<div class="gmail_quote">With no offense intended to Ms. Kristy, its messages like these that are beginning to worry me. Being a student at the CSU Dramatic Arts Program, I've watched the news evolve in a disturbing way. First, there was a potential $50million performing arts complex. Then there was the Allen Theatre move, which was followed by a plan to have the Allen Theatre host CSU Dramatic Arts <i>along with</i> showcasing other NEOhio performing arts programs. And now the Playhouse has thrown its lot in and would it be any surprise if CSU's students <i>de facto </i>get muscled out? Not if the public response, which has virtually ignored the presence of CSU in this deal, is any indicator.<br>
<br>Despite the meteoric rise of CSU Dramatic Arts over the last five years (CSU Summer Stages; CSU students becoming major forces in local and national companies, really fantastic product such as <i>She Stoops to Conquer </i>and <i>Machinal</i>), I really worry that this could be the beginning of the program becoming marginalized to the point of being an afterthought in the Playhouse/Playhouse Square machine. Having students getting coffee for Patti LuPone and ushering for <i>The Gin Game </i>is not going to create talent in the city of Cleveland. Cleveland will continue exporting its best theatre students to other regions, and it will have to keep importing talent from New York, Hollywood and Idaho to draw crowds.<br>
<br>It is my understanding that CSU has received assurances that our
programming will not be diminished and that we will not be taking a
back seat to the Playhouse, but a year ago, we weren't going to be
sharing the space with them at all, so who can say?<br><br>I urge all of the artists in Cleveland to remind the decision makers and the power brokers of the central role a rigorous education plays in promoting a creative class. There is no panacea for what ails Cleveland. Neither a Medical Mart, a Health Line, nor a stadium will fix our problems. One of the things, though, that will help turn the tide in Cleveland is an educational system we can be proud of.<br>
<br>Sincerely,<br><br>James Kosmatka<br>CSU Dramatic Arts Program<br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 1:42 PM, Beverly Kristy <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bkristy@mindspring.com" target="_blank">bkristy@mindspring.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div><font size="2" face="Georgia">Hi NEopal,</font></div><div class="im">
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<div><font size="2" face="Georgia">However, in these tough times, if it comes down
to not surviving as an institution or moving, I feel moving is the way to
go. On the upside, if the article is to be believed, a host of new spaces
and technologies would be available to the Playhouse to allow them to continue
entertaining the community. The Allen theater has been horribly underused since
it's restoration and this plan would remedy that problem. There are a great many
folks out there who are unaware of what they're missing at the Playhouse because
it's located out of the main entertainment area of Cleveland. With more and more
great attractions downtown, I think the Playhouse would benefit from a wider
audience base. I know they've been trying for awhile, with ticket specials and
other marketing, to attract a more diverse audience and moving to Playhouse
Square would help that goal.</font></div>
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<div><font size="2" face="Georgia">I do hope the new owner of the property would
retain the building and repurpose it. Cleveland Clinic I'm betting will snatch
it up, as it adjoins their property and they are ever-expanding. (See related
article on the demise of the Cleveland Podiatric College.)</font></div>
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<div><font size="2" face="Georgia">Beverly Kristy<br>440 487 6698<br><a href="mailto:bkristy@mindspring.com" target="_blank">bkristy@mindspring.com</a><br><a href="http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/beverlykristy" target="_blank">http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/beverlykristy</a><br>
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<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif">>Have you read today's front page of The Plain Dealer?
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<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif"></font> </div>
<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif">>What are your feelings on the sale, on the move of The
Cleveland Play House? </font></div>
<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif"></font> </div>
<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif">>What affect does this have on Theatre in Cleveland?
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<div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif"></font> <br></div></div><div class="im"><div><font color="#800000" size="4" face="garamond, new york, times, serif">>How do you feel as a local artist, thespian?</font></div>
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