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July 2012 Issue:
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In the Spotlight:

3 Questions with...

Ilene Jarrell 

Cleveland
ilene jarrell

Ilene Jarrell serves on the Near West Theatre Board of Trustees, has volunteered for a number of front-of-house duties, and has three children involved onstage and backstage. She is a vice president and regional manager for one of Fifth Third Bank's regions in Northeast Ohio. Click here for a full video interview with her.


1. What was your first Near West Theatre experience?

My oldest daughter auditioned for Seussical Jr. (2008). It was incredible. There was something about this place that was magnetic and energizing and we've been here since.

2. What do you like about volunteering?  

I've met some great people who have come to see our work here. It's a little bit of everybody. There's not one certain type of person or a certain generation or age that comes here. You just get to feel Cleveland, all in this little needle in a haystack at Near West Theatre.

3.What do you value about your children's experience here?

I want my children to see what the outside world is really like. When you're in a bubble, whether it be at school or church, you can't see anything outside of that. Near West Theatre allows them to see different people, places, experiences -- topics we get to discuss at our dinner table. It prepares them for a world outside that is extremely diverse. I think that that's something that can't be taught anywhere else.
REMAINING IN
SEASON 2011-2012
Hairspray logo
July 20-August 5, 2012

Kids Loud and  Musical Organic Revue (KLAMOR)
July 26-29, 2012
arts and culture shares 2 ohio arts council
VolunteerAn anti-bubblegum Hairspray

 

hairspray poster imageEnthusiastic New York critics used words like "sweet" and "bubblegum flavored" to describe the original 2007 stage production of Hairspray, the Broadway Musical. This is not the kind of concoction Director Bob Navis Jr. wants to whip up in the Near West Theatre version of the show, opening Friday, July 20, for eight performances at 3606 Bridge Ave., Cleveland.

 

Not that this singing, dancing romp won't be a ton of tasty fun.  Its energetic score and story will be brought to life by a cast of 43 ranging in age from 13 to 21, plus two slightly older guys, one of them playing a woman.  But the real deliciousness of the play, Navis says, is in its spicy social critique, fed by deep roots in the dark work of filmmaker John Waters. By having the cast view and discuss a documentary on Waters' career as a filmmaker and author -- including the making of the original non-musical film Hairspray (1988) - Navis hopes to infuse the musical with some of Waters' rebellious, critical, shock-art flavor.

 

Navis points out that hairspray, the substance, holds things in an artificial, unnatural shape. Hairspray is about rebelling against that very kind of restriction. Its characters challenge assumptions about body image, racial segregation and other social conventions of 1962 America.  Navis wants the young actors to tap into their own experiences of being labeled, marginalized or just frozen in place and energize their characters with the life force that fights all of that.


Hairspray, with an interracial cast from the city and the suburbs, is Near West Theatre's 35th consecutive summer youth theatre production. It runs July 20 through Aug. 5. Tickets and information are available online or by calling 216-961-6391 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.  A full story listing the cast and production staff can be found here.

HairspraycastKLAMOR:
'How not to silence themselves' 

 By Sarah Burdette, NWT Communications Intern

 

This summer's "Kids Loud and Musical Organic Revue" is all about Angels and Demons, particularly the good and evil of the world and how both reside in all of us.

 

Every morning, Monday through Thursday, the 25 children involved in KLAMOR engage in exercises designed to help build a variety of skills. They start each day's activities in one large group -- a way to get to know each other and build ensemble -- then break off into three small groups focused on particular skills: poetry and scene writing, acting, singing, dancing, stage combat and improvisation. The exercises range from "snake," a follow-

klamor 2012
Winter Castro leading the "snake."

the-leader game of mimicking the leader's movements, to making sound effects with their "instrument"-- their voice.

 

"They are learning how to react through movement exercises and how to be comfortable in their own bodies," says Kelcie Dugger, KLAMOR's director and project manager. "With improv, they learn how to not silence themselves."

 

Three public performances at the end of the process -- two of them weekend matinees! -- will showcase what the kids have learned and their thoughts and opinions on injustice and ideals in society.  KLAMOR presents: Angels and Demons runs July 26 at 7:30 p.m. and July 28 and 29 at 3 p.m. For tickets and show information, click here anytime or call 216-961-6391 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. 

Tech: 'The other side of theater'GSADDaylineup

  By Sarah Burdette, NWT Communications Intern

 

As you climb the stairs to Near West Theatre's performance space on Bridge Avenue in Cleveland, the sound of sawing echoes through St. Patrick's Club Building. On the third floor you find two staff members and three tech workshop students building what is soon to be the set of Hairspray, the Broadway Musical.

 

Plywood covers the stage as three dedicated teenagers transform ordinary lumber into working stage props. Roxy Reminick, one of the three, prepares herself for a little dust. With sandpaper and a strong arm, she scrubs off the spackle recently applied to the wood. A second, Eric �Reising, uses a power disc sander to make the wood smooth and even. Marina Gonzalez picks up where Roxy and Eric leave off. When she opens a bucket of paint Technical Director Josh Padgett gives her, she calls out, "Smells like a dumpster." A roar of laughter bursts from Josh, as he gives further instruction on how to coat the plywood.

 

tech article 7.12
Roxy (left) and Marina (right) sand plywood and give it a fresh coat of paint

These are only a few of the skills the seven teens, including Roxy, Eric and Marina, are learning. Every Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. they are being trained in set building, lighting, sound, and, yes, how to use power tools -- with adult supervision, of course. "This is a chance for students to learn the other side of theater -- the basics of carpentry and theater-tech skills," says Padgett. "Each day they learn something different -- not by design. It just happens that way."

 

The seven teens will put their skills to work as members of the backstage crew of Hairspray (which will include a total of 18 teen crew members) or another NWT production in the coming year.  You can, too, whether you're trained or not.  No experience is necessary to volunteer for a Near West Theatre crew. For further details, contact Carole Leiblinger-Hedderson at  chedderson@nearwesttheatre.org or 216-961-9750.

 

KidsofSummer

Children of Eden auditions Aug. 21-23

 

Come kick off our 2012-2013 season by auditioning for our fall, all-ages show, Children of Eden. A large, multiracial cast is sought for this beautiful musical about parents, children and faith -- not to mention centuries of unresolved family business. Stephen Schwartz, who also wrote Wicked, Godspell and Pippin, created Children of Eden from legends found in the biblical book Genesis. The original 1997 musical starred Stephanie Mills (Dorothy in Broadway's The Wiz).

  

Ages 7 through adult are encouraged to try out. Rehearsals for those who are cast will start in September. The show will be on stage for 10 performances, Nov. 18 through Dec. 2. Auditions are Tuesday, Aug. 21, Wednesday, Aug. 22, and Thursday, Aug. 23, at Near West's performance space, 3606 Bridge Ave. Pick one of those nights and arrive 15 minutes before the appointed time to register. The auditions use a friendly, group process; no preparation or experience is necessary. Auditions for 7- to 12-year-olds are from 6 to 7:00 p.m. For ages 13 and older, they're from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Plan to stay for the entire time.

 

The entire 2012-2013 season will be announced soon.

 

 AugustAuditionsFundraising update

  • Lead capital gifts in May and June have left the Gordon Square Arts District with less than $1.7 million to raise to build the new Near West Theatre at West 67th Street and Detroit Avenue. Longtime supporters Jim and Anne Schoff announced a $500,000 gift earmarked for NWT at a May 2 dinner for prospective donors. A May 30 dinner brought in tens of thousands of additional dollars in donations. Yet more were announced June 28 at the arts district's annual benefit, where supporters Tom and Sandy Sullivan were honored for their leadership in the Gordon Square campaign and their December 2011 gift of $750,000 designated for Near West. Since 2006, the Gordon Square Arts District has been raising $30 million for the restoration of the Capitol Theatre (films), a first phase of renovations at Cleveland Public Theatre, the NWT construction project, streets improvements and parking. Near West's portion of that is $6.8 million.
    gsad benefit
    Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek (left) and Gordon Square Arts District head Joy Roller present Tom Sullivan with a sculpture to thank him and his wife Sandy for their leadership.
  • As for general operating funds, Near West Theatre will be the beneficiary of thousands of dollars to be raised at the Barrington Napa Classic on Saturday, Aug. 18. The annual event in Aurora, Ohio, features fine wine, golf, vintage cars, fireworks, live and silent auctions -- and, this year, young Near West Theatre performers. NWT Advisory Board member Jim Schoff and past Trustee Tim Novotny, who also work on the Barrington event, made the connection. For information on tables, tickets or other ways to help, contact NWT Development Director Lindsay Doerr, 216-961-9675 or ldoerr@nearwestthetre.org.
  • Responses to Near West Theatre's $75,000 spring appeal that ended June 30 are still being calculated as the Circle goes to press. Watch for results in the "News" box at  www.nearwesttheatre.org or at our Facebook page. Thanks to all who gave any amount, and especially to a particularly generous, anonymous, last-minute donor who may ahve put us over the top! 

RememberRagtimeMeet the interns  

Near West Theatre is getting big help from three 2012 summer interns. Besides teaming up on community outreach, phone answering and researching how to boost sales of Star Seats and merchandise, here are examples of what they've been working on individually:

 

Sarah Burdette is contributing to the Circle, brainstorming improvements to our website, querying and writing listings for local media, updating our emergency communication plan, generating social-media posts, and was our Facebooker and Tweeter on Discover Gordon Square Arts District Day on June 9. She'll be a senior this fall at the University of Akron, where she majors in public relations and business and organizational communication, with a minor in business.   

 

Emily Terrell is helping shape a year's calendar of development deadlines and actions, researching potential donors, working on our production budget, getting our annual report started, and providing a long-overdue weeding of our foundation and fundraising files. She'll be a junior this fall at Baldwin Wallace University, majoring in finance with minors in accounting and sustainability studies.

 

Hayden Neidhardt is developing an NWT alumni database, updating and cleaning up our general office database, sorting and storing costumes from our spring show, organizing our supply storage area, and helping to prepare for the Aug. 18 Barrington event (see story above). Home-schooled, Hayden is taking early college courses via Ohio Virtual Academy. A veteran of NWT casts and crews, she'll be on stage in Hairspray this summer.

 
interns 2012
2012 summer interns (l. to r.) Sarah Burdette, Hayden Neidhardt, Emily Terrell

CreativeedgeTHE CREATIVE EDGE

LIFE AS A PERFORMING ART    

 

Here are the thoughts of some of the theater world's most honored and respected actors, directors, designers, choreographers, composers and writers.  My hope is that this feature will offer inspiration to all the NWT family for living each day with radical expectation, eternal zest and joyous satisfaction.   - Bob Navis Jr, Artistic Director     

 

Hey NWT family! I'm living in the land of '80s camp and satire, Hairspray-style. Our summer youth musical is based on John Waters' 1988 non-musical film of the same name. Mr. Waters has spent a lifetime making fun of and pushing the limits of American notions of acceptability, morality, censorship, race, beauty and sexuality. Talk about living on and jumping off the creative edge! I encourage you to read his mini-bio and a compilation of his quotes at The Internet Broadway Database (IMDb.com) - but not if you are easily shocked or delicately sensitive! Here are some of his tamer thoughts.

 

John Waters quotes from IMDb.com: "My hobby is extreme Catholic behavior -- before the Reformation." "If you can make someone laugh who's dead set against you, that's the first step to winning them over to your side." "I pride myself on the fact that my work has no socially redeeming value." "I would love to make a movie for very neurotic children. But then perhaps, I've already done that. I've shown my films at children's birthday parties. They just love them, like Punch and Judy shows." "My favorite movie idea is to do a movie where everything's fake -- the trees, the grass, even the sun." "I'm 100 percent gay and about 20 percent in gay society. Sometimes I'm more comfortable in punk rock clubs than gay clubs. There are just as many rules I rebel from in the gay world as the straight one. I'm gaily incorrect, but I do vote gay." "Pink Flamingos -- I don't think it's my best movie, but God knows the day I die it will be in the first paragraph of my obituary. It helped make trash more respectable." "In The Wizard of Oz (1939), when they throw the water on the witch, she says, 'Who would have thought a good little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness.' That line inspired my life. I sometimes say it to myself before I go to sleep, like a prayer."

 

Near West Theatre is an open and affirming organization.