For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jim Brazytis (216) 373-8374, jbrazytis@liggett.com
Stacey Vaselaney (216) 373-8225, svaselaney@liggett.com
Liggett-Stashower Public Relations
James Levin (216) 347-3499, james@ingenuitycleveland.org
Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology
Julie Clark (216) 231-7476, jclark@clevelandorchestra.com
The Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra’s Free Concert on Public Square Kicks Off Second Annual Ingenuity Festival
Cleveland, Ohio, December 13, 2005 – It’s back! The Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology returns to Cleveland’s distinct streets, alleys, cubby holes and walkways in July of 2006. The 2006 festival kicks off at downtown landmark Tower City Center on July 7 with The Cleveland Orchestra’s 17th annual free downtown concert, which attracts more than 80,000 people to Public Square each year.
Ingenuity 2006, an event that attracted more than 70,000 individuals to Downtown Cleveland in its first year, stretches throughout a 10-day period from July 7 – 16. Art and technology enthusiasts will be treated to a variety of “stand alone” events July 7 – 9, including The Cleveland Orchestra’s free downtown concert Friday, July 7 at 9:00 p.m. The Cleveland Orchestra presents its Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert to an enthusiastic live audience on Public Square with simultaneous radio broadcasts on WCLV and WCPN. Since 2003, the Orchestra concert has been preceded by a Festival which has included local performers such as Dance Afrika Dance, Red Hackle Pipes & Drums, the New Barleycorn, and Roberto Ocasio’s Latin Jazz Project. For the 2006 Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert & Festival, the Orchestra is collaborating with Ingenuity on programming the pre-concert Festival.
“The Cleveland Orchestra’s annual free downtown concert is a tradition for many in northeast Ohio. We are pleased that the Orchestra’s Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert & Festival will kick off the 2006 Ingenuity Festival. The Orchestra is grateful to our sponsors and partners for their continued support of our performance on Public Square,” said Gary Hanson, Executive Director of The Cleveland Orchestra.
Since 1997, The Cleveland Orchestra’s Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert & Festival has been made possible through a generous grant by Cuyahoga County Commissioners Jimmy Dimora, Tim Hagan, and Peter Lawson Jones, and the citizens of Cuyahoga County. Additional support is provided by corporate sponsor Charter One, WVIZ/WCPN ideastream, Tower City Center, The Plain Dealer, and The Cleveland Foundation. The members of The Cleveland Orchestra donate their services for this concert to benefit the sustaining fund of the Musical Arts Association.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to work with The Cleveland Orchestra. I can’t think of a better way to launch Ingenuity 2006 than collaborating with the world’s finest orchestra in a celebration of our great city and Northeast Ohio’s art and technology communities,” said James Levin, Ingenuity Festival co-director.
"The Cleveland Orchestra's Star Spangled Concert and Festival on Public Square attracts tens of thousands of people to Downtown Cleveland and contributes to the region's economic development," said Ingenuity co-director Thomas Mulready. "We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with the Cleveland Orchestra on this world-class event."
Other programs taking place July 7 – 9 include a collaborative program with The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, in addition to live theater performances featuring Cleveland playwrights under the direction of New York City director Damien Gray. The works will take place at multiple sites in the Ingenuity Festival Village and continue through July 16. In 2006 the Festival Village will move from lower Euclid Avenue to Prospect Avenue (between East 9th and Ontario Streets).
The Ingenuity Festival Village will officially open Thursday, July 13. Featuring an array of technology experts, performance artists, visual artists and musicians, guests will be able to take in the works of more than 80 organizations and 1,000 individuals. Organizations confirmed to perform in the Festival Village include Verb Ballets, the Cleveland Opera and Karamu House.
The Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, showcases talents of Northeast Ohio’s art and technology communities through unique collaborations, as well as vibrant single elements and exhibits. The festival is organized and operated by co-directors Thomas Mulready of Cool Cleveland?.com and James Levin, founder of Cleveland Public Theatre. For more information visit http://www.ingenuitycleveland.com.
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