Beck Says Think Spring!
Igniting Creativity Through Art @ Beck Center

The Beck Center for the Arts is a theater and art gallery, and the center stage of Lakewood’s arts community. As one of the largest performing arts organizations in the Cleveland-area, it has the ability to offer a range of opportunities for exploring the arts, either as an artist or an art lover. Now in the midst of its Spring Fling! 2008, a series of unique arts experiences and parties featuring local artists and performers, Beck Center proudly supports local talent. That local talent has been a key component to their success and the cornerstone to bringing their mission in the community. Beck Center's combined pro theatrical productions and curriculum-based arts education serve 100,000 people annually in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lake, and Summit Counties.

Beck Center's Spring Fling! events are a series of arts-inspired parties and have included some pretty intriguing programming; this weekend, they offer a Spanish-inspired Viva la Beck! on Fri 5/16 and A Grand Night for Singing the following night, Sat 5/17. The gala events continue into June with Sunday in the Park with Beck on Sun 6/8. If you’re wondering what a spring fling is, an example is the Sunday in the Park event to be held in the lush gardens of the historic Emerald Necklace Inn for a “storybook” afternoon with sparkling champagne mimosas, a Beck Student Art Walk, and a gourmet luncheon served in the “whimsical” tea room accompanied by Beck Center musicians.

And, perhaps most intriguingly, INSIDE the Beck, a free family fun open house event and sale of vintage costumes and stage items, takes place on Sat 6/7 from 10AM - 4PM at the Beck (17801 Detroit Ave.)

The headline on the Beck Center’s webpage reads “challenging artists and audiences,” and that about sums it up. Beck Center is best known for its theater, for all ages. The Professional Season continues with My Favorite Year on the main stage from Fri 5/16 - Sun 6/8, a hilarious musical comedy starring Peter O’Toole. It ends with the Cleveland Premier of Altar Boyz, a spoof about a Christian boy band that takes its message to New York City beginning in mid-July.

With 60 years of youth theater experience, the youth theater stages “The Wizard of Oz” on stage on the Mackey Main Stage in April, a youth theater production by Beck students. In the Fall they staged “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The Youth Theater Program stages four productions each year in addition to offering a variety of theater classes. During the summer, youth ages 13-18, have the opportunity to participate in SPW (Summer Performance Workshops) Musical Theater for three weeks in August. The students’ immersion experience culminates in a Broadway musical show performance in mid-August. Students of all ages and talent levels get to show off and work off their insecurities during SPW.

Other summer camps in August include the Visual Arts Enrichment Camp, the Technical Theater Internship, SPW Acting, and SPW Junior Magic Madness, all of which culminate the weekend of August 15 with shows and exhibits. The summer camps are an enhancement to the ongoing Arts Education Program that offers instruction in dance, music, theater, and the musical arts. Beck Center also offers Creative Arts Therapies Programs and an Outreach Education Program for people with special needs, and Early Childhood programs. The Summer 2008 Class Catalog can be found online at http://www.beckcenter.org.

Before or after a theater performance, local art can be enjoyed in the Jean Bulicek Galleria located in the theater lobby or the Virginia Foley Art Gallery, which is operated by the Cleveland Artists Foundation. Visual arts classes this summer include drawing, painting, and pottery, starting with pre-school classes. Adult classes include Pay-As-You-Go Life Drawing. Children’s and Chamber choirs, voice and piano classes, and private voice and instrumental lessons are offered all summer long in the Music School Conservatory in the old armory behind Beck Center on Detroit Avenue. Faculty is comprised of performing artists from the Cleveland Opera and the Cleveland Orchestra and those from other Studio Theater Shows are shown on weekends.

Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to take advantage of what The Beck Center for the Arts has to offer. It ignites creativity through art.

Learn more about the Beck's Spring Fling by clicking here. Visit the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood by visiting http://www.beckcenter.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller ctallerwritesATwowway.com

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