Summer Stages: Cleveland Area Summer Theatre 2013

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association and Cleveland Critics Circle)

The Cleveland area has a full schedule of summer theatre entertainment. Here are some of the upcoming stagings:

PORTHOUSE THEATRE Kent State University's summer theatre, performed on the grounds of Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, will present SOUTH PACIFIC, June 13-29, WORKING, July 4-20, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, July 25-August 11. Curtain time is 8 PM Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 PM Sundays. The picnic grounds open 90 minutes prior to curtain time. For tickets call 330-672-3884 or go online to http://dept.kent.edu/theatre/porthouse/index.html

MERCURY SUMMER STOCK Mercury Summer Theatre, which performs at Notre Dame College in South Euclid,will offer SHREK (June 4-29), RAGTIME (July 5-20) and PETER PAN THE MUSICAL (August 2-17). For tickets go online to http://www.mercurysummerstock.com or call 216-771-5862.

CAIN PARK Cain Park, located in Cleveland Heights, produces a musical play each season. This year's offering is SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, a review highlighting the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stroller. The show runs from June 13-30 in the Alma Theatre. For the $15 tickets call 216-371-3000 or go to http://www.cainpark.com

BLANK CANVAS Pat Ciamacco's little theatre that "could and does" presents TWELVE ANGRY MEN, July 12-27, and FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE from August 23 through September 7 at their near Westside location, 1305 West 78th Street, Suite 211, Cleveland. Get directions to the theatre on the website. Once you arrive at the site, go around the first building to find the entrance and then follow the signs to the second floor acting space. For tickets and directions go to http://www.blankcanvastheatre.com

MAMAI THEATRE COMPANY The area's newest professional theatre, in residence at Ensemble Theatre in the former Coventry Elementary School at 2843 Washington Boulevard in Cleveland Heights, presents the U.S. premiere of Brendan Kennelly's translation of Euripides' MEDEA, June 13-30 and David Mamet's BOSTON MARRIAGE, July 18-August 4. For tickets go to http://www.mamaitheatreco.org/home/buy-tickets-subscirbe

Cleveland Play House Award-winning actor, playwright and concert pianist Hershey Felder returns to Cleveland Play House with his latest composer creation, MAESTRO: Leonard Bernstein from July 17 to August 4 at the Allen Theatre. For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com

BECK CENTER

THE PITMEN PAINTERS A new play by the Tony Award-winning writer of Billy Elliot is based on a triumphant true story about a group of miners in Northern England who take an art appreciation class and build an astonishing body of work that makes them the unlikeliest of art-world sensations. It runs from May 31 through July 7.

MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT The outrageous musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the cult classic motion picture MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL with music by Eric Idle, runs from July 12 through August 18, 2013. For tickets: 216-521-2540 or http://www.beckcenter.org

ACTORS' SUMMIT

THE BIKINIS, Roderick and Hindman's musical review about first love and endless summer, centers on a girl-group which reunites for a concert to sing such favorites as "Heat Wave," "It's Raining Men," and "I Will Survive." Running: June 20 through July 21 (no July 4 performance). Tickets: 330-374-7568 or go to www.actorssummit.org

OBERLIN SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL

The Festival's 2013 season will include: THE DIARY OF Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett; William Shakespeare's comedy TWELFTH NIGHT; and, Moss Hart's insider's view of Broadway, LIGHT UP THE SKY in rotating repertory from June 28 through August 3 in Oberlin's air conditioned Hall Auditorium on State Route 58 at 511, between the Oberlin Inn and the Allen Memorial Art Museum. For tickets call 440-775-8169.

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