[NEohioPAL]Berko Preview: Ohio Dance Theatre/ Review: Rockettes

[Roy Berko]

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR IS SPECTACULAR/OHIO DANCE
THEATRE AT CPH

Roy Berko
	
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--Times Newspapers--

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


How can anyone give a "bah-humbug" to a production
with dancing teddy bears, parading wooden soldiers,
performing Snowmen, flying reindeer, elves doing rap,
singing poinsettias, dancing toys, a singing Santa
Claus, falling snow, camels, sheep, a donkey and a
preteen ballerina?   And, to top it all off, the
entire presentation is built around the high-kicking
precision of the Radio City Rockettes.  You’d have to
be a total Scrooge to even suggest that there would be
anything but smiles on the faces of the children of
all ages who are flocking to Playhouse Square to see
the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR.

The show which features such memorable segments as
"The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "The Living
Nativity," has added a wonderful visual song and dance
sequence "Christmas in New York."   These, along with
"We Need a Little Christmas" (from the musical MAME),
"Santa’s Gonna Rock And Roll" (a tribute to
Cleveland’s Rock Hall of Fame), a wonderful new tap
number, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas," and "A Teddy
Bear’s Dream (a ballet version of "The Nutcracker"
featuring bigger than life teddy bears in tutus), lead
to cheers of joy.   It continues to be a professional,
enthusiastically presented spectacular that is hard to
resist.

Realizing that not everyone can get to New York to see
the show, in 1994 THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
broadened its schedule to encompass other markets. 
Since then over two million people a year have
experienced the excitement.  Besides coming to
Cleveland, troupes are performing in Detroit, Chicago,
Cincinnati, Branson (MO), Atlanta, and The Grand Ole
Opry House in Nashville.   That’s a lot of kicking and
dancing!

The cast includes 22 Rockettes, 14 singers and
dancers, 4 little people, Santa and Mrs. Claus.  More
than 200 colorful costumes and 150 hats are used. 
Each outfit is designed specifically for the show. 
Nineteen teddy bears appear.  Each bear is from a
different part of the world and each costume weighs
between 30 and 60 pounds.  Two camels, 4 sheep and a 1
donkey appear in the nativity scene.  It took over
thirteen trailer trucks to deliver all the elements of
the show to Cleveland.  

The 90-minute RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
continues at the State Theatre through December 31. 
For tickets call 216-241-6000 or 800-766-6048, or
visit on line at www.playhousesquare.com or stop at
the Play House Square box office.  Tickets are priced
from $20 to $65.

LORAIN COUNTY’S OHIO DANCE THEATRE AT CPH

Denise Gula is a fascinating woman.  She is not only a
creative choreographer, but, fighting against the
odds, she has become a very successful dance producer.
 Her Ohio Dance Theatre, which is housed in Oberlin,
is taking a giant leap forward when it presents three
performances of JOURNEY at the Cleveland Play House. 
The piece, an original work of musical theatre,
chronicles the historical, emotional and spiritual
evolution of African Americans from slave days to the
present.  
	
The fact that this is a theatrical dance piece should
be of no surprise to Gula’s many followers.  From her
years as a dancer and performer at Karamu House, to
her North Ridgeville High School acting days, to her
successful career as an actress, director and founder
of the Lorain Community College dance program, and
choreographing of many community theatre musicals, she
has always combined her acting and dancing background
in her work.  
	
JOURNEY has been a four-year labor of love.  As Gula
says, "Like so many projects in this arts climate, it
was born of necessity.  Financial constraints
compelled me to develop a piece using the only dancer
I had, a dancer who happened to be black." She goes on
to state, "I thought of making a celebration for Black
History Month.  Brian Lankar’s photo book about black
women I DREAM A WORLD was the source of visual
inspiration." 
	
The original piece was 35-minutes long.  Now, it is a
full-length production.  And, it is a production of
substance.  As one reviewer stated, "this ia a
fast-paced show that is worthy of being done on a
national basis." Knowing Gula, and her past history of
confronting issues straight on, don’t be surprised if
a national production doesn’t follow!
	
JOURNEY will be presented at the Cleveland Play House
on January 9 and 10 at 7:30 PM and January 11 at 2 and
7.  It will also be show-cased at Lorain County
Community College’s Stocker Center Theatre on January
15 at 7:20.  Tickets for the Cleveland showings may be
obtained by calling 216-795-7000.    For the Stocker
Center performance call 440-366-4040.


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