while competing for attention with two nerdy “musicians” who played the underscoring with paper bags, kazoos, bubble wrap, and pots and pans. It was Spike Jones meets classic dance, with Jones, in the form of “musicians” Lariska Dumbchenko and Yuri Smirnov winning. (All of the dancers have “Russian” as well as their traditional names. The Soviet designators are all plays on words, such as Legupski, Paranova, Thickenthighya, Enimenimynimova and Ida Nevasayneva.)

LE GRAND PAS DE QUATRE found four dancers in constant competition to upstage each other. Danced completely en pointe, the ability of dancers was only eclipsed by their ability to get outlandish attention.

A quick version of THE DYING SWAN, complete with a molting bird who kept losing its feathers while displaying the pangs of death, made the death more fun than tragic. Those who have seen the Academy Award nominated movie THE BLACK SWAN, could only shake their heads and realize what a beautiful piece this could be when danced correctly. Beautiful, but not as much fun.

RAYMONDA'S WEDDING was a “traditionally confusing divertissement in two scenes,” highlighted by a plot which “loses something in translation.” Danced in classic ballet form, though the uneven story line “has baffled audiences since its premiere in 1898,” it was visually attractive and, as most of the program, filled with wonderful laugh sequences. The “women” were all taller than their partners, causing visual illusions of tiny men lifting gigantic women. (Many of the “females” were well over 6 and a half feet tall in their pointe shoes.)

Capsule judgement: “This was the whole package,” “What fun,” “My goodness, they are really good dancers,” and “I hope we don't have to wait another fifteen years to get them back!” These were comments made by the delighted dance concert-goers after the performance of LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO. I definitely agree!

Beyond Belief An Intimate Evening of Psychological Illusion

Must see BEYOND BELIEF at Kennedys-Down-Under

Intriguing, fascinating, fun, confounding, involving and surprising are just some of the words I heard from the audience after the opening night performance of BEYOND BELIEF, award winning Joshua Seth's display of illusion at Playhouse Square's Kennedy's-Down-Under performance. (The theatre is located below the Ohio Theatre's lobby.)

Psychological Illusionist, voice-over artist, hypnotist and mystery entertainer are all names that have been used to describe Kent native Joshua Seth. He's “one of the busiest illusionists touring the globe today.” Seth, who lives in Bath, and was brought up in Akron, recently returned from yet another cruise. This time he was performing on a ship going around the Hawaiian Islands. Immediately after his opening night performance here, he was jumping on a plane to fly to Baltimore, where he was to perform before over 3000 midshipmen at the Annapolis Naval Academy.

Seth, whose father was a hypnotherapist, fell in love with illusion when taken to see a Blackstone the Magician show when he was eight. He started to delve into the field. His present show grew out of the concept of mentalism, which allows him to work with the audience to influence people's thoughts and create illusion.

During the performance, Seth proved that his reputation as presenting “A high Energy, One-of-A-Kind Show” was true. He also displayed why he won First Place at the Academy of Magical Arts' “Magic Castle Olympics” for his mentalist act.

It's pretty hard to describe the 90-minute show without giving away all the intrigue. Plus, the show varies from night to night depending on the audience and the performer's mood. It's probably enough to say the fascination and excitement centered on illusions which included muscle tensing, emails, dreams, rings, blink responses, cards, head and hand shaking, $100 prizes, lottery tickets, and audience participation.


The Kennedy space is a perfect venue because it is intimate and allows for immediate interaction with the spectators. Due to the small venue, everyone gets into the act. (Yes, he even got a Times newspaper theatre critic on stage.) Seth conjured up people's numbers, names, hobbies, pets' names and travel desires. It's fun, it's astounding, it's a delight for everyone.

The “kid reviewers,” my grandson's, Alex (15), Noah (13) and Ian (11), who often go to shows to give the viewpoint of younger audiences, were perched on their front row seats, laughing, cheering, guessing how Seth did the illusions, and left full of excitement and delight. Yes, it's a show for everyone, young and old alike. (I'd recommend that the kids be 10 or over.)

Capsule judgement: Beyond Belief: An Intimate Evening of Psychological Illusion is a one of a kind experience that is a must see! Call for tickets immediately, as the show, in its present run, will only be offered three more dates (February 3, March 3 and 24), and the 80 seats will go fast as the word gets out. Fun, delight, full of intrigue, a MUST SEE!

Winter 2011 Dance and Calendar

DANCE PREVIEWS: LES BALLETS TROCKADERO, GROUNDWORKS, INLET, VERB BALLETS, OHIO DANCE, DANCING WHEELS

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO

Presented by DANCECLEVELAND AND TRI-C, this all male company is an international dance phenomenon. They perform a full range of ballet and modern styles by combining dance skills and comedy. And, yes, men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces. Note: No children under 2 are admitted. For tickets to the concert, which will be presented on January 29 at 8 p.m. in the Ohio Theatre, call 216-214-6000 or go to www.playhousesquare.org


GROUNDWORKS

David Shimotakahara's company performs on February 4 and 5 at the Breen Center, 2008 West 30th Street, across from St. Ignatius High School at 8 PM. The program includes two world premieres, one choreographed by Shimotakahara,
the other by David Parker. Also on the program is BoomBoom, a tribute to American Blues legends. Tickets: 216-961-2560

INLET DANCE

Inlet Dance presents a family friendly concert as part of the Chagrin Arts' Performance Series at Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Center, 400 E. Washington Street, at 3 pm on Sunday, February 27. For information go to: http://inletdance.org

VERB BALLETS
On Friday, February 11, at 8 pm at the Breen Center, 2008 West 30th Street, Cleveland, Verb Ballets, Cleveland's National Repertory Dance Company, presents its Valentine of Dance which includes the world premiere of Breath from Artist-in-Residence Terence Greene; Noumenon Mobilus by choreographer Alwin Nikolais; Ambiguous; Drives by Tommie-Waheed Evans, and Shapiro and Smith's To Have and To Hold. For tickets go to verballets.org or call 216-397-3757.

OHIO DANCE THEATRE

Denise Gula's Oberlin-based company will premiere's guest choreographer Marie Zvosec's Jane and Cassandra are Sisters at 7:30 on Friday, February 25 at The Breen Center, 1911 West 30th Street. The ballet is based on the story by Jane Austen. Also on the program is From Petipa to Broadway choreographed by Gula, which is a sampling of classical variations, Broadway, Swing and audience favorite, Tabula Rasa. Tickets are available at 440-774-6077. Additional information is available at www.ohiodancetheatre.org.

DANCING WHEELS

On March 5, 2011 The Dancing Wheels Studios invites the community to join them for their second annual Night at the Races fundraising event! Location: Dancing Wheels' Studios, doors open at 6:30; first Race begins at 7:15. Admission: $15/person or $125/table of 10, which includes pizza and non-alcoholic refreshments (B.Y.O.B. and your own snack food!). Tickets can be purchased by calling 216-432-0306. Last year's event sold out. All proceeds from the event help to support Dancing Wheels' educational and outreach programming.

Altar Boyz

Second coming of ALTAR BOYZ not as uplifting as possible

“The Altar Boyz” are in the house.” A countdown leading up to the “final” appearance of the religious rock group started about fifteen minutes before the five male “Catholic” singers made their appearance at the Hanna Theatre. Finally, with flashing lights and a loud musical hosanna, our heroes appeared.

Here's the deal. ALTAR BOYZ, with music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, and book by Kevin Del Aguila, is a “rock concert” by a “Catholic” group which satirizes boy bands and the popularity of Christian-themed contemporary music. Supposedly, we are attending their last performance. The group is breaking up, for some unexplained reason, well, unexplained until the corny last ten minutes when the “mystery” is revealed. The show includes all sorts of songs you've never heard, but will find enjoyable, including, “The Calling,” “The Miracle Song,” “Everybody Fits,” and “Number 918.”

The five-member group sings, has some lines that bridge the songs together, dance, and try to get the audience to repent. Their level of success is measured on a “sinner's meter” which keeps track of those in the audience who are still on their way to hell. Finally, we are down to four hold-outs. And, no surprise, they are members of the Altar Boyz. All the group except the Jewish kid. Yep, one of the Catholic Altar Boyz is Jewish. Why? I'm certain that the script's writer figured he could use the yarmulke-wearing kid for some laughs and use him as the only one who doesn't “sell out.” Hmmm..is there a religious message here?

Does all this sound familiar? For local theatre-goers it should. Beck Center for the Arts staged the show during the summer of 2008. Because of its great box office success, it is being reborn on the Hanna stage by the same production team and four of the original cast members.

If my musically gifted grandson, Alex, one of the “kid reviewers” is right, the show should attract lots of teen and college people. He gave the proceedings an 8 out of 10 (higher than my score). He liked the rock music, some of the acting and the general staging. He found the vocal blending sometimes off. He “really liked” the singing of Connor O'Brien (Abraham) and Matthew Ryan Thompson. He found Thompson's character interpretation of the gay, fey, bleached blond, curly haired Mark, to be delightful, and his song “Epiphany” fun and well performed. (Thompson is the new member of the cast.)

Alex and grandpa were disappointed in the performance of Josh Rhett Noble. Noble, a New York-based performer, has appeared in over 50 professional shows. He has a trained singing voice and is the only Equity member of the cast. Unfortunately, whether he was ill or just on auto-pilot, his sweat soaked performance was vocally shallow and his acting flat.

On the other hand, Dan Grgic as the “chemically aided” Luke, had nice moments, though some of his speaking lines were swallowed, and Ryan Jagru was appealing as the Hispanic Juan, begging for laughs with a Ricky Ricardo overdone accent.

Scott Spence's direction was basically on course, but there were times when there needed to be more life, more enthusiasm, and more consistency in the performances.

Hernando Cortez's choreography was purposeful. Unfortunately, the dancers were often lacking in corps unity.

Larry Goodpaster needed to quiet down the well-performing band. They often overpowered the performers.

Besides Matthew Ryan Thompson, the highlight of the evening was Trad Burns' lighting design. Shadows danced on the walls, the lighting intensity followed the flow of the music, each performer had his own color hue, the emotional levels were raised and lowered as the lights played. Luminosities at their finest!

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: The music and the rock concert tone of ALTAR BOYZ will appeal mainly to a younger theatre crowd. That's good…it opens new doors for them to get familiar with live theatre. Too bad the production wasn't as polished as it should have been.

Backwards in High Heels

BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS…entertaining, but…

In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Ginger Rogers, who is the subject of the musical BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE GINGER MUSICAL, was unique. Lots of starlets were beautiful, but few had Rogers' gall and chutzpa. She was a feminist who, when she found out her dance partner, Fred Astaire, was making more money than she, supposedly demanded equal pay because she did everything that he did but backwards and in high heels. She was a Christian Scientist who did not drink or smoke and demanded that objectionable words and ideas be censored from her scripts.

BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS examines Roger's life, including the role of her overly-protective mother, her rise through the vaudeville ranks, entrance into the Hollywood scene, the many husbands, and her near myth-like glamour.

Rogers filmed numerous musicals with Fred Astaire, starting with the 1933 Flying Down to Rio. The duo is credited with changing the Hollywood musical. In 1940 she broke from her singing/dancing past, and playing against type, won the Best Actress Academy Award for the dramatic saga Kitty Foyle.

The intimate musical, written by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern, is more review with some story thrown in, than a well-made musical. It contains almost twenty songs, not all of which related specifically to Rogers, and are shoe-horned in between spoken dialogue to create the story. This fragmented blend of music and story pieces causes a lack of idea flow and makes it difficult to get emotionally wrapped up in the story.

Highlight musical segments include Fascinating Rhythm, I Got Rhythm, and But…When?. The tap dance numbers seemed to wow the audience.

The production, under the direction of Scott Schwartz, though it contains some creative staging, often lacks dynamism and cohesion. The entire production could have used faster pacing.

Part of the problem is the casting. Ann Aimee White is marvelous as Ginger. She sings, acts and dances well. Unfortunately, there is an emotional disconnect between White and Matthew Labanca who attempts to portray Fred Astaire. Labanca lacks Astaire's charisma and smoothness, both in speech and dancing. In addition, the three male dancers don't always sync well in their dance movements.

On the other hand, Christinne Tisdale, who plays numerous roles, is delightful. Her Ethel Merman take-off in I Got Rhythm is the smile delight of the show. Heather Lee is character-right as Ginger's mother. Hers is a stellar performance.

The CPH staging is being coproduced with the San Jose Repertory Theatre (San Jose, California), Asolo Repertory Theatre (Sarasota, Florida) and Arizona Theatre Company (Tucson/Phoenix, Arizona).

CAPSULE JUDGMENT: BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE GINGER MUSICAL, is an entertaining evening of theatre, which would have been aided by a stronger script, faster pacing and some better casting.

Personality profile: Joshua Seth

Joshua Seth…from Kent to Hollywood to PlayhouseSquare

Psychological Illusionist, voice-over artist, hypnotist and mystery entertainer are all names to describe Kent native Joshua Seth, whose Beyond Belief: An Intimate Evening of Psychological Illusion will be showcased at Kennedy's, located in the lower level of The Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square on January 27, February 3, March 3 and March 24.

Seth, who is billed as “one of the busiest illusionists touring the globe today,” will present a show that is a combination of psychology, intuition and hypnotic influence. TV Japan calls him “The #1 American Hypnotist,” American Entertainment Magazine says “he's amazingly captivating,” and Campus Activities Magazine declared, “He's the Rock Star of Hypnosis” and has “A high Energy, One-of-A-Kind Show.” In 2003, he won First Place at the Academy of Magical Arts' “Magic Castle Olympics” for his mentalist act.

It's been a long road from Kent to his present status. Seth, whose name back then was Joshua Freedman, graduated from Kent Roosevelt High School in 1987. While a tween and teen he appeared on stage at Carousel Dinner Theatre and Kenley Players. He received a BFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1991. After being signed by a Hollywood agent, it was off to Tinseltown where he became a stellar voice-over personality, appearing in over 60 cartoons and movies, including many Disneyland radio commercials and Digimon, All Grown Up, Batman, Duel Masters, Gorgeous, Honeybee Hutch, Last Exile, Nightwalker, The SpongeBob Square Pants Movie, Wolf's Rain and Akira.

Tiring of the Hollywood scene, he decided to use his talent to see the world. He has and still appears as a headline act on Princess cruises.

Seth, whose father was a hypnotherapist, fell in love with illusion when taken to see a Blackstone the Magician show when he was eight. He started to delve into the field. His present show grew out of the concept of mentalism, which allows him to work with the audience to influence people's thoughts and create illusion. The Kennedy space is a perfect venue because it is intimate and allows for immediate interaction with the spectators.

He has taken his knowledge of people and hypnosis and written the book The Weight Loss Hypnosis Solution: Discover How to Lose Weight Without Diets or Willpower.

Seth has many fond memories of his Ohio years including Vince Cardinal, the theatre director at Kent Roosevelt and being surrounded by a large and supportive family. In fact, the family roots, his belief that the Cleveland area has such nice people, and the area has “lots going for it” caused Seth and his wife, who is expecting their first child, to move back to the Buckeye state and settle in Bath.

If Beyond Belief: An Intimate Evening of Psychological Illusion develops a local cult following like the show did when performed at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, Seth plans to revive it on a regular basis at Kennedys.

Times Theatre Tributes - 2010

TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES--2010

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 2010 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.

2010 BEST DRAMATIC PRODUCTIONS:
A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
WINGS , Beck

2010 BEST MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTIONS:
BABY, True North Cultural Arts
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck

2010 BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL THEATRE PRODUCTION:
Céspedes, Martin, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck

2010 BEST PERFORMANCES IN A THEATRICAL PRODUCTION:
Cruise, Andrew, THE WALWORTH FARCE, Dobama
Koesters, Nick, INOCULATIONS, Theatre Ninjas
Nagel, Maryann, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Pascua, Matt, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Silver, Dorothy, WINGS, Beck

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

oFred Sternfeld, for his producing of EAT IT'S NOT ABOUT FOOD, and the
Cleveland Center for Eating Disorders for their sponsorship of the production.

oKaramu Theatre for their development and presentation of FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY, which has the potential to save numerous lives of African American women.

oMichael Bloom, Cleveland Play House for his adaptation of EMMA.

oRoe Green for her major financial and personal contributions to the construction of Kent State University's new drama and dance center.

oSeth Gordon for his many contributions to excellence during his tenure at the Cleveland Play House.

oTerri Kent on the anniversary of her 10th season as the Artistic Director of Porthouse Theatre.

oTito Muñoz, David Shimotakahara, Seth Gordon, for their collaboration on A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH.

Thanks to the following for making the 2010 theatre scene in the Cleveland area stimulating and memorable:

PLAY/MUSICAL
AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
ANNA bella EEMA, Theatre Ninjas
BLUE DOOR, Dobama
CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH
EMMA, Cleveland Play House
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, None Too Fragile
HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
ROMANCE, None Too Fragile
SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck Center
THE 39 STEPS, CPH
THE BOOK OF GRACE, CPT
THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
THE WALWORTH FARCE, Dobama
WANDERLUST, CPT

DIRECTOR
Alexander, MaryJo, A MURDER A MYSTERY & A MARRIAGE, Actors' Summit
Amster, Peter, EMMA, CPH
Bloom, Michael, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Bogan, Raymond, OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
Brault, Pierre-Jacques, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
Derry, Sean, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, None Too Fragile
Derry, Sean, ROMANCE, None Too Fragile
Dooley, Sheffia Randall, THE BOOK OF GRACE, CPT
Earnest, Matthew, WANDERLUST, A HISTORY OF WALKING, CPT
Gordon, Seth, SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
Hammer, Joel, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Ketter, Sari, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
Masterson, Mac, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
May, Sarah, WINGS, Beck
Moritz, Marc, THE WALWORTH FARCE, Dobama
Paul, Jeremy, ANNA bella EEMA, Theatre Ninjas
Paul, Jeremy, INOCULATIONS, Theatre Ninjas
Platte, Scott, BLUE DOOR, Dobama
Spence, Scott/Martin Cespedes, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
Spence, Scott, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck
Sternfeld, Fred, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Thomas, Rohn, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
Wilson, Ron, CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH

PERFORMER
Allen, Timothy, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck
Apple, Dani, 13, Fairmount Conservatory
Beer, Maxell, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Bergeron, Ryan, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
Bolek, Bernice, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, Ensemble
Brown, Jordan, 13, Fairmount Conservatory
Chebo, Bridget, GYPSY, Brecksville Theatre on the Square
Ciamacco, Patrick, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck
Cipra, Mark, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Lakeland
Clear, Patrick, EMMA, CPH
Crouch, Kevin, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, GLTF
Crowe, Timothy, BILL W. AND DR. BOB, CPH
Cruse Andrew, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Dempsey, Michael, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Flores, Jose Peru, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Floyd, Alexis Generette, WANDERLUST, THE HISTORY OF WALKING, CPT
Foust, Joe, THE 39 STEPS, CPH
Germany Carly, THE WALWORTH FARCE, Dobama
Gorbach, Scott, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, convergence-continuum
Gorell, Andrew, CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH
Green, Natalie, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Gulick, Lissy,, BYE BYE BIRDIE, Porthouse
Hisey, Bernadette, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Johansen, Rob, THE 39 STEPS, CPH
Kartali, Charles, BILL W. AND DR. BOB, CPH
Kartalli,, Charles, THE BOOK OF GRACE, CPT
Kauffman, Jean, CURTAINS, CSU/2010 Summer Stages
Kelly, Kevin Joseph, THE PRODUCERS, Beck
Keyser, Rett, OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
Koesters, Nick, IS HE DEAD YET?, Beck Center
Lawrence, Rod, BLUE DOOR, Dobama
Lawrence, Rod, THE BOOK OF GRACE, CPT
Leaming, James, THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, CPH
Lindenberger, Danny, 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Porthouse
Marshall, Brian, LI'L ABNER, Mercury
McCarrell, Mitch, BAT BOY, GLTF
McGinis, Molly, THE NEW CENTURY, Dobama
McMullen, Ryan, ROMANCE, None Too Fragile
Meadows, Joyce, FROM BREAST CANCER TO BROADWAY, Karamu
Montgomery, Mark, EMMA, CPH
Moritz, Mark, BYE BYE BIRDIE, Porthouse
Myor, Jennifer, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
Nealis, Sarah, EMMA, CPH
O'Brien, Connor, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
O'Neill, Shane Patrick, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
Olejko, Monica, GYPSY, Brecksville Theatre on the Square
Patterson, Tracee, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, Dobama
Perrotta, Laura, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
Prinz, Rosemary, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Robeano, David, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Roberts, Lukas, SAY YOU LOVE SATAN, convergence continuum
Romansky, Alanna, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, None Too Fragile
Roth, George, MY FAIR LADY, Beck
Roth, George, NOBODY DON'T LIKE YOGI, Actors' Summit
Ruttle, Kelli, CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH
Siniscalchi, Shane Joseph, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Smith, David Anthony, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, GLTF
Smith, David Anthony, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
Smith, Hilare, CHESS, BW/PHSQ
Stahl,-Floriano, Maggie, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Starnik, Laura, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Taggett. Gilgamesh, THE PRODUCERS, Beck
Tatum, Justin, A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
Valerie Reaper, MY FAIR LADY, Beck
van Baars, Eric, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
Violand, Greg, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Viramontes, Jos, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Viront, Jim, ROMANCE, None Too Fragile
White, Dylan, EAT IT'S NOT ABOUT FOOD, FPAC
White, Gregory, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, Ensemble
Wood, Elizabeth R., ANNA bella EEMA,, CPT
Wyse, Alex, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Zanoni, Tony, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse

Composite cast
A MURDER A MYSTERY & A MARRIAGE, Actors' Summit
A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
ANNA BELLA EEMA, Theatre Ninjas
BABY, True North Cultural Arts
CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH
DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, Dobama
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, None Too Fragile
HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck
THE 39 STEPS, CPH
THE BOOK OF GRACE, CPT
THE KITE RUNNER, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
THE WALLWORTH FARCE, Dobama
WANDERLUST: A HISTORY OF WALKING, CPT
WINGS, Beck

TECHNICIANS
Borksi, Russ, set design, METAMORPHOSES, Cleveland State University
Broski, Russ, set and lighting designs, SWEENEY TODD, Cain Park
Burns, Trad, lighting design, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
Burns, Trad, lighting design, OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
Burns, Trad, lighting design, WINGS, Beck
Burns, Trad, set design, OPEN MIND FIRMAMENT, CPT
Callahan, Matt, sound design, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Davis, Jill, set design, CLOUD NINE, CWRU/CPH
Dugan, Dennis, lighting design, A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
Garrigan, Alison, costume design, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
Herrmann, Jeff, set design, BLUE DOOR, Dobama
Ingraham, Richard, sound design, BLUE DOOR, Dobama
Ingraham, Richard, sound design, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
Ingraham, Richard, sound design, WINGS, Beck
Jenks, Mark, set design, DEAD MAN'S CELL PHONE, Dobama
Kasumi, Video Artist, A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH
Kearney, Kristine, costume design, EMMA, CPH
Kouyeas Jr., Thomas, lighting design, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
Lincoln, Michael, lighting design, CPH
McBride, Don, scenic design, WINGS, Beck
Meloro, Nick, properties design, THE NEW CENTURY, Dobama
Mickelsen, David, costumes, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Miller, Paul, lighting, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Morgan, Robert Mark, set design, EMMA, CPH
Needham, Ben, set design, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
Newell, Ron, set design, HUMBLE BOY, Dobama
Paul, Jeremy & Kilbane, Dan, lighting design and execution, INOCULATIONS, Theatre Ninjas
Potts, Jason, sound design, THE FOREIGNER, Porthouse
Raiford, Michael, set design, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Resler, Jason Lee, costume design, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, GLTF
Ruble, Margaret, costume design, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, Mercury
Sanderson, Sanderson, costume design, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', CPH
Schweikhardt, Michael, set design, LOST IN YONKERS, CPH
Simon, Clyde and Valore, Jim, set design, KIMBERLY AKIMBO, convergence- continuum
Van Curtis, Jeffrey, costume design, AN ORCHARD, CWRU/CPH
Venberg, Lorraine, costume design, THE KITE RUNNER, CPH
Young, Curtis, set design, ANNA bella EEMA, Theatre Ninjas
Young, Curtis, set design, Things of Dry Hours, CPT
Zernechel, Terrii, lighting design, HUNTER GATHERERS, convergence- continuum

MUSICAL DIRECTION
Bodle, Georgiann, GYPSY, Brecksville Theatre on the Square
Carney Eddie, SCARLET PIMPERNEL, MercurySummer
Carney, Eddie, JOSEPH…DREAMCOAT, Mercury Summer
Fortney, Rick, BABY, True North Cultural Arts
Goodpaster, Larry, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Beck
Goodpaster, Larry, MY FAIR LADY, Beck
Goodpaster, Larry, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, Beck
Goodpaster, Larry, THE PRODUCERS, Beck
Muñoz, Tito, SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CPH

CHOREOGRAPHY
Céspedes, Martin, BAT BOY, GLTF
Crawford, John, BYE BYE BIRDIE, Porthouse
D'Antonio, Anna Maria & Céspedes, Martin, CHESS, BW/PHSQ
Shimotakahara, David, A SOLDIERS TALE with CATCH AND RELEASE, CHP

If any names are spelled wrong 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 “2010 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!