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Jan. 2015 Issue:
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In the Spotlight:

3 Questions with 

Katie Klaus

New York City
Katie Klaus's credits as a Broadway actor include The Bridges of Madison County, Bonnie and Clyde, A Catered Affair, and Inherit the Wind. Her first show at Near West Theatre, while she was a student at Brunswick High School, was Brigadoon (2001). She graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2006 with a degree in musical theater.
1. What's one strong early Near West Theatre memory you have?
Warm ups with Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek and Bob Navis are a memory I won't ever forget. I was nervous to join NWT, but after Stephanie and Bob got in front of the cast and wiggled around with no inhibitions, my nerves instantly melted away. It was so freeing to be around them and the cast.
 
2. Now that you're a professional actor, what's something that sticks with you even now from your Near West Theatre days? 
I always bring myself into my work. NWT gave me a safe place to shatter my boundries and explore who I am. Because I learned that freedom, the work I do as an actor has a uniqueness found only in trusting yourself and the people around you to create something wonderful together. This is a gift from NWT I am very grateful for.

3. What's your hope for Near West Theatre now that we're about to open our long-awaited new building and a new chapter in our history? 
I hope that the summer shows won't have to perform in one hundred degree heat anymore! (just kiddin'!) Although that will be a welcomed perk, I know the NWT, with the group it was when I was there and the people it consistently attracts to do shows, will always give people a place to let their creativity fly free and grow. My hope is that it reaches an even wider group of people in Ohio and shows them what a unique and amazing place it is. Ohio needs more places like Near West Theatre.
arts and culture shares 2 ohio arts council

The Near West Circle 
Editor: Hans Holznagel
Designer: Sara Radak

shrek Auditions Jan. 20-22 for Shrek:
first musical ever on new stage!
  
Shrek the Musical (book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Jeanine Tesori) needs a large cast of all ages.
It's the grand opening, main-stage spectacular in our new theater, and we want you to audition for it! Auditions for Shrek the Musical will be Tuesday, Jan. 20, Wednesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 22, at West Side United Church of Christ, 3800 Bridge Ave.: ages 7 through 12, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.; ages 13 through adult, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Pick one night, arrive 15 minutes early to register, and stay the entire time. For those who are cast, rehearsals start Feb. 15; performances are April 24-May 17 at our new home in the Gordon Square Arts District, 6702 Detroit Ave. As always, it will be a friendly, group-oriented audition. No experience or preparation necessary! All roles are open. We seek a large, diverse cast of all ages (this means you too, adults!). Click here to learn more about the show and see some videos about our audition process.
openhouse Sneak-peek Open House,
Sat., Feb. 28, in new theater
  

Come imagine the possibilities during a Community Open House in our newly constructed theater on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1 to 5 p.m. There'll be tours, refreshments, fun photo opportunities, a 3 p.m. ritual in the center of the space, and plenty of time to greet Stephanie, Bob and other friends, old and new. We'll still be in the process of moving in - hanging lights, painting, and generally getting settled - but we're eager to let everyone finally have a look inside. And we like the thought that the first opening of the doors will be for everyone - free and open to the public. Help us invoke the spirit of Near West Theatre in this new space! You'll find us at 6702 Detroit Ave. (at West 67th Street) in the Gordon Square Arts District.

seatsSeat campaign - and a wish list

  

Without raising another dime in capital funds, we can inhabit our new, energy-efficient home and hit the stage running as we continue our 37-year legacy of art and mission into a new era. But we still have a "wish list" of physical features that will help us reach full potential in this long-awaited space. New theater seats and versatile aluminum risers are Priority One. For $300 toward that campaign (or $1,000 for our 40 special Loft seats) you can have your name on one of the new foldable theatrical seats we plan to order. Special dance flooring, additional theatrical rigging and lighting, an outdoor wall mural and lighting, and a corner sign are among other items on the wish list. Please contact Director of Development Joseph Castellano, 216-961-9750, jcastellano@nearwesttheatre.org, to find out how to make a tax-deductible gift toward this capital wish list.

calendarOur grand opening calendar
  
Our Annual Benefit gala, Saturday, March 21, will be in our own space for the first time ever.

It's here. The Year. At last! Be sure you can say you were there when Near West Theatre opened in Gordon Square: put these spring and summer events in your calendar. All of events (except Shrek auditions) will be at the theater, 6702 Detroit Ave.:  

  • Jan. 20-22: Shrek the Musical auditions (ages 7 and up) at West Side United Church of Christ. See times in article above.
  • Feb. 28: Community Open House, 1 to 5 p.m. Free.
  • March 14: Blowout Dance Party (ages 21 and over), 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. $20.
    Young adults will audition in May for Hair (book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot) and perform it in July and August.
  • March 21: Annual Benefit, "There's No Place Like Home," 7 to 11 p.m. $100
  • April 24-May 17: Shrek the Musical, dates and times here. $20, $10, $8.
  • May 19-21: Hair auditions (ages 16 to 26). 7:30 to 10 p.m.
  • July 24-Aug. 9: Hair (for mature audiences), dates and times here. $20, $10, $8.
  •  July 27-29: Auditions for fall children's production (ages 9 through 15)
construct Construction update
  

We're on target to get into our new building by mid-February. Painting, electrical work, fly-space rigging, the stage surface and the elevator are among the items still being completed indoors. Once a certificate of occupancy is received, we'll move our offices, begin the extensive work of installing theatrical equipment and get started on special painting and mural projects in the lobby and lower level. The building's exterior is finished. Plaza landscaping and pavers will soon be installed now that the pouring of concrete is done there. Bases have been poured for a free-standing entryway sign currently being fabricated, featuring an LED reader board and colorful artistic elements meant to suggest that our new building is a "magic factory of transformation." That theme will also be carried by a mural on the blue south wall, which awaits warmer weather later in 2015 and a bit of additional fundraising (see "Seats and other wishes" article in this issue). Solar panels, which had been scheduled to go up in late fall or early winter, will now wait till spring for the safety of the workers putting the brackets and panels on our steeply sloped roof.

These bases, seen on Dec. 19, will support a colorful entryway sign and LED reader board.
The plaza in front of the theater as seen on Dec. 19, as concrete pouring neared completion. Photos by Hans Holznagel

volunteersVolunteers: Help us open our new theater!

  

Did you know that, on average, over the course of each Near West Theatre production, about 100 volunteer spots have to be filled to make things run well? That includes box office helpers, greeters, ushers, concession and gift shop workers, bakers of cookies and brownies, poppers of popcorn, backstage crew members, spotlight operators and more. In our new building we'll need even more of you, especially for the series of opening events this spring and summer. To make our audience experience everything it can be, we'll need folks outdoors to welcome people to the District and direct drop-off and foot traffic, and indoors to help guests find their way around. Interested in helping out in any of these ways? Visit our Near West Theatre Volunteers page on Facebook or contact volunteer coordinator Kim Flaherty at volunteers.nwt@gmail.com.

Near West Theatre is an open and affirming organization.