[NEohioPAL]Why Art Thou Cleveland Playhouse..a commentary

[Roy Berko]

WHY FOR ART THOU CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE?


Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Cleveland is known as an arts town.  Our symphony is
the best in the world, the art museum is a US leader,
we house the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and then there
is the wondrous Playhouse Square complex.  The missing
link is a nationally recognized local professional
theatre.  Though it proudly advertises itself as the
America’s oldest professional theatre, the Cleveland
Play House has never been a world-class production
house.  It has never received an Emmy for its quality,
as have many regional US theatres.   Questions must be
raised about the use of its facilities, its mission,
the wisdom of the Board and the Artistic Director in
guiding the organization.
	
The demise of the Cleveland-San Jose Ballet, which
many feel was caused by misguided Board decisions, and
an Artistic Director who made some questionable
financial and aesthetic choices.  Locals fear that the
same thing is happening again.  Rumors have circulated
of an on-again, off-again marriage between CPH and the
Great Lakes Theatre Festival.  Concerns abound that
the community will lose both.  

Questions arise about CPH.  Why doesn’t it use its
facilities to the fullest?  Why not run an
experimental theatre series in the small Brooks, and a
season with modern shows to attract a young audience
and a classic series to appeal to more traditional
theatre-types in the other theatres?  Why was such a
large investment made in the Baxter Theatre, which has
failed to fulfill its purpose of creating an intimate
involving space?  Does a world class theatre pick the
likes of ON GOLDEN POND, a dated community theatre
warhorse, as a major production?  With the demise of
Berea Summer Theatre, there is no local summer theatre
outlet.  Why isn’t CPH planning to fill the gap or
inviting GLTF to return to its original roots and
doing a summer series in the CPH facilities?  Why
leave the performance spaces basically empty for three
months?  Why doesn’t CPH reach out to local actors for
some roles rather than bringing in out-of-town
performers who must not only be paid, but provided
housing and expenses?   Why is a casting service being
paid to choose performers?  Isn’t the artistic staff
capable of casting?

Is the Board and staff going to allow CPH to follow
the C/SJ Ballet into oblivion?   Is CPH going to
continue to wallow in a state of less than it can be? 
Please, members of the Board, think about the arts
future of this city.  Think about your role in the
Cleveland arts scene.  Ask yourself whether the
present path is the right path.  Ask, WHY FOR ART THOU
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE?


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site
http://webhosting.yahoo.com