ELF @ PLAYHOUSE SQUARE'S CONNOR PALACE

December 29, 2015 to January 3, 2016

216-241-6000

Or www.playhousesquare.org

Roy Berko

ELF THE MUSICAL is a total holiday delight.  The story line is nicely developed, the visual elements of the production pleasing, the music nicely textured, the choreography sparkles, and the acting is top-notch.  This definitely makes for a delightful experience for youngsters and adults.  
 
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.


Mark Horning

In case you are not tinseled out by the holidays and are looking for a good show to take the family to (especially the little ones) you can do no wrong by taking them to see this delightful Broadway show that just happens to have a Christmas theme.  It is chock full of nostalgia and good feelings.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

THE CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS - 2015

 CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE 2015 THEATER AWARDS

Awards Committee: Roy Berko, Mark Horning, Kerry Clawson, Bob Abelman, Art Thomas, Christine Howey and Andrea Simakis.

Note; Superior Achievement Awards are listed alphabetically (by first word or first name).

Best Musical Production: 

The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Superior Achievement:

A Little Night Music, Porthouse Theatre

American Idiot, Beck Center

Dogfight, Beck Center

Godspell, Cain Park

Violet, Porthouse Theatre

Violet, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Best Non-Musical Production: 

The Crucible, Cleveland Play House

Superior Achievement:

A Streetcar Named Desire, Mamai Theatre

Death of a Salesman, Ensemble Theatre

First Love, none too fragile

God of Carnage, none too fragile

Isaac’s Eye, convergence-continuum

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Karamu House

Our Town, Blank Canvas Theatre

Peter and the Starcatcher, Dobama Theatre

Slowgirl, Dobama Theatre

Superior Donuts, Dobama Theatre

The Mighty Scarabs!, Karamu House

The Three Sisters, Mamaí Theatre

Best Actor – Musical:

Pat Miller, Bat Boy The Musical, Blank Canvas Theatre

Superior Achievement:

Jared Dixon, Hairspray, Porthouse Theatre

Jared Dixon, Violet, Porthouse Theatre

Stephen Mitchell Brown, A Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Warren Egypt Franklin III, Godspell, Cain Park

Best Actor – Non-Musical: 

Aled Davies, King Lear, Great Lakes Theater

Superior Achievement:

Andrew Narten, The Lonesome West, none too fragile

Bernard Bygott, Much Ado About Nothing, Ohio Shakespeare Festival

Brian Zoldessy, Einstein, Actors’ Summit

Esau Pritchett, The Crucible, Cleveland Play House

Geoff Knox, OR, Dobama  Theatre

Greg Violand, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Lakeland Civic Theatre

Greg White, Death of a Salesman, Ensemble Theatre

Michael May, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Karamu House

Prophet Seay, The Mighty Scarabs!, Karamu House

Rodney Freeman, The Mighty Scarabs!, Karamu House

Sean Derry, The Lonesome West, none too fragile

Best Actress – Musical:  

(tie) Neely Gevaart, Violet, Lakeland Civic Theatre and 

Amy Fritsche, Violet, Porthouse Theatre

Superior Achievement:

Giovanna Layne, The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Jillian Kates, The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Keri Rene Fuller, Dogfight, Beck Center

Lucy Anders, A Little Night Music, Porthouse Theatre

Neely Gevaart, The Spitfire Grill, Beck Center

Best Actress – Non-Musical: 

Lara Mielcarek, OR, Dobama

Superior Achievement:

Bernadette Clemens, A Streetcar Named Desire, Mamaí Theatre

Jen Klika, God of Carnage, none too fragile

Katrice Headd, The Mighty Scarabs!, Karamu

Lauren B. Smith, Tear It Off, convergence-continuum

Leighann Delorenzo, In A Forest Dark and Deep, none too fragile

Liz Conway, in a word, Cleveland Public Theatre

Lucy Bredeson-Smith, Tear It Off, convergence-continuum

Miranda Leann Scholl, Slowgirl, Dobama

Rachel Lee Kolis, Tall Skinny Cruel Cruel Boys, Theater Ninjas

Best Director – Musical: 

Ian Wolfgang Hinz and Joanna May Hunkins, Godspell, Cain Park

Superior Achievement:

Sean Morrissey, A Little Night Music, Porthouse

Steven Anderson, Violet, Porthouse

Victoria Bussert, The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Best Director – Non-Musical: 

Laura Kepley, The Crucible, Cleveland Play House

Superior Achievement:

Beth Wood, in a word, Cleveland Public Theatre

Donald Carrier, Becky Shaw, Dobama Theatre

Leighann Delorenzo, Slowgirl, Dobama Theatre

Patrick Ciamacco, Our Town, Blank Canvas Theater

Sean Derry, God of Carnage, none too fragile

Stephen Wadsworth, A Comedy of Tenors, Cleveland Play House

Mathew Wright, The Call, Dobama Theatre

Best Choreographer: 

Martín Céspedes, American Idiot, Beck Center

Superior Achievement:

John R. Crawford, Hairspray, Porthouse Theatre

Terrence Greene, Dreamgirls, Karamu House

Best Musical Direction: 

Jonathan Swoboda, A Little Night Music, Porthouse

Superior Achievement:

Jennifer Korecki, Violet, Porthouse Theatre

Jonathan Swoboda, Hairspray, Porthouse Theatre

Larry Goodpaster, Mary Poppins, Beck Center

Best Scenic Design: 

Charlie Corcoran, A Comedy of Tenors, Cleveland Play House

Superior Achievement:

Bill Clarke, Voyna and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Cleveland Play House

Laura Carlson, Slow Girl, Dobama Theatre

Linda Buchanan, King Lear, Great Lakes Theater

Russell Metheny, Dial ‘M’ For Murder, Great Lakes Theater

Scott Bradley, The Crucible, Cleveland Play House

Best Lighting Design: 

Beth Wood/Benjamin Gantose/Sam Fisher, in a word, Cleveland Public Theatre

Superior Achievement:

C.J. Pierce, Isaac’s Eye, convergence-continuum

Paul Miller, King Lear, Great Lakes Theater

Rick Martin, The Tempest, Great Lakes Theater

Rob Peck, A Streetcar Named Desire, Mamaí

Best Projection Design: 

T. Paul Lowry, The Turing Machine, Theater Ninjas

Superior Achievement:

Adam Zeek and Douglas Puskas, American Idiot, Beck Center

Ian Hinz, Bengal Tiger in the Baghdad Zoo, Ensemble Theatre

Mike Tutaj, Mary Poppins, Beck Center

Ron Newell, Death of a Salesman, Ensemble Theatre

Best Costume Design: 

Lex Liang, The Crucible, Cleveland Play House

Superior Achievement:

Charlotte M. Yetman, The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Martha Hally, King Lear, Great Lakes Theater

S.Q. Campbell, A Little Night Music, Porthouse Theatre

Tesia Dugan Benson, OR, Dobama Theatre

William Ivey Long, A Comedy of Tenors, Cleveland Play House

Best Sound Design: 

Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, King Lear, Great Lakes Theater

Superior Achievement:

Beau Reinker, Tear It Off, convergence-continuum

David Gotwald, The Secret Garden, Great Lakes Theater

Jeremy Dobbins, Slowgirl, Dobama Theatre

Joshua Horvath, A Comedy of Tenors, Cleveland Play House

Richard B. Ingraham, American Idiot, Beck Center

Sam Fisher, in a word, Cleveland Public Theatre

Best Touring Production: 

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, Playhouse Square

Superior Achievement:

Cinderella, Playhouse Square

Kinky Boots, Playhouse Square

Pippin, Playhouse Square

The Wizard of Oz, Playhouse Square

Special Mention:

Baldwin-Wallace University, for establishing the Kyle Jean-Baptiste Memorial Scholarship in honor of the late Baldwin Wallace alumnus.

Cleveland Play House, for receiving the 2015 Tony Award for Regional Theatres.

Cleveland Play House’s Joel Grey: Up Close and Personal, for a splendid use of archival video, to help celebrate the theater’s 100^th anniversary. 

The Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance, for staging the first full-production of My Heart Is The Drum.

Cornell Hubert Calhoun III, for drawing on his life in Cleveland to create the riveting, gritty original script The Mighty Scarabs!

The Musical Theater Project, for producing concert versions of shows, replete with background information and visuals provided by Bill Rudman.

Christine Howey and Scott Plate, for their development and production of Exact Change, which was selected by the New York Times as one of the “top ten plays to look for” at the 2015 New York International Fringe Festival.

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS @ RUBBER CITY SHAKESPEARE

December 4-19, 2015

(234) 252-0272

Or www.rubbercityshakes.com

Kerry Clawson

 

The one-woman show 'Twelve Dates of Christmas' is as fun and flirty as Mary, a modern-day woman who won’t settle for just a warm body. The show has a solo type of 'Sex and the City' premise, but without the pure outrageousness and high fashion of those girls’ exploits. The comedy, which contains some profanity and references to sexual situations, is recommended for mature audiences only.

These tales of dating disasters -- featuring the lovely Elizabeth Allard as Mary -- leave us with this note of hope: Happiness just may be found when you’re not looking so hard.


To see a full review of this show, read Kerry Clawson's review here.

KRIS KRINGLE by ANGEL POLAR BEAR LLC & Creative Licensing Group @ Olmsted Performing Arts

Through December 13, 2015

Production is produced by Angel Polar Bear LLC and Creative Licensing Group
@ Olmsted Performing Arts
440-235-6722 or

http://www.olmstedperformingarts.com

Bob Abelman

In short, this play is a mess, but the production of it is gorgeous.

To see a full review of this show, go to www.news-herald.com and type "Bob Abelman" on the search bar  or http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20151209/theater-review-olmsted-performing-arts-kris-kringle-cringe-worthy

Roy Berko

Though the intentions were pure, KRIS KRINGLE THE MUSICAL is not a polished product.  It is a script in process.  It needs cutting, reshaping and focusing in order for it to fill the void for a much needed holiday play for community and professional theaters.  The score needs to be reevaluated with the addition of some signature songs and a rousing finale. The staging, though showcasing excellent talent among the lead performers, was often visually chaotic due to an over-large cast and unfocused blocking. An excess of dance numbers, some of which did not advance the plot, slowed down the production and added unneeded time to the show.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Mark Horning

This show is enjoying a world premiere here in Cleveland as it makes its way supposedly to Broadway but to get there it will need some major overhauling.  While everyone on stage is doing a masterful job, a smaller cast, simpler story, less songs that fit better would do wonders for the production.  In short it is a Christmas tree overloaded with ornaments that threatens to tip over.  Not a bad show per say but one in need of a strong rewrite.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

Does the world need a new Christmas stage musical? Hell, why not? The ones we have are getting a little shopworn about now. But does the world need a musical entertainment that, even with all its wonderful and heartfelt intentions, is the theatrical equivalent of The Island of Misfit Toys. Well, probably not.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

Andrea Simakis

But the greatest sin of this production -– one that has as much likelihood of heading to Broadway as a chubby fella coming down your chimney on Christmas Eve -– is that it's so laden with cliches and stock characters, it provokes no genuine emotion or joy. It doesn't take much to get us misty during the holidays but this "Kringle" manages to be as charming as rain on Dec. 25th.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE @ ENSEMBLE THEATRE

December 4 through 13, 2015

216-321-2930

Or www.ensemble-theatre.com

Roy Berko

Ensemble Theatre’s THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is a delightful staging of one of the books in THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA series where we visit the land of talking animals and mythical creatures and the White Witch has ruled for 100 years of deep winter.  The intergenerational cast is excellent, the costumes and special effects pleasing, and the overall effect makes for a charming theater experience.  It is hoped that Ensemble continues the concept of having family shows like this during future holiday seasons.

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER @ DOBAMA THEARE

December 4, 2015 through January 3, 2016

216-932-3396 

Or dobama.org

Bob Abelman

Dobama’s "Peter and the Starcatcher" leaves you clapping for more than just fallen fairies. 

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's CJN article here.

Roy Berko

“Peter and the Starcatcher” gets a farcical, creative and generally enjoyable production under the direction of Nathan Motta.  Though the first act often seemed exceedingly frenetic, the second act successfully developed the meaning of the story and made for an evening well spent.  It’s a chance for children and adults to let their imaginations run wild and, like Peter, never grow up. 
 
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Mark Horning

Leave your maturity and disbelief at the door and you will be in for an evening of delight.  This production should be titled “Peter Pun” due to the non-stop hilarity that takes place on stage with the zaniest cast ever assembled.  Transcend your adulthood and return to a simple time when “starstuff “could really make your wildest dreams come true and with a few laughs as well.  This is sure to be a sellout.  

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Andrea Simakis

Along with its lunatic shenanigans, slapstick comedy, sight gags and delightfully lowbrow streak – apparently, farts in the face never get old no matter how old you are – "Peter" possesses a melancholy sweetness. The feeling lingers long after the lights dim, like a memory of childhood, an echo from that faded Neverland.

To see a full review of this show, read Andrea Simakis' blog or visit Cleveland.com here.

FEEFER RISING @ CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

December 3 through 19, 2015

216-631-2727 

Or go to www.cptonline.org

Bob Abelman


This performance piece is an honest and intensely personal experience brought to life for public consumption.  Every moment – even the occasionally disorderly and disorienting ones – is absolutely intriguing.  


To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's CJN article here.


Mark Horning

This is blunt, in your face, frank and unblinking theater designed to shock you and shake you out of your holiday reverie whether you wish to be shaken or not.  This is not theater for the timid but for the bold.  Ask yourself if you are ready before going into the theater.  Once inside, there is no turning back.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

Sexuality is, of course, an intensely personal experience, and that is how it’s presented in the fascinating one-woman play Feefer Rising, now at Cleveland Public Theatre. 

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

REEFER MADNESS @ BLANK CANVAS THEATRE

December 4 through 19, 2015

440-941-0458 

Or www.blankcanvastheatre.com

Roy Berko

In spite of over-zealous musical sounds, REEFER MADNESS is a farcical delight that is a tongue-in-cheek examination of the “dangers” of marijuana.  The production elements are aptly overdone, resulting in a fun experience for an open minded audience or one that is “toked” out.
 
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Mark Horning

If you have ever seen the ridiculous propaganda film from 1936 by the same name (and even if you haven’t) you really should see the Blank Canvas production of “Reefer Madness.”  It is a hilarious farcical send-up of the film with a driving rock score.  The cast is on a real high and you will be too.  This is the kind of show that will give you visions of sugar plums dancing in your head.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

This raucous musical—with music by Dan Studney, lyrics by Kevin Murphy and book by both—is a giggle-fest whether you’re high when you see it or not.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's review at  Cleveland Scene

MARY POPPINS @ THE BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

December 4, 2015 through January 3, 2016

216-521-2540 

Or http://www.beckcenter.org

Mark Horning

If you enjoyed the sell out production of Mary Poppins last year, you will love this show even more.  The returning cast is more comfortable in their roles and really put forth the effort in song and dance to sell the show.  Tickets will go fast for this one so order early.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

THE WIZARD OF OZ @ PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

December 1 through 6, 2015

216-241-6000 

Or www.playhousesquare.org

Bob Abelman

This touring ‘Wizard of Oz’ proves that there’s no place like homage.

To see a full review of this show, read Bob Abelman's CJN article  here.

Roy Berko

Yes, Dorothy, I’d love to come back again and again to see you and the rest of the cast of THE WIZARD OF OZ.  This was a very special production that showed the value of new electronic media techniques used to their highest level of creativity to help reinvent a well-loved story.  Yes, the show takes us “Over the Rainbow,” and is filled with “Wonders of the World,” as we “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through “The Merry Old Land of Oz,” and come to appreciate that there is no place like home.  Too bad the show only stays here for a very short run.  Go!  Enjoy!

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop

Fortunately, the orchestrations by David Cullen and Graham Hurman (vocal and dance music) ingeniously gel old and new music, plus work in a bit of Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain.” The result is a reasonably cohesive, if not seamless, score...  What elevates this “Oz” is not the cast members — who are great singers but ultimately unexceptional actors (with the exception of Morgan Reynolds as the Scarecrow) — but the production value.

Mark Horning

If you are a family looking for a wonderful first time big theater experience for your children, you need look no further than “The Wizard of Oz: The Musical.”  It is the stuff that dreams are made of as well as memories that will last a lifetime.  Reserve your ticket NOW so that you can be off to see the Wizard!

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's blog.

Christine Howey

All in all, this Wizard is a splendid adaptation and actually serves as a wonderful companion piece to the movie.

To see a full review of this show, read Christine Howey's blog Rave and Pan

Art Thomas

You'll enjoy the music from the movie in this production which also boasts new music and lyrics from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The four core characters connect with the audience fully and the production design is the perfect frame for the enchanting choreography. 

Click here to read the complete review at WestLife