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Review of "A Raisin in the Sun" at Ensemble Theatre
by Bob Abelman 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

Ensemble’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ is a week away from perfection Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem,” penned in 1951, asks "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?” Lorraine Hansberry attempted to address these questions in a play – her first to be produced – that debuted on Broadway in 1959. In doing so, the now-classic “A Raisin in the Sun” serves as a celebration of African-American strength garnered through generations of personal struggle and slow-coming social change. The production of her play was not only important, it was historic. Broadway had never seen a play written by a black woman, a play with a black director, or a commercially produced drama about the truth of black people’s lives. In its current production at Ensemble Theatre, director Celeste Cosentino doesn’t so much want to remind the audience that this play is important as much as demonstrate that this play is good. She has pulled together a talented cast and crew to do so but, as of its the opening Saturday night performance, the show is still a week away from being all it can be. For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/

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Valentine Swing Dance with Blues Deville in Lakewood on Friday, February 8th
by Valerie Salstrom 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

WHAT - Join us for a Valentine Swing Dance with Get Hep Swing and Blues Deville. Bring your sweetheart! Find a sweetheart! (just don't be a weirdo about it) Attend with your crew! Go solo! Everyone is welcome to attend! 8 - 9 pm Beginner-friendly Jitterbug dance lesson with instructors from Get Hep Swing 9 pm - 12 am Live music provided by Cleveland's own Blues Deville. WHERE - The Lakewood Masonic Temple is located at 15300 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio. There is a large parking lot behind the building. Enter through the front doors. BAND - Blues Deville entertains with swing and jump blues WHEN - Friday, February 8th Dance lesson from 8 - 9 pm Live and DJ music from 9 pm - 12 am Since this is our Valentine dance, expect lots of red and pink decor, a photo op area full of hearts, a fun mixer, and lots of other sugary swing schmaltz. ATTIRE - Dress to impress in red, pink, black, or what ever your heart desires! Wear what makes you feel good! COST - Dances are $12 per person. Pay at the door. There are no pre-event ticket sales. WHO MAY ATTEND? - You do not need to bring a dance partner but you may be dancing with lots of different people during the lesson and while the band plays, if you like. If you want to only dance with the person you bring with you, that is fine too. You do not need previous dance experience. We do hope you bring a positive and open mind and attitude. We welcome anyone to join us who has an interest in dance, music, socializing and fun. We don't care what your physical ability or size is, where you are in life, where you are on the spectrum of sexual or gender orientation, what color or creed, or non-creed, you are. Are you a man who wants to learn how to follow or a woman who wants to learn how to lead? That's cool! This idea is not new to the swing dance scene. We are the easiest club to join. If you have an interest, you are in. :) WHO WE ARE - We are the swing dance company Get Hep Swing. Get Hep Swing is lead by owner, founder, and multi-year national and international swing dance champion, Valerie Salstrom. We love spreading the gospel of swing dancing and we are excited to share the language and culture of this truly American, urban folk dance form with you. It is important for us to let you know that this dance style started in the African-American ballrooms of Harlem, New York in the late 1920s/early 1930s. This dance has a gritty earthiness that is incredibly empowering and joyful. We can't wait for you to experience this conversation of dance with us. We make learning to partner dance easy and enjoyable. Please join us the second Friday of every month at the Lakewood Masonic Temple and the last Saturday of every month at The Lithuanian Club. We have one of the biggest swing dances in the area with over 150 people attending each month. Attendees have a variety of dance experience (including none) and come from all walks of life and ages. You will not need to bring a dance partner. We rotate partners during the dance lesson. How often do you get to meet 50-100 new people in under an hour? We provide the highest quality swing dance instruction from some of the nicest, most patient people you will ever meet. Our staff includes regional, national and international swing dance competitors (and winners) in multiple swing dance forms. Please see www.GetHepSwing.com for the most up to date information on dances, bands playing at the dances, classes, private lessons, school programs, performances, and special topic workshops. For more info, please email Valerie Salstrom; the owner of Get Hep Swing, at info(a)gethepswing.com Please do NOT teach others during the lesson or on the social dance floor. Do not give feedback on the social dance floor. People don't want this and they don't like it. Don't be that guy. Mkay? Please flag down an instructor and ask them for help if you have any questions about a move, dance technique, or if you need saving from a most likely clueless know it all.

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Auditions for The Producers
by Lynn Maslinski 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

Lorain Community Music Theater<https://www.loraincommunitymusictheater.org> announces auditions for... The Producers the Mel Brooks musical Directed by Keli Schimelpfenig Musical Direction by Anthony Trifiletti Choreography by Pamela Shirtz A scheming producer and his mousy accountant aim to produce the biggest flop on Broadway in Mel Brooks' laugh-out-loud spectacle. Auditions Saturday, February 16th @ 12:00 p.m. Sunday, February 17th @ 2:00 p.m. Callbacks, as needed, Sunday, February 24th @ 2:00 p.m. St. Peter School, 3955 Oberlin Ave., Lorain 44053 Registration begins up to 30 minutes prior to audition start time. Preparation Those auditioning will be asked to sing a 32 bar cut in a vocal selection that reflects the style of the show. Bring your sheet music in the proper key. Auditions will not be permitted with any electronic accompaniment nor in acapella format. Dress for movement, and bring tap shoes if you have them. Performances July 12th, 13th, 19th, & 20th @ 7:30 p.m. July 21st @ 2:00 p.m. Lorain Performing Arts Center Rehearsals will begin May 28th. All roles are open to actors age 14 and up. Email any questions to lcmtshows(a)gmail.com. https://www.facebook.com/events/1195836740567740/?active_tab=about The Producers is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com<http://www.MTIShows.com>

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AUDITIONS: Outdoor Underground Railroad Reenactment
by fctheatre 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

Lorain County Metro Parks<http://www.metroparks.cc/> announces auditions for... ROAD TO FREEDOM an outdoor, interactive Underground Railroad experience in Sheffield Village Directed by Brian McNally CASTING CAUCASION MEN / age 18+ AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN / age 18+ AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN / age 18+ ***ACTORS MUST BE ABLE TO PERFORM OUTDOORS IN UNPREDICTABLE AND SOMETIME HARSH WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME*** PERFORMANCES TUESDAY, APRIL 9th - THURSDAY, APRIL 11th @ 8AM-3PM SATURDAY, APRIL 13th @ 3PM-9PM MONDAY, APRIL 15th - THURSDAY, April 18th @ 8AM-3PM REHEARSALS Very limited - normally between 3 to 6 rehearsals usually lasting less than 2 hours each, based on actor availability. Mandatory final run thru ~tentatively~ scheduled for Friday, April 5 @ 10AM-2PM. AUDITIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Email<mailto:bmcnally@metroparks.cc?subject=ROAD%20TO%20FREEDOM%20AUDITION> or call (440) 949-5200 x226 to schedule an audition. Actors will be provided sides to prepare upon appointment confirmation COMPENSATION $325

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NEOMFA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL: Feb 14-23 at convergence-continuum
by convergence-continuum 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

CONVERGENCE-CONTINUUM PRESENTS _THE 2019 NEOMFA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL_ ____ FEBRUARY 14 – 23 Convergence-continuum presents FIVE WORLD-PREMIERE PLAYS by local graduate-student playwrights at the 2019 NEOMFA Playwrights Festival, featuring two full-length plays and three ten-minute plays by graduate student playwrights over two weekends at the LIMINIS THEATER, 2438 Scranton Rd, Cleveland 44113 in the historic Tremont neighborhood. THURS-SAT, FEB 14-16: The full-length play _Kafka in an Above Ground Pool_, an absurdist play by Renee Schilling, directed by David Munnell. This will be paired with two 10-minute plays: _We Think Differently _by Ralph Meyers, directed by Beau Reinker and _Confirmation _by Jacob Bremkamp, directed by Scott Zolkowski). THURS-SAT, FEB 21-23: The full-length play _Ghost Play_ by Morgan Elswick, directed by Amy Bistok, paired with _Bulls**t_, a ten-minute play by Klae Bainter, directed by Jonah Roth. The plays are part of a three-year intensive program of study under playwright and Cleveland State University professor Mike Geither, and are co-produced by convergence-continuum and the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA) in Creative Writing consortium. This will be the eighth year convergence-continuum has mounted the Festival. TICKETS ARE ONLY $10 GENERAL ADMISSION, $5 FOR STUDENTS. RESERVATIONS AND INFORMATION AT CONVERGENCE-CONTINUUM.ORG [1] AND 216-687-0074 Links: ------ [1] http://atmail.dreamhost.com/HTTP://CONVERGENCE-CONTINUUM.ORG

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Berko review: REVOLT. SHE SAID..REVOLT AGAIN @ Dobama
by Roy Berko 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

*•••••••••••••••••••••••••••* *Capsule judgment: Capsule judgement: Maybe the clue to gaining some concept of ““Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again,” is to look at the hundreds of shoes that totally surround the three-sided thrust Dobama stage, and realize that they are all different styles, sizes and colors, and accept that they, like the words of the script, are a clue to the chaos of our era, and though some may fit some, they will not fit all, and though some may serve one purpose, they each may fit another. As such, the play, or any one pair of shoes, each is not for everyone!* *To read the entire review go to: **www.royberko.info* <http://www.royberko.info>*. ** To read the capsule judgements of the other Cleveland reviewers go to: **www.clevelandtheaterreviews.com* <http://www.clevelandtheaterreviews.com> *••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••*

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Review of "Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again." at Dobama Theatre
by Bob Abelman 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

Dobama’s anarchic ‘Revolt’ a reminder that theater can and should shock Bob Abelman Cleveland Jewish News, The News Herald, The Morning Journal Well-behaved women seldom make history. This saying, coined in 1976 in an obscure scholarly article by Harvard history professor Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, became one of modern feminism's most popular slogans and the stuff of t-shirts, coffee mugs and protest posters. It also serves as the motivation and mantra for “Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again,” Alice Birch’s 80-minute political, profane and highly theatrical manifesto for the #MeToo era, currently on stage at Dobama Theatre. The play received its world premiere at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2014 and its off-Broadway premiere at the Soho Rep in 2016. The work is a series of overlapping, irreverent and increasingly chaotic provocations about how words – which are grounded in our culture’s historical misogyny and patriarchy – serve to define, defend or diffuse the power held by men and women. The play’s vignettes underscore the reality that women are more often victimized than validated through language, which impacts their self-perception, aspirations and relationships. And it is time for a change. For more of this article, go to www.clevelandjewishnews.com/columnists/bob_abelman/

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SHE LOVES ME opens NEXT WEEK!
by fctheatre 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

French Creek Theatre<http://metroparks.cc/theatre.php> is pleased to present... SHE LOVES ME Book by Joe Masteroff Music by Jerry Bock Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Based on a play by Miklos Laszio Originally Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince Originally Produced on Broadway by Harold Prince in Association with Lawrence N. Kasha and Philip C. McKenna Original Orchestrations by Don Walker Adapted by Frank Matosich, Jr. Directed by Jordan Cooper Georg and Amalia, two headstrong employees of a European perfumery, quarrel endlessly on the job. But away from work, they're two lonely hearts, each exchanging tender correspondences with an anonymous pen pal who's a lot closer than they know! Charming and funny, She Loves Me is the perfect date during the month for lovers! PERFORMANCES February 1-17, 2019 Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30PM Sundays at 3:00PM TICKETS Adults $16-$18 Youth (under 18) $10 Call (440) 949-5200, purchase online<http://metroparks.cc/french-creek-theatre-tickets.php> or visit the FCT Box Office, open 10AM-4:30PM daily. FEATURING Kate Michalski as Amalia Balash Danny Simpson as Georg Nowack Natalie Green* as Ilona Ritter Eric Fancher as Steven Kodaly Trey Gilpin as Ladislav Sipos Mark Hilan as Mr. Maraczek Frank Ivancic as Arpad Laszlo Lauren Odioso as Ensemble Jessica Pringle as Ensemble Samantha Ksiezyk-DeCrane as Ensemble Gwen Stembridge as Ensemble Andrew Keller as Kreller / Ensemble Michael Fox as Busboy / Ensemble John Kost as Ensemble *Appears courtesy AEA She Loves Me Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com<http://www.MTIShows.com>

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Songwriting Workshop Series
by Angelina Seemann 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

Calling all songwriters!! Falls Music School is hosting a series of songwriting workshops hosted by Northeast Ohio Musician, Ray Flanagan. The class will cover lyricism, rhyme schemes, melodic lines, chord progressions, and more! The series consists of 3 workshops, taking play February 2, February 16th, and March 2. All 3 classes will be held at Falls Music School from 2:30 to 3:15pm. The cost for students is $20 and for non-students $30, this cost covers all 3 days of the workshops series. Interested? Contact Falls Music School at office(a)fallsmusicschool.com for more information or to sign up! Angelina Seemann Music Program Director, Instructor Falls Music School 330-451-9555

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Adult and Teen Meisner and Commercial Audition class start a week from Today!!
by Barbara Stitzer 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

Adult and Teen Meisner/commercial audition class starts a week from today in Hudson!! Gain confidence while learning a sustainable technique that will help you book more jobs and feel great while doing it. I was trained directly by Sanford Meisner. His technique got me my SAG card, and gave me the confidence to go in and kill every audition. This class is not a quick fix, it's a way of life. Call me today for more information: 330.714.6261. -- All my best, Barb Stitzer Editor in Chief of Northeast Ohio Weddings Magazine Owner of Barb Stitzer Photography and Actors Conservatory Ohio Stalk Me! Http://www.instagram.com/northeastohioweddingsmagazine http://www.instagram.com/barbstitzerphotography http://www.instagram.com/actorsconservatoryohio www.barbstitzer.com 330.714.6261

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