Near West Theatre

---------- 02.12.11 ----------

Not only one of the coolest spaces in the region, the nave of Trinity Cathedral can now be counted as one of the sweetest performance spaces. For the past 12 of their 33 years, Near West Theatre has honored one of their supporters in a major public event, and turned it into a benefit to raise funds for their good work.

This year's honoree, attorney Eric Kennedy of Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A., refused any accolades and instead insisted that he was honored to be in the presence of the community that Near West Theatre had gathered for the occasion.

For Near West Theatre's Street Beat benefit, they ingeniously built a stage in-the-round so the performances and announcements could be easily seen and heard by all, a difficult thing to do when your patrons and supporters are busy bidding on the silent auction, snacking on hot hors d'oeuvres and chatting at the bar.

But then a strange thing happened.

In the middle of the medley that artistic director Bob Navis had arranged with a cast of approximately 40 actors, dancers, singers and performers who have graced the NWT stage throughout the years, one performer began singing the opening lines from, Alone, from Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, a show much beloved by Cleveland theatre goers, as it's production in the early 1970's started a movement that saved Cleveland's theatre district from the wrecking ball.

Trinidad Rosato Snider [pictured in black at center], a performer who started with Near West Theatre at the age of 14 in 1989, appeared at the top of the stage, and immediately captured the attention of every one of the 400 or so attendees, including the volunteers, the bartenders, and the clean-up crew. With her achingly perfect delivery and her skill in working the stage in-the-round, she touched every soul in the Cathedral, and all the chit-chat stopped cold:

We have power, you and I
But what good is that now
We could build a new world
If we only knew how
And we find... we're alone


And then, a miracle. The cast responded with a refrain of their own, the song, No One Is Alone from Into The Woods:

Mother cannot guide you
Now you're on your own
Only me beside you
Still, you're not alone
No one is alone, truly
No one is alone


In a few short minutes, the celebrating patrons were presented with an artistic message par excellence, as hard hitting as the pavement that the homeless sleep on, and as transcendent as the miracles that Near West Theatre works every year with hundreds of kids from the neighborhood. The organization's work with youth and teens on large musical productions, notable for the social messages inherent in the best art, was plainly on display as we witnessed the transition from one lonely soul to a roomful of supportive, helpful peers, using art not only to communicate, but to heal, and to offer hope.

Most benefits are boring, but this organization should be congratulated for achieving a near perfect synthesis of a fun event that also managed to showcase artistic expression and the social issues that Near West is grounded in.... Read the review by Thomas Mulready here?.

---------- 11.24.10 ----------

Bob Navis and Stephanie Morrison-Hrbek are having the time of their lives. Not only are the Executive Director and Artistic/Musical Director of Near West Theatre working with kids in the neighborhood to mount one of the craziest plays ever conceived, all while exploring issues of greed, competition, high-tech isolation and abuse of power, they are also thrilled to be zeroing in on their goal of moving from St. Pat's to their new location in the Gordon Square Arts District. Watch the fun here. and get tix: they're going fast!

---------- 11.24.10 ----------

SPONSORED: It's The Candy Man! Enter Near West Theatre's version of the mysterious world of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, a tale about human excess, consumption and their dangerous effects on society. Audiences of all ages will be mesmerized by the futuristic oompa loompas and chocolate river in this musical adaptation of the beloved children's book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Performances run Fri 11/19 through Sun 12/5. Get your tickets at http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.

---------- 11.17.10 ----------

SPONSORED: It's Pure Imagination! Enter Near West Theatre's version of the mysterious world of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, a tale about human excess, consumption and their dangerous effects on society. Audiences of all ages will be mesmerized by the futuristic oompa loompas and chocolate river in this musical adaptation of the beloved children's book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Performances run Fri 11/19 through Sun 12/5. Get your tickets at http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.

---------- 11.10.10 ----------

SPONSORED: Get the golden ticket! Enter Near West Theatre's version of the mysterious world of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, a tale about human excess, consumption and their dangerous effects on society. Audiences of all ages will be mesmerized by the futuristic oompa loompas and chocolate river in this musical adaptation of the beloved children's book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Performances run Fri 11/19 through Sun 12/5. Get your tickets at http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.

---------- 09.15.10 ----------

SPONSORED: Ordinary People Creating Extraordinary Theatre Don't miss Near West Theatre's dynamic 2010/11 season: Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka (Nov 19-Dec 5, 2010), Into the Woods (May 6-22, 2011), & Miss Saigon (July 22-Aug 7, 2011). Sign up for e-blasts with information on performances, auditions and more by visiting http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.

---------- 07.28.10 ----------

SPONSORED: "No day but today" to see RENT School Edition at Near West Theatre! Only 2 weekends left- July 29-31 & August 6-8, to see 34 dynamic teens give the heart-pounding music and soul-stirring tale of Jonathon Larson's hit Broadway musical a new life on the Near West Theatre stage. For show information & to purchase tickets, visit http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.

---------- VIDEO 07.21.10----------

Talk to Near West Theatre Artistic and Musical Director Bob Navis about how his work with teens in Ohio City putting together huge musicals has been changing lives, and you might mistake his life's mission for that of every other theatre director: excruciating auditions, exhausting rehearsals. But then you look around and hear the real-life issues these teens tackle in the process of building a musical: homelessness, AIDS, drug abuse, building community.

Watch the video and hear from Navis and teen actor Joe Barbicas as they talk about the challenges of putting on one of Broadway's grittiest, most real-life productions with a cast of 34 teens, and the AIDS quilt the cast is sewing, honoring their loved ones, to be used in the production. This is truly extraordinary theatre. RENT: School Edition runs Fri 7/23 thru Sun 8/8. http://www.NearWestTheatre.org

On a page here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/wiki/Newsletter/Nwtrent

-----07.14.10-----

SPONSORED: RENT School Edition rocks the stage at Near West Theatre, Fri 7/23 thru Sun 8/8. 34 teen actors bring new life to Jonathon Larson's hit Broadway musical, taking the audience through a year in the lives of a small circle of friends living their dreams, battling their demons and celebrating life in New York City. See how ordinary people are creating extraordinary theatre in Cleveland: visit http://www.NearWestTheatre.org.


-----05.12.10-----

SPONSORED: The “secret” that everyone is talking about! Don't miss your chance to see The Secret Garden @ Near West Theatre. This delightful Broadway musical continues its run on the Near West stage May 13-16 & 21-23. Based on the famous children's book, it is an enchanting story that features some of the most beautiful music ever written for Broadway. The Secret Garden is perfect for audiences of all ages! For show information & to purchase tickets, visit http://www.nearwesttheatre.org.

-----05.05.10-----

SPONSORED: What's The Secret? The Secret Garden @ Near West Theatre opens this Fri 5/7. This delightful Broadway musical comes to life on the Near West stage from May 7-23. Based on the famous children's book, it features an enchanting story and some of the most beautiful music ever written for Broadway. The Secret Garden is perfect for audiences of all ages! For show information & to purchase tickets, visit http://www.nearwesttheatre.org.

-----04.28.10-----

SPONSORED: WARNING: Mother's Day is just around the corner! Haven't found the perfect gift yet? Cleveland Botanical Garden & Near West Theatre have teamed up with an affordable ticket package that any mother would love. Two Botanical Garden tickets & two tickets to Near West's production of The Secret Garden (running May 7-23) for only $25. Visit http://www.NearWestTheatre.org to get yours!