Roy Berko - Page 11

Artistic Director Laura Kepley chats with Nathan Motta, Artistic Director of Dobama Theatre about music, artistic leadership, and the extraordinary theatre that is made in and for Cleveland.

The PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL OF NEW WORKS is a leading showcase of new plays and new playwrights. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival marks its 25th anniversary, by presenting its offerings on-line. The resulting fest is a 25-event covering 5-weeks, all live-streamed via Zoom, and largely free of charge.

On Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, 2020, the commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S., Karamu House will debut Freedom on Juneteenth, a program to feature musicians and vocalists, spoken word artists, and dancers, as they too, respond to the recent murders of Black Americans through their respective art forms. The program, to air at 7PM EST/4 PM PST on local television stations, various streaming platforms, and social media, will also include live dialogue and conversation, with accessible resources in order to create change within our communities.

On Saturday, June 27, from 6:00-9:00 (ET). Cleveland Public Theatre's Staff will (safely and responsibly) broadcast Station Hope, a jubilant community event celebrating Cleveland's social justice history and exploring contemporary struggles for freedom and equity. It is free, family-friendly, and open to all. CPT will publish how to participate online in the weeks to come.

In celebration of Pride, Playbill and Pride Plays will present four live streamed readings of plays by and about the LGBTQIA+ community every Friday in June in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

A sing-along version of the 1978 blockbuster Grease, based on the 1971 Broadway musical, will be broadcast on CBS next month as part of the network's Sunday Night Movies lineup. Grease Sing-A-Long will air June 7 at 8:30 PM ET.

Late last year Dobama invited a dozen or so people to do a series of interviews meant to focus a spotlight on the theatre's 60th anniversary. As an original member of the Dobama community I was one of those honored to be asked to participate. Here is my interview:

No one knows for sure, but according to Playhouse CEO and President Gina Gernaci, present plans call for FROZEN to open on August 15, 2020, three weeks later than originally planned. This will be followed on September 22 by HAMILTON.

It is appropriate that on March 8, National Women's Day, which contends to end exploitation and increase equality for females, I saw Seat of the Pants production of Sarah Treem's 'WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND UNAFRAID.'

Clare Barron, one of the new superstars of contemporary theater, who has been called an 'insanely talented playwright,' was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and Obie Award for 'DANCE NATION,' now on stage at Dobama.

It is totally appropriate in this era of increased activity by White Supremist groups and rising anti-Semitism, that Kent State University's Musical Theatre program stage 'PARADE,' with book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.

The Scottsboro Boys were nine African American teenagers, ages 13 to 20, falsely accused in Alabama of raping two white-women on a train in 1931.

'ANASTASIA,' with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and a book by Terrence McNally, based on the 1997 film of the same name, is now on stage at the Connor Palace, as part of the Key Bank Broadway series.

IF/THEN is a musical with score by Tom Kitt and libretto by Brian Yorkey who also collaborated on the multi-award winning NEXT TO NORMAL, which laid the foundation for a major change in the American musical theatre-the development of musical dramas. IF/THEN is now on stage at Lakeland Civic Theatre.