Links
In this week's issue:
* Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile Cathy Panzica of the Beta Strategy Group
* Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile David Moss, director of CIA's FUTURE program
* Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile Sage Lewis of SEO firm SageRock
* Voices and Choices Profile Chief Rocka Entertainment
* Voices and Choices Profile Fund for Our Economic Future chairman Rob Briggs
* Voices and Choices Profile Voices and Choices project director Shara Davis
* RoldoLINK Editorial Wallop of Political TV Ads
* Cool Cleveland Sounds So Nice from 4 Degrees by Sunday
* Cool Cleveland Eats Quick & Healthy Takeaway
* Cool Cleveland Previews Cleveland Wine Festival & Heartbreak House
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here
Clicking is everything It's our radical goal at Cool Cleveland to provide you with only the bestest links you need for a satisfying week in Northeast Ohio. Do that every week, and you'll have a wicked fly life. In this issue, we focus on some of the most critical issues and events our region faces: the upcoming arts levy Issue 18, the stunning growth of our high tech industry, the groundbreaking Voices and Choices community discussion, and a sizzling fall season of special events. Check out the Orchestra's opening weekend at Severance Hall, the Akron opening of the world-class Guzzetta Hall for dance, and the breakthrough Materials, Medicine and Nanotechnology Summit. And don't forget to let us know how we're doing. If you love Cool Cleveland, pass on all our great links to a friend, and possibly win yourselves an iPod. If not, let us know at Letters@CoolCleveland.com. As they say: help us help you have a great week. Click away, Cleveland. –Thomas Mulready
Tech:Cleveland
BizTECH NEWS
BizTECH EVENTS
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Now is the Time to Protect our Arts & Culture! Fact: Cuyahoga County's Arts & Culture assets have brought world-wide recognition and economic strength to our region for generations. Our music, art, theater, dance and museums are part of what makes this region so vibrant. This issue will raise a critical $20 million annually for Cuyahoga County's Arts & Culture organizations. With just six weeks left until Election Day, your participation matters more than ever. Join the Issue 18 Campaign this Fri 9/29 at 8:30AM and find out how you can make a difference. The meeting will be held at the Cleveland Play House at 8500 Euclid Avenue, Rehearsal Room A, enter by MOCA. Please RSVP to Erin Kaminski at ekaminski05@gmail.com or 216-479-0555. Thank you for your continued and enthusiastic support! The Issue 18 Team Issue18.org.
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Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile
Cathy Panzica
Beta Strategy Group
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE Beta Strategy Group principal Cathy Panzica
Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile
David Moss
FUTURE
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE CIA FUTURE director David Moss
Cool Cleveland BizTech Profile
Sage Lewis
Sage Rock
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE Sage Lewis of Sage Rock
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Cool as ICE? On Tue 10/24 check out a research consortium of industry/university leaders in the Instruments, Controls & Electronics industries, a.k.a. Ohio “ICE” at the Martin Center, University of Akron. Join 100+ attendees and experience sessions that will focus largely on sensors, covering such technical subjects as Novel Control Algorithms, Packaging Sensor Devices, Networking and Communication, Sensor Systems Diagnostics, Architectures for Sensor Systems, Innovative interfaces to Sensor Devices and Performance Evaluation of Sensor Systems. Speakers include Joe Keithley, Keithley Instruments, Dr. Luis Proenza, University of Akron, Dr. Frank Samuel, Science and Technology Advisor to Governor Taft, Paul McManamon, Chief Scientist, Air Force Reseach Laboratory, Dayton, Fred Discenzo and Ken Hall of Rockwell, Bob Schmidt of Cleveland Medical Devices, and Fred Lisy from Orbital Research. For more info go to www.ohio-ice.org or call 216-687-6950.
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Issue 18 NewsLINKS
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Like You’ve Died and Gone to Heaven Question: What’s better than immersing yourself in the exceptional kaleidoscope of fall foliage at Holden Arboretum? Answer! Sharing it with friends while relaxing with live music by Blue Lunch (an 8-piece blues band), and partaking in over 40 flavors of beer at Beer!Garden, Sat 10/7 from 3PM to 6PM. Tip and sip tasty brews like the Brooklyn Pumpkin, Shakespeare Stout and Hop Devil from master meisters like Rogue Ales, Victory Brewing, Young’s, Thirsty Dog, and many more. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Only 30+ minutes from Cleveland, at 9500 Sperry Road in Kirtland. See directions: www.holdenarb.org/directions For info contact www.holdenarb.org or 440-946-4400.
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Cool Cleveland NewsLINKS
Cool Cleveland This Week
9.27-10.4
Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
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Free $50 Gift Certificate! Hey! Haven't booked your company holiday or group get together yet? Fat Fish Blue still has a few dates available ... and they know how to throw a party! Buffet-style, Full-service, Stand-up Mix and Mingle, Open bar, Cash bar ... they're flexible and can do just about anything with a little advance planning! Fat Fish Blue will supply the food, booze, beads and fun. You bring Betty from Accounting! And if you book your party by November 1st, FFB will give you a $50 gift certificate just to say thanks! Really! Call Laura today at 216.875.6000. Fat Fish Blue is located downtown on the corner of Prospect and Ontario. Park in the old May Co. building for a mere $2 with validation www.fatfishblue.com.
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WED
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Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
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Support the Arts in Our Region with Issue 18! Fact: Arts & Culture keeps our economy strong, generating over $1 billion in annual economic activity and 10,000+ good-paying jobs. Our region's A&C draws visitors/tourists to Cleveland who bring money into our economy and helps attract the creative workers we need to keep and grow businesses. This issue will raise a critical $20 million annually for Cuyahoga County's Arts & Culture organizations. Participate by signing up at our homepage www.Issue18.org and click "volunteer." Make some phone calls, distribute literature or staff an event. Join us on Wed 10/18 for "Arts Around Cuyahoga County" day featuring dozens of A&C organizations, showing how they make our community vibrant and unique. Contact the Issue 18 campaign at 216.479.0555 to find out how you and/or your organization can take part.
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Voices and Choices Profile
Chief Rocka Entertainment
Voices and Choices poet slammers
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE Voices and Choices poets Chief Rocka Entertainment
Voices and Choices Profile
Rob Briggs
GAR Foundation president, Fund for Our Economic Future chairman
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE GAR Foundation's Rob Briggs
Voices and Choices Profile
Shara Davis
Voices and Choices project director
Movies Behind the Scenes
WATCH THE MOVIE Voices and Choices project director Shara Davis
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Rollover: Ludwig Revealed Come experience Red's “Assembling Beethoven” and hear Beethoven's masterful Seventh Symphony on Sun 10/8 at 3PM at the Masonic Auditorium, downtown. Compare John Cage’s Credo in Us during the remarkable first half, followed by the twentieth century orchestral showpiece Fantasia on an Ostinato by John Corigliano (The Red Violin), which explores the famous theme from the second movement of Beethoven’s symphony. Finish with Ludwig's original. For more info and good tickets while they last, contact www.RedAnOrchestra.org or 216-361-1733. Tickets start at $15. The Masonic Auditorium is located at Euclid and E. 36th, downtown.
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RoldoLINK
Editorial Wallop of Political TV Ads
By Roldo Bartimole
Maybe you have to give the Columbus Dispatch, the Dayton Daily News and the Plain Dealer credit for trying something new.
I am speaking of the three newspapers “Teaming Up,” as the PD says, to “address problems facing the state of Ohio and its gubernatorial candidates.”
However, I view it more as an attempt to do what the candidates aim to do. Try to convince the public that they are doing something about Ohio’s problems without really doing much at all. The newspapers are marketing to the public that they are responsible citizens with ideas.
It’s really being done on the cheap.
The three papers are advertising “responsibility” just as the candidates they want to influence do.
I do not think this pleading is the job of the newspapers or its commentators. I also don’t believe that they have the expertise to give such advice. Certainly, they do not have the power to make any of it happen...
Read RoldoLINK here
Emissions from the blogsphere
Sage Lewis has videos (and transcripts) on search engine optimization at the SageRock blog. Check out area events via the Cleveland Metro RSS feed from newly updated Upcoming.org. Jack repeats the koan Does a dog have buddha nature? Katherine digs the Happy Dog. Ed Morrison blogs "Casinos are a twenty year old economic development strategy that does not work very well." Norm Roulet reposts the invite to Meet.The.Bloggers* interview with Issue 18 campaign director Eric Fingerhut. (Ed. All MTB interviews are free and open to the public). Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian talks about the second round of ABJ cutbacks, NCB/Key Movements and CPD's not-so friendly parking ticket campaign. When you're through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
Cool Cleveland Sounds
So Nice
4 Degrees by Sunday
self-released
After years of musical collaboration Tony Colon, Art Koch and "Weedge" seem to have narrowed their focus, focusing on the architecture of jangly pop. All that said, there's not a whole lot of Crows, Matthews or Eagles here. What's more, 4DBS is perhaps best served by the addition of Cami Negret on keyboards and backing vocals; her mellow and shimmering counterpoint adds greatly to the band's musical fullness.
4DBS are a fun, bar-rockin' band, and their Adult-Alternative Americana sound has a whole lot more in common with Sister Hazel and Ryan Adams' Gold pop-styled tracks than it does with just about anything else. Lyrically, the songs come off like scrapbooking exercises from "The Wonder Years" television show, which, depending on your view, could be good or bad.
In my opinion, it's not necessarily a bad thing. "Where Does It Go" waxes for simpler times, "Can't Live Without It" refers to love in all its splendor, and "Time To Readjust" seems to angle for the same thought process that Will Kimbrough's "Grown Up Now" does. Sadly, it's just not as clever. On the positive side, these are perfectly capable musicians and I can see where all of their tunes would benefit in the live setting. You will, too.
4 Degrees by Sunday celebrate their CD with a release party Friday, September 29 at the Jigsaw Stage in Parma. Visit http://www.4degreesbysunday.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/4dbs for more information.
From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
Cool Cleveland Eats
Quick & Healthy Takeaway
If you’re out east and looking for a bite, check out Bix Foods—the mother of all take-aways in Beachwood. They offer a huge selection of fresh, nourishing and delicious take-outs for any meal of the day. Best of all, they do dinner on-the-go, in case you’ve got too much on “your plate” later. Daily specials and the never ending list of tasty dishes including glazed salmon, latkes and Jamaican jerk chicken wraps (pictured) are all made on the premises, completely from scratch. No fries with your sandwich, people. You get raw carrots or low-fat pita chips. And you get a nice selection of juices and waters (sparkling and still) instead of sickeningly sweet soda. Bix also has great coffee and delivers on orders 20 bones and up at no cost. They cater as well, in case you’ve had enough of your employer’s in-house catering. Locally owned and operated, the expansion potential for Bix Foods reminds me of Prêt a Manger in New York and London. With a little luck, Bix will someday occupy every major intersection in Northeast Ohio.
On the south side (and also eastward, in Solon) Mustard Seed Market & Café is also an incredible option. They focus their efforts on organics, fresh seafood, all natural beef, chicken and both vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Their Southwest Chipotle Bean salad is a knockout and incredibly zippy; they are the only game in town for a tasty “Macrobiotic Meal” plate to go, at least since the Red Star Café in Lakewood closed. Their Macro is hardly Micro, either. It features miso soup, whole grains, greens, proteins, vegetables & a macrobiotic cookie for dessert. Skip the cookie and hit their wicked juice bar.
Downtown, the best place for deliciously healthy nosh is at Teahouse Noodles. Pop your head in there some afternoon and you are likely to see Tribe GM Mark Shapiro or everyone’s favorite vegan congressman, Dennis Kucinich. With a line that often stretches out the door, Teahouse lunchtime is basically a “build-your-own” noodle bowl with vegetarian, chicken or shrimp options. Their miso broth and peanut sauces are highly recommended, as are the smoothies at their juice bar. And who knows, you might get to air your concerns about third base or the Capitol while you’re there. If the line is too long, Artefino (across from “Ohio’s Largest Daily”) and Tastebuds (in the 3800 building) are also fine options, as they cater to a more health-conscious crowd and feature light and delicious fare. The former offers deli sandwiches and equally-great coffee, while the latter’s veggie bolstered, health-conscious pizza will knock your socks off.
On the west side, or pretty well on any side, you’ll find an Aladdin’s. I will do a fair amount of trumpeting on their behalf in the coming weeks, so just know that their dine-in is always good, but a healthy take-out option has made this a weekly lunch/dinner in my household since 2000. Outside of that, check out the Web of Life near La Place in Westlake. The health food store has a deli that serves no meat or animal products. They’ve got a splendid array of breaded artichokes with soy cream cheese, an odd-sounding Tempeh Reuben and “Barbe-Fu” (BBQ tofu). They also have a juice bar for a quick pick-me-up and or the occasional wheatgrass shooter… in case your breakfast happened to come out of a drive-thru window.
Where do you get your fast, fresh and healthy food fix, Cleveland? Write in and tell us. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
Cool Cleveland Preview
Cleveland Wine Festival
Wine Festivals, LLC has already hosted similar successful wine festival events in the Midwest, including those in Chicago (pictured) and St. Louis. Previte told Cool Cleveland in an interview last week that after those big cosmopolitan successes, bringing “an affordable, accessible, last-gasp-of-summer event” to his Cleveland hometown was a no-brainer.
“This is a perfect event for Cleveland, one we have been talking about for a long while,” Previte said. “We finally committed to the idea at the end of [last] year and have had a great deal of support from the city and sponsors. We hope this will be the first of many years.
“This is great outdoor fun where you cap off your summer, settle into the fall wine season and can learn something along the way,” he added. “We’re extremely pleased to be headquartered at Voinovich Park as well. That works out well, because it is an underutilized venue in Cleveland, in my opinion, not to mention an absolutely beautiful lakefront view!”
From Previte’s point of view, what separates the Cleveland Wine Festival from events like Vintage Ohio? “We’re really doing something different. We’re not focusing on just Ohio wine, like Vintage does, although there will be some with presence there. We have countries from all over the world represented: Spain, Italy, Australia, South Africa… we’re more international with our wine menu. Plus, the location for the event is great for accessibility, unlike Kirtland.”
And what about the World Series of Wine? "With us, it really comes down to affordability and accessibility, which in that regard, refers to a good price point. We are considerably less expensive than [World Series] is, with a much lower intimidation factor in a fun atmosphere.”
More than 20 wine exhibitors will feature samples of wine from around the world. Experts will speak on wine trends and varietals; critically-acclaimed Cleveland restaurateurs will be on site to perform cooking demos and offer wine pairings. And the proceeds for this "very affordable event" benefit a great cause, the Women’s Center of Greater Cleveland: http://www.womensctr.org
“We were really struck by [the Center]. They are doing amazing, important work, things to help women take control of their lives, like conquering dependency issues, abusive relationships, trouble finding employment… helping in all facets of their lives,” Previte finalized. “When we went to see their operation, we decided they were doing amazing, important work. Being a lifelong Clevelander and not knowing about them prior to, well, it felt good to raise awareness about their mission.”
We here at Cool Cleveland couldn't have said that any better ourselves.
The inaugural Cleveland Wine Festival's hours are Friday, September 29th from 4-10 PM and on Saturday, September 30th from 2-10 PM. To purchase tickets online or for more info, visit http://www.clevelandwinefestival.com or, call Previte at 233-2457.
From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
Cool Cleveland Preview
CASE Graduate Ensemble's production of Heartbreak House
Had Alice fallen through the looking glass, she might well have landed at Heartbreak House. It is witty, absurdist, ‘bohemian’ comedy at its finest, demonstrated here by the great British master, George Bernard Shaw.
Set at a grand old country house in rural Sussex, England in 1914, the play is directed by Gerrold Scott. Play House regulars provide the technical aspects: Scenic Design is by Jill Davis; Costume Design by Jeffrey Van Curtis (with luscious late-Edwardian dresses in abundance!); Lighting Design by Robin Kunikis, and Sound Design by James C. Swonger. (Listen for the delightful period ‘salon’ music that leads into each act!)
The house is the residence of the elderly and eccentric retired ships Captain Shotover, who is also a frustrated inventor. Just before WWI, the daughter who lives with him, Hesione, invites a friend, Ellie, to visit. Unexpectedly, his other daughter, Lady Utterword, arrives from an unidentified place where her husband has been in government service. Nurse Guiness (a sort of one-size-fits-all servant) gets things confused with the aid of the captain, but eventually, everyone gets in and settled. Shortly thereafter, Ellie’s father, Mazzini Dunn, arrives as does his employer, Boss Magnan, to whom Ellie is somewhat betrothed. (All the details are not yet firm.)
When Ellie confesses she’s secretly in love with a mysterious gentleman from London, Hesione identifies the man as her own husband, Hector. Lady Utterword’s brother-in-law Randall arrives, adding yet another ingredient to the stew. At attempt at burglarizing the house party is made by the otherwise unidentified Burglar.
Shaw pulls out all the stops with this farce-like group, each of whom takes a turn at engaging the other members—singly or all together—in discussions of politics, social circumstances, marriages of convenience, and sexually-oriented romps as they pertain to any of these topics. Or don’t, as the case may be.
An otherwise unidentified air raid and resulting explosions serves to entertain most of the watchers, who think it’s a grand ‘light-and-sound’ show. It leads to the final curtain, but not before Ellie and the Captain decide to marry.
It’s all great fun, and as the cast settles in, will become a very enjoyable evening in the theatre. You’ll enjoy seeing the young actors sink their teeth into this very meaty repast. Taylor Valentine is Captain Shotover; Nathan Gurr is Boss Mangan; Tom Degnan is Hector Hushabye; Deric McNish is Mazzini Dunn; Erin Bunting (a CASE undergrad) is Hesione Hushabye; Annie Paul is Ellie Dunn; Melynee Saunders-Warren is Lady Utterword; Dan Hammond is Randall Utterword; Amanda Duffy is Nurse Guiness; and Tom White (a CASE alumni) is The Burglar.
Heartbreak House opens tonight, Wednesday September 27, in Studio One at the Cleveland Play House, and continues through October 7. Curtain is at 7:30 pm, with two Saturday matinees at 4 pm, and Sunday, October 1 at 2 pm. Tickets are $15. Wednesday is also the kick-off for a campaign to raise funds to permanently fund the program. For tickets or other information, call (216) 795-7000 or visit the web-site: http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
Instant Karma
Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what's really happening. We'd love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com
Rabbit Hole @ Cleveland Play House 9/20 Losing a child is absolutely the worst thing that can happen to a parent. It is a loss you never get over, although time does seem to gradually soften the severe and immediate pain caused by the death. Each person grieves differently, too, and while some folks keep it all inside where it gnaws away at you continually, others are able to share their grief and get on with the rest of their lives. There doesn’t seem to be any happy medium or balance possible; no one or right (or wrong) way to grieve.
The Cleveland Play House opened its new season with Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire, which explores the aftermath of a death, and the extremely opposite reactions of the child’s parents. Unhappily, this production doesn’t really show us if the play is insufficient in content, or if the production itself is lacking. Maybe it’s a bit of both. (Or maybe it’s the immediacy of the play’s premise to this reviewer.)
CPH artistic director Michael Bloom chose this play to open the new season, so he obviously found something in it, but he doesn’t go far enough in illuminating that ‘something’ for the audience. You keep waiting for something to happen, someone to really lose their cool, but it almost never does. This ship is becalmed, floating endlessly on a voyage to nowhere. Strangely enough, one of the characters says, near the beginning ”People want things to make sense.” Indeed.
The set by Russell Parkman is superb, providing three rooms (on a turntable) of a somewhat upscale house in a New York suburb: kitchen, living room and the child’s bedroom. Lighting designed by Michael Lincoln and sound by James C. Swonger provided an absolutely livable house and ambiance for the rather static action. Beth Novak did the accurate and interesting costumes.
As the play opens, it’s been several months since 4-year-old Danny was hit by a car driven by the teenaged Jason, marvelously brought to life by Troy Deutsch, all bumbling knees, elbows, and awkwardness. Danny’s mother Becca (Angela Reed) holds onto her grief and bitterness, closing herself away from the rest of her family. Danton Stone as husband and father Howie, on the other hand, has tried to get help through support groups and by watching a video of him and his son playing ball.
Becca’s younger sister Izzy has just discovered that she’s pregnant, and Genevieve Elam imbues the character with zeal and earnestness plus a fair amount of dizzy-ness, as well. The two sisters are absolutely a reflection of their mom, Nat, who seems to work overtime at being ditzy, at least as portrayed by Kate Skinner. They seem more like a family of strangers.
Finally, near the end of the play, Jason sends Becca a letter that contains a short story he wrote for school, and is dedicated to Danny. Then, one day, near the end of an ‘open house’ when Howie and Becca are trying to sell their home, the teenager drops by to visit. Becca invites him to come back on another occasion, after Howie shows nearly the only emotion of the evening in suggesting the youngster leave the premises—now!
Becca and Jason get into a wide-ranging discussion of ‘alternate universes’ during which she claims that ‘somewhere out there I’m having a good time’. It would be nice to think so. It would be even nicer if the audience could share that opinion.
Rabbit Hole runs through October 8. For tickets or other information, call (216) 795-7000 or visit the web-site: http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
Porgy and Bess @ Beck Center 9/22 Impressive. That’s the easiest and best way to describe Porgy and Bess now on-stage at the Beck Center in Lakewood. It’s also a true evaluation of the entire production. Granted, there are a few lesser moments, but there are many, many higher ones, and taken as an entirety, the show is truly worth seeing. For a theater organization of the Beck’s size and scope to even have tackled such a production is amazing. That it comes across so well is even more so.
Artistic Director Scott Spence and Music Director Stuart Raleigh keep the action moving smoothly. There are a few draggy spots, but also necessary and calculated places for collective breathing room—both for cast and audience. This allows the violence—when it happens—to be even more explosive and the storm scenes much more realistic. The hurricane’s light and sound effects are awesome.
33 actor/singers of varying experience and expertise combine to make up the inhabitants of Catfish Row in the early 1930s, plus a few outsiders, mostly representatives of the law. They all look like ‘real’ people, which is an added benefit, and their actions are all very natural. (Caveat: I saw the show a week after it opened, which perhaps afforded the cast extra time to ‘jell’ a bit.)
There are not enough superlatives available to describe the performance of William Clarence Marshall as Porgy. He carries the entire show on his capable and broad shoulders. His voice, which needed no extra amplification (and thankfully didn’t get any, either!) is pure velvet through its complete range, and his acting skills are on the same exalted level. He might have been born to play this role; it is not to be missed!
Dione Parker Bennett as Bess was not quite on the same plane, but close. To me, she was more the world-weary, beaten-down, scandalous woman than others I’ve seen in the part, thus making her more believable. Her two duets with Porgy were powerful and utterly convincing--Bess, You Is my Woman near the end of the first act and I Loves You, Porgy early in the second. Her emotion in the line ‘don’t let him handle me and drive me wild’ was heart-rending.
Crown needs an actor/singer of virility, vibrancy and villainy and Brian Keith Johnson was exactly that, plus having a voice of great power and expression. I found the ‘Sportin’ Life’ of Devon Settles to be as entirely sinuous and sneaky as one could wish, especially in It Ain’t Necessarily So. (This song has some of the most clever lyrics ever written, in my opinion.) His dancing (choreography by Martin Céspedes) was effective and enticing, and it was easy to see why Bess thought so, too.
Clara and Jake were brought to charming and innocent life as the young parents by Shellie Wyatt (who glistened in Summertime) and Darryl Lewis, respectively. Karen Clark-Green turned her lush voice loose on My Man’s Gone Now and Oh Doctor Jesus. Meryl Trimble Johnson imbued Maria with a humorous bawdiness, tempered by a generosity of spirit.
All the supporting roles were well-done, and the ensemble singing was some of the best I’ve ever heard. The design staff all deserve extra kudos for their contributions to the production: the set of Don McBride, costumes by Allison Garrigan, sound of Richard B. Ingraham and lighting by Trad A. Burns.
Porgy and Bess continues through October 8 at the Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. For tickets or information call (216) 521-2540, or visit their web-site: http://www.beckcenter.org
From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net
Tool @ Wolstein Center, CSU 9/25 Art-metal rockers Tool are leading a renaissance of sorts as it relates to the much-chided progressive rock genre. Fronted by Ravenna-bred Maynard James Keenan (one of the few current rock icons) Tool delivered a bunker-buster 90-minute set of tunes comprised of their hits and nearly all of their latest platinum release, 10,000 Days. From the opening chords of "Stinkfist," through offbeat time signatures in epics like "Schism" and "Lateralus," to the calling-out of Rupert Murdoch and L. Ron Hubbard in "Ænima," the band never faltered. They're also bringing spectacle back to rock shows, providing a multimedia/visual feast to accompany their intellectual (nay, geekrock) sound. As heavy and precise with performance as with multimedia, Tool's performance made an even clearer argument for the influence of the "prog" subgenre. With bands like Tool leading the "Third Wave" charge of progressive rock (see Porcupine Tree, the Mars Volta, Coheed and Cambria, System of a Down, Dream Theater, VAST, the Flower Kings, Opeth, Sigur Rós, Radiohead) and gaining popularity, there has never been a better time to get progressive rock legitimately and deservedly inducted. Just how long will our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum deny prog rock pioneers like King Crimson, Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Rush, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Jethro Tull and the Moody Blues? Remember: noisy wheels get the grease. Thankfully, enough people complained about Black Sabbath to get them in before one of them died. Some acts out there have not been so lucky. From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.
Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com
On Sun Ra appearing in Cleveland With great joy, I read that Sun Ra, who passed away over a decade ago, will perform Friday in Cleveland! No doubt the great man continues to travel the space waves from planet to planet -- and Cleveland is a required stop on his interplanetary itinerary. Thanks for all you do, and keep those updates from Saturn coming.
from Cool Cleveland reader Lorraine Angus laATasimplemachine.com
On the arts levy (See http://www.CoolCleveland.com/ArtsLevy) Why not a tax on wine? This seems to be the drink of choice at many of these events. Doesn't this fall under the "sin" category?
from Cool Cleveland reader Annette Anthony aanthonyATtaftlaw.com
On gaming, gambling and casinos (See Lose & Lose, Not “Learn & Earn” RoldoLINK here) Right on Roldo. Should I Stay Or Should I Go ? If the gambling issue passes I'll be running out of town. Not only will the rich get richer but the poor will get poorer. There looking at Cleveland because it has been shown that gamblers are usually those people looking to hit the big jackpot and get the good life from it. Here we are in one of the poorest cities in the country and they know desperate people gamble. Expendable income is lost that will not remain in Northeast Ohio where most of our gamblers will come from. The trickle down effect will hit all our businesses and probably put quite a few down for the count. Below is an article on Detroit Casinos after 5 years. The entire article can be found here. The bright lights, big numbers, and empty promises of casino gambling have blinded too many local and state governments. In Detroit, the three proposed casinos were hailed as new economic engines that would revitalize the downtown area with new jobs, new buildings, and spin-off entertainment businesses. They promised new hotels, new restaurants, new entertainment, and more tourists from outside of the area. Five years since the casinos opened, the promises remain empty or broken. According to a recent Detroit Free Press article, “beyond the casinos walls, little spin-off is evident.” The Michigan Restaurant Association reported that there has been little to no new restaurants and many restaurants that were on the brink have shut down. Analysis also reveals that an overwhelming majority of the dollars spent in Detroit casinos are siphoned from individuals located within a 50-mile radius. Bankruptcy has doubled, crime has risen, and the city is running a $1.2 million budget deficit on police, fire, and gambling-related services, even after receiving their revenue sharing payments.
from Cool Cleveland reader Norman Plonski srnormATsbcglobal.net
On Voices and Choices (See Voices and Choices Profiles here) Thank you for the Voices and Choices coverage. While I was disappointed this year, this is still our best option. I still can't identify their agenda!
from Cool Cleveland reader Larry Kendra easteconATadelphia.net
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Top 5
Most clicked
Here are the Top 5 from last week's issue, with one more chance for you to click.
1) Cool Cleveland Eats Dana Aritonovich's interview with Matt Fish of Melt.
www.CoolCleveland.com.
2) Uptown is the new University Circle The Barries advises University Circle "to enliven the place and take some chances on art and architecture."
www.Cleveland.com.
3) TechSync BizTech Profile Tech Czar Michael DeAloia.
www.CoolCleveland.com.
4) TechSync BizTech Profile Koyono Founder & President Jay Yoo.
http://www.koyono.com.
5) RoldoLINK Lose & Lose, Not “Learn & Earn”.
www.CoolCleveland.com.
Links in the Chain They don't look like much individually, but string 'em together and you've got strength beyond strength and ties that bind to the future. Of course we're referring to our imperious chain of links in Cool Cleveland every week, and not the Hard Corps, who are all decidedly paparazzi-friendly. Many thanks to Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Kelly Ferjutz, Roldo Bartimole and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com
Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.
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--Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com
all contents ©2006 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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