As the curtain rises on Playhouse Square’s 2023-24 Broadway Series season, Joe Garry prepares to take center stage in the Upper Allen Theatre. Before each production, the Bratenahl resident presents a half-hour lecture to appreciative theater lovers who come early to hear him speak. Each of his “Broadway Buzz” talks is filled with engaging, behind-the-scenes tidbits and historical perspectives. ...

From public servant to actor, Peter Lawson Jones has been taking center stage for most of his adult life. He's enjoying life in front of the camera and using his theater experience to venture into a new arena: playwriting. ...

Gina Vernaci, Playhouse Square’s president and CEO, vividly recalls the day COVID-19 took center stage in her life. It was Thursday, March 12, 2020, and the 50th-anniversary tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” was in town. Cast and crew were preparing for their third live performance of the dazzling revival when word came down that, in the wake of the pandemic, gatherings of more than 100 people were now prohibited.  ...

It’s Back!
Live Theater Returns to  Center Stage
By Linda Feagler

Stages across Northeast Ohio are ready to welcome you back with a variety of show-stopping performances. Here’s a rundown of what to see and where to see it.

 

Beck Center for the Arts

17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood 44107, 216-521-2540, ext. 10, beckcenter.org

Broadway Bound (9/10–10/3/21), The Exonerated (10/8–11/7/21), Elf The Musical (12/3/21–1/2/22), Lizzie The Musical (2/4–27/22), Meteor Shower (4/1–5/1/22), The Legend of Georgia McBride (5/27–6/26/22), Something Rotten (7/8/22–8/7/22).

 

Broadway in Akron presented by Playhouse Square at Akron University’s E.J. Thomas Hall

198 Hill St., Akron 44325, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Waitress (10/8 & 9/21), Anastasia (11/30/2 & 12/1/22),  Hairspray (4/12 & 13/22), Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The New Musical (5/10 & 11/22).

 

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

40 River St., Chagrin Falls 44022, 440-247-8955, cvlt.org

Holmes & Watson (9/17–10/2/21), Miracle on 34th Street (11/19–12/11/21), Women in Jeopardy! (1/21–2/5/22), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (3/18–4/10/22), Elliot & Me (6/10–25/22), Disney’s Newsies (7/22–8/13/22). 

 

Cleveland Play House

1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44115, 216-241-6000, clevelandplayhouse.com

Twelfth Night (10/13–23/21), Where Did We Sit on the Bus? (10/23–11/14/21), Light It Up! A New Holiday Musical (11/27–12/22/21), The Three Musketeers (2/5–27/22), Antigone (3/5–27/22), I’m Back Now (4/30–5/22/22).

 

Dobama Theatre

2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Hts. 44118, 216-932-3396, dobama.org

Airness (10/29–11/21/21), Hurricane Diane (1/21–2/13/22), Kill Move Paradise (3/4–27/22), Life Sucks (4/22–5/22/22).

 

Fine Arts Association

38660 Mentor Ave. Willoughby 44094, 440-951-7500, fineartsassociation.org

Steel Magnolias (9/17–19, 24–26 & 10/1–3/21), The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2/11–13, 18–20 & 25–27/22), Ten Below (4/1–3 & 8–10/22), Alice in Danceland (6/10, 17–18 & 24–26/22).

 

Great Lakes Theater

2067 East 14th St., Cleveland 44115, 216-241-6000, greatlakestheater.org

The Tempest (10/15–11/7/21), A Christmas Carol (11/26–12/23/21), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2/11–3/6/22), Much Ado About Nothing (3/25–4/10/22), The Marvelous Wonderettes (4/29–5/22/22).

...

In her previous novels, Paula McLain described real women who lived life to the fullest. Her wildly successful “The Paris Wife,” a book club favorite, focused on Ernest Hemingway’s first spouse, Hadley Richardson, and the bohemian existence the pair embraced. ...

Whether you’re an employed Boomer ready for a career change, or need a job-search refresher course after being downsized due to COVID, it’s never too late to begin a new chapter. People in our age range in the workforce already know what the mistakes are because we’ve made them. We already know what’s coming over the horizon because we’ve been over it many times. We already know when a plan isn’t going to work, and we know how to improve it. Why? Because we’re highly experienced and can get the job done in one-third the time of anyone else — and that’s an asset. ...

“Cleveland is an amazing place,” says Les Roberts. “There’s so much to write about and so much that inspires me — the neighborhoods, the ethnicities, the people. The years I’ve spent here have been the best of my life.” ...

“The idea for the display began organically,” Bill says. “I have fond memories of the decorations my grandfather built for the holiday season — which included a lighted windmill and an animated eagle. So every year, I put something new in the yard to honor him. In 2010, one of the decorations I added was a sidewalk garland. I began thinking, how great it would look if our neighbors put them up, too.” ...