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<p class="MsoNormal"><b style>Kory of 102 newest
member of Cleveland Critics Circ</b>le</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Members of the Cleveland Critics Circle, the official organization of area theater
reviewers and critics, come from various backgrounds.<span style> </span>Some are college professors and teachers, some are
professional reporters and writers, others are public relations experts.<span style> </span>There is even a life coach in the
mix.<span style> </span>But they have one thing in
common, they all have strong theatre backgrounds as directors, actors,
producers or have studied theatre history and playwrighting.<span style> </span>That is, <span style> </span>except for the newest member, Christopher Beale, known professionally
as Kory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beale, was brought up in Apopka, Florida.<span style> </span>He recounts that he was a kid with ADD,
on Ritalin, who was a “dork.”<span style> </span>In
high school he was, in his words, <span style> </span>“obnoxious,
brave, insecure, and bullied.”<span style>
</span>He took several actions during that time that has set him on an
interesting life path.<span style> </span>In his
freshman year he came out as gay.<span style>
</span>Part of the reason for his actions was his self-acknowledged <span style> </span>“not afraid to be different.”<span style> </span>Then, after his third freshman year, he
decided that school wasn’t for him, and dropped out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His path led to Disneyworld and eventually, because of his
deep, resonant voice, to a job in radio.<span style>
</span>As he explains it, “I went to work at a little psychotic libertarian station
connected to the Liberty Works Radio Network.”<span style> </span>The job came about because he made a demo on a computer,
contacted a number of stations on Friendster, and was hired as an intern.<span style> </span>He moved to Maryland .<span style> </span>After they found out he was gay, he was
fired.<span style> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Not to be deterred, he moved back to Orlando, made another demo
and got a job with Metro Traffic as their weekend traffic reporter and camera
operator on a helicopter. Eventually he was hired as the overnight weekend dj
at Y-100 Miami. Remember, this is a young kid, a high school dropout, competing
in a world of many college trained and educated professionals.<span style> </span>After a disastrous experience in Boston,
he was offered a job in Colorado Springs.<span style>
</span>After three years there, the still twenty-something year old, wound up in
Gainesville, then Orlando, and finally in Cleveland.<span style> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">How did he get into theatre reviewing?<span style> </span>The same serendipity that has followed
him throughout his life reared its head.<span style>
</span>He went to see a production of ALTAR BOYZ and hung out with the cast.<span style> </span>One of the cast members suggested,
after hearing him comment on the show, that he write a review.<span style> </span>Why not?<span style> </span>He went into radio with no training or background, why not
reviewing?<span style> </span>He posted the critique on
the station’s media list.<span style> </span>It
started to get hits. <span style> </span>He was on his
way to being a self-declared reviewer.<span style> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His commentaries don’t follow the usual approach of
evaluating the production aspects of a show.<span style> </span>Since he has never been in a play, except for one line
in kindergarten, never has directed nor read scripts, and has no formal theatre
educational background, he writes from his gut. <span style> </span>Kory believes that the average theatergoer isn’t a theatre
expert either.<span style> </span>He states, “They
are looking for entertainment and something that they have never done
before.<span style> </span>I write from that
perspective.”<span style> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why should someone pay any attention to his views? <span style> </span>He says, “I don’t represent what I
know about.<span style> </span>I only know what I saw
when I went to the theatre.” <span style> </span>He
seems to be learning on the job. His reviewing skills have increasingly had more
depth.<span style> </span>He admits that “since doing
reviews and reading the writings of others, I’ve has started to do research
about the shows I see.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He doesn’t actually read the reviews on air.<span style> </span>He mentions a show a couple of
times.<span style> </span>He leads his listeners to
his blog site, where the entire review resides.<span style> </span>He often interviews cast and production members.<span style> </span>“If there is a live interview, a
segment is presented on air and my blog links to the interview.” </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some comments about his reviews include:<span style> </span>“When I look at a show, I put it on a
curve based on the kind of theatre I’m reviewing.”<span style> </span><span style> </span>“I have the
benefit of going into the theatre as an uneducated theatre-goer, so I go in
fresh faced.”<span style> </span>“I don’t claim to be
an expert, but I know good entertainmen<a name="_GoBack"></a>t when I see it.”
“My bottom line is, if I had spent $90 to see this show would I have been
feeling ripped off?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some might question whether Kory’s reviews have
credibility.<span style> </span>The answer depends on
your viewpoint.<span style> </span>If you are one who
believes that there must be some educational and experiential basis for
evaluation of any art form, whether it is painting, dance, music or theatre,
then Kory’s background isn’t going to lead you to his blog.<span style> </span>If, on the other hand, you want a gut
level reaction to a show, Kory, is probably your man.<span style> </span>There are many in town who seemingly buy into his
perspective as the number of hits on his blog keep increasing! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To read a sampling of Kory and reviews of the other
Cleveland Critics Circle members go to <a href="http://www.clevelandtheaterreivews.com">www.clevelandtheaterreivews.com</a></p>