When you go to see Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” that is being presented by Weathervane Playhouse, a Knight Arts grantee, you can’t expect to walk out of the theater whistling a happy tune. Chekhov’s story tells of an extended Russian family group that aren’t particularly likeable people, and who have generally (yet unwittingly) made a […]
Article · January 15, 2014 by Roger Durbin
It’s been eight years in the making, but the fully renovated and expanded Cleveland Museum of Art celebrated its grand re-opening on this past New Year’s Eve, with doors wide open to the full community beginning January 2nd. (And it needs to be said from the onset that this museum, unlike most and certainly most […]
Article · January 10, 2014 by Roger Durbin
“Drive the Cold Winter Away” – that’s the weather-appropriate title for the upcoming concert by the stellar Baroque musical organization, Apollo’s Fire, a Knight Arts grantee. With these days of sub-zero chill, the idea of a “cozy” concert, as Apollo’s Fire is billing this program, seems like a great idea. It takes on a little […]
Article · January 8, 2014 by Roger Durbin
This will be the 18th year for First Night Akron, the evening-long, alcohol free festival of music, dance and theater by which to ring in 2014. Various venues around the downtown area, many from Knight Arts grantees like the Akron Art Museum, Neos Dance Theatre, Actors’ Summit and the like, will present entertainment for families […]
Article · December 20, 2013 by Roger Durbin
ZACH, as Zach Freidhof seems to be known on stage, will be coming to the Akron Civic Theatre, a Knight Arts grantee, in January to perform cabaret style. But that isn’t the interesting part. Freidhof’s journey to seek out music that uplifts and inspires, that seeks to introduce harmony, community and love, is the real […]
Article · December 18, 2013 by Roger Durbin
All things Sinatra. That’s the core idea now at Weathervane Playhouse, a Knight Arts grantee, with its holiday musical, “Christmas My Way: A Sinatra Holiday Bash.” Nice thing about the theater, it’s small enough to eavesdrop on audience members during intermission and when leaving the theater to get some idea of what they, the audience […]
Article · December 13, 2013 by Roger Durbin
The Akron Civic Theatre, a Knight Arts grantee, is launching another new series – Blues @ the Civic – to go along with its jazz and other musical events. In cooperation with the Northeast Ohio Blues Association, the series will kick off when the association will host Colin John and The Juke Hounds (as the opening […]
Article · December 11, 2013 by Roger Durbin
The Akron Art Museum, a Knight Arts grantee, was utterly accurate when they sent out a notice that “Nolli’s Orders,” Diana Al-Hadid’s sculpture, “transforms” the museum’s contemporary collection gallery. It seems like almost an understatement as well, for the room-size installation piece is nearly overwhelming, along with being jaw-dropping for most of the visitors who saw it […]
Article · December 6, 2013 by Roger Durbin
Actor’s Summit’s “A Christmas Carol” (make that “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Presents…A Christmas Carol”) is as twisted, convulted and drolly amusing as its long title suggests. The five players that Actors’ Summit, a Knight Arts grantee, cast in the lighthearted farce are uniformly charming and strong in their roles. Here’s […]
Article · December 4, 2013 by Roger Durbin
If you like prints – and all the variations that come along with them – hit the Akron Art Museum, a Knight Arts grantee. Right now it has a large and inspired exhibit on display through March 16 called “Multiplicity: Contemporary Prints from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.” I have no idea how many prints […]
Article · December 2, 2013 by Roger Durbin
Want to slice and dice self-obsession and count the many ways it shows up in contemporary urban and suburban America? Take in Eric Bogosian’s one-man play, “Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead,” being shown as None Too Fragile’s latest dramatic production. Bogosian’s narrative plumbs the seedy and sordid thinking of several characters, all […]
Article · November 27, 2013 by Roger Durbin