*CLE ARTISTS CELEBRATE CLEVELAND’S SOCIAL JUSTICE HISTORY
Cleveland Public Theatre’s annual Station Hope was postponed from May until late June, hoping things would be open by then. Instead, on Saturday, June 27 @ 6-9pm CPT’s staff will (safely and responsibly) broadcast Station Hope, a jubilant community event celebrating Cleveland’s social justice history and exploring contemporary struggles for freedom and equity. It is free, family-friendly, and open to all. CPT will publish how to participate online in the weeks to come. Go here for more information.
*KARAMU HOUSE PRESENTS “FREEDOM ON JUNETEENTH”
Celebrate. Educate. Heal. Activate. On Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, the commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S., Karamu House will debut Freedom on Juneteenth, a program to feature musicians and vocalists, spoken word artists, and dancers, as they respond to the recent murders of Black Americans through their respective art forms. The program, to air at 7pm on local television stations, various streaming platforms, and social media, will also include live dialogue and conversation, with accessible resources in order to create change within our communities.
The program is designed to celebrate, educate, heal and activate communities. Audiences will be encouraged to utilize the shared resources and to transform anger, disgust and frustration into decisive ballot responses in November, especially within local elections. Karamu House seeks to help educate all people on the political process and remind America that lawmakers serve at the pleasure of the people. Go to the Karamu website for more information.
*CLEVELAND OPERA THEATER WILL GO VIRTUAL FOR 20/21 SEASON
Rather than halt operations, Cleveland Opera Theater will offer a virtual 20/21 season. “We’re fostering creative ideas with sister organizations in Greater Cleveland and in New York City, Washington DC, Knoxville, San Francisco, and Chicago to develop the most dynamic programming possible,” says COT executive artistic director Scott Skiba. “Programs will include concerts, staged productions, new works, a vocal competition streamed live, an “Opera-Thon” fundraiser, and events pairing opera with food, wine, and beer.” clevelandoperatheater.org
*PLAYHOUSE SQUARE LAYS OFF/FURLOUGHS 193 EMPLOYEES
Playhouse Square President/CEO Gina Vernaci, stating that, “We must take the necessary measured to overcome the impact caused by the crisis so that Playhouse Square can return to a place of strength, continue our not-for-profit mission and welcome out audience back safely,” announced the laying off/furloughing of 193 employees at the theater complex downtown.
*CESEAR’S FORUM FALL SHOW: POSTPONED
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cesear’s Forum 2020 fall show has been postponed. Go here for updates on their upcoming season a Playhouse Square.
*THE MUSICAL THEATER PROJECT CANCELS TOP HAT PROGRAM
“The Musical Theater Project has so enjoyed sharing movies with you recently and had every intention of introducing Top Hat this week prior to our regularly scheduled Q&A next Friday night. The Fred & Ginger classic is a fine film and we look forward to discussing it at a later date. However, it is a film that’s glaringly out of sync with what we are experiencing as a country, so we have decided to postpone it for a bit.
Our next film will be the very timely 1776. Bill Rudman’s introduction will be released on Friday June 19 and he will discuss it live on Friday June 26. And as a bonus, he will prepare the participants for the very special streaming broadcast of the original Broadway production of Hamilton airing exclusively on Disney Plus, Friday, July 3.”
*ACTORS’ EQUITY SAYS “EPIDEMIC MUST BE UNDER CONTROL” BEFORE LIVE THEATER RESUMES
According to Actors’ Equity there are four “core principals” for Theaters to open:
- The epidemic must be under control, with effective testing, few new cases in the area and contact tracing.
- Individuals who may be infectious can be readily identified and isolated, with frequent, regular and accurate testing with speedy results.
- The way we audition, rehearse, perform and stage manage may need to change and the venues we work in may need to undergo changes in order to reduce the risk.
- Efforts to control COVID-19 exposure must be collaborative, involving Equity members, employers, the union and all others involved in the production of theatre.
*ATCA STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY
“The American Theatre Critics Association stands in solidarity with those taking a stand against the senseless killings of Black and Brown people across the country. We also support the reporters who are on the front lines covering protests. The theaters and theater makers we cover in our work have been articulating their support through statements, cancellations, and deploying of resources. For almost 50 years, ATCA has championed the voices of artists who hold up a mirror to our society through what we write, what we award, and which productions we cover.
On stages across the country, playwrights and performers in the American theater have been telling us for decades that it is well past time to dismantle systemic racism in our production houses, in our organization, and in our society. This is a critical moment for our nation and our art form, and we are committed to being a part of the solution. — American Theatre Critics Association Executive Committee, June 3, 2020
*PROGRAM CELEBRATES LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
June is Pride month, when the LGBTQIA+ community celebrates itself. Hinenu, The Bolton Street Synagogue, Repair the World Baltimore and Queer Core are presenting “Twice Blessing: Celebrating Our Jewish and Queer Identities” on Thursday June 18 @ 7pm. It features a multi-generational cast of LGBTQIA+ identifying community members to educate and allow others to learn about what Jewish tradition has to say about acceptance, equity, and love. Go here to learn more and connect.