Speakeasy 2.0 mixes old entertainment w/ new technology
Technological innovation may be the driving force behind IngenuityFest, but some unique ideas turn out to be just, well, bad ideas.
For example, the notion of Prohibition, which seems as surreal today as it was putting a man on the moon back in the 1920s, proved to be a failure. Still, IngenuityFest celebrates the era with its annual and popular fundraiser Speakeasy 2.0, which takes place Fri 7/15 in the West Side tunnels and subway level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit-Superior) Bridge. Flappers, fedoras and fun are what partygoers can expect at the turning-the-clock back soiree, says IngenuityFest Director of Programming James Krouse.
CoolCleveland: In a nutshell, what is Speakeasy 2.0?
James Krouse: This is the second annual event. Last year we looked at the space under the bridge, which is where the festival takes place. We looked at doing an event prior to the festival that would be a paid event. We thought it would be cool to kind of create a sort of speakeasy atmosphere where people are kind of going to something that’s secret. So we called it Speakeasy 2.0 because it’s a mix of 1920s entertainment alongside some 21st century technology.
What sort of entertainment and technology do you have planned?
This year there’s a band called the Syncopated Sin Swing Jazz Band, which Vance’s Music Studio put together just for this event. That’s going to be authentic music from the ‘20s, and instructors teaching dancing from the ‘20s, like the Lindy and the Charleston. There’s a duo called Pinch and Squeal, which do a whole retro vaudeville routine. There’s also Hilar-A-Tease Dancers, which is a kind of burlesque group doing flapper girl numbers. We also have some cool Ingenuity preview things happening, like interactive project walls, where a jazz improv group plays along with films from the ‘20s.
In looking over the ticket prices, the range is from $15 to $100. Why did you go that route?
Part of the reason for doing the $100, $30, $15 tickets are if you are into DJs and dancing, which would be later on at night, it’s in a cool place that’s only open a few days out of the year. So for $15 you’re going to love this. If you want to go out after having dinner and you got a sitter and you want to do something a little bit different and see some entertainment, the $30 tickets are great. If you can swing the $100 level and you’re going to sit there all night with the open bar, it’s kind of a bargain for you. We want to appeal to a pretty wide range of people and just being a one-night only type of thing we’re hoping to fit into a lot of people’s calendars.
Attendance-wise, how popular is this event?
Last year we had about 1,200 people and we’re hoping for the same this year. We’ve programmed more, added more bars, added more entertainment and more everything. It’s popular because it’s not what people who go to fundraisers are used to doing. It’s just a whole lot of fun.
Finally, who would really enjoy this unique event?
I’d say that if you’re a woman and have a cool sexy ‘20s style dress hanging in your closet, this is kind of a cool event for that. People who went last year will see a bigger, sort of more immersive event, and I think the costumes are going to come out too because people last year were coming out in these wild costumes. I hope people saw it last year and are inspired by it and they show up in costume too. There’s kind of this elegance for the whole thing, but then there’s also a kind of fun, party vibe too.
Speakeasy 2.0 opens at 6PM on Fri 7/15 in the West Side tunnels and subway level of the Veterans Memorial (Detroit-Superior) Bridge. All proceeds benefit IngenuityFest 2011, which takes place Fri 9/16 through Sun 9/18 @ the same bridge. For more information on both events, visit http://IngenuityCleveland.com.
Freelance writer John Benson spends most of his time writing for various papers throughout Northeast Ohio.
When he’s not writing about music or entertainment, he can be found coaching his two boys in basketball, football and baseball or watching movies with his lovely wife, Maria. John also occasionally writes for CoolCleveland.com
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