Musical Theater Project Teams with Cleveland Jazz Orchestra for SWING'S THE THING!, 4/11

The Musical Theater Project, in its first collaboration with Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, presents the multi-media concert "Swing's The Thing!" for two performances: Saturday, March 21, at 8pm at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square and Saturday, April 11, at 7pm at Stocker Arts Center on the campus of Lorain County Community College.

The concert is conceived and written by TMTP artistic director Bill Rudman, who will co-host the evening with newly appointed CJO artistic director Paul Ferguson and noted jazz pianist Joe Hunter. The show offers an array of Cleveland's finest jazz talent, combining Hunter's trio of piano, bass and drums with five CJO horn players and TMTP vocalists Erin Keckan and Tony Sias.

"Swing's the Thing!" celebrates the impact of the Swing (or Big Band) Era on Broadway and Hollywood musicals with such classic songs as "This Can't Be Love," "Accentuate the Positive," "I Hear Music," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" and "Jeepers Creepers."

Says Rudman: "It's a kick to work with Joe and Paul on this show. We're struck by how joyful the art of the 1930s and 40s can be -- at a time when America was either suffering through the Great Depression or facing the monumental challenge of World War II. Paul has created brand new arrangements for most of these songs. They communicate a terrific energy."

The Ohio Theatre is located at 1511 Euclid Avenue in the heart of Playhouse Square. General tickets are priced at $25-$50; TMTP Member tickets are $20-$45. Tickets are available through the Playhouse Square box office at 216-241-6000 or by visiting www.playhousesquare.com.

Stocker Arts Center is located at 1005 N. Abbe Road in Elyria. Adult tickets are priced at $15; children (18 and under) are $10. Tickets are available through the Stocker Arts Center box office at 440-366-4040 or by visiting www.stockerartscenter.com.

"Swing's the Thing!" is presented as part of the "Song Is You!" concert and cabaret season produced each year by The Musical Theater Project at a variety of locations.

"The Song Is You!" receives additional support from Robert Conrad, Susan Kohn and Mike Kohn, the Cleveland Foundation, the Kulas Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Ohio Arts Council. Media sponsors include Cleveland.Com, WKHR 91.5 FM and WCLV 104.9 FM.

ABOUT THE MUSICAL THEATER PROJECT -- A nonprofit organization founded in 2000, TMTP produces concerts, in-school residency programs, radio programming and recordings that foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of a uniquely American art form. To learn more about TMTP, call 216-529-9411 or visit www.MusicalTheaterProject.org.

Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Musical Theater Project with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Musical Theater Project also receives public support with local tax dollars from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, to preserve and enrich our region's artistic and cultural heritage.

ABOUT THE CLEVELAND JAZZ ORCHESTRA -- For 30 years, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio's premier jazz voice. Led by new artistic director Paul Ferguson, the CJO promotes jazz in its historical and contemporary forms, through concerts with gifted jazz musicians, arrangers, composers and educators in northeast Ohio. The CJO aims for worldwide recognition in cooperation with guest artists, and looks to shepherd young musicians toward the future of jazz. This season exemplifies this mission and vision through a variety of new music, new compositions and arrangements, and a stellar line-up of well-known guest artists and young up-and-coming talent! See more at: www.ClevelandJazz.org/about-cjo/cleveland-jazz-orchestra/#sthash.0zRfO0OU.dpuf

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