Spring 2024 News for Playhouse Square donors & volunteers
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE EXPANDS NORTH
JUMP BACK BALL PARTNERS RAISE THOUSANDS FOR EDUCATION
BROADWAY IN CLEVELAND
2024-25 KEYBANK BROADWAY SERIES LINEUP!
STUDENTS SHINE ON THE MIMI OHIO STAGE AND MORE!
It is already May and we are preparing for summer performances and more excitement at Playhouse Square. Craig has officially made it through his first Cleveland winter and, along with the return of warm weather, we are all celebrating his first year as President & CEO.
As you may have heard, we are expanding the north end of our campus with our recent purchase of the Greyhound building. We cannot wait to share our plans for the space when they are solidified, and we are happy to be able to preserve the historic integrity of the Art Deco building. We plan to work with the city of Cleveland and Greyhound to ensure the transition to Greyhound’s new base happens on a timeline that works for all involved. I cannot express how excited we are for the future at Playhouse Square!
The Dazzle Awards on May 18 have 37 remarkable schools participating; developing the Broadway stars of tomorrow. developing the Broadway stars of tomorrow. Through master classes, apprenticeships and the Student Reporter program, more than 2,000 students can build skills in all aspects of theater and beyond. I want to extend a special thanks to Pat and John Chapman, whose dedication to the Dazzle Awards Program positively impacts the lives of so many students.
We hope you enjoyed the announcement of the 2024-25 KeyBank Broadway Series! The season holds a critically acclaimed lineup including A Beautiful Noise and Kimberly Akimbo
Personally, I am excited for the final production of the current KeyBank Broadway Series season, my favorite, MJ the Musical. If you remember waiting for the iconic “Thriller” video to air on MTV and if the image of Michael Jackson in his red leather jacket brings back a wave of nostalgia, this show is for you!
At Playhouse Square, we believe in the transformative power of the arts. Your choice to support Playhouse Square as a donor makes our mission possible. Here’s to another season of innovation and renewal!
Best Always,
Michelle Ryan Stewart Senior Vice President of EngagementJason Bogdany Development Research & Database Manager 216-640-8428
jason.bogdany@playhousesquare.org
Karen Bridegum
Donor Relations Coordinator 216-640-8419
karen.bridegum@playhousesquare.org
Jason Brown
Donor Relations Coordinator 216-640-8422
jason.brown@playhousesquare.org
Meg Colwell
Director of Guest Services
216-640-8559 meg.colwell@playhousesquare.org
Steven Deliman
Donor Relations & Special Projects Coordinator 216-640-8426
steven.deliman@playhousesquare.org
Leanne Dewyer Director of Development 216-640-8411
leanne.dewyer@playhousesquare.org
Anthony DiBacco
Guest Services Manager 216-640-8553
anthony.dibacco@playhousesquare.org
Victoria Gray Development & Education Fund Manager 216-640-8417
victoria.gray@playhousesquare.org
Cheryl Helden Foundations & Major Gifts Manager 216-640-8406
cheryl.helden@playhousesquare.org
Meg Kearns Volunteer Administrative Coordinator 216-640-8551
meg.kearns@playhousesquare.org
Katherine Schoen
Donor Communications Coordinator 216-640-8664
katherine.schoen@playhousesquare.org
Sarah Martin Director of Front of House & Food & Beverage Operations 216-640-8535
sarah.martin@playhousesquare.org
Claudia Medlin
Gift Processing & Data Entry Coordinator 216-640-8409
claudia.medlin@playhousesquare.org
Katie Remark Partners Coordinator 216-640-8721
katie.remark@playhousesquare.org
Michelle Ryan Stewart Senior Vice President of Engagement 216-640-8410 michelle.stewart@playhousesquare.org
Sarah Stengel Development Manager 216-640-8408 sarah.stengel@playhousesquare.org
Owen Towns Donor Relations Coordinator 216-640-8418 owen.towns@playhousesquare.org
David Turner Development Ticketing Manager 216-640-8432 david.turner@playhousesquare.org
Mary Winchester Director of Donor Engagement 216-640-8412 mary.winchester@playhousesquare.org
When Craig came on the scene last year, one of his top priorities was maintaining a focus on areas important to Playhouse Square which did not fall directly under the responsibility of a particular department. These areas below are now staff-led committees, comprised of staff members who provide recommendations in the following areas:
Chair: Treva Offutt,
Director of EducationThe DEIB Committee’s function is to assess and make recommendations for Playhouse Square to ensure everyone feels welcome, respected, included and supported.
Carl
Dettlebach, Director of FacilitiesThe Sustainability Committee explores opportunities to create a more sustainable work, theater and District ecosystem. The committee makes recommendations on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in partnership with the Cleveland 2030 District and in support of the United Nation’s sustainability goals for climate change.
Chair:Kim Scott,
Director of Human ResourcesThe Wellness Committee is dedicated to being a voice and resource for the Playhouse Square staff. They implement improvements for staff well-being and for the wellness program.
Wellness
What makes Playhouse Square a good fit to take on the Greyhound station?
Playhouse Square is really the perfect organization to take ownership of the Greyhound station. We have a long history of stewarding and restoring historic buildings and we want to ensure that the Greyhound building remains an asset to the community. The building opened in 1948 and is on the National Register of Historic Places; we know what it takes to preserve the beauty and integrity of this Art Deco building and can’t wait to get started.
Can you share with us any plans for the space?
While our plans for the Greyhound station are still in the working stages, we hope to use the space to create an immersive theater experience. As we continue to expand the north side of our campus, we also look for opportunities to create a dedicated space for our educational programs. While we solidify plans for the Greyhound station, we are working closely with Greyhound and the City of Cleveland to ensure that the transition to Greyhound’s new base works for all parties.
Some community members have expressed concern that, under new ownership, the historical integrity of the Greyhound building may be at risk. What plans does Playhouse Square have to preserve the history of the Greyhound station?
The history and originality of the Greyhound station was key to our interest in this new project. Since its very beginning, Playhouse Square has been rooted in restoration and preservation. In fact, many of the same people who worked on the restoration of the Mimi Ohio Theatre in 1982 will be instrumental in the Greyhound project. We are excited to restore and showcase the Greyhound station’s rich history, both for its local and architectural significance.
Board of Trustees Vice Chair of Real Estate, Bill Cosgrove, talks about Playhouse Square’s recent purchase of the Greyhound station on Chester Avenue.
In March, students from Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership Academy, one of Playhouse Square’s Disney Musicals in Schools most successful alumni schools, came to see Annie.The students participated in a post-show talkback with the actors who played Miss Hannigan and Rooster and the show’s head of carpentry. Earlier in the
month, the students performed Annie KIDS, adding to their excitement for the field trip.
In 2020, Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership Academy was preparing to take the stage at Playhouse Square as part of the Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share but lost their opportunity
due to the pandemic. Despite the disappointment, their devotion and enthusiasm for theater never wavered. The original 15 students have continued to be a strong presence in their theater program, running lighting, sounds, stage crew, costumes and more for the current 3rd-5th graders.
Thank you to Playhouse Square Partners and other supporters for making this trip possible.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
This February, more than 800 villains infiltrated Playhouse Square to attend Jump Back Ball: Villains Unleashed: A Night of Chaos.
Guests started their hijinks in the Connor Palace at the Parker Hannifin VIP Party with live music from Apostle Jones. They then explored the KeyBank State Theatre and danced the night away to KC & Company at the KeyBank Main Stage Party. The villains also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, stilt walkers & performers, and tried their luck at casino games and an expansive raffle and silent auction. DJ NicNacc closed out the night in the
AVENGING ANTI-HEROES
Labatt USA
MAI Capital Management
Medical Mutual
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
MISCHIEVOUS MINIONS
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
nicholas guglielmo
J.W. Didado Electric
Marcus Thomas
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Taft
William M. Weiss Foundation
MARKETING SPONSOR
SHOP NIGHT SPONSOR
Pope’s Kitchen
PRINT & DESIGN
lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre. This event would have been impossible without the hard work of Partners members who started planning the event eight months in advance. They chose the theme and entertainment, created and implemented a fundraising campaign, and built all the event’s decor, including a cityscape, moon and haunted forest.
Through the efforts of Partners, JBB sponsors, attendees, volunteers and other supporters, the event surpassed its fundraising goal and raised a net income of $109,190!
JBB 2024 FAST FACTS
Income raised through on-site fundraising efforts: $33,346 Net income: $109,190 111
Number of volunteers: (exceeding Partners $100,000 fundraising goal!)
Total number of hours volunteers donated: 1,124
Welcome and thank you to our new Donor Circle members from December 1, 2023 through May 1, 2024.
Director ($25,000-$49,000)
DLR
Platinum
Platinum
DONOR APPRECIATION NIGHT
June 4, 2024
PARTNERS YEAR END CELEBRATION
June 13, 2024
FRIENDS APPRECIATION NIGHT
June 5, 2024
October 8-27, 2024
THE UNTOLD TRUE STORY OF A BROOKLYN KID WHO BECAME A CHART-BUSTING, SHOW-STOPPING, AWARDWINNING AMERICAN ICON
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is the uplifting true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, show-stopping American rock icon. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold-out concerts around the world that made him bigger than Elvis, Neil Diamond’s story was made to shine on Broadway-and head out on the road across America.
Like Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical before it, A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL is an inspiring, exhilarating, energy-filled musical memoir, that tells the untold true story of how America’s greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career.
November 5-24, 2024
Winner of 4 Tony Awards,® including Best Choreography and Best Costumes, and the Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album, SOME LIKE IT HOT is “A Super-Sized, All-Out Song-And-Dance Spectacular!” – The New York Times
Set in Chicago when Prohibition has everyone thirsty for a little excitement, SOME LIKE IT HOT is the “glorious, big, high-
kicking” (Associated Press) story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime.
And what a trip it is! With its irresistible combination of heart and laughs, song and dance, SOME LIKE IT HOT won more theater awards than any show this season, and was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk, The Drama League, and the Outer Critics Circle. No wonder Deadline calls it “a tap-dancing, razzledazzling embrace of everything you love about musical theater.”
January 7-26, 2025
A THEATRICAL EVENT UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE!
Winner of three Tony Awards® and the Olivier Award for Best Play, the Broadway and West End sensation LIFE OF PI is “an exhilarating evening of theater” (The Wall Street Journal).
Based on the novel that sold more than 15 million copies and became a worldwide phenomenon, LIFE OF PI is an epic story of perseverance and hope that speaks to every generation and “gives new life to Broadway” (The Today Show).
After a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi survives on a lifeboat with four companions – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger.
Told with jaw-dropping visuals, world class puppetry and exquisite stagecraft, LIFE OF PI creates a breathtaking journey that will leave you filled with awe and joy.
February 4-23, 2025
Winner of the 2023 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical, PARADE has been proclaimed as “a work of art! As commanding as any musical revival to hit Broadway in years” (Deadline).
Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, PARADE reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.
PARADE has received overwhelming acclaim since its debut. The New York Times said, “this revival, filled with deft flourishes by director Michael Arden, recalls an era of big casts, big stories, and big talent – a time when musicals actually felt like events.” Entertainment Weekly called PARADE “the most gorgeous production on Broadway.” Time Out New York stated that “PARADE will echo for a long time to come. See it before the parade passes by.”
PARADE is directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Arden, with book by two-time Tony Award® winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Academy Award® winner Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award® winner Jason Robert Brown, and co-conceived by 21-time Tony Award®-winning legend Harold Prince.
March 4-23, 2025
Created by the Emmy®-winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & JULIET asks: what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love – her way.
Juliet’s new story bursts to life through a playlist of pop anthems
as iconic as her name, including “Since U Been Gone‚“ “Roar,” “Baby One More Time,” “Larger Than Life‚“ “That’s The Way It Is,“ and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – all from the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any other artist this century. Break free of the balcony scene and get into this romantic comedy that proves there’s life after Romeo. The only thing tragic would be missing it.
April 22-May 11, 2025
SHUCKED is the Tony Award®-winning musical comedy The Wall Street Journal calls “flat out hilarious!” And nobody knows funny like economists. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Robert Horn (Tootsie), a score by the Grammy® Awardwinning songwriting team of Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally (Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow”), and directed by Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), this corn-fed, cornbred American musical is sure to satisfy your appetite for great musical theater.
July 15-August 3, 2025
A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. It features Tony Awardwinning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.
Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
Don’t want to miss out on this critically acclaimed lineup?
Become a season ticket holder today!
• Save money and purchase all the shows in the series at once.
• Secure your seats for the whole year at the best possible price and location.
• Keep things simple with a monthly payment.
• Exchange your tickets for another day if your schedule changes.
• SWAP-A-SHOW® for tickets to another show (restrictions apply).
• Donors will receive the first access to purchase tickets later this summer.
• Donors will also receive first access to purchase tickets to Huntington Featured Performances: Les Misérables, Mean Girls, ‘Twas the Night Before, Peter Pan and Hamilton later this summer.
Current number of RedCoats
1,821
Current number of STARS student volunteers
166 TOTAL volunteers approx.
2,000
173,362.25
3,135 On average
2023 hours given by volunteers volunteers are needed per day.
When our theaters are fully booked more than 300
volunteer hours are donated for each week of Broadway performances.
I love downtown Cleveland and Playhouse Square is one of its brightest jewels! I feel pride when wearing the RedCoat, useful when performing any of a variety of volunteer responsibilities, and appreciated by staff, fellow volunteers and our guests at every performance. Playhouse Square is community at its finest...welcoming and engaging!
– Mickey Siverd, Usher, Office Volunteer
This year’s Student Share featured numbers from four Disney KIDS Musicals – The Jungle Book KIDS, Aladdin KIDS, 101 Dalmatians KIDS, and The Lion King KIDS. Year 1 schools included Benjamin Franklin Elementary and Bolton Elementary, both CMSD schools, and Eastern Heights Elementary, our first school from Lorain County!
Special alumni guest, Douglas MacArthur Girls’ Leadership Academy, was a Year 1 school in 2020 but their Student Share was cancelled due to COVID. Students
“Disney
Musicals in Schools
has
changed so many lives!
I
believe the impact of DMIS will not only provide a sustainable performing arts program at our school, but also it has planted the seed within our students to continue enjoying and participating in the performing arts in years to come!”
– Denise Germany, the Director of the DMGLA program
from the 2019-20 school year, as well as the students in the program this year put on a moving performance of “Circle of Life.”
This year’s DMIS program was also unique for its Pen Pal program. Partnered schools were provided physical materials and writing prompts by the Education Department and shared a “green room” (the KeyBank State Theatre and Connor Palace lobbies), meeting their Pen Pals in person before the big show!
Our sell-out Children’s Theater Series returns this fall with a fresh lineup of shows inspired by classic stories and beloved books. Performances include Velveteen, A New Musical; Goodnight
Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny
Moon & The Runaway Bunny; The Gruffalo’s Child and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!
The 2024-25 Children’s Theater
Series includes sensory-friendly performances of Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny as well as Velveteen, A New Musical, presented by Denise G. and Norman E. Wells.
A NEW MUSICAL
Playhouse Square’s Education team is in its final phase of workshopping Velveteen, A New Musical, which will open the Children’s Theater Series in October. Featuring original music by Education Content Creation Coordinator Molly Andrews-Hinders,
the show explores themes of finding strength in being your authentic self, the challenges of life transitions and the importance of having social and emotional support. Playhouse Square is proud to feature a creative team of local Cleveland artists.
Playhouse Square is committed to providing quality arts learning opportunities to enrich the lives of students, families, teachers and adults.
The 2024 Playhouse Square Dazzle Awards, presented by Pat & John Chapman, recognizes excellence in Northeast Ohio high school musical theater programs and celebrates the achievement of students in the performing arts. As of this year, we have served more than 15,000 students in the program since it was started.
• 37 participating schools
• 2,000+ participating students
• Five Broadway Master Classes presented by touring Broadway professionals
• Three Technical Theater Master Classes
• Three Musician Master Classes
• Five Audition Workshops
I think that [the Dazzle Awards] really showed me how much talent there is out there, just in the Cleveland area itself. There are so many amazing people who have so much amazing talent and it’s just really great to see everyone’s specialties.
Kayla Streem, a Junior at Solon High School
• Technical Apprenticeship for up to three students
• Student Reporter Program for up to four students
• Musical Apprenticeship for up to five students
