Les Miserables @ Playhouse Square 10/7 "Playhouse Square has led the community with initiatives like the Freelink, free wireless internet access for Star Plaza environs (I'm using it to file this story), and Centerfest, bringing different art disciplines to the children and regular townspeople of Cleveland.

They also attract the touring companies of major Broadway hits such as Les Miserables, playing through Sun 10/12. The productions are conceived, produced, and based in the New York Broadway show industry and the quality is usually on par with the East coast bright lights productions. Having seen how the entire show is entirely self-contained and witnessed the discharge onto the Palace Theater stage, Les Miz does not disappoint...

Mind you, being of the technological bent, I am very impressed by the lighting and special effects. This only enhanced the experience of the strong singing of memorable melodies. The ethnically diverse cast was very convincing as revolutionary era French underclass and the performances of the young children won over the audience, who gave a standing ovation to the cast and a loud acknowledgement to the underage professionals. The crowd was even appreciative to the tight orchestra, who had to overcome cramped conditions in the Palace's reduced orchestra pit.

I had the opportunity to speak with their leader, veteran touring conductor, Larry Goldberg and his wife Alice, also an experienced trouper although not in this show. The topic was economics of showbiz and who gets the money. I had learned that there is a high level of entrepreneurship in bringing a major show to a town. The touring company (actually the producers) gets a guaranteed minimum fee. The crew, actors, musicians etc have their hourly rates as set by their various unions. (I heard stories of what happens to nonunion touring companies. Does the Blues Brothers movie ring a bell?) So all the risk is assumed by the promoter that brings the show to town. In Cleveland's case I believe it is Playhouse Square, both as a promoter and as the venue.

Since the touring company is entirely self-contained, from the stage floor and scenery to the wigs and makeup cases. They also bring almost all the crew with them. If they need more help, they hire local union people for labor, carpentry, hairstylists, seamstresses, etc. In some cities, (Cleveland is not one of them) a percentage of the crew must be local talent, sometimes even the actors or musicians. So that is how some stream of the revenue gets to the local economy.

Of course, Larry also pointed out the secondary economic effects for restaurants and bars and other entertainment in the theater district. He used the economic devastation in NY after the theaters closed in response to 9/11 as an example of how real that impact is. We can see how Euclid Avenue goes from a vibrant Public Square, to closed storefronts, only to regain some life as we get closer to the Theater District. Playhouse Square has the reputation of bringing in union shows, thereby ensuring some direct revenue to the local economy, and it is playing a key role in at least maintaining some business activity in our downtown." from Cool Cleveland writer Steve Goldberg steveg@ieee.org

Les Miserables at Playhouse Square thru 10/12, 741-4444
for info & tickets:
http://www.playhousesquare.com/Events/Events.aspx?EventID=188.
(:divend:)