PlayhouseSquare Presents 'Summer Excitement 2012', 5/29-9/15

Starting May 29 through September 15, The PlayhouseSquare District will be bustling with activity outdoors on Star Plaza and inside The PlayhouseSquare theaters as PlayhouseSquare and The PlayhouseSquare District Development Corporation (PDDC) work to present "Summer Excitement 2012 at PlayhouseSquare." The program is the result of a combined effort of both organizations to build a thriving downtown neighborhood and present a variety of outdoor lunchtime and after work events for area workers plus theatrical engagements such as Mamma Mia! and a classic film series.

With more than 70 free events and activities scheduled this summer on Star Plaza and sponsored in part by Turner Special Projects, Summer Excitement meets The PlayhouseSquare and PDDC objectives of furthering the area as a vibrant and welcoming neighborhood.

All outdoor events are free of charge, with the exception of the annual PlayhouseSquare District Block Party & Tour (13th year), a public ticketed event that is also designed to engage PlayhouseSquare businesses and their employees in a social and networking environment – something unique in all of downtown.

"The Block Party is a true neighborhood event where people who work here actually know each other and that makes PlayhouseSquare an attractive downtown area to locate a business," states Tom Einhouse, Executive Vice President of The PlayhouseSquare District Development Corporation. "It's one way we meet our not-for-profit mission of developing the area surrounding the theaters."

Presenting Summer Excitement at PlayhouseSquare, with the following free outdoor events and activities at Star Plaza:

U.S. Bank Summer Garden Music Series - The lunchtime crowds at Star Plaza will enjoy a variety of instrumental music performed by Cleveland's talented musicians on Mondays from 12 noon to 1:30 pm.

Summer Garden Music Series dates are: June 4, 11, 18 and 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

90.3 WCPN ideastream Around Noon "Open Air" Broadcasts – A summer celebration of music and the arts broadcast live from Star Plaza at 12 noon.

Around Noon "Open Air" broadcast dates are: June 7 and 21; July 12 and 26; and August 9 and 23.

CBS Radio Free Lunches – Enjoy free food, contests, prizes and more from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Free Lunch dates are: June 13 and September 12.

Hatha Yoga Classes – Learn how to relax in a series of standing-pose stretching movements that promotes good overall health. Classes are held at Star Plaza on Tuesdays from 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm.

Hatha Yoga class dates are: June 12, 19 and 26; and July 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Labatt Blue Light Lime Outdoor Concert Series presented by 106.5 The LAKE – The after work series begins at 5 pm on Star Plaza with live bands, plenty of happy hour specials, giveaways, grilling foods and great people.

Blue Light Lime Outdoor Concert Series dates are: Outlaws 1 & 1, Thursday, June 14; Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band, Thursday, July 19 (party on14th Street); and One World Tribe, Thursday, August 9.

Tai Chi Classes – "The Movement of Life" for all ages and physical conditions with Tai Chi instruction to recharge the mental, physical and spiritual health. Classes are held at Star Plaza on Wednesday after work from 5:15 pm – 6:15 pm.

Tai Chi class dates are: June 20 and 27; July 11, 18 and 25; and August 1, 8 and 15.

4th Annual PlayhouseSquare Cornhole Tournament – Office workers from The PlayhouseSquare area buildings will compete in a double elimination cornhole tournament at Star Plaza on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, August 6 through September 4. At summer's end, tournament play concludes with the top two teams competing for the grand prize (cornhole trophy and bragging rights) at The PlayhouseSquare District Block Party & Tour, September 7. Cornhole tournament registration fees benefit the City Mission, Cleveland Animal Protective League and Rise Above It.

13th Annual PlayhouseSquare District Block Party & Tour – The traditional end of summer event on Star Plaza is scheduled for Friday, September 7. This outdoor block party celebrates with signature dishes by The PlayhouseSquare restaurants, A Taste of Excellence Catering and Johnsonville products, live music presented by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, cash bar, a walking tour of the neighborhood by the Take a Hike guides and the cornhole tournament finals. Tickets on sale August 1.

Sparx City Hop Chow Down – Sparx City Hop Chow Down celebrating art and food at Star Plaza Saturday, September 15 from 11 am – 6 pm featuring Cleveland's favorite food trucks and more.

Summer Excitement at PlayhouseSquare includes the following theater schedule of performances and entertainment: Sondheim on Sondheim, now through July 8; Footloose, June 1-3; Kristin Chenoweth, June 13; Bobby Selvaggio Hendectet Jazz Collective, June 16; North Coast Men's Chorus presents Brian Stokes Mitchell, June 23; Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!, June 28; Mamma Mia!, July 13 – 22; Nicki Minaj, July 19; Cinema at the Square, August 2 – 19 and II Divo, August 14. Tickets are currently on sale (except for Cinema at the Square) at The PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office, 1519 Euclid Avenue, online at playhousesquare.org or by calling 216-241-6000. Group orders for 15 or more may be placed by calling Group Services at 216-664-6050.

The PlayhouseSquare District Development Corporation {PDDC} is a not-for-profit organization comprised of PlayhouseSquare district neighborhood property owners. Property owners initiate programs that focus on creating and maintaining a clean and safe, aesthetically appealing, active and exciting district for business, residence, recreation and entertainment. These programs are led and managed by PlayhouseSquare [performing arts center and area developer] with approval by the PDDC board members. The PDDC was the first district in Downtown Cleveland to establish a Business Improvement District {BID} where property owners instituted a self-assessed tax {based on frontal footage of each building} to privately manage services such as, sidewalk and street cleaning, security, beautification measures and marketing. They also played an active and primary role in creating the "Clean and Safe" ambassador's program, along with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. The BID model initially developed by the PDDC has been adopted by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

PlayhouseSquare is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is presenting and producing a wide variety of quality performing arts, advancing arts education and creating a destination that is a superior location for entertainment, business and residential living, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the region.

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