Show Stopping
For decades, many of the great names in the entertainment business got their start in Cleveland. The strong, active community of independent thinkers in mediums such as art, film and music demands creative, out of the box, original works of art on the main stage and center stage.
On the Main Stage
Cleveland Public Theater
Cleveland Public Theater has been producing adventurous, versatile, intelligent and socially conscious work in the Cleveland area since their founding in 1981. Committed to the community through educational programs for urban youth and homeless men and women, and as the anchor of the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood redevelopment, Cleveland Public Theatre is much more than a production warehouse; it is an artistic movement both on stage and off.
216.631.2727, www.cptonline.org
Cleveland Play House
Founded in 1915, the Cleveland Play House is America’s first professional regional theater known for its artful presentation of new works, as well as classics, comedies, dramas and musicals. Recently, the Cleveland Play House moved to its new, state-of-the art venue inside the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare in Downtown Cleveland.
216.862.5445, www.clevelandplayhouse.com
On the Center Stage
The Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland’s greatest venue for catching some of the best up-and-coming indie rockers is the Beachland Ballroom. Located in the artsy Waterloo Arts district, the space was once a Croatian Liberty Home, a social center for the large Slavic community in the area. While the space has remained largely the same with original design elements, signage and images from the 1950s, the venue has become one of Cleveland’s most diverse live music venues with numerous shows throughout the week.
216.383.1124, www.beachlandballroom.com
Grog Shop
What originally started as just another corner bar quickly gave way to a booming music scene showcasing some of the best underground rock bands in the nation. Today, the Grog Shop remains true to its bar roots with an extensive beer list featuring microbrews and adventurous imports.
216.321.5588, www.grogshop.gs
Peabody’s
Peabody’s, located on East 21st street downtown, has been a Cleveland music institution since the 1960s. With two floors and more than 13,000 square feet of space, this club draws massive crowds looking to discover new musicians and national acts. In tribute to the city’s musical and industrial roots, Peabody’s not only features a diverse musical line-up but exposed piping and metal accents create a unique vibe throughout the venue. Best of all, most shows cost less than $20 to enjoy.
216.776.9999, www.peabodys.com
– April Ingle
Top 7 Holiday Theater Experiences
Raise the curtain this holiday season on festive theatrical fun. Absorb the magic of the bright lights and the nostalgic feelings that come with an evening at the theater. Whether it’s surrounded by the opulent restored décor at the nation’s second largest theater district, PlayhouseSquare, or the nation’s oldest African American theater Karamu House, be sure to catch all the acts in these holiday performances during their limited run. For more holiday info and to book your stay in CLE visit www.holidaysincle.com.
- Based on the story by David Sedaris and produced by Cleveland Public Theatre, “The Santaland Diaries” at PlayhouseSquare’s 14th Street Theater from Nov. 28 – Dec. 22, is sure to bring a smile to any Grinch’s face as the now fifty-year-old Crumpet recounts his experience as a Macy’s Christmas Elf in 1989.
- From Nov. 29 to Dec. 2 audiences “meet” more of Steve Solomon’s family, friends and the other folks whose sole purpose is to drive him into therapy during a holiday dinner at Grandma’s in “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, I’m Home for the Holidays” at the Palace Theatre.
- Brimming with memories of old-time Cleveland, in the spirit of Dickens, “A Carol for Cleveland,” presented by the Cleveland Play House at the Allen Theatre from Nov. 30 – Dec. 23, tells the story of how one desperate act becomes a catalyst to forgiveness and change.
- The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without an authentic presentation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale, A Christmas Carol, performed annually by Great Lakes Theater from Nov. 30 – Dec. 23 at the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.
- One part music, one part comedy, “Jingle Babes” at the Palace Theatre brings audiences the shtick and stories of friends and family, malls and mayhem, and ultimately the joy that lies within it all from Four Bitchin’ Babes on Dec. 2.
- From Cleveland Public Theater and the artists responsible for the wildly popular “Conni’s Avant-Garde Restaurant,” comes “The Secret Social,” a play that offers new characters who are your hosts in a lively dance hall complete with cabaret seating, a light supper and a cash bar available through the show, running from Dec. 6 – 23.
- Join the nation’s oldest African American multicultural arts center Karamu House’s presentation of “Black Nativity,” a contemporary retelling of the birth of Christ through gospel music, dance and songs, Dec. 7 – 30.
– April Ingle, Communications Coordinator
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For Top Holiday Family-Friendly Holiday Events and Activities click here.
The Whipping Man at Cleveland Play House
Compelling, mesmerizing, poignant, riveting… all of these words describe Cleveland Play House’s exceptional, and very touching, production of Matthew Lopez’s The Whipping Man.
April 13-15, 1865: The American Civil War has come to a close. Caleb, a former confederate soldier, has returned to his Richmond, Virginia home to find it nearly destroyed by the war. His parents have fled, but he does find Simon and John, his family’s former slaves. What these men discover about their own pasts, and one another, will have you both in awe and in tears. This is one of the most powerful plays that you will see this year. It runs through December 2, so be sure to catch it before it ends.
Up next is A Carol for Cleveland (November 30 – December 23), followed by Bell, Book and Candle (January 11 – February 3), The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith (February 15 – March 10), Good People (March 22 – April 14), and Rich Girl (April 12 – May 5).
Cleveland Play House, the nation’s first and longest-running professional theatre company, continues to offer some of the very best professional theatre in the country. And this year will mark CPH’s 97th season entertaining Greater Cleveland audiences. For more information about Cleveland Play House, The Whipping Man, or the 2012-2013 Season, please visit the CPH website at www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com. More information about PlayhouseSquare can be found at www.PlayhouseSquare.org.
– Christopher Musselman
“Anything Goes” at PlayhouseSquare
PlayhouseSquare launches the national touring production of Anything Goes with the sexy, sultry, and sensational Rachel York as Reno Sweeney. Cole Porter’s classic and madcap voyage on the high seas was the winner of the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. With so many modern musicals coming into town these days, no matter how wonderful they might be, it is so nice to see a good revival of a great classic, once in a while. And like South Pacific and West Side Story two seasons ago, Anything Goes provides for this happy diversion.
Anything Goes takes place aboard the S.S. American. By a chance encounter, Billy Crocker has fallen in love with the beautiful Hope Harcourt. And when Billy sees off his boss, Elisha Whitney, on a business trip to London, he happens to see Hope again. Hope is also traveling to London with her mother, Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt, and her fiancé, Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, a stuffy British nobleman. Despite the fact that Hope is engaged to Lord Oakleigh, Billy stows away on the ship with the hope and intent of winning Hope’s heart.
Billy’s old friend Reno Sweeney, an evangelist turned nightclub singer, is traveling aboard the same ship, as are Moonface Martin, “Public Enemy 13,” and his man-crazy friend and moll Erma, who are disguised as a minister and a missionary. And when all of these crazy characters come together, nothing but fun, and funny, chaos ensues. Featuring some of Cole Porter’s most classic and beloved songs, Anything Goes is an absolutely delicious treat.
Although I was already familiar with Anything Goes, this newer, modern take is like nothing I have ever seen or could ever have imagined. The story still takes place in 1934, but with today’s high technology and 21st century theatre conventions, this old-time classic is given a vibrant new life in the most beautiful, innovative and magical way possible. Everything from the sets and costumes to the choreography and dance numbers are top of the line. And did I mention that Anything Goes features some of Cole Porter’s most classic and beloved songs? Oh, I did? Well, it’s worth repeating! Two thumbs up for this exceptional touring production. You may not see anything better all year… but then again, this is Cleveland and PlayhouseSquare!
Anything Goes will run through October 14 in the Palace Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. The 2012-2013 KeyBank Broadway Series will continue with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (November 6–18, 2012), Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (January 15–27, 2013), Sister Act (March 5–17, 2013), War Horse (April 9–21, 2013), Guys and Dolls (May 1 – June 23, 2013), and The Book of Mormon (June 18 – July 17, 2013).
PlayhouseSquare is the 2nd largest performing arts center in the nation, after Lincoln Center in New York. And it continues to bring the best of Broadway to Cleveland, in addition to a wide array of concerts, comedians, special events, and other programming. For more information about PlayhouseSquare or the 2012-2013 KeyBank Broadway Series, please visit www.PlayhouseSquare.org.
– Christopher S. Musselman
“Lombardi” at Cleveland Play House
Who was Vince Lombardi? Before last Thursday evening, I would have answered simply, “some football coach.” But now, I could tell you a whole lot more. Lombardi opens the season at Cleveland Play House in the beautiful Allen Theatre. And it is well worth the ticket price for both the football fan and the “sports-challenged” individual, alike.
First, it is important to note that Lombardi is not a “football play.” It is a biographical play about a human being… a man, who just happened to be a football coach. Also, Lombardi is not a one-man show, but a traditional play with a cast of six bringing the story to life on the Allen Stage.
Based upon the book When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, by David Maraniss, the play was written by Eric Simonson. And this production is directed by the amazing Casey Stangl. Lombardi takes place during a week in November 1965, with some “flashbacks” to 1958, 1959 and 1964. A young reporter from Look magazine visits Vince and his wife, Marie, with the intent of writing an article about Lombardi and find out what makes him win. And as he learns more about the famed football coach, so do we.
Not only is this production an excellent choice to open the new season, but also very timely with the fall football season in full-swing. But again, it is not a “football play.” It is a rather clever and touching comedy-drama that allows the audience into someone’s heart and soul. The very talented cast is headlined by the great Bob Ari (notable for playing artist Mark Rothko in last year’s Red) in the title role. Other stand-out actors include Branton Box, in his stage debut, as Green Bay Packer Paul Hornung, and the delightful DeeDee Rescher as Marie Lombardi. Ms. Rescher steals every scene in which she appears. She is so endearing and so funny that you cannot help falling in love with her.
I am not a football fan… never have been, nor did I know anything about Vince Lombardi before I saw this play. Yet I very much enjoyed it, more than I might have imagined, and I found it to be a truly moving and enlightening experience. And this is one of the many things that I love about theatre, and Cleveland Play House, in particular. CPH opens one’s mind to new and unfamiliar themes, issues and stories. And the magic of theatre is always alive at CPH.
Lombardi is a play of great depth with a very personal, very human story. And anyone who might question his/her own personal interest in the play should take a chance. You might be surprised, but you will not be disappointed. Lombardi is a homerun… or uh… how about a touchdown? You get the point… it is a damn good production. Go see it. Lombardi runs through October 7.
Cleveland Play House, the nation’s first and longest-running professional theatre company, is in its 97th season of entertaining Greater Cleveland audiences. For more information about Cleveland Play House, Lombardi, or the 2012-2013 Season, please visit the CPH website at www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com. More information about PlayhouseSquare can be found at www.PlayhouseSquare.org.
– Christopher S. Musselman
“Xanadu” at Beck Center for the Arts
Put on your roller skates and leg warmers, Broadway’s musical comedy hit Xanadu has arrived at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. Based upon the campy 1980 movie musical, which featured Olivia Newton-John and the legendary Gene Kelly, in his final film appearance, Xanadu is silly fun and one of the most delightful shows that I have seen in awhile.
The original film version of Xanadu was mostly panned by critics. But over the years, it has become a cult-classic and retains a great legion of fans. Given new life in the 2007 stage production, Xanadu now shines… and brightly, because it never takes itself too seriously and can laugh at itself. In the same manner that 1995’s The Brady Bunch Movie parodied the original 1970’s television series, the stage version of Xanadu parodies the original 1980 film.
The Broadway production opened in 2007, quickly became a Broadway hit, and ran for more than 500 performances before embarking on a 2008 U.S. tour. Xanadu was nominated for several awards, including the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical. And the show was awarded the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical and the 2007-2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical.
1980, Venice Beach, CA: Down-on-his-luck chalk artist Sonny Malone has created a mural of Mount Olympus and seven muses. Soon they come to life, and one in particular (Clio, as Kira) inspires Sonny to reopen an old, dilapidated auditorium. With help from Danny Maguire, Sonny and Kira create a new roller disco: Xanadu.
The talented cast includes Sam Wolf as a handsome, naïf, and boyishly goofy Sonny Malone. The lovely Kathleen Rooney nearly embodies Olivia Newton-John, as Clio/Kira, while sporting an exaggerated Australian accent and performing the majority of the show on roller skates! And Greg Violand plays the older, mature Danny Maguire. In addition to the principals, we have six sister muses, a couple of them men in drag, who contribute to many of the comedic episodes. The set is a beautiful mix of faux Greek columns and bright, colorful, flashing lights.
And what is the most important element of a Broadway musical? The music, of course! Despite the unfavorable film reviews, the Xanadu soundtrack album was a great commercial success. And all of your favorite Xanadu songs are here! From “I’m Alive” and “All Over the World” (Electric Light Orchestra) to “Magic,” “Suddenly,” and the title song “Xanadu” (Olivia Newton-John), Xanadu is a smorgasbord of classic 70’s and 80’s hits.
In addition to songs from the original movie soundtrack, the stage version of Xanadu adds some other classic songs, not in the film, including ELO’s “Evil Woman” and “Strange Magic,” as well as ONJ’s “Have You Never Been Mellow.” Xanadu will have you singing in your seat and dancing in the aisles. What more can we ask from a Broadway show?
Xanadu is the perfect production to open Beck Center’s new season, get audiences excited, and put them in the mood for all that is yet to come. Those who have never seen the film version are in for a treat; those who are fans of the film can rediscover Xanadu, all over again. But I warn you, you will never see the original movie in the same way… and that’s a good thing!
Xanadu runs through October 14 on the Mackey Main Stage. Up next is The Little Dog Laughed (October 5 – November 11) in the Studio Theater. And for the holiday season, Beck Center presents a classic American musical for the entire family, the one and only Annie (December 6 – January 7). 2013 will bring Next to Normal (March 1 – April 21), The House of Blue Leaves (March 22 – April 22), and The Pitmen Painters (May 31 – July 7), with Monty Python’s Spamalot (July 12 – August 18) closing the 2012-2013 Season.
The Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio. Convenient, free on-site parking is available. For more information on the Beck Center, Xanadu, or the 2012-2013 Season, please visit the Beck Center’s website at www.BeckCenter.org.
– Christopher S. Musselman
One Night with Janis Joplin
Step back in time to one night of music from one of history’s most talented, yet most tragic, rock and roll legends: One Night with Janis Joplin. Cleveland Play House produces the national tour launch of this new Janis Joplin musical in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.
Janis Joplin was born January 19, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas and died from an accidental drug overdose October 4, 1970 in Los Angeles, California. She was only 27 years old. However, the music that she left behind continues to define the “hippie movement” of the 1960’s and Vietnam-era America. With rock classics like “Piece of My Heart,” “Mercedes Benz,” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” Janis Joplin is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock and roll singers and songwriters of our time.
One Night with Janis Joplin features the songs above and many more. Lakewood native Mary Bridget Davies channels Janis Joplin with near perfection and embodies the singer in almost every way possible. And it is interesting to note that this is not the first time that Ms. Davies has played the rock legend on stage, as she also starred as Janis Joplin in the national touring production of Love, Janis, another biographical musical about Joplin’s life and music. So Ms. Davies was very well prepared to take on the challenge of this innovative production, and thank goodness that she did! Hearing her belt-out Joplin’s hits is both exhilarating and haunting, at the same time. And her performance is nothing less than amazing.
One Night with Janis Joplin is a truly unique theatrical experience. It’s a little bit musical and a little bit concert. And although, Janis is the “star of the show,” One Night with Janis Joplin also features several great blues legends, including Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, and the “queen of soul,” Aretha Franklin. All three were great inspirations to Janis Joplin, and here they are given their due. Along with Joplin, all of these women are brought together in the intimate Allen Theatre with an onstage band and a groovy, psychedelic set.
Janis Joplin was before my time, and honestly, I never had much interest in her. That was until I saw the musical Love, Janis at PlayhouseSquare in 2005. In seeing that show, I learned to appreciate Janis, both the musician and the woman, in a way that I never before could have imagined. And One Night with Janis Joplin will give you, too, an appreciation for this tragic figure who literally “played hard and died young.” I don’t think that I have ever been to a theatrical event (other than Mamma Mia! or Jersey Boys, perhaps) where so many audience members were cheering and singing along.
If you are a fan of Janis Joplin, this show is definitely for you. If you are not, you will still find One Night with Janis Joplin to be a truly enjoyable and high-energy experience. And above all, the show presents a very compelling story… a very human story of a young woman with dreams that would never come true. So this is your chance to spend One Night with Janis Joplin… a night well worth the ticket price. One Night with Janis Joplin will run through August 19.
And Cleveland Play House’s 2012-2013 Season is just around the corner. The season will open with Lombardi (September 14 – October 7), followed by The Whipping Man (November 2-25), A Carol for Cleveland (November 30 – December 23), Bell, Book and Candle (January 11 – February 3), The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith (February 15 – March 10), Good People (March 22 – April 14), and Rich Girl (April 12 – May 5). Subscription packages are available. So be sure to secure your seats for these highly anticipated productions.
Cleveland Play House, the nation’s first and longest-running professional theatre company, continues to offer some of the very best professional theatre in the country. And this year will mark CPH’s 98th season entertaining Greater Cleveland audiences. For more information about Cleveland Play House, One Night with Janis Joplin, or its 2012-2013 Theatre Season, please visit the CPH website at www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com. For more information about PlayhouseSquare, its website is www.PlayhouseSquare.org.
- Christopher S. Musselman
Legally Blonde: The Musical
Omigod, you guys! Legally Blonde: The Musical is now playing on the Mackey Main Stage at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. And it offers one “Elle” of a good time at the theatre.
Based upon the novel by Amanda Brown and the MGM motion picture, starring Reese Witherspoon, Legally Blonde brings Elle Woods’ story to the stage with music, humor, and a lot of heart. Regardless of whether you have seen the movie version or not, you are sure to enjoy this wonderful production.
Elle Woods is a typical “Malibu Barbie.” She loves fashion, shoes, and the color pink, and not necessarily, in that order. She also loves Warner Huntington III, her dashing, Harvard-bound boyfriend. When she meets Warner for dinner, but instead of proposing, he dumps her; Elle finds the perfect way to get him back: She’ll go “legally blonde” and enter Harvard Law School, herself.
Elle is not unfamiliar with college; after all, she was president of her UCLA Sorority, Delta Nu. Harvard, however, is a very different world. Getting into Harvard is difficult enough, but Elle finds that staying there proves even more of a challenge, as she faces obstacles from many sides. But with the help, support, and encouragement of her friends, classmates, and a wacky hairdresser, Elle succeeds, learning more about herself and finding love along the way.
Legally Blonde had a successful run on Broadway (2007-2008). And the London production did even better, winning the 2011 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical on the West End. The National Tour came to Cleveland twice. Legally Blonde is not an epic musical, such as Les Misérables, but it is cute, clever, and a lot of fun. And I highly recommend it for audiences of all ages.
So if you happened to miss Legally Blonde when it came to PlayhouseSquare, now is your chance to see it. It is a great way to beat the summer heat and see a great show at the same time. You’ll be seeing pink… and loving it! Legally Blonde: The Musical will run through August 12.
And the regional premiere of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson has been held over through July 22 in the Studio Theater. If you have not yet seen it, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a rollicking good time… and a show not to be missed!
For its 2012-2013 Season, the Beck Center for the Arts will open with Xanadu (September 14 – October 14), followed by The Little Dog Laughed (October 5 – November 11), Annie (December 6 – January 7), Next to Normal (March 1 – April 21), The House of Blue Leaves (March 22 – April 22), and The Pitmen Painters (May 31 – July 7), with Monty Python’s Spamalot (July 12 – August 18) closing the season.
The Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio. Convenient, free on-site parking is available. For more information on the Beck Center, Legally Blonde, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, or the new 2012-2013 Season please visit the Beck Center’s website at www.BeckCenter.org.
- Christopher S. Musselman
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson: Army General, Governor of Florida, U.S. President, and… rock star… hmmmmm. Well, stranger things have happened in modern pop culture. And if Abraham Lincoln can now be a vampire hunter in literature and on screen, why can’t Andrew Jackson be a rock star on stage? Hold on to your hats, as the Beck Center for the Arts presents Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a little history lesson on our seventh president. But this ain’t like any history lesson that you done learned in school. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a comedic and high-energy Wild West rock musical. The Studio Theater has been transformed into a western saloon where Dan Folino, in the title role, heads a cast of fifteen actors who bring Jackson’s story to life with a great joie de vivre.
The show follows Andrew Jackson’s life from his boyhood in the hills of Tennessee to his very last days. And some other famous Americans, even a few Indians, come along for the ride. It explores the themes of populism, the Indian Removal Act, the birth of the Democratic Party, and Jackson’s relationships with his wife, the Native Americans, and other political figures of the day. And in true Broadway style, much of this is achieved in song.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson originally ran off-Broadway, but the show later enjoyed a brief 2010 Broadway run for which it received positive reviews. The show is a very modern and unconventional Broadway show, very different from a classic musical, but just as thoroughly enjoyable. For me, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is somewhat reminiscent of the musical Lizzie Borden in that it takes somewhat questionable material for a musical and gives it flight with a pulsating rock score. The two blend beautifully in giving us one of the most creative Broadway shows of the 21st Century. And you will never think of Andrew Jackson in the same way again.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson proves that, on Broadway, anything is possible. It provides for a fun and exciting night at the theatre, and it comes very highly recommended. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a rollicking good time!
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson will continue through July 1 in the Studio Theater. And then stay tuned for Legally Blonde: The Musical (July 6 – August 12) closing the 2011-2012 Season on the Mackey Main Stage.
The Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio. Convenient, free on-site parking is available. For more information on the Beck Center, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Legally Blonde, or the new 2012-2013 Season please visit the Beck Center’s website at www.BeckCenter.org.
– Christopher S. Musselman
“Sondheim on Sondheim” at PlayhouseSquare
West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion… Stephen Sondheim, master of the American musical.
Sondheim on Sondheim showcases the work of the legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, including the shows above and many more. Produced by Great Lakes Theater, Sondheim on Sondheim is the first (but will not be the last) collaboration between GLT and PlayhouseSquare. And for eight weeks this summer, Sondheim on Sondheim will dazzle patrons of both Great Lakes Theater and PlayhouseSquare on the stage of the beautiful Hanna Theatre.
Sondheim on Sondheim is a musical revue featuring a montage of Sondheim’s work from his early days to his most recent show; from his big hits to a few of his “misses.” Sondheim on Sondheim was originally conceived by Mansfield native, and frequent Sondheim collaborator, James Lapine. In 2010, the show enjoyed a limited run on Broadway. Now in 2012, it comes to Cleveland.
Throughout the show, and weaved into the musical numbers, video feeds of interviews with Sondheim give the audience even more insight into the man and his work. This makes for a fascinating and very different theatrical experience. We learn about Sondheim’s life, his relationship with friend and mentor Oscar Hammerstein II, and why he was originally hesitant to write the lyrics for West Side Story, now one of Broadway’s great classic musicals.
All making their Great Lakes Theater debut, the cast of eight brings Sondheim’s work alive with great emotion, a little humor and a lot of passion. Among the highlights and “stand-out” numbers are Emily Walton’s manic “Getting Married Today” (from Company) and a torch song medley of Marie-France Arcilla’s “Losing My Mind” (from Follies) and Ciara Renée’s “Not a Day Goes By” (from Merrily We Roll Along).
One cast member, Pamela Myers, knows Sondheim all too well, as she played Marta in the original Broadway production of Company and was even nominated for a Tony Award for her performance (1971). Myers reprises her show-stopping number, “Another Hundred People,” in this production of the show. Myers also sings “Send in the Clowns” (from A Little Night Music), perhaps, Sondheim’s most recognized and most beloved song, and another well-known show-stopper, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” (from Gypsy).
Sondheim and his work have been honored many times, with way too many awards to mention. But by the numbers, he has won eight Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, six Olivier Awards, and eight Grammy Awards. And if those are not enough, Sondheim has won an Academy Award for Best Original Song (for “Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)” from Dick Tracy) (1990) and the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Sunday in the Park with George (1985). Sunday in the Park with George is one of only eight musicals to win the Pulitzer since its inception in 1917. And it is an honor well deserved.
Sondheim on Sondheim is the perfect work to conclude both Great Lakes Theater’s 50th Anniversary Season and the 2011-2012 KeyBank Broadway Series. It is glorious Broadway at its very best. You will hear many of your favorite Sondheim tunes and may fall in love with some new ones, along the way. For an enchanting night at the theatre, Sondheim on Sondheim delivers. It truly is “the revue of a lifetime.” Sondheim on Sondheim will continue through July 8.
PlayhouseSquare is now in its 90th year of providing the best of Broadway via both the KeyBank Broadway Series and the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series. For more information about PlayhouseSquare or shows in its 2012-2013 Series, its website is www.PlayhouseSquare.org.
– Christopher S. Musselman
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