June 2018 - NEohioPAL - lists.neohiopal.org

Review of “Disney’s My Son Pinocchio” at Mercury Theatre
by Bob Abelman 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

Mercury accentuates the positive in ‘Disney’s My Son Pinocchio’ Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Member, American Theatre Critics Association Director Pierre-Jacques Brault is at his best when he finds the essence of a story and simplifies the storytelling to reveal it. Which is exactly what he does with Mercury Theatre’s current production of “Disney’s My Son Pinocchio.” The musical, written by David Stern, is a reimagining of the 1940 Walt Disney animated classic with new songs by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Stephen Schwartz added to the film’s memorable “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “I’ve Got No Strings,” “Give a Little Whistle” and others by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington. The story revolves around a living puppet built by a childless toymaker who, with a blue fairy as his guide and a cricket as his conscience, attempts to prove himself worthy of becoming a real boy. The origin of the story can be found in the Italian children's novel “The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet,” written by Carlo Collodi in 1883, which is significantly darker than what Disney had in mind. The novel has the puppet reject the adoring father figure who created him, let down the good hearted fairy, and ignore the wise counsel of the cricket. Pinocchio ends up in the hands of his enemies, the Fox and the Cat, who bind his arms, pass a noose around his throat, and hang him from the branch of an oak tree. “Disney’s My Son Pinocchio” foregoes the whole hanging thing, but it does go a bit darker than the animated film, including a song titled “Pinocchio’s Nightmare.” It is this darkness that Brault unceremoniously disregards, choosing instead to embrace the Disneyesque essence of the work and accentuate the positive in this production. For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/

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Casting - Equity and Non-Equity Actors
by Dane Leasure 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

Rubber City Theatre -- play auditions for the 2018/2019 Mainstage Season: WHEN: PLAYS - Saturday, June 9 from 10:00am - 5:30pm Monday, June 11 from 6:00pm - 9:30pm Season Callbacks on Tuesday, June 12 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm (by invitation only) WHERE: The Black Box at Fort Romig 2207 Romig Rd Akron, OH 44320 TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION: APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE BY E-MAIL to casting(a)rubbercitytheatre.com. Please include your name, union status, phone number, an attachment of your headshot and resume, and your preferred day and/or time. You will receive a response within two business days. We will endeavor to schedule you as near as possible to your requested time, pending availability. AEA contracts: 1 AEA Contract is available for either A Streetcar Named Desire or Romeo and Juliet. (Special Appearance Level 1). There is 1 AEA contract for Shakesqueer Project: Play (Auditions will announced at a later date) Non- AEA contracts: Adult Non-AEA Contracts will pay $75 - $100 stipend, depending on role and production. Young Actor stipends vary by role and production Plays - Preparation: Please prepare two contrasting monologues of no more than 90 seconds each. You will be auditioning for Dane CT Leasure, Artistic Director of Rubber City Theatre (director of A Christmas Carol and Shakesqueer Project: Play), Christine McBurney (director Romeo and Juliet), and Rachael Endrizzi (director A Streetcar Named Desire). Please bring two copies of your most current headshot and resume. See Breakdown on our website (www.rubbercitytheatre.com/auditions) for Rehearsal and Show Information.

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Acting Summer Camp at your Cleveland Play House!
by Natasha Fly 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

THEATRE ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP AT YOUR CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE! This summer, join Cleveland Play House for our inaugural session of Summer Academy! Students ages 4-18 will have the opportunity to participate in half day, week long, or two-week intensives for a variety of theatre classes, organized by America's first regional theatre. Course offerings will range from improvisation, to classical performance, to devised work, to musical theatre. Classes are available for students of all abilities. Teen Scene June 11 - June 15 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Ages 13 - 18 Film and television opportunities are on the rise in Northeast Ohio! Teen-Scene participants gain valuable experience working on-camera in a variety of exercises, including scenes from film and television, as well as commercials. A demo reel of the student's work will be created to be shared with friends and family on the final day! Where the Fun Things Are! June 11 - June 15 | 9:00 AM - Noon Ages 4 - 7 Maurice Sendak is one of the world's most beloved children's authors. In this unique and engaging class, young performers will read his classic stories and create performance pieces based on Sendak's classic works including Where the Wild Things Are, Outside Over There and Higglety Pigglety Pop! Mojo with Mo! June 18 - June 22 | 9:00 AM - Noon Ages 4 - 7 Children's author and cartoonist Mo Willems has written a number of wildly popular children's books including Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! And Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. In this one week camp, children will be able to let their imaginations soar as they create a theatre piece inspired by Mo's stories, performed for friends and family on the final day! So I Really Know I Can Dance: Advanced Musical Theatre Intensive June 18 - June 29 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Ages 13 - 18 For the experienced musical performer, this session gives teens an opportunity to delve more deeply into the musical theatre song book, perform solos, and learn choreography of full-scale dance numbers. This fun and collaborative experience will culminate in a presentation of the students' work on the last day of class. Who Needs a Script? June 18 - June 22 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Ages 8 - 12 Improvisation is a tremendous skill to have as a performer of any age! It builds self-assurance, team-building, and improves listening and observation skills - plus it's a whole lot of fun! Participants will be able to demonstrate their improv skills in a final presentation for friends and family. Front and Center! June 25 - June 29 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Ages 8 - 12 This class is for the younger performer starting out. Participants will gain an appreciation for the world of theatre and gain invaluable training in characterization, focus, and ensemble-building all in a safe, fun-filled atmosphere. The young actors will showcase their new acting skills for friends and family on the last day of class! Keep it in Idle! June 25 - June 29 | 9:00 AM - Noon Ages 4 - 7 Molly Idle is a wildly popular children's author and illustrator; her works include Camp Rex, Flora and The Flamingo and Circus Fantastico! Molly's words and vivid illustrations provide the perfect inspiration for young performers to create their own short plays based on her books that will be shared with friends and family on the final day! For more information, contact us at: http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/academy or call 216.400.7047 Register Today at the Link Below: https://goo.gl/aZ6MDS

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MAY 17 – JUNE 16: 5 weekends of contemporary dance by Northeast Ohio and national artists
by Caitlin Lewins 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

Cleveland Public Theatre presents DANCEWORKS 2018<http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/category/series/dan…> ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE MAY 17 – JUNE 16 Gordon Square Theatre, 7:30pm Every year, Cleveland Public Theatre welcomes the opportunity to showcase Northeast Ohio’s contemporary dance companies as they premiere new work and revive celebrated performances. Six dance companies the stage in this acclaimed series. The full listing of company bios and show descriptions is available at www.cptonline.org<http://www.cptonline.org>. Week 1: May 17 – May 19<http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/week-1-verb-ballets/> Verb Ballets Fresh Inventions Week 2: May 24 – 26 <http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/week-2-morrisondanc…> MorrisonDance Celebrating 20 years of creativity Week 3: May 31 – June 2 <http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/week-3-inlet-dance-…> Inlet Dance Theatre …home… Week 4: June 7 – 9 (DOUBLE BILL)<http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/week-4-oberlin-danc…> Oberlin Dance Project Forgone Territory Marquez Dance Project Ripple Effect Week 5: June 14 – 16<http://www.cptonline.org/performances/seasons/2017-2018/week-5-double-edge-…> Double-Edge Dance Love Cry/Reckoning Tickets are $12 – $30. Students/Seniors receive $3 off on Friday and Saturday nights. All Thursdays are $12. 6415 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland OH 44102 CPT is located in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District. Tickets available at www.cptonline.org<http://www.cptonline.org> or CPT Box Office (216) 631-2727 ext. 501. (Order early at CPT – no sneaky ticket fees, ever.) Caitlin Lewins Director of Audience Engagement & Media Relations Cleveland Public Theatre 6415 Detroit Ave Cleveland OH, 44102 (216) 631-2727 x211

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2 Week High School Theater Camp for Academic Credit
by David Hoover 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

Does your teen need (or want) more* Fine Arts academic credits, officially recognized by the State of Ohio,* for his or her* college application*? Does your family have a *busy summer* with limited availability? If so, the Saint Ignatius Summer Intensive — open to young men and women entering the 9th-12th grade at any high school — is the perfect fit! Running Monday-Friday, July 9-20 (from 10:30 am-5:00 pm), teens will get the opportunity to workshop *audition material, scene and monologue work, and technical design* as they grow artistically. Their work will culminate in a presentation in the afternoon on Saturday, July 21. Once completed, *participants will receive a .5 academic credit* in Fine Arts towards their high school diploma.* Students, both male and female, will have an* official transcript from Saint Ignatius High School,* regardless of whether or not they are enrolled as students during the regular school year. This is perfect for *college applications*; participating in the program also allows your son or daughter to get a *college letter of recommendation* from one of our theater teachers, if he or she so desires. Members of our professional teaching staff have studied at prestigious schools (NYU's Tisch School of the ARTS, UCLA), worked at various Hollywood studios (New Line Cinema, Universal Music) and have participated in a variety of Broadway productions (including *Wicked*), television shows (*The Daily Show, CSI*), and radio programs (SiriusXM). *To find out more and to sign up, click this sentence for our PDF. <https://www.ignatius.edu/SaintIgnatius/media/SaintIgnatiusMedia/Content/Fil…> *The cost for this 60 hour course is only $250. Of course, you are most welcome to reach out to the school's Drama Director, David Hoover, at dhoover(a)ignatius.edu or 216.651.0222 x480 with any questions you may have. Don't delay! Because it's a specialized program, spots are limited. ***(Please note that while most high schools accept this credit in their own curriculum, it is up to each individual school. Regardless of whether or not your teen's school will accept the credit, he or she will still get a recognized grade that should be used when applying to schools.) David Hoover '03, M.A. *Fine Arts Department* *Drama Director* *Speech Coach* 216.651.0222 ext. 480 dhoover(a)ignatius.edu www.ignatius.edu <http://ignatius.edu> Saint Ignatius High School 1911 West 30th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113

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ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS... Win a $10, 000 College Scholarship! Only 3 Weeks remain for Online AUDITIONS!
by Renee Greller 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

Love to sing? Want to win a college scholarship? Then participate in Shining Star CLE 2018- a Northeast Ohio* high school solo-singing competition! It's easy and free to enter- only THREE weeks remain to upload your video audition to shiningstarcle.org. Auditions end July 1, 2018. 4 college scholarships will be awarded: 1st Place: $10,000 plus the opportunity to perform with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra 2nd Place: $5,000 3rd Place: $2,500 4th Place: $1,000 Bonus: $2,500 to the music department of the 1st place winner! The top 10 finalists will perform on stage of the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square at The Finals Performance & Competition on Sunday, October 7, 2018. Visit shiningstarcle.org * 216.910.2633 * drothschild(a)montefiorecare.org<mailto:drothschild@montefiorecare.org>. *Must have a 2019-2022 graduation date, must be from Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage or Summit Counties, home-schooled students included.

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CORRECTION: Dates for Auditions for PLAZA SUITE at Cassidy Theatre
by The Cassidy Theatre 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

*WHOOPS! We made a small boo-boo on our announcement last week - auditions are June 10th and 12th, rather than the 10th and 11th. This will not affect the potential call-back night, or the start times on any date. Thank you, and we hope to see you at the auditions!* *----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* *The Cassidy Theatre Announces Auditions for:* *PLAZA SUITE* Written By Neil Simon Directed By Dan Sekanic *Audition/Callback Dates:* - Auditions: June 10th & June 12th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Callbacks: June 13th, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Note: Callbacks are by invitation only, and are only held if the director feels it necessary. *OPEN CALL- No Appointment necessary* - Non-Equity performers / All Roles Available - Community Theater production. Actors receive no monetary compensation. *Show Dates:* - August 3rd - 5th , August 17th - 26th - Friday/Saturday Showtimes : 8:00 p.m. - Sunday Showtimes : 3:00 p.m. *Location: *The Cassidy Theatre, 6200 Pearl Road Parma Heights, OH 44130 *Seeking:* - 3 women, 30's – 50's - 3 men, 30's – 50's - 1 woman, 20's - 1 man, 20's *Please be prepared for the following:* - Bring a current Head shot and Resume. - Sides and scenes will be provided to read from the script. - Have any foreseeable conflicts you may have with the rehearsal/performance period ready to be listed. *Synopsis:* The play is composed of three acts, each involving different characters but all set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel. The first act, Visitor >From Mamaroneck, introduces the audience to not-so-blissfully wedded couple Sam and Karen Nash, who are revisiting their honeymoon suite in an attempt by Karen to bring the love back into their marriage. Her plan backfires and the two become embroiled in a heated argument about whether or not Sam is having an affair with his secretary. The act ends with Sam leaving (allegedly to attend to urgent business) and Karen sadly reflecting on how much things have changed since they were young. The second act, Visitor from Hollywood, involves a meeting between movie producer Jesse Kiplinger and his old flame, suburban housewife Muriel Tate. Muriel - aware of his reputation as a smooth-talking ladies' man - has come for nothing more than a chat between old friends, promising herself she will not stay too long. Jesse, however, has other plans in mind and repeatedly attempts to seduce her. The third act, Visitor from Forest Hills, revolves around married couple Roy and Norma Hubley on their daughter Mimsey's wedding day. In a rush of nervousness, Mimsey has locked herself in the suite's bathroom and refuses to leave. This is the most comic of the acts, filled with increasingly outrageous slapstick moments depicting her parents' frantic attempts to cajole her into attending her wedding while the gathered guests await the trio's arrival downstairs. The scene ends and they finally get married. *If you have any questions, or concerns please contact the Cassidy Theatre Box Office at 440*-*842*-*4600, open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.*

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Aurora School of Music voice faculty opening
by Aurora School of Music 04 Jun '18

04 Jun '18

*The Aurora School of Music seeks to hire another wonderful voice teacher for a part-time teaching schedule. If you are interested in joining our dynamic faculty, please send resume and any other relevant materials to auroraschoolofmusic(a)gmail.com <auroraschoolofmusic(a)gmail.com>.* -- <http://www.auroraschoolofmusic.com> 211 S. Chillicothe Road | Aurora, OH 44202 | 844-MUSIC-11 | auroraschoolofmusic.com

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Hudson Players Seek Directors
by Gary Maher 03 Jun '18

03 Jun '18

The Hudson Players are currently seeking directors for our 2018-19 Season. Those interested should submit a brief letter of interest indicating the shows interested in, general thoughts, questions, special considerations, etc. along with a resume to vp(a)hudsonplayers.com. Shows include: War Of The Worlds: The 1938 Radio Script - (presented as special one weekend only staged reading.) Performances October 19 & 20. Arsenic and Old Lace - By Joseph Kesselring Auditions Sept 9 & 10, Performances Nov. 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 16 & 17. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic comedy that ran for three years and over fourteen hundred performances on Broadway. The plot centers on the Brewster family, a once elite American bloodline that has now descended into homicidal insanity. Mortimer Brewster, a drama critic and the most ostensibly normal of his clan, is forced to cover up for his sadistic kin while being torn between family loyalty and his desire to marry the woman he loves. His family includes two spinster aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men by poisoning them with a glass of home-made elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine, and "just a pinch" of cyanide; a brother who believes he is Theodore Roosevelt and digs locks for the Panama Canal in the cellar of the Brewster home, and a murderous brother who has received plastic surgery performed by an alcoholic accomplice, Dr. Einstein (a character based on real-life gangland surgeon Joseph Moran) to conceal his identity, and now looks like horror-film actor Boris Karloff (a self-referential joke, as the part was originally played on Broadway by Karloff). Arsenic and Old Lace is praised for its dark, screwball comedy tone with The New York Times theater critic declaring it one of the funniest plays he'd ever seen. Hands On A Hardbody - Book by Doug Wright, music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, lyrics by Amanda Green. Auditions Nov 11 & 12, Performances Feb. 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22 & 23. For ten Texans who are down on their luck, the chance at a new life is only fifty-some hours and a hardbody truck away. Based on the real-life "Hands on a Hard Body Contest," chronicled in the 1997 documentary Hands on a Hardbody, this all-American musical tells the story of a small-town Texas endurance contest, where the contestant who keeps their hands on a truck the longest, gets to keep the truck. With tuneful country-rock melodies and soulful lyrics by Phish's Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio, Hands on a Hardbody explores a diverse cross-section of a small-town Texas community and the trials they'll endure for a chance to win a Nissan hardbody truck. From Jesus-loving Norma Valverde and injured and out-of-work J.D. to boastful former winner Benny and hopeful dreamer Kelli, each character has their own vision for the realization of their American Dream -- and they'll keep their hands on it as long as they can. Nominated for 3 Tony Awards and 10 Drama Desk Awards during its 2013 Broadway run, this is a feel-good musical that will leave you humming and cheering for your favorite contestants. Pirates of Penzance - Music by Arthur Sullivan and Libretto by W. S. Gilbert Auditions 17 & 18, Performances Apr 26, 27, May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17 & 18. Pirates of Penzance is the famous, comic, Gilbert & Sullivan musical in two acts. The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic soon learns, however, that he was born on the 29th of February, and so, technically, he has a birthday only once each leap year. His indenture specifies that he remain apprenticed to the pirates until his "twenty-first birthday", meaning that he must serve for another 63 years. Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic's only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully. The Hudson Players are currently entering their 74th season of providing quality community theater to the northeast Ohio area.

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WRP Kids Camp Performances!
by B W 03 Jun '18

03 Jun '18

Western Reserve Playhouse will present Lion King, Jr. and Into the Woods, Jr. as part of its Young Artists’ Theatre Program. Lion King, Jr. will run June 22-24 and Into the Woods, Jr. will run June 29-July 1. Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. (with music and lyrics by Tim Rice and Elton John, additional music and lyrics by Will Van Dyke, Lebo M, Marc Mancina and Jay Rifkin and book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchihas) captivated the imagination of audiences around the world. The African savannah comes to life with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle... and back again, in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale. The show will be directed by Artistic Director Dawn Sniadak-Yamokoski, with Musical Direction by Adam Ferenbach. Into the Woods, Jr. (with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine) centers on a baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse and wind up changed forever. Directed by Lisa Howard, with Musical Direction by Adam Howard. Show Times: 7PM Fridays & Saturdays; 2PM Sundays Tickets: $10.00 for all ages. To reserve tickets, please visit our website: www.westernreserveplayhouse.org<http://www.westernreserveplayhouse.org> The venue is located at 3326 Everett Rd., Bath, OH 44286

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