Drama, comedy, musical or mystery, the curtain has risen on another entertaining theater season and the venue is yours for the choosing. Engage your inner thespian as a spectator, volunteer or sponsoring patron.
You’ll find a variety of programs in large and small venues. We’ve got new and returning can’t-miss shows to consider for the months ahead. Order your tickets early. The 2019-2020 live theater season is under way.
Beck Center
The Beck Center is in its 86th year of creating art experiences featuring a signature blend of eclectic titles, including a heated drama featuring a Hollywood film star, an encore production of a blockbuster musical and the ninth collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre program. Enjoy the theatrical journey.
17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, ext. 10, beckcenter.org
The Member of the Wedding
Oct. 4-Nov. 3
Shrek The Musical
Dec. 6-Jan. 5
The Scottsboro Boys
Feb. 7-23
Steve Martin’s Meteor Shower
April 3-May 3
Disgraced
May 29-June 28
Something Rotten!
July 10-Aug. 9
Brecksville Theatre
The Brecksville Theatre is a product of the merger between the two longstanding theater groups in Brecksville: Brecksville Theater on the Square and Brecksville Little Theatre. The new group honors the history of both organizations with a straightforward mission: “to engage the community through the performing arts.”
49 Public Square, Brecksville, 440-736-7749, brecksvilletheatre.org.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever the Musical
Nov. 1-17
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, one of the nation’s oldest community theaters, begins its 90th season of providing plays, musicals, youth theater education and special events since 1930. A true community theater, it is recognized throughout the region as a venue for high-quality productions that showcase the talents of area actors and delight thousands of theater lovers each season.
40 River St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-8955, cvlt.org
Matt’s First (Real) Thanksgiving
Oct. 18-Nov. 2
Annie
Nov. 15-Dec. 15
An Act of God
Nov. 22-Dec. 7
Art of Murder
Jan. 17-Feb. 8
The Taming
Feb. 21-March 7
Pippin
March 13-April 4
The Turn of the Screw
May 1-17
Women in Jeopardy!
May 29-June 13
Red White & Tuna
June 19-July 4
Newsies
July 17-Aug. 15
Dobama Theatre
Founded in 1959, Dobama Theatre’s mission is to premiere the best contemporary plays by established and emerging playwrights in professional productions of the highest quality.
2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-3396, dobama.org
Wakey, Wakey
Oct. 18-Nov. 10
The Old Man And The Old Moon
Dec. 6-Jan. 5
Skeleton Crew
Jan. 24-Feb. 16
Dance Nation
March 6-29
The Other Place
April 24-May 24
The Fine Arts Association
For more than 50 years, The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby has been a gathering place for individuals to learn, create, enjoy and appreciate the arts. If you love theater and music, you will enjoy this upcoming season.
38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, 440-951-7500, fineartsassociation.org
The Sound of Music
Nov. 29-Dec. 22
Charlotte’s Web (Youth Theatre)
Feb. 14-March 1
Ten Below
One-Act Festival
March 27-April 5
Chicago
June 5-20
French Creek Theatre
Part of the Lorain MetroParks Nature & Arts Center, French Creek Theatre has played host to an exceedingly diverse body of performances, encouraging patrons to expand the scope of their own theatrical tastes Handicap-accessible and equipped with assistive listening devices.
4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, 440-949-5200, MetroParks.cc/theatre
Patrick Barlow’s A Christmas Carol
Dec. 6-22
The Drowsy Chaperone
Feb. 7-23
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
April 24-May 10
The Music Man
July 10-26
Macbeth
Aug. 14-16
The Hudson Players
The Hudson Players, an all-volunteer, non-profit community theater organization and one of the longest-running theater troupes in the area, begins its 75th anniversary season. Volunteers are always welcome to assist with a variety of tasks including publicity, poster distribution, set building, costumes and more.
41 S. Oviatt St., Hudson, 330-655-8522, hudsonplayers.com
Noises Off
November 2019
Company
February 2020
Bright Star
April-May 2020
Judson Manor
Open to the Greater Cleveland community, Theatre in the Circle is the only professional theater company in the country helmed by residents of a retirement community. Plays are performed by local theater artists as well as Equity actors in Judson Manor’s ballroom. Judson’s venue offers fully barrier-free access as well as hearing loop technology that brings audio directly into patron hearing aids and cochlear implant telecoils.
1890 E. 107 St., Cleveland, 216-791-2555, judsonsmartliving.org
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Musical
Dec. 12-15
The Fantasticks
Feb. 13-16
Regional Premier To Be Announced
May 7-10
The Musical Theater Project
Founded by Bill Rudman in 2000, The Musical Theater Project is a nonprofit arts education organization that fosters a deep appreciation of the American musical – and the social and cultural history surrounding it – by creating programs that educate as well as entertain people of all ages. Productions are held throughout Northeast Ohio.
musicaltheaterproject.org
A Christmas Cabaret
Dec. 13-14 (Stocker Arts Center, Cirigliano Studio Theatre)
Dec. 15-16 (Nighttown)
Make Someone Happy: Songs of Comden & Green
Jan. 24 (First Baptist Church of Cleveland)
Jan. 26 (Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square)
Seize the Day!
March 7-8 (Nighttown)
Rothschild & Sons In-Concert Musical
April 19 (Kent State University)
April 21 (Fairmount Temple)
The Impact of Camelot
May 30 (Solon Center for the Arts)
May 31 (Gartner Auditorium, Cleveland Museum of Art)
Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square welcomes more than one million guests every year for touring Broadway shows, concerts, comedy, opera, dance and children’s programming. Its KeyBank Broadway Series season ticketholder base (more than 32,000) is the largest in the country, making Cleveland one of fewer than 10 markets that can support a three-week run of a touring Broadway show. This season’s Broadway performances will certainly ignite your passion for the theater.
1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-771-4444, playhousesquare.org
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Oct. 8-27
The Band’s Visit
Nov. 5-24
Mean Girls
Dec. 3-22
Anastasia
Feb. 4-23
Jesus Christ Superstar
March 10-29
My Fair Lady
April 28-May 17
Disney’s Frozen
July 15-Aug. 16
Weathervane Playhouse
In a span of 70-plus years, Weathervane has constructed, torn down, recycled, painted and refitted stage settings for more than 500 productions, including Stage II and Youth Theater productions. This kind of effort is the result of volunteer dedication based on the founders’ original philosophy that “all who can contribute are welcome.”
1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, 330-836-2626, weathervaneplayhouse.com
Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None
Oct. 17-Nov. 3
Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Nov. 26-Dec. 22
Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace
Jan. 16-Feb. 2
Memphis
Feb. 20-March 8
Radium Girls
March 26-April 5
Kinky Boots
April 23-May 17
Second Acts
Did you ever have the urge to “tread the boards?” Or maybe you had a part in your high school play and want to get back on stage. Here’s where to start:
- The Fine Arts Association in Willoughby offers private acting study for adults to explore and develop their acting skills. Contact the director of education at 440-951-7500 x118.
- The Beck Center in Lakewood offers classes in acting and improvisation. Check beckcenter.org for further details on days and times.
- Cuyahoga Community College presents academic (credit) classes in theater techniques and improvisations on all three campuses. Adults can register for these classes on an auditing status, provided there is room in the class. Visit tri-c.edu for details on offerings and locations.
Also, check with your local community theaters and senior centers for classes. And (don’t) break a leg.
Margaret Briller is a freelance writer in Northeast Ohio who enjoys attending community theater productions in various cities.
