[NEohioPAL]Berko review: upcoming events

[Roy Berko]

EXCITING ENTERTAINMENT COMING TO THE NORTH COAST

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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


‘MARK TWAIN TONIGHT’

Did you know that the Award Winning television, film
and stage actor, Hal Holbook was born in Cleveland?   
Holbrook has won 5 Emmy Awards and is also a Drama
Critic’s Circle, Tony, Obie, and Outer Critics Circle
award winner.  He is probably best known for his
portrayal of Mark Twain.  He is going to return to
this area, once again, to perform his legendary show
‘MARK TWAIN TONIGHT’ on March 5 at 7:30 at the Palace
Theatre in Playhouse Square.  Holbook, who has
perfected the art of transforming himself into Twain,
has been doing Twain for over 50 years. The idea for
the Twain show developed while Holbrook was a student
at Ohio’s Denison University.  

Tickets to Hal Holbrook in ‘MARK TWAIN TONIGHT’ are on
sale now and can be obtained at the Playhouse Square
box office, tickets.com outlets located at most Tops
Friendly Markets, by phone at 216-241-6000 or on-line
at www.playhousesquare.com.  Tickets range in price
from $22.50 to $37.50

‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON”

Fresh from award winning runs in London and Broadway,
Nicholas Wright’s play, ‘VINCENT IN BRIXTON,’ will be
presented at the Cleveland Play House from February
10-March 7.  The play tells the true story of a love
affair between Vincent van Gogh and an older woman. 
It will be directed by Seth Gordon.  For tickets,
which run from $12 to $47.50, call 216-795-7000.  

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE

The always exciting American Ballet Theatre will
perform a repertory program including ‘RAYMONDA
(DISVERTISSEMENTS), PILLAR OF FIRE,’ and ‘WITHIN YOU
WITHOUT YOU:  A TRIBUTE TO GEORGE HARRISON’ at the
State theatre from March 1-14.   ABT is one of the
premiere ballet companies in the country.  For tickets
call 216-241-6000 or go on-line to
www.playhousesquare.com.

‘NUNSENSE’

Kaye Ballard, Georgia Engel, Mimi Hines, Darlene Love
and Lee Meriwether, are now on tour with the 20th
anniversary all-star tour of ‘NUNSENSE.’ You don’t
have to be Catholic to appreciate the antics of the
quintet of oldie but goodie performers who will appear
in the laugh-filled show.  They will be performing at
the Allen Theatre from March 9-14.  For tickets call
216-241-6000 or go on-line to www.playhousesquare.com.

‘THE MALE INTELLECT:  AN OXYMORON?’

As one local reviewer said last time Robert Dubac
appeared in Cleveland in ‘THE MALE INTELLECT:  AN
OXYMORON?”:  “it is possible for a person to be
tasteless, sensitive and funny all at the same time.” 
Don’t understand why men do the things they do, say
the things they say, act they way they do?  Get a
quick glimpse of Dubac trying to explain why getting
dumped can be hysterically funny!  This production,
which will be presented at the Palace in Playhouse
Square from February 11-15 and at the New Akron Civic
Theatre from February 19-21, graphically illustrates
why men really are from Mars.   For Cleveland tickets
call 216-241-6000 or go on-line to
www.playhousesquare.com, for the Akron performances
call 330-945-9400.

‘UNCLE TOM’S CABIN:  THE PRESERVATION OF FAVORED RACES
IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE’

It’s Black history month, and what could be more
appropriate than for Cleveland Public Theatre to
present  a newly revised production of a play that has
historically touched off heated debates about race in
America and induces discussion of the role of
literature in preaching ethics and morals.   Based on
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s controversial novel UNCLE
TOM’S CABIN, the play takes an expanded view of the
plight of slaves and probes into a scientific research
that attempts to explain racial differences, while
looking at such luminaries as Woodrow Wilson, James
Baldwin, Charles Darwin and Thomas Edison and their
role in racism.  This is the type of show that CPT
does so well and should be an exciting evening of
theatre.    ‘UNCLE TOM’S CABIN:  THE PRESERVATION OF
FAVORED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE’ runs from
February 6 through February 28 at CPT’s Gordon Square
Theatre, 6415 Detroit Avenue in Cleveland.  For
tickets call 216-631-2727 or go to www.cptonline.org.

‘CHARGE’

Cleveland’s newest drama venue, TITLEWave theatre,
will mount its second show, ‘CHARGE’ from February
13-28 at Cleveland Public Theatre’s Upstairs Theatre. 
The group, which “brings new plays to the surface” is
the brain child of Gregory Vovos who will direct the
show.  ‘CHARGE’ is billed as “an apocalyptic comedy
where all our dreams are a click away” and “Samuel
Becket meets boy N the Hood.”  The cast includes Jill
Levin, Kato Buss, Marni Taks, Joe Milan and Perren
Hedderson.    For tickets, which are $15 general
admission and $12 for students and seniors, call
216-631-2727.  

‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER’

Mentor native Tony Gonzalez, heads the cast of the
touring production of ‘SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE
MUSICAL’ which will be presented from February 3-8 at
the Palace Theatre as part of the Huntington Bank Star
Performance Series.  The musical is based on the 1977
movie which catapulted John Travolta to stardom and
brought further fame to the recording group The Bee
Gees.   The show includes such songs as, “Stayin’
Alive,” “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love?” and
“Jive Talkin’.”  The show had long runs in both London
and New York City. For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go
on-line to www.playhousesquare.com.


‘OF MICE AND MEN’

Appearing on stage at The Beck Center for the Arts,
17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, from February 6-29, is
‘OF MICE AND MEN’ based on John Steinbeck’s’ classic
book of the same name.  It tells the movie story of
Lenny and George, two drifters trying to survive off
the land during the dust bowl.  The production is
directed by Times Tribute Theatre award winner Fred
Sternfeld.  For tickets call 216-521-2540.

‘THE SEAGULL’

>From January 25-Feburary 15, Anton Chekhov’s ‘THE
SEAGULL’ will be performed in the Beck Center for the
Arts Little Theatre.  Directed by Times Tribute
Theatre multi-award winner Thomas Q. Fulton,  the
play, as translated by Tom Stoppard, tells a classic
tale of pre-revolutionary Russia.  It explores nature
and the human forces that try to change it. For
tickets call 216-521-2540.

‘THE LAST 5 YEARS’

‘THE LAST 5 YEARS,’ a new “little” musical by Jason
Robert Brown, the writer of ‘PARADE,’ traces the time
line of a marriage.  It includes such songs as “Shiksa
Goddess,” “Summer in Ohio,” and “Still Hurting.”  The
production, which runs from February 5-22, will be
presented by Actors’ Summit Theatre in its intimate
Hudson theatre.  For tickets or information call
330-342-0800.

OHIO BALLET’S ‘WINTER PROGRAM’

Ohio ballet will present Leslie Cook’s world premiere,
‘BOSSA NOVA,’ Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s ‘ETUDES’ and
‘CHACONNE,’ the world premiere of Chung-Fu Chang’s
‘TRAVELING IN THE FORST,’ and the return of ‘WANDERS
NIGHT SONG’ during it’s ‘WINTER PROGRAM.’  The
production, which will be performed on the stage of
Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre on February 13 and 14,
will also be performed at E. J. Thomas Performing Arts
hall in Akron on February 6 and 7.  To obtain tickets
to the Cleveland performances call 216-241-6000 or go
on-line to tickets.com.

‘AMY’S VIEW’
“AMY’S VIEW,’ which receives its Cleveland premiere at
Dobama Theatre from February 27-March 21, explores the
conflicts between three generations of women.  It also
explores the impact of the arts on relationships.  
The production, which includes some of Cleveland’s
most talented theatre people, will be directed by
Sonya Robbins and stars Catherine Albers, Derdriu Ring
and Todd Krispinsky, all former Times Tribute Theatre
winners.    For tickets to what should be a wonderful
production, which range in price from $11-$20, call
216-932-3396.  Dobama Theatre is located at 1846
Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights.

SUPPORT THE ARTS!  ATTEND ONE OR MORE PRODUCTIONS
LISTED, MAKE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VENUE OF
YOUR CHOICE. AND VOTE FOR THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY ARTS
LEVY!!!!!


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