Equinox

3.21.07-3.28.07
Equinox

In this week’s issue:
* Interview Exclusive interview with incoming Beck Center President & CEO Cindy Einhouse
* Cool Cleveland Kids The folks behind Kid Concoctions
* Interview CIFF Artistic Director Bill Guentzler
* BizTech Profile Catalyst for Cleveland 2.0 Lev Gonick
* Comment Enough Blame To Go Around from Mansfield Frazier
* Interview Jane Lassar of Gray & Co
* Signs Of Life David Budin: the David Budin Interview
* Sounds The Bells of Saint Rose from Vicki Chew
* Previews Chang/Klima and Comics
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

Equinox means equal night Today, 3/21, the sun splits the day exactly in half, with just as much daylight as nighttime. The concept of equal time has always been embedded in Cool Cleveland. For example, we think the First Buckeye Regional Robotics Competition, taking place during daylight hours at CSU Wolstein this week, is just as cool as Cleveland’s Cobra Verde rocking out late at the Grog Shop this Saturday. We think the Cleveland-based Kid Concoctions are just as vital as Cleveland singer Vicki Chew’s debut album, The Bells of Saint Rose. Cleveland Grammy winner Angelin Chang’s concert at CSU is just as interesting as the Comics as a Rosetta Stone symposium at Lakeland Community College. Call it strength in diversity; call it the principle of equal time. Either way, we’ve got it covered here in Northeast Ohio, day and night. The only snag? Figuring out when to sleep… —Thomas Mulready

Cindy Einhouse
New President & CEO, Beck Center for the Arts

On Monday, Cindy Einhouse, a Lakewood resident with a background in music and theatre and over 25 years of experience in fundraising, was appointed CEO and President of the Beck Center for the Arts, effective 5/1. She most recently served as Director of Development at Cleveland Institute of Music, where she raised over $40M for their current expansion, and has raised money for the Cleveland Clinic, where she initiated and managed a $225M capital campaign. She also worked for over 15 years at Playhouse Square. Her skills may be needed as the Beck looks to raise the money to either upgrade or replace it’s aging theatre, gallery & arts education facilities, become the centerpiece in the planned Arts and Communications Academy collaboration with Lakewood Schools & the West Shore cities, and even participate in a recently-discussed Lakewood arts district. Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready spoke with her in the Beck courtyard the day after her appointment was finalized about the Beck’s role in the local community, their impending need for fundraising, and their challenges and opportunities. http://www.BeckCenter.org

Concocting Family Fun
Cleveland Couple Gets National Attention with Back-to-Basics Message

It’s a scene that seems almost too idyllic for many of today’s families. Kids and parents sitting around the kitchen table together, working on fun and educational projects that don’t involve joysticks, remote controls or electronics of any kind. Getting their hands dirty, creating toys from everyday household items, and actually playing with them without losing interest.

Is this the 1950s we’re talking about, or the 21st century…?

Read the interview by Jennifer Keirn here

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“Monet To Go” Classes (and More!) – No Admission Fee Families: When you visit the Monet Exhibition participate in an up-close view of genuine objects from the “Art To Go” program downstairs in the Education level galleries, or, on other days, try your hand at a workshop making Impressionist art (Friday evenings or Sunday afternoons). Both are drop-ins with no admission fee (open to the public). “Art To Go” dates and topics are: Fri 3/9 from 6-8PM – Cool Knights: Armor from Medieval and Renaissance Times; Sun 3/18 from 1-3 PM – Asia: Japan, China, Korea; Fri 3/23 from 6-8PM – Artists of Our Region, The Cleveland School. Family Activities dates are: Sun 3/11 from 1-4PM – Monet To Go, hands-on workshops: Fri 3/16 from 5-8PM, Sun 3/25 from 1-4PM, Fri 3/30 from 5-8PM. www.clevelandart.org. CMA is a Cool Cleveland Kids partner.
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Spring Peepers Learn about spring migratory patterns from a naturalist at the Brecksville Branch of the Cleveland Public Library on Wed 3/21 at 4PM. Focus on lizards, salamanders and other crawly critters. Registration is required. http://www.cpl.org.

Cinderella and The Jungle Book Explore these two timeless tales with this latest installment of Playhouse Square Center’s Discover Theatre series for kids on Fri 3/23 at 10:30AM and 7PM. Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave. http://www.playhousesquare.com.

Walk Like an Egyptian Learn all about ancient Egyptian culture during the exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Cleveland on Sat 3/24 at 10AM. Egyptian Sands will mesmerize your kids and have them begging to learn more about pyramids and hieroglyphs amongst 70 tons of sand. Kids, bring your mummies. Pinzone Pavilion, Children’s Museum of Cleveland, 10730 Euclid Ave. http://www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org.

A Kiddie Kloset Sale Westlake Early Childhood PTA kids’ resale event features gently-worn baby items, kid’s clothing, toys, games, baby furniture, maternity clothes and a bake sale on Sat 3/24 beginning at 8AM. Westlake High School, 27830 Hilliard Road, Westlake. No cost, though patrons are encouraged to bring a canned/nonperishable food donation for the Westlake Public Assistance Program). Call 440-808-8863 or 440-808-0430 for more info.

Lorain County Children’s Honors Choir 10th Annual Choral concert features over 180 singers from Lorain County, from grades 4-6, on Sat 3/24 at 3PM. Come here these kids sing their hearts out! Stocker Center Theater-LCCC, 1005 N. Abbe Road, Elyria. No cost. http://www.ochoristers.org.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Part of the “Music and a Movie” program in the Cuyahoga Public Library system, the Fairview Park Branch shows this early 20th century silent film Sun 3/25 at 2PM. Accompanied by futuristic instrumental music by the group Rare Blend, this is a sure-fire hit for kids, who will marvel at what the future looked like through filmmakers’ eyes back then. http://www.cpl.org.

Bowl For Kids’ Sake ’07 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio benefit/fundraiser encourages friends, family and co-workers alike to come together and challenge rivals to friendly bowling competition on Sun 3/25 (times and locations vary). Anyone can bowl; local businesses are encouraged to form teams. Call 440-352-2526 or 800-222-2440 for more info. Register.

You don’t want to miss what 11-year-old Max has for you and your family this week. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids03.23.07.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.

Bill Guentzler
Film Festival Artistic Director

Bill Guentzler may have the best job in Cleveland. As Artistic Director of the Cleveland Film Society, it is his job to manage the selection of all the films that appear in the Cleveland International Film Festival (now thru 3/25). With precious little time for pleasantries, this interview by Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready, was literally conducted on the run, as Guentzler shuttled between errands during day two of the 2007 Fest at Tower City Cinemas. http://www.ClevelandFilm.org

Cool Cleveland: When did you start looking at films for this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival?

Bill Guentzler: I started looking at films last June. I traveled to film festivals in New York, the Czech Republic, Montreal, Toronto Vancouver, London, L.A., and Sundance…

Read the interview with Bill Guentzler here

NASA Glenn to test Orion lunar module for vibrations prior to 2011 flight, a contract worth $63M Read
Call for art for William Busta-curated Farm Art – From Plate to Palette on art & nature at CVNPA, due 5/5 Info
Follow-up on 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas by reviewing the top ideas, and contacting Erin Smith for next meetings Info
March in Miami Not much time to soak up the sun with concerts, residencies, children’s shows for Cle Orch Read
CIM seeks Marketing Manager to develop audiences, marketing and PR. Info Interested? sxs129@case.edu
Cool Cleveland Podcast You know how to do it. Click here to listen: Link. iTunes or other.
Bill Busta to open new gallery at 2731 Prospect, representing Callaghan, Harvey, Jonsson, Kwong & Kolodzieg Read
To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.

Natural History Museum selects architect Fentress Bradburn Architects, known for their distinctive tent-like Denver International Airport, have been chosen to do the $30-50M+ expansion & renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “Every one of their buildings is individual, there is no single signature look to their work,” Marie Graf, director of Marketing and Communications told Cool Cleveland, “and they are all really cool looking buildings.” Info

Resign or get fired So says Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, ultimately responsible for all elections in the state, has asked the 2 Dems and 2 Republicans on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to resign or she’ll fire them. Last week, 2 elections staffers were sentenced to 18 months in prison for rigging the 2004 recount. The director has resigned, and the top 3 people are now gone. Cuyahoga elections officials have become notorious nationally for their incompetence, and it’s time to clean house. Read Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Small webcasters will go out of business if recent unreasonable Copyright Royalty Board rates for Internet radio are instituted, effectively silencing small, independent and college Internet radio outlets. You can do something about it. Act

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This Ain’t Your Grandparents’ Broadway Series! It’s provocative, exciting, compelling, gripping . . . and fun. The new 2007-08 KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square has just been announced. Check out hot titles like Avenue Q – the risqué Sesame Street for grown-ups; Jersey Boy, the smash hit about The Four Seasons; Oprah Winfrey presents: The Color Purple; the hilarious 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; the witty Drowsy Chaperone; & the scathing spoof: Forbidden Broadway: SVU. Check out our interactive website now to hear music and see video from the shows: www.PlayhouseSquare.org/Broadway. Subscriptions are on sale today. Get yours now, call 216-830-7221 and discover why the KeyBank Broadway Series at Playhouse Square offers more than just shows, but moments you’ll never forget.
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Every week, all of us here at Cool Cleveland pour through an incredible of fantastic things happening in CLE and NEO, all in an effort to answer that ever-nagging question: “What’s cool to do this week?” Submitted for your approval, here’s a snapshot of what we found. Got a unique event coming up? Know of something that is a totally Cool Cleveland worthy event? We want to hear from you about it; our tens of thousands of readers do, too. Be a civic and cultural activist and turn on your fellow readers.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Governor’s Awards for the Arts in Ohio and Arts Day Luncheon Come to this lunch in Columbus on Wed 3/21 at noon to help celebrate Northeast Ohioans who have won the 2007 Governor’s Award for the Arts: Marsha Dobrzynski of Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio, and James Levin of Cleveland Public Theatre and the Ingenuity Festival. Info

Menomena No, Jim Henson’s scatting pink Muppets won’t be there. But that trippy, indie experimental rock band from Portland, Oregon draws on that whimsical energy will be. The group drops in at the Beachland Ballroom Wed 3/21 for an 8PM gig. Their discs Friend and Foe and I Am the Fun Blame Monster! draw from a myriad of different styles and soundscapes and has earned them critical acclaim. Doo-do-dah-doo-doo! Beachland Ballroom on Waterloo. http://www.beachlandballroom.com.

All Request Weekend A film lover’s dream drops at the Cle Cinematheque beginning Wed 3/21 with Antonio Gaudi, Japanese filmmaker Hiroshi Teshigahara’s Woman in the Dunes, Drawing Restraint 9 featuring Matthew Barney and his wife Björk, Stanley Kubrick’s stunning Barry Lyndon, Bill Rudman’s Love Me Tonight and others. They also feature East of Bucharest, a film that the Cinematheque is sponsoring at the CIFF. Details and schedule online. Cleveland Cinematheque, 11141 East Boulevard. http://www.cia.edu

Orchid Mania Don’t miss your last chance at hundreds of beautiful, colorful, blooming orchids and the works of 25 top interior and floral designers at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. A whopping 15 rooms featuring orchids comprise this not-to-be-missed show! 11030 East Boulevard. See site for dates and times. http://www.cbgarden.org.

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Who is That Red Guy? Orchestras are defined in some measure by the musical personalities of their conductors, and Red is no exception. The final concert of the 5th season for Red {an orchestra} will include music composed and arranged by Red’s Artistic Director, Jonathan Sheffer. Sheffer’s arrangement of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, will be followed by two original compositions, Romp, Concerto for Saxophone, and Red Couch Floating in Lake Erie which celebrates Cleveland itself, with a symphony of singers and texts by contemporary Cleveland poets. Join Red on Sat 4/14 at 8PM and on Sun 4/15 at 3PM for “That Red Guy” in the Masonic Auditorium (Euclid & E. 36th). Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased by calling Red {an orchestra} at 261.361.1733 or by visiting www.redanorchestra.org.
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Polish Joke Actors’ Summit Theater delivers this David Ives-penned contemporary comedy about ethnic identity and the eternal American search for roots. A preview performance drops Thu 3/22 at 8PM with performances through Sun 4/15 at Actors’ Summit Theater in downtown Hudson. http://www.actorssummit.org.

The Sound of Ideas Each week, the venerable morning show on WCPN 90.3 FM features a Regional Roundtable. This Thu 3/22 at 9AM, Cool Cleveland CIO and Brewed Fresh Daily/Meet the Bloggers catalyst George Nemeth joins host Dan Moulthrop and other panelists to discuss regional newsmakers, community leaders and debrief on the week that was. http://www.wcpn.org.

HOT Inlet Dance Theatre returns to Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) as a part of the DanceWorks ’07 series. Inlet highlights a world premiere from its founder/choreographer and artistic director Bill Wade, as well as other works that speak to life and the human condition. Includes music by critically-acclaimed local composer, Ryan Lott. This four-day stand begins Thu 3/22 CPT, 6415 Detroit Rd. http://www.inletdance.org. http://www.cptonline.org.

Lollapa-Jews-a is exactly what it sounds like: a musicomical variety show, sponsored by the Maltz Museum and spearheaded by musician/comic and CC contributor, David Budin. This Thu 3/22 show also features performances by Budin’s brother Noah Budin and Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo. The Temple, 26000 Shaker Blvd., just east of Richmond Rd. Reserve tickets by calling 593-0575. http://www.maltzjewishmuseum.org.

HOT Red Dot Turns One Check out the red hot RED DOT Project’s first birthday bash at The Wooltex Gallery at Tower Press Thu 3/22 at 5:30PM. Enjoy food, a cash bar and the hip sounds of DJ Jugoe while mingling with young professionals at this no-cost event. 1900 Superior. More Info. http://www.reddotproject.org.

Our Place in the Urban Age What will America’s urban centers look like, and how will life change in the upcoming “Urban Age?” And how will NEO adapt? As the kick-off to a year-long series of 30th Anniversary forums, CSU’s College of Urban Affairs presents noted VC David Morganthaler this Thu 3/22 from 4-6PM Register

HOT Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater CCDT presents Amazing Grace beginning Thu 3/22 at 8PM the Gordon Square Theatre. Last season, the troupe presented Men’s Project: Men in Motion, a season of dance dedicated to male athleticism through an all-male ensemble. Amazing Grace brings women back into the fold with new and revived contemporary dance works from Artistic Director Michael Medcalf, choreographer Troy McCarty and company member Kathleen Turner. http://www.ccdt.com. Tickets.

Leahy See the eight-member Canadian brother-and-sister act that can only be described as a whirlwind triple threat of fiddle-driven music, dance and song on Fri 3/23 at 7:30PM. www.ClevelandArt.org.

Laughter League Check out the hilarity and funny bone merriment on Fri 3/23 and Sat 3/24 at 7:30PM. Features stars Patrick Ciamacco, Joe Kenderes, Cody Farinacci, Joe Ciamacco, Chuck Klein and Seth Hrbek. Seating is limited. Gallery 324 at the Galleria, 1301 East 9th St. http://www.laughterleague.org.

Jennifer O’Connor The folkie with rock star leanings offers up delights from her latest release, Over the Mountain, Across the Valley and Back to the Stars. Opening the show Fri 3/23 at 9PM are local faves The Dreadful Yawns. Grog Shop on Coventry. http://www.grogshop.gs.

Time for Three mixes bluegrass, jazz, classical and pure, old-fashioned Americana in a Cleveland Pops program that rocks the house. Check out the Pops, led by Carl Topilow, as they join forces with a dynamic trio of classically trained string musicians Fri 3/23 at 7PM. Time for Three’s members might be in their late 20s, but their work and reputation for performing with preeminent conductors and orchestras is simply timeless. Severance Hall. http://www.timeforthree.com. http://www.clevelandpops.com.

Ella A musical biography of the legendary songstress Ella Fitzgerald begins on Fri 3/23 at 8PM through Sun 4/15. www.ClevelandPlayHouse.com.

HOT Linda di Chamounix Opera Circle presents this work by Gaetano Donizetti on Fri 3/23 at 7:30PM and Sun 3/25 at 4:30PM. This rarely performed yet exceptionally beautiful Italian bel-canto opera is considered Donizetti’s best. Alliance of Poles Auditorium, 6966 Broadway Avenue. Call Opera Circle at 441-2822 for more information.

The Way Home features the photographs by Geoff Baker at the Dancing Sheep Gallery on Larchmere. The installation tells a personal story reflected in marsh images from Northeast Ohio and the Leelanau Peninsula of Western Michigan. Opening reception hits Fri 3/23 from 6-9PM. 12717 Larchmere Blvd.

ArtMart SPACES’ Annual Members show runs Fri 3/23 – Fri 3/30. Meet and mingle with artists, enjoy live music, regional eats and take home original artwork. Special raffle giveaway features Ohio City and Flats goodies. http://www.spacesgallery.org.

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WCLVnotes WCLV 104.9 has a new music partner – ArkivMusic.com. Dedicated exclusively to classical releases, Arkivmusic.com offers more than 68,000 titles. And it’s easy to find the CD or DVD you’re looking for because you can browse by composer, conductor, performer, ensemble, opera, label, or catalog number. In addition, the company has added more than 2,500 custom-burned CD-Rs of otherwise unavailable recordings, packaged in standard jewel boxes with facsimiles of the original cover and tray card. You’ll see the ArkivMusic icon on many pages of WCLV’s website, and just one click will take you to ArkivMusic.com, The Source for Classical Music. Every purchase you make benefits WCLV 104.9 FM, the radio station of The WCLV Foundation. Go to www.wclv.com.
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Ballroom Blitz Take one class or take them all. Learn ballroom dancing from Rebecca Sweet of Viva Dance! Bring your partner, as both individuals and couples are welcome at the beginner or intermediate level on Sat 3/24 at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square 771-4444 X 3338.

Foundations of Faith tours Cleveland’s Sacred Landmarks and emerged from a partnership between Cleveland Bridge Builders and the City Club New Leaders group. On Sat 3/24 at 10AM the group visits Pilgrim Congregational Church and St. Michael’s Church. Tours are affordable; package deals available. http://www.cityclub.org.

HOT Cobra Verde Need a glam-rock infusion with pomp and circumstance and that flair for big songwriting? Check out the local powerhouse at the Grog Sat 3/24 at 9PM. Their shows are always worth your while; scuttlebutt sez Petkovic and Co. might be rehearsing material for the follow up to last year’s Copycat Killers. Sounder and Juniper Bends open. Grog Shop on Coventry. http://www.grogshop.gs. http://www.cobraverde.com.

Mosaic Dance Ensemble performs at Cleveland Public Theater in a special matinee on Sat 3/24 at 3PM with members of the Inlet Youth Ensemble — the Inlet Dance Theater Trainee Program — and students from another residency that Inlet conducted this year at Ashtabula Arts Center. http://www.heightsarts.org. http://www.cptonline.org.

Q’ieu Chant per joi Thrill at this concert of troubadour song Sat 3/24 at 8PM, featuring the virtuosic ensemble Briddes Roune. They’ll revisit the lyricism of the European Middle Ages. Voice, accompanied by recorder, harp, and vielle. An audience Q&A follows. No-cost offering. The Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, 3649 East 65th St. Call 341-9091 for more info.

Black 47 Didn’t get enough of that St. Patrick’s Day vibe last weekend? Then you need a blast of driving, passionate New York Irish Music courtesy of Larry Kirwan and his Black 47 ensemble. Ya might remember their “Funky Ceili” — a hit over a decade ago. Black 47 hits Wilbert’s Sat 3/24 at 9PM and fab local rock act Lost State of Franklin opens the show. Don’t miss out. A great double-bill. http://www.wilbertsmusic.com.

You Can’t Play Ball in a Skirt! The Cleveland Baseball Heritage Museum opens the 2007 baseball season with a performance of You Can’t Play Ball in a Skirt! on Sat 3/24 at 3PM. Susan Brewer portrays “Ohio’s Baseball Wonder,” Dr. Alta Weiss — clearly in a “league of her own” — when she put herself through med school playing pro baseball on a men’s team in the early 1900s. Colonial Arcade, 530 Euclid Ave. http://www.baseballheritagemuseum.org.

Wellness Fair Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Olmsted Falls sponsors this event that features Dr. Jane Semple on Sat 3/24 from 10AM-5PM. Naturopathics, macrobiology, silver jewelry and organic skin care are among the expos. Onsite reflexology offered. Call 440-865-6852 for info. http://www.olmsteduu.org.

HOT Comics as a Rosetta Stone This no-cost, open-to-the public event explores how comics have been vital to our interpreting, understanding, and changing the world we live in. This comics symposium features a multitude of expert presenters and will be held Sat 3/24 from 9AM-5PM. Participants will also explore how comics are used to foster art-based literacy, social awareness, and cross-cultural literacy and understanding. Lakeland Community College. http://www.lakelandcc.edu/comics.

Cleveland Writes! Lake Erie Artists, a Cle artist/writers co-op holds this meet-and-greet Sat 3/24 from 1-7 PM at their Tower City Center Gallery. Meet Gray & Co. authors Les Roberts, Laura Taxel, Carlo Wolff and others, who will answer your questions and sign their works. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres available; partial proceeds benefit Cleveland Reads, the local literacy program. Check out Peter Chakerian’s interview with Gray & Co.’s Jane Lassar in this week’s issue. http://www.lakeerieartists.com.

Amiina Stunning Icelandic quartet Hildur Ársælsdóttir, Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir, Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir usually perform with fellow countrymen Sigur Rós. Their House of Blues on Sun 3/25 at 8PM offers a rare and intimate glimpse of their own songcraft. Their haunting sound echoes their homeland, featuring strings, office bells and the saw. Must be heard to be believed. 308 Euclid Ave. http://www.hob.com.

Magik Markers Ecstatic Peace Records recording artists hit MOCA Cleveland for their latest “rock!” event Sun 3/25 at 9PM. Cle acts Self Destruct Button and Fire Horse Monarch open. http://www.mocacleveland.org.

Bobby Sanabria & Quarteto Aché headline a Roberto Ocasio Foundation benefit concert on Sun 3/25 at 2PM at Pickwick & Frolic, Hilarities 4th Street Theatre. Renowned multi-Grammy-nominated drummer/percussionist, composer, band leader, and educator, Sanabria authentically straddles many forms of jazz, hardcore salsa, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz. He’s been compared to Buddy Rich, Louis Belson, Billy Cobham and Tito Puente in terms of virtuosity. 2035 E. 4th St., Cleveland. Call 241-7425 for reservations.

HOT Living with the Past The seminar, subtitled “The Impact of Historic Districts,” covers important issues surrounding urban historic districts, how they are established and their value to residents. Speakers include Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman and members of Cleveland’s Landmarks Commission, Restoration Society and the Ohio City Design Review Committee. Learn how such districts are administered Tue 3/27 at 7PM. Franklin Circle Christian Church, 1688 Fulton Rd. Call 781-3222 for more info.

HOT Professionals in the City The latest of these quarterly networking events examines Cleveland’s Redevelopment: Working To Make Cleveland a Better Place to Live, Work and Learn! on Wed 3/28 from 6-9PM. Development-themed discussion is followed by a Q&A with an all-star community stakeholder panel — including developers Robert Stark, Doug Price, Nate Zaremba and Ari Maron. Moderated by Carolina Leid of NewsChannel 5. House of Blues, 308 Euclid Ave. http://www.cleveland365.com.

Rower Meet and Greet The Western Reserve Rowing Association offers a way for adults, young and old, to stay fit, stay competitive, and meet great people through the sport of rowing. Stop by Hoopples on Wed 3/28 at 6:30PM, meet some rowers and find out how you can get involved with rowing in Cleveland. Learn details on their Summer Rowing League as well. Hooples, 1930 Columbus Rd. http://wrra.cc/srl.

Tom Hinson Cleveland Museum of Art’s curator of contemporary art and photography leads a discussion at Cleveland Artists Foundation on Wed 3/28 at 7PM. The lecture, “Urban Photography: Three Great Cities—Paris, New York, Cleveland,” and runs in conjunction with CAF’s current exhibition, Visions of a City with a Soul: Four Photographers in Cleveland 1925-2005, co-organized by the Cleveland Public Library. 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. http://www.clevelandartists.org.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

A sizzling and sensational array of hot tech and business news & events from around Cleveland and around the region. Send your business news and events to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

Lev Gonick
Cleveland 2.0

Lev Gonick has good reason to smile. Actually lots of them. After leading such groundbreaking projects such as wi-fi-ing the Case campus, then the 5 square miles around it, and then creating OneCleveland (now OneCommunity) to buy cheap dark fiber and hook up governments, non-profits and medical facilities around the region (they’ve already connected 300 institutions), CWRU’s CIO and V.P. for Information Technology now turns his laser-beam vision on Cleveland’s future, and a project called Cleveland 2.0, exploring how technology, especially new social networking tools (blogs, podcasts, even e-blasts like Cool Cleveland) can help. Just as participants were filing into Dively Hall on the CWRU campus, Lev spoke with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready (his two ideas: set the Cuyahoga on fire, and do a “battle of the bands” to see if any of the Top 5 orchestras in the world are better than Cleveland) about the goals for the Cleveland 2.0 project, and which low-hanging fruit we might harvest first. http://www.Cleveland2.org

National City’s Richard DeKaser is #1 USA Today ranks him most accurate economic forecaster of 41 in the country Read

Online advertising hits new high According to BizReport, online advertising for 2006 hit a new record high of $16.8 billion, a 34% increase over the year before, from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Interactive Advertising Bureau here. IAB CEO and President Randall Rothenberg, “Major marketers in all categories are coming around to the fact that, yes, the Internet is a great direct sales tool, but in addition it’s a great brand building and brand awareness tool as well.” To get your piece of the online advertising action in Northeast Ohio, contact Cool Cleveland at Info@CoolCleveland.com

A single campaign to attract people, culture and industry? As we get set to re-brand our town, can Cleveland learn from Longview, TX and their new identity, “Pure and Simple?” Like Cleveland, they bought together three groups to collaborate: the City, the Chamber of Commerce and Longview Economic Development Corp. And just for fun, scroll down and check out the local responses to the new branding effort by disgruntled Longview residents themselves. And you thought Clevelanders could be tough. Read Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Investing In Start-Ups No-cost JumpStart event Wed 3/21 7:30AM @ Charter One Global Enterprise Center. Info.
Our Place in the Urban Age VC David Morgenthaler offers A Perspective on The Future of Cities Thu 3/22 @ 4PM. CSU Register.
20/30 Club Entrepreneurship Fair Help grow your business ideas & link to resources Thu 3/22 @ 5:30PM. Harry Buffalo, 2120 E. 4th St. Info.
First-Ring Showcase on Thu 3/22 @ 11:30AM describes real estate development ops in much maligned First-Ring Suburbs. Marriott East, 26300 Harvard Rd., Warrensville Hts. Call 292-2588 for details.
FIRST Buckeye Regional Robotics Comp @ CSU Wolstein Ctr Thu 3/22 – 3/24. Intense multinat’l competition teams pros and young people solving engineering design probs. 25K students on over 1.1K teams in 35 regional comps! Info
John West, Ph.D. NorTech Fellow, FlexMatters Founder explains Coming Up! Tue 3/27 at 6:30PM @ Tuesdays@FUTURE Info
State of the Region Team NEO’s semi-annual mtg Tue 3/27 @ 5PM. Lockkeepers, Independence. Info.
Professionals in the City examines Cleveland’s Redevelopment: Working To Make Cleveland a Better Place to Live, Work and Learn! on Wed 3/28 from 6-9PM. Info.
AMPLIFY 2007 kicks off with speaker Kirsten Osolind, mktg/PR pro @ re:invention Mktg. Luncheon event on Wed 3/28 at 11:30AM. Terrace Club, Jacobs Field. Info.

Enough Blame to Go Around
Johanna Orozco deserved better from us

It’s hard to believe that in 1930, when the Juvenile Court Building (more commonly known as the Detention Home) first opened its doors it was considered a model for the entire nation to see and emulate. What happened over the intervening years? How did we go so wrong — from first to almost dead last — over the decades in terms of how we care for our most vulnerable and precious population, our at-risk children? There are, of course, as many opinions and answers as there are social commentators putting them forth. However, as with most matters of public policy and practice, politics (or, more accurately, the failings of politics) is usually the answer.

Nonetheless, in view of the recent tragic shooting of a teenaged girl by her supposed boyfriend (and in spite of the political ramifications and consequences), perhaps now is the time for a spotlight to be focused on what has been a festering problem for years: Overcrowding at the juvenile detention facility and an overburdened, dysfunctional and underperforming juvenile court system. And perhaps the loving family of this young woman are just the right folks to do it… if they don’t get sidetracked by a politically savvy system…
Read the comment by Mansfield Frazier here

Jane Lassar
Gray & Company, Publishers

She’s been called an “incomparable diva of publicity” and is well regarded in the Cleveland writing community. She’s Jane Lassar of Gray & Company, Publishers. And in many ways, she’s both an author’s best friend and Gray & Co. founder David Gray’s right arm. Like her boss, Lassar’s life wasn’t always centered around Cleveland or in publishing, but the founder/owner of the boutique book publisher quickly saw her as a key to the success of Gray’s many “Cle-centric” titles.

A transplant from Milwaukee, Lassar’s been a part of the company for over a decade; truly, there’s no one in Cleveland who does quite what she does. Smart, measured and a thoughtful conversationalist, she took time out of her busy schedule promoting books and advising authors to chat with Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian. Her experiences with Gray & Company, quick pivoting in her job, avoiding gossip, those indelible promotions moments and what makes working in publishing in Cleveland great were just part of their chat.

Cool Cleveland: Thanks for taking the time. I’ve done a great deal of poking around in the regional publishing world and it seems that there’s no one in town doing quite what you do. How cool is that?

Jane Lassar: Well, thanks for the opportunity. Where else do you get to talk about yourself like this? I guess at the psychiatrist, right? Both are fun! (laughs). You know, it is cool, though I guess I never really thought about it that way. Thanks! Yes, I think I have the best job in Cleveland…
Read the interview by Peter Chakerian here

A Rare Opportunity To Interview Myself
by David Budin

See, the thing is, I’ve got this big show coming up this Thursday, March 22, at The Temple (26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood) as part of the Maltz Museum’s concert series, and I asked the Cool Cleveland editors if they could have someone interview me about it – you know, to publicize it.

Of course, I know Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready. Well, that is, I’ve met him. I mean, I think it was he; I can’t be sure. The fact is: No one’s ever really met Thomas Mulready. Some of us have seen a tiny bit of the top of his head from the back, over his big chair. In my case, it was when I visited Cool Cleveland’s World Headquarters, after Thomas moved it to the Chrysler Building in New York City. (And as I’m sure you know, all of Cool Cleveland’s actual manufacturing operations have been moved to China and Mexico, but that’s another story, probably for Roldo to do).

So, I never really did see Thomas’s face, but I heard his voice, so I feel privileged. And, by the way, this guy who runs around town wearing that hat and calling himself “Thomas Mulready” – I have to tell you, that’s an actor whose real name is Jeremy Finklestein. He’s actually the third guy to play Thomas Mulready, but he’s certainly the best-known. He’s done a great job in that role.

Anyway, calling New York and asking Mr. Mulready to get someone to interview me was a good way to gauge the publication’s interest in my show. Which I found out. That’s why I’m interviewing myself about my show, which is this Thursday, March 22…
Read the interview by David Budin here

Links to interesting NEO blogs

A lively discussion on journalism is happening on the Homeless Grapevine’s blog
What’s the economic impact of rail for your community?
There’s a bill before the General Assembly to end local cable francises. Great photos of the WCPN/BBC World Have Your Say Show in East Cleveland at the awesome Gregory Reese auditorium.
Ed and Hunter Morrison spent more then an hour talking about their recent trip to Mumbai to meet with Bombay Tomorrow re: economic development.

Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian comments on the news of the week in the Cool Cleveland e-blast. When you’re through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

The Bells of Saint Rose
Vicki Chew
VC Productions

Some may remember Vicki Chew from the Under The Tree duo that she had with her then-husband Bill Lestock around ten years ago. Now flying solo, Chew has her 11 cut debut out and it is a mixture of the familiar with a couple surprises thrown in. Backed by the jazz flavorings of the Jackie Warren Trio, most of the tracks veer in that direction with “Don’t Tempt Me” as a quick example, thanks to Bob Fraser’s guitar mixing it up with Peter Dominguez’ bass work, and the title cut where Jackie Warren’s piano counterpoints John Klayman’s flute. Reed Simon’s violin gives “You’ll Remember Me” a plaintive feel, while “The Look In Your Eyes” may be the most commercial track here, thanks to the boost from Klayman’s work on soprano sax…

Read the review by Peanuts here

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We’ve got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you’re interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Finding Poetry in Music: Angelin Chang and Arthur Klima @ CSU

Three people were in Drinko Recital Hall of Cleveland State University a couple of weeks ago. Two of them were on-stage, faculty members: Arthur Klima, viola, and Angelin Chang, piano. The third was this reporter, observing, prior to an initial interview. The two of them were entirely engrossed in the music they were making. It sounded great to me, but then Klima stopped and turned to Chang, on his left.

Klima: Could we try that again at letter B?

Chang: Sure.

They play it again, and it still sounds wonderful to me. But while I’ve heard this particular piece many times, I’ve never heard it in this arrangement.

Klima: That was good.

Chang: I don’t think we were quite together just there. (slight pause)

Klima: Oh, well, we were close.

And we all laugh.

The stage of Drinko Recital Hall at Cleveland State University is not large, but then, it was designed for chamber music. As part of its recital series, these two faculty members Klima and Chang, along with Eric Ziolek, Chair of the Department of Music at CSU will present a recital on Tuesday, March 27. The recital will be broadcast live by WCLV-FM 104.9.

On this day, however, the two musicians are working the kinks out of a piece that would be familiar to almost anyone who knows chamber music, although not, perhaps, in this guise. The song cycle, Dichterliebe (or “A Poet’s Love”) by Robert Schumann is comprised of 16 poems by the German poet, Heinrich Heine. Poems usually indicate vocal performance, but Klima thinks this will work well for his soulful, mellow-voiced instrument. Chang agreed, so now they’re playing through, interrupting for discussion—faster here, slower there, louder? No, softer. They’re searching for the poetry in the music, even when there are no words.

Klima looks at his bow. Until recently, this essential accessory for a string player was always made of wood, with a swatch of horse-hair attached at either end. It can be tightened or loosened as the player wishes, to change the sound or the volume. These days, bows can also be constructed from carbon fiber tubing and synthetic hair. Klima places the bow in his case and picks up another. He looks at Chang and asks, “Could we take part of this again?” Ever agreeable, Chang nods her head.

Gorgeous sound comes from the viola. Even I can tell the difference, and I look at him, inquisitively. They continue through the selection, and both look at me. I nod my head in approval, and Klima says, “This bow is wood. The other was carbon fiber.” He retains this bow, and they proceed to the next short segment of the huge piece that will form the second half of the recital. Huge torrents of tempestuous sound issue from the piano, followed by gentle notes, as the violist plays double stops (playing on two strings simultaneously, either in unison or in harmony with each other.)

I have to ask the name of this piece. They both laugh. “It’s ‘I bear no grudge,’” Klima says with a chuckle. “Even if my heart is breaking,” he adds, dramatically.

Chang asks if they can go back over one phrase; she wasn’t happy with it. By herself, she does it once, twice, three times—each time with the accent on a different note. The fourth time, they both smile and nod. That’s it! Such a subtle little change—just one note—and everything falls into place. It makes a major difference to the performance.

The questions these two professionals ask each other illuminate the attention to detail. Chang: “I have a crescendo at two bars after C, do you have that too?” Or, from Klima: “Can we do this a bit faster? It seems a bit lazy to me.”

Finally, they move on to the next song. This is a happier one, and Klima asks: “How did that feel?”

Chang responds with “Okay. Do you want to do it again?” He agrees. They do and move on to another song, this one with sophisticated syncopation, but they’re not together. Chang stops, then looks up and smiles. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.” That’s hardly to be wondered at. She’s not been home from Los Angeles and the Grammys for all that long.

This recital was planned even before Chang was nominated for a Grammy last December. But after she won the award last month, the performance was moved to the larger Waetjen Auditorium. This move might present additional problems for the two, who’ve not previously played in Waetjen, although they have collaborated in Drinko. Chang’s winning performance was for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (with Orchestra)—shared with fellow-Clevelander John McLaughlin Williams, conductor of the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. It honored their amazing collaboration for Olivier Messiaen’s Oiseaux Exotiques (Exotic Birds).

Of course, Chang may have had a secret weapon. She not only met the composer, but also studied with his wife, Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, in Paris. Chang was the first American to win First Prize in both piano and chamber music in the same year at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (Paris Conservatoire). That competition was to be able to graduate: she’d already competed to get in, being one of 300 pianists trying for just 12 openings. She graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, (her home town) with double degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in French and Bachelor of Music from Ball State University. After that, she earned her masters degree from Indiana University and doctorate from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Wherever she has performed, “every continent except Australia” she adds with a smile, “and someday maybe there, too”, her playing has evoked the word ‘poetic’ to describe her expressive capabilities. That works here, too, for this Romantic song cycle, impetuously set to music within a nine-day span in June, 1840, while the passionate thirty-year-old composer was in a state between love-lorn and delirious with joy. He’d finally been able to marry his Clara.

Klima will begin the recital with Six Etudes for Solo Viola, from 1969, by the American born Nancy Van de Vate, who now lives in Vienna. Klima says the short work (6-7 minutes total) is in a romantic twelve-tone mode. He considers it ‘music that must be heard’.

He and Ziolek will collaborate on the four movement Concerto for Viola and Piano by noted film composer Miklos Rozsa, who was also a respected composer of classical music. The two men have performed this work previously, making it an easy choice for this recital. In the five weeks leading up to the recital, Klima, in his day job with the Cleveland Orchestra, will have played in two four-concert weekends, one three-concert weekend, one week of educational concerts (also including the return appearance of Music Director Laureate Christoph von Dohnányi) and the touring week to Florida, which includes concerts and educational activities. When in Cleveland, he also teaches at CSU; this term he has five students. In addition to the normal practicing for orchestra activities, he’ll try for 10-12 rehearsals for this recital.

A native of the Chicago area, Arthur Klima never considered any other career than musician. After a brief beginning with violin studies, he heard a viola solo “and was smitten by it” he says. He was principal violist beginning in his freshman year at the University of Illinois, and as a senior was chosen to play the solo part in Harold in Italy when the orchestra toured Southern Ohio. “Ten times,” he adds with a sigh. The experience merely confirmed his intention, and he began to audition for various orchestras—Chicago, Baltimore, Fort Wayne. It took only a brief stay at Fort Wayne to convince him he’d made the right choice, and when an opening occurred in Baltimore, he accepted the new position, staying there for about 5 years.

Eventually, in 1977, he came to Cleveland. Along with playing chamber music here and there, and the occasional solo with one of the area’s many orchestras, he’s done some teaching. About five years ago, two of his orchestra colleagues recommended Cleveland State University as a new teaching venue. It didn’t take long for him to realize it was a wise choice. He appreciates both the faculty and his students. “They’re so wonderful, these students. They have such desire, and are really good.”

His wife Jean is a nurse, and also a captain in the Army reserves. They share their home with two ‘smart’ cats. He enjoys an occasional ride on his big Honda motorcycle when he isn’t practicing or playing or teaching.

The third piece of music on the program is Lachrymae or ‘Reflections on a song of Dowland for Viola and Piano’ by the British composer, Benjamin Britten. It is a melancholy work that also exists in a version for string orchestra and viola, which Klima played with the CSU String Orchestra a few years ago. The piano version will be the first of two collaborations with Chang on this recital.

Angelin Chang is one of four siblings born and raised in Muncie, Indiana. Although all of them are involved in creative endeavors, Angelin is the only one for whom music was the chosen path. She credits her teachers for making music ‘fun’ and nurturing her love of music. It’s why she chose education as a career, with performing as an important and emphatic part of that lifestyle. It’s also why she came to Cleveland after a fairly long stay in Washington DC, and at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

“I had five offers when I decided to come to Cleveland. I knew little about Cleveland before my initial CSU visit. The opportunity to make a difference in an urban university, head the keyboard area at CSU and implement programs that tie in the professional, musical and educational communities were and continue to be interesting to me,” she says. After all, one of her greatest accomplishments in Washington was the implementation of the Arts for Everyone program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where she was the first Artist-in-Residence.

Beginning in the early 1990s, this program provided some sort of performance every evening at 6 pm. It might be a solo, duet or small ensemble, but everything was free and open to the public. The events took place throughout the center, not just in a traditional performing space. Chang remembers one time a long corridor separated two such mid-sized venues, each holding perhaps 500 persons, such was the popularity of the concept. People came directly from work, or early to a concert at the center, or just dropped by to see what was happening that day. All this, even though the center is not known for easy accessibility, especially parking.

Chang continues, “A fellow musician told me that Cleveland is a great place to live and work. Indeed it is. The community takes pride in and is appreciative and supportive of the robust arts and culture in Cleveland. I saw a lot of potential here and am glad I came.” She echoes Klima in praising the students at CSU. “The students here are great! Some of them have international backgrounds, and are seeking us out. We even have transfers from other conservatories,” she adds with a big smile. “And I was really impressed by the facilities here. Rutgers is a good school, but the facilities were not as new or as varied.”

She has no particular favorite composer or composition because “there’s so much out there. It changes week to week, and day to day. It’s important for a creative person to be open to anything.” This openness is one of the happiest memories of the entire Grammy experience for her. “It was so refreshing to meet all different kinds of musicians there. They were just all-encompassing and welcoming, I never felt out of place.” Cleveland area designers were represented there, too: Laurie Warshawsky’s jewelry complemented the gown designed by Christine La Perna who teaches at Kent State. (There are various film clips at: http://www.angelinchang.com.)

When she first came to Cleveland, Angelin lived in Cleveland Heights, but has since moved to the near west side, just a block or so from the lake. This fits with her philosophy of discovering new things; engaging in Pilates at White Cloud Studios, playing volleyball for instance, on Whiskey Island or waterskiing with friends. She likes cooking and movies and reading and theater—she’s on the board of Great Lakes Theater Festival.

But always, there’s the music. And finding the poetry in the music. You can hear for yourself on her recordings, or when she performs, as she will with Arthur Klima next Tuesday March 27, at Cleveland State. The recital is at 8 pm in Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University, and there is no admission charge!

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

Comics as a Rosetta Stone

“Why was Captain America assassinated… was it a cultural signpost?” “What Reagan-era metaphors emerged with the release of Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars series?” “How come darker, edgier comics like Hellboy, Sin City, 300 and V for Vendetta are translating so well to film and becoming so successful?” “Will Watchmen ever become a film?” These and hundreds of other questions are sure to emerge at this year’s Comics Symposium at Lakeland Community College. The 4th annual event at Lakeland, Comics: The Rosetta Stone for Life, hits this Saturday, March 24 at the college’s Main Campus. The event is no-cost and open to the public.

Deeper questions during this day-long symposium will yield answers on how comics and graphic novels have been critical in understanding and deciphering the world we live in; how comics have been used to foster cultural, critical, and cross-cultural literacy, awareness, and understanding. Keynote speakers include Dr. Michael Bitz, Ed.D. of Columbia University (founder/director of the Comic Book Project) and Tony Isabella (editor/writer of Marvel & DC Comics) will tackle these and other weighty subjects. Nationally syndicated comic strip creators John Forgetta and Kathy Dow will also participate.

The Symposium began as a series of guest lectures several years back, according to Lakeland’s Graphic Fiction instructor and Comics Symposium coordinator, Dr. Patrick McLaughlin — pictured here with pre-Symposium lecturer/speaker, Harvey Pekar. But there’s been no looking back ever since. “Every year, it gets a little bigger and a little better,” McLaughlin told Cool Cleveland recently.

“The success of comic film has fueled an interest as well. The current phenomenon relates to film noir in a big way — it’s an innovative and different rendition and dimension to comics, where it’s not just focused on superheroes,” he added. “These [characters] have foibles like we do: you see the tragic flaws in characters and their hubris, and I just think that’s seen as refreshing.”

McLaughlin says that the Symposium and accompanying Comic Art Contest is “not just for people with unusual creativity” and that no topic is out of bounds during the Symposium. “Anime, manga… there’s a wide range of potent vehicles with a strong way of telling stories,” he offered. “Comics help people deal with important life problems and the circumstances around them. All of our storylines are our own and the wedding of verbal and visual is an important way of truly exploring those storylines of life. The power and potential that this event holds for anyone to express themselves — along with that intertwining everyman phenomenon — is really quite special.”

The 4th annual Comics Symposium at Lakeland Community College starts this Saturday at 9AM. For more information, visit the Comic Book Project at http://www.comicbookproject.org and the Lakeland Comics Symposium website at http://www.lakelandcc.edu/comics.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what’s really happening. We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Chorus @ Severance Hall 3/11 Classical music is alive and well — and flourishing! — in Cleveland. One would have to go a very long ways to find two finer examples of this than Saturday night’s CYO concert and the Sunday afternoon outing by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra at Severance Hall. Jayce Ogren, an assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra is the new music director of the youth orchestra this season, and the COY Chorus also has a new director in Frank A. Bianchi. The youngsters have not faltered one little bit, as far as I can tell.

When the orchestra was founded 21 years ago, I felt a pang of envy mixed with delight. There had been no such organization when I was that age, so I generally played in adult orchestras. But to be very honest, I doubt that many of my contemporaries would have been at the level of today’s super-talented young musicians. They’re awesome and breath-taking at the same time!

John Adams wrote his Lollapalooza (for large orchestra) in 1985 as a birthday gift for Sir Simon Rattle. It’s big and sprawling and noisy as befits the name, but the rhythmic complexities, which are very reminiscent of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring held no terrors for our local young musicians! They gave it a truly joyful rendition.

The music of American composer Aaron Copland is primarily of a spare nature. His early work was frequently for larger orchestras, but in his later years, he pared the orchestra down to the bare minimum, and this transparency serves well, especially in his Old American Songs for chorus and orchestra. Some of the songs feature a soloist, as well. To my ears, it seemed as though the younger voices brought an extra degree of eloquence to the music; one I’ve not heard before.

William Marshall, the actor and bass soloist provided ample heft to The Boatmen’s Dance and I Bought Me a Cat while the chorus did wonders with Long Time Ago, Simple Gifts, Zion’s Walls, The Golden Willow Tree, At the River and Ching-a-Ring Chaw. For these songs, the chorus was joined by the Avon Lake High School Chorale, prepared by its director, William G. Zurkey. Additionally, there were some truly marvelous orchestral wind solos in I Bought Me a Cat.

The second of two Copland works was the Lincoln Portrait which saw the return onstage of Mr. Marshall, who has not only a gorgeous bass singing voice, but also a speaking voice that would surely rival that of Darth Vader (James Earl Jones). His perfect diction and clarity gave new meaning to Abraham Lincoln’s stirring words. Trumpeter Justin Pressman (who had been one of the three trumpet soloists in CYO’s Bugler’s Holiday the night before) truly distinguished himself with the prominent and beautifully-performed trumpet solos throughout this piece.

After intermission, Mr. Bianchi led his young chorus in three spirituals for a cappella voices: Down in the Valley to Pray, arranged by Michael Petersen; My Lord, What a Mornin’ by Harry Burleigh and My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord arranged by Moses Hogan. These were light and delicate pieces sung with crisp clarity of diction and intonation, yet when needed, the chorus had plenty of power as well.

Closing the program was the Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 94 From the New World by Antonín Dvořák. This symphony is a blend of the music that the composer heard while in this country (a new world to him) during the 1890s—a spiritual or two, a rhythmic reminder of Native American song and finally his own Czech music. The most famous part is, of course, the second movement Largo with its soulful melody for the English Horn. Michael Resanovic deserved all the accolades he was given for his outstanding performance. Overall, the orchestra displayed remarkable discipline and attention to detail, as requested by Mr. Ogren. Dynamics, intonation —everything!— was superb.

If you’ve not heard this group in action, they’re highly recommended as a gift to yourself or a loved one. They’ll appear again at Severance Hall on May 13 in another challenging program. For tickets or other information, call 216.231-1111 or visit the web-site: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

Ann Hampton Callaway and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra @ Palace Theatre 3/14 If you’ve ever heard or seen Ann Hampton Callaway in action, then you know she’s superb. Ditto for the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. Put the two together and it was beyond superb! She did a solid 90 minutes with no break—the fastest 90 musical minutes I’ve experienced since the Cleveland Orchestra did Die Walküre some 15 or so years ago!

Playing the Palace was a marvelous reality March 14, when the singer/songwriter who has been nominated for Tonys, Grammys and Emmys combined with our hometown big band. The event was a benefit for the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra Education Outreach Program, with a portion of the proceeds going to their co-beneficiary, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Rainbow Chapter.

Ms. Callaway is possessed of a huge voice, with a huge range; she can belt, she can growl, she can croon. Throughout, her diction is perfect, thank goodness, because she really pays attention to the words, which are entirely too good not to be understood and appreciated. (Classical/ operatic training, take a bow!) An interesting sideline is her propensity for ad libbing, and stand up comedy, which she does at the drop of a name. (Inside joke, there. Sorry, if you weren’t in the house, you won’t get it.) And as if all that wasn’t a sufficient enough display of talent for one woman (even if she says “I’m 5’10” and worth the climb, honey!”) she does absolutely knock ’em dead imitations of famous blues singers. Lady Day, for instance (Billie Holliday), Sarah Vaughan (you’d have been looking around for Sarah had you heard her!), Ella. Not to leave out Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. I swear you could not tell the difference between the real thing and the imitation. It was positively uncanny!

Furthermore, she’s also a heck of a piano player, and writes a lot of her own songs. She opened with Swinging Away in which she imitated several of the instruments in the orchestra, and really, it was hard to tell which was which. At one point, she invited the audience to sing along, “even if you don’t know the words!”

It was her own composition The I’m-Too-White-to-Sing-the-Blues Blues in which she did the imitations of the famous singers, but also she imitated a trumpet and a saxophone, and you couldn’t tell those from the real thing, either. By the way, she’ll be doing a series on PBS this fall, about singers and singer/songwriters. Liza Minelli is to be her first guest.

Mostly, though, she sings those fabulous old songs — I’m Gonna Love You; Time After Time; Mr. Paganini and Someday He’ll Come Along (the latter two a tribute to Ella, complete with marvelous scat singing); Stormy Weather and Love is Funny in a duet with Randie Shane (a local girl made good!); How High the Moon, (another duet with the trumpet this time, not in imitation); Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a tribute from a convert to Judy-ism to Judy Garland; a very uptempo Lover Come Back to Me (dedicated to Elaine Martone and the folks at Telarc, who produced her recent CD); Blues in the Night accompanying herself on the piano, and as an encore, That’s the Glory of Love.

A special highlight was the on-the-spot (sort of) creation of a Cleveland Love Song, part of her effort to make Cleveland the erotic capital of the world. Using words and phrases shouted out from the audience, (Emerald Necklace, potholes, naughty saxophone player [a running joke throughout the evening]and too much snow! among others) she then proceeded to put them in lyrical order, and added them to music that may have been previously written. In the process, she did a short comedy routine worthy of the great Victor Borge – ‘tuning’ her voice to the piano. My sides hurt from laughing so hard. When she was not accompanying herself on the piano, her pianist Ted Rosenthal did the honors—and also did a neat bit of conducting throughout.

In addition to their wonderful backing of Ms. Callaway, the CJO also played a cut from their recent CD release The Surprise of Being. Ms. Callaway’s CDs are available everywhere, especially the most recent one from Telarc. Next up for the CJO are two concerts (April 6 & 7) at the Bop Stop featuring the music of the wonderful local trombonist and arranger Paul Ferguson, followed by a side-by-side concert at Severance Hall on April 13, with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. For tickets or other information, call the CJO office at 440-942-9525, or visit their website (where you may also sign up for their newsletter or buy a copy of their CD) http://www.clevelandjazz.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

MorissonDance @ CPT 3/15 After each of the pieces of 10!, MorrisonDance Company’s program of short pieces, which they are presenting as part of DanceWorks 07, there was polite applause. This, in spite of the fact that it was opening night and many of the audience members were friends or family of choreographer Sarah Morrison, or her dancers. The tepid response was right on target. Though Morrison is a very proficient dancer, her choreography lacks dynamism. It lacks vitality. Most of what goes on during her staging is static. At no time is there a “wow” factor. Even her signature piece, Sketches of Rodin, lacked the imagery of Rodin’s sculptures, which supposedly inspired the piece. Rodin’s works are strong, command attention, make themselves stand out. Morrison’s piece, which consisted mainly of Kalindi Stockton rolling around the floor moving a piece of “marble,” was understated and anything but breathtaking.

The highlight of the evening were the masks created by Scott Radke, Morrison’s husband and artistic collaborator. Too bad the choreography wasn’t up to the visual impact of the artwork.

Capsule judgment: If MorrisonDance is ever to develop a strong following like Groundworks, Inlet and Verb Ballets, Sarah Morrison is going to have to expand her repertoire by either letting lose with her own creative juices or supplement her work with some other choreographers who are capable of taking the dancers to a new level.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://www.royberko.info

Song and Dance @ Beck Center 3/16
Reasons to go: It’s the dance part of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical that sizzles, thanks to Verb Ballets. In Hernando Cortez’ appealing story ballet, a hard-to-commit man (Mark Tomasic) moves from woman to woman, each sexier than the next. The company looks great — long-limbed Danielle Brickman shines, Faith Nejman-McNea does some seriously fun tap, and cellist Ismael Akbar shows major chops in the Paganini variations.
Caveats: In the sung 1st act, Tracee Patterson does her best to inflate her paper-thin character, a Brit who comes to America and goes from man to man, but both music and text are so trivial, it’s an uphill battle. Still, this appealing pro makes the material look better than it is.
Details: Thru 4/7, Beck Center, Lakewood. http://www.beckcenter.org
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Song and Dance @ Beck Center 3/16 Sometimes a theatre-goer sees a production and realizes that the end is better than the means. This is the case with Song and Dance, now on stage at the Beck Center. Beck’s production, co-directed by the theatre’s artistic director Scott Spence and Verb Ballets’ artistic director Hernando Cortez is an audience pleaser in spite of the problems created by the format of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s script.

The song part of Song and Dance (Act 1) tells the tale of a young English woman (Emma) who arrives in New York, ready to find love and happiness in the Big Apple. But through a string of unsuccessful relationships, she finds something more important: self-awareness. The second act (Dance) concerns one of her lovers (Joe) and his attempt to find himself, his awareness of his love for Emma, and her ultimate rejection. Well, that’s kind of what the second act is about.

The reason for the disparity between the acts centers on the very way in which the show was conceived. The final product is a combination of two Webber pieces. The first, his Variations On Paganini’s Caprice in A Minor‘, which was developed in 1978 and the second, Tell Me On a Sunday, a song cycle written in 1980, which is based on “A Minor Caprice No. 24 by Paganini.” The latter was conceived by Webber for his cellist brother Julian, and was not intended to be a theatrical presentation. When listening to the second act, if the music sounds familiar, it is if you’ve seen Cats. The score was also incorporated into that Webber musical.

Variations and Tell Me On a Sunday were wed when producer Cameron Mackintosh proposed they be combined under the umbrella title, Song and Dance, thus explaining the different acts of the show. The results may well confuse the audience which is probably looking for some clear hook between the two acts, which is hinted at, but isn’t really there.

The show, which originally premiered in London, was greatly altered before it opened in 1985. The ending was changed from a situation in which the separated lovers realize their errors and reunite (London) to: he wants to reunite, but she realizes that she was looking for love in all the wrong places (Broadway), so they go their separate ways. In spite of very mixed Big Apple reviews, the show ran 474 performances. Many feel that the only reason the production lasted as long as it did was the star power of Bernadette Peters, who gained the Tony Best Actress award for the role.

The first act is a solo piece. Except for the scene changers and a non-speaking cameo by one of Emma’s lovers, the actress sings eighteen songs, including the beautiful “Tell Me On a Sunday,” and “Unexpected Song.” And the compelling, “Come Back With the Same Look in Your Eyes.”

Tracee Patterson is wonderful as Emma. Though her voice is a little shallow in the upper registers, she is such a strong actress that all is forgiven as she sings meanings not words to make each song a clear tale in itself. Her smiles, her tears, her emotional torment all shine clearly through. This is a very difficult role and Patterson carries it off with panache.

The second act is more problematic. It is beautifully danced by members of Verb Ballets. It features Mark Tomasic, one of the very best of the local male dancers, who is ably supported by the female members of the corps. The only weakness in the dance troupe is Sydney Ignacio, who does great gymnastics, but falls short when appearing on stage with such strong dancing talents as Tomasic and Brian Murphy.

Tomasic, who is not only a proficient dancer, but an accomplished actor, is excellent. It would be interesting to see him cast in a theatrical production in a role such as Curly in Oklahoma, where he could not only sing and act the role, but dance the Dream Ballet as well.

One can only wonder why Cortez, who is a very creative and inventive choreographer, didn’t just create a second act which more clearly tells the story of Joe (Tomasic) so that it parallels the search that Emma goes through in the first act. This is hinted at, but never becomes the total focus. A clear story line would have made the dance, balance the song.

Larry Goodpaster’s orchestra is excellent. Ismael Kabar’s cello solos in the second act are finely crafted.

Capsule judgment: Beck’s Song and Dance is well worth seeing. It is another feather in the crown of the production center which has become the best over all theatre in the area… taking on musicals, dramas and comedies–and doing them all extremely well.

Song and Danceruns through April 7 at The Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. For ticket information call 521-2540 or visit http://www.beckcenter.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://www.royberko.info.

Song and Dance @ Beck Center 3/16 Song and Dance at Beck Center in Lakewood is two-acts of entertainment with a slight connection to each other. The sum is greater than the parts, however, if the sum also equals enjoyable as well as entertaining. Song is an hour-long mini-musical with just one character, Emma, newly graduated from art school in the UK, who brings her My Fair Lady cockney-type accent to New York, looking for love and success. Dance is not quite that long, time-wise, but seems much shorter because of the non-stop high-energy and high-spirits of the dancers. It’s all over much too soon.

The music for the entire evening was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, partially for his cellist brother, and is based on the familiar Caprice No. 24 A Minor by Paganini. There are 19 musical creations in Song, most of which are acted and sung by the splendid Tracee Patterson. As she goes through her various activities, from New York to California and back again, and several men in the process, she grows up considerably, although she still writes letters home to Mum.

Sections of scenery are wheeled on and off for each song, and Ms. Patterson changes at least one article of clothing (sometimes more) for each one. She also, incredibly, changes her attitude and demeanor to match. It is a totally bravura endeavor, and very enjoyable.

Dance is pure exuberance, to put it mildly! Verb Ballets for this occasion consists of three men and eight women, in solo, pairs, trios and ensemble variations. Mark Tomasic has a slight role as Joe in Song, and is more prominent in Dance. Patterson has a short sequence here, as well.

Song is directed by Scott Spence, and the choreography/Dance direction by Hernando Cortez. Costumes by Suzy Campbell, scenes and lighting by Trad A. Burns and sound by Richard B. Ingraham suit the production to a T. Larry Goodpaster keeps the music playing in splendid fashion, while Ismael Akbar beautifully performs almost a concerto on his cello.

It’s a thrilling evening in the theater, from now through April 7 at The Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. For tickets or information call 521-2540, or visit their website at: http://www.beckcenter.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

Big Love @ Cleveland Play House 3/17
Run, don’t walk: Director Mark Alan Gordon’s production of Charles Mee’s literal battle of the sexes is simply thrilling. This physically knockabout production featuring CPH/CWRU’s MFA grad students kicks major bootie. Watching the fearless cast hurl themselves at the ground in wrestling matches, nude scenes, and drag shows, while maintaining their well-drawn characters is spectacular. Everybody’s terrific, but special kudos go to the fragile Annie Paul, hypermacho Nathan Gurr, feminist Fury Melynee Saunders Warren, and exquisitely dry Deric McNish.
Disclaimer: As a writer in CPH’s Playwrights’ Unit, I normally refrain from covering Play House shows — but there must be an exception for something as ace as this. It’s one of the best things you’ll see all year: guaranteed.
Details: Thru 3/24, Studio One, http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein lindaATcoolcleveland.com

GLTC’s Hay Fever @ Ohio Theatre 3/18 They just don’t write ‘em like this anymore, which is a sad state of affairs! Thank goodness for Charles Fee and his slightly-manic sense of the absurd. And, of course, major props to Noel Coward for having written such delightful fluff in the first place! Witty and literate do it for me every time! If you like to laugh, Hay Fever should do it for you, too.

The Bliss family—mother Judith, a noted actress of a certain age; father David, an author of uncertain stature in the book world; daughter Sorel and son Simon—live together, sort of, with their maid of all work, Clara, in a great English country house. Sort of, because they are really all isolationists, each busily doing their own thing, oblivious to the rest of the world.

One fine spring weekend, the four of them have each invited a guest for the weekend. Sane, sensible people all, these guests are no match for the Blisses, who are so busy being themselves they totally miss the fact that the guests have all departed, leaving the family all alone, delightedly snipping at each other. The departure also leaves the audience laughing hysterically, especially in this production.

Director Charles Fee gleefully unleashes the Blisses on the world in this not-quite over-the-top production, in which all the elements come together splendidly. The set by Gage Williams is inviting and authentic looking, and in combination with the lighting of Rick Martin and sound of Peter John Still, happily transports the viewer to 1920s England. Costumes by Nicole Frachiseur mostly work well, especially those for the women. (David’s formal wear in the second act doesn’t quite work as well as it should—he rather looks like a butcher, although a high-class butcher, to be sure.)

The acting is on a very high level. Kathleen Firkl Tague really sinks her teeth into the role of Judith, the slightly aging drama queen. Aled Davies is marvelous as David, his attitudes as changeable as the weather. As Sorel, Sara Bruner is coltish at one moment, the grown-up young lady the next, charming in either mode, while Jeffrey C. Hawkins as Simon behaves as though he was made of rubber, slithering here and there, trying to find his artistic self. Elizabeth Ann Townsend is the overworked Clara, who manages to keep tabs on things, anyway.

As the bewildered guests, Laura Perrotta (the femme fatale), David Anthony Smith (the diplomatist), Laura Welsh (the ingenue) and Lynn Robert Berg (the athletic type) are marvelously adrift in these strange surroundings.

Hay Fever runs (in rep with Shakespeare’s The Tempest which opens March 30) through April 21 at the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square. For ticket information call 241-6000 or visit http://www.greatlakestheater.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net

Soweto Gospel Choir @ Severance Hall 3/17 How refreshing it was, seeing people of color, and people under the age of 75, enjoying Severance Hall’s acoustics and clapping along with the multi-lingual music and dance. In existence for less than 5 years, the Soweto Gospel Choir have found quick success and thrilled large audiences with their balanced blend of traditional African music, dance and costume, infused with an upbeat, accessible, contemporary vibe. International relations these days infers a post-9/11 apocalyptic whining, but these African ambassadors offer nothing but praise, partying and passion for their recently-turned democratic Soweto homeland…

So their traditional songs, with awesome vocal harmonies in Zulu and Sotho languages, flowing from the 23-person chorus, backed with 2 djembe drummers and all of them dancing in brightly colored robes, crept out over the Severance audience with respect, joy and celebration. But they also sang Peter Gabriel’s Biko, about non-violent anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko, beaten to death by police in 1977. First act closer Siteng Sediba reincarnated the traditional tune we know as The Lion Sleeps Tonight and blew everyone away. The second half’s exuberant dance segment showed the roots of hip-hop and breakdancing as the Choir took turns with their athletic exhibitions of old school b-boy and b-girl swipes, downrocks and finally, the dramatic freeze. This was hip-shakin’ hand-clappin’ celebration at it’s most joyous and spiritual. Members dropped back to man the guitar, bass, keys and drums for Bob Marley’s One Love, inviting and undeniable sing-along, a slow Bahamian reggae and other Western selections, but the a capella numbers chilled the crowd to the bone. The 4-part scat riffing (think 4 Arethas transported to South Africa) on Amazing Grace was too much: the crowd gave in to the sweet soulful salvation with spontaneous applause and “Amens!”, then leapt to its feet at the song’s glorious conclusion. Keep your eye on the surprising Tri-C Performing Arts all around town: besides the legendary Tri-C Jazz Fest 4/18-28, they plan to bring in the music of Tin Pan Alley’s Dorothy Fields at Tri-C Metro on 3/24-25, and Brave Old World at Temple-Tifereth Israel, Beachwood on 4/1. http://www.TriCPresents.com http://www.SowetoGospelChoir.com

The Rose Tattoo @ Ensemble 3/18
Reason to go: As Serafina, a passionate Sicilian widow whose emotions run ahead of her like wild horses, Linda Castro carries Tennessee Williams’ play — she’s by turns flirtatious, haggard, wild-eyed, obsessed, and droll. Molly MacLagan and Stuart Hoffman have a charming chemistry as her teenage daughter and her sailor beau, and Peter Ferry shows a rough, goofy charm as the truck driver who reawakens her.
Caveats: Though Castro is wonderful, too much of Licia Colombi’s production is awkward and stilted, with crazy-bad wigs and Italian accents that come and go.
Details: Thru 4/1. Brooks Theatre at the Cleveland Play House. http://www.ensemble-theatre.com
From Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

The Rose Tattoo @ Ensemble 3/18 Many theatres like to stretch themselves by selecting plays that challenge their directors, casts and audiences. Unfortunately, in some cases, the choices are unwise as the venue just isn’t up to the task. This is definitely the case with Ensemble and their present production, The Rose Tattoo. The Tennessee Williams’ play which, as with many of his epics, is set in the South, opened in New York in 1951 to generally favorable reviews.

The plot, which spans a period of three years, tells the story of an Italian American widow in Louisiana who has allowed herself to withdraw from the world after her husband’s death. The script, not considered to be the quality of Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire or Glass Menagerie, continues his theme of women who find themselves in societies that they don’t understand and which don’t understand them. The writing follows the Greek concept of virility, as exemplified by the god Dionysus, who is also the god of worship. Both of these themes are significant threads in the storyline.

This is a difficult script to stage. It requires a high level of acting skill and directing knowledge to make it meaningful and truthful. Ensemble’s production, under the direction of Licia Colombi fails on all levels. The concept is weak, the stage movements chaotic, the acting shallow, the accents inconsistent, the costumes poor (how difficult is it to find a real sailor suit and shoes?), the set poorly conceived, and many of the props unrealistic.

Capsule judgment: Ensemble has to realize its limits. The Rose Tattoo” is a script well beyond their directing, performance and technical abilities.

The Rose Tattoo continues through April 1 at Ensemble, which is staging its plays at the Cleveland Play House. For information call 216-321-2930.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info

GLTC’s Hay Fever @ Ohio Theatre 3/18 Charles Fee, producing artistic director of the Great Lakes Theater Festival, loves farce, he relishes double-takes, over exaggeration and bigger than life situations. Noel Coward’s Hay Fever, now on stage at GLTF, was seemingly written for Fee to direct! It’s a script with no end of hysterics, directed by a man who breathes life into every possible hysterical moment.

Hay Fever has been described as a comedy of bad manners. And that’s exactly what it is. The Blisses, who live in the English country side, give new meaning to the words, “dysfunctional family,” and all who come within their wild world get swept into the catacomb of zaniness. This group lives a life that is anything but bliss.

Noel Coward’s plays epitomize the sophisticated wit of the era between the two world wars. Hay Fever epitomizes the witty style and forked tongue of the English master of farce. Its 1925 opening was met with raves and established Coward as a major playwright. A 2006 revival of the show in London starred recent Academy Award nominee Dame Judith Dench and was met with similar raves.

The Bliss contingency consist of Judith Bliss, a recently retired stage actress obsessed about her age, her looks, and desire to be continuously indulged. Her husband David is a self-observed best selling author of bad books. Their adult children, Sorel and Simon, having been brought up in chaos, lack any sense of reality. Being overly dramatic is the norm. Into this eccentricity come a group of house guests. Unfortunately, as is the case with most of their lives, none of the Blisses know that each has invited a weekend visitor. The results are comedic chaos.

Coward once stated that the play has “no plot at all and remarkably little action. Its general effectiveness therefore depends on expert technique from each and every member of the cast [and the director’s creativity].” Fortunately for GLTF, their director and cast are up to the task. In the hands of a lesser company, Hay Fever could be a torturous experience. This is definitely not the case at GLTF.

Fee masterminds the fun. The pace is fast, the characters clearly etched, the laugh lines are all keyed, and the overall effect is wonderful.

Kathleen Pirkl Tague is correctly over-the-top as Judith. She creates THE drama queen of drama queens. This is one show in which over acting is needed, and Tague can over act! She is rivaled by Sara Bruner as Sorel. Bruner creates a character whose lack of reality is so normal and natural that it makes her believable. Jeffrey C. Hawkins flits around the stage like Tinkerbell. Hawkins so overdoes the roll that he makes us easily believe that his lack of reality is a norm. Aled Davies’s David perfectly characterizes the emotionally absent father who has disdain for the family and everyone else.

The rest of the cast, Laura Perrotta, David Anthony Smith, Laura Welsh, Lynn Robert Berg and Elizabeth Ann Townsend are all wonderful.

Gage Williams’ set, Nicole Frachiseur’s costumes and Peter John Still’s sounds, all add to the goings-on.

Capsule judgment: Hay Fever is a laugh riot. This production is a must see for anyone who loves to have a good time in the theatre and care not about the worries of the world.

For educators: GLTF has prepared an excellent teacher’s guide to accompany a discussion for students who will be attending this fun production. A special student rate applies for the run of this show and The Tempest.

Hay Fever runs through April 21 at the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square. For ticket information call 241-6000 or go to http://www.greatlakestheater.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Roy Berko’s blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://www.royberko.info.


Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com On residential tax abatement (See “Wealthy Benefit Most From Cleveland Abatement Policy” here) Roldo hit the issue square on point again. As an economist I see the problem as a decision process. Of course to economic tradeoff is the payroll (including taxes in many cases) for the property taxes. This is a tried and true model. Ask Murray Ohio. Developers typically have a some sort of a quantified target in mind for making priority decisions about investments. The old principle, rate and time equation still is the basis of almost all important decisions. A choice that will return the quickest, highest or safest will typically win. Unless there is an overriding commitment to the city, the math rules the decision. Even the tax consideration require an income stream. Seldom does the corporate model consider the positive externality of a healthy local economy as a factor. We in Cleveland need the old “give back to the city” mentality to resurface. I think the recent Voices and Choices experience speaks to this. Cleveland decision makers need to allow the city to rebuild. I believe that The Plain Dealer’s decision to cover Voices and Choices only in very neutral editorial has, hampered their efforts. Akron’s mayor and university president have extended an open hand to the Voices and Choices effort. Many other local leaders are quite supportive. Greater Cleveland’s leaders continue to place their local issues above the region. Mayor Jackson, a recognized urban planner, has begun to feel the resistance. Cleveland has vitality, as your paper represents each week. The potential is there. Corporate direction must return. Forest City is developing many projects around the country. Maybe its time for them to lead the others by investing in Cleveland without the tax give back as a quantified factor. Thank you for continuing to include Roldo.
from Cool Cleveland reader Larry Kendra easteconATadelphia.net

On Cleveland’s claims (See this item from Cool Cleveland 03.14.07 [here]: Thinking of discussing religion & politics? This should stop you: Did you know that Entrepreneur magazine recently ranked NEO as one of the hottest entrepreneurial regions? More) I’d like to challenge this apparent arbitrary rehash of supposed facts. I’m not eager to disprove any positive documented commentary about the NEO Economic landscape however I had a difficult time finding facts to support this statement. Let’s start with the link in the CC Newsletter that directs users to a page on the Greater Cleveland Partnership Site. The user then needs to ascertain that in order to find the article or statistics about NEO in Entrepreneur Magazine that you must follow the link for National News Coverage Update in the second paragraph. This link directs the user to ANOTHER page on the GCP website that doesn’t even have this link active. Being truly interested in learning how well NEO is doing in this study, I go directly to Entrepreneur magazine’s website. Here, http://www.entrepreneur.com/worklife/article165714-2.html, I discover in the article Hot Cities 2006, which was published in September (hardly new news), that Cleveland and/or NEO isn’t even mentioned at all. Further, I do a search on Entrepreneur.com to try to find articles on Cleveland/NEO. Finally I find some statistics from that same Hot Cities 2006 stories that rank Cleveland/Akron as 23rd out of 50 large cities. In this long stream of redirects…am I the one that is missing something or are you? If we are going to talk up our region, shouldn’t it be easy to find, read and educate ourselves before we start throwing “facts” around??
from Cool Cleveland reader Colette Taylor ctaylorATedgef.org

From Cool Cleveland: We should have included the direct link to the survey: http://www.entrepreneur.com/bestcities/region/large.html

On HOT Teens I had to chuckle when I read one of your headlines for the Thursday cool events: “HOT Teens as Media Consumers and Predictors” Of course, I know you used “HOT” to indicate that the event was an interesting event, but it came out as if only good-looking teens were media consumers and predictors. Thanks for the laugh.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ruben Garcia Jr. ragarciaATimagingmedicalsolutions.com

On Cool Cleveland Just a note…I really like the format for Cool Cleveland…easy to read for those of us who are aging rapidly!
from Cool Cleveland reader Sally Winter sallywinterATyahoo.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Most clicked
Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Why is Pittsburgh jealous? Our institutions are bigger than theirs, and apparently, our marketing is working.
www.Post-Gazette.com

2) Interview Holly Harlan, Founder of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability.
www.CoolCleveland.com

3) RoldoLink Wealthy Benefit Most From Cleveland Abatement Policy.
www.CoolCleveland.com

4) Ohio City renewal: block by block Architect David Ellison to renovate historic W. 41st & Lorain project.
www.CrainsCleveland.com

5) Signs of Life Film @ 11 from David Budin.
www.CoolCleveland.com

aequus nox Some people need a bit of Latin derivation. Others just want to balance eggs on their ends. Which one are you? Kudos to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Linda Eisenstein, Kelly Ferjutz, Roy Berko, David Budin, Mansfield B. Frazier, Peanuts and Jennifer Keirn. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com.

Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

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