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The powerful season of shows coming up at The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall for 2021-22 represents a signal that despite everything, the lights are back on! There are few moments in life we can count as truly extraordinary; having the privilege to welcome you back to the Hall might be one of the best. It has been over a year since our last performance. The outpouring of support is deeply appreciated, and we are equally grateful for the understanding and patience of our patrons.
2021-2022 Season
Dear Patron
Like you and the rest of our community, we are faced with a very challenging environment. Our heart goes out to everyone affected directly and indirectly by this pandemic.
The successes and value added, including a strong continuing vision for E.J. Thomas Hall’s future, are the result of a true collaboration from our community partners including The Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical Association, and Dance Cleveland.
Margo E. Ohlson Director of Theatre Operations
About the Hall E. J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, built by The University of Akron (UA) and a group of dedicated community leaders, opened in October 1973 to rave reviews. Occupying three acres on the western edge of the UA campus adjacent to downtown, this $13.9 million facility is owned and operated by UA for use by students and faculty of UA and by community and civic organizations active in the performing arts.
This three-level auditorium has a seating capacity of 2,955. One of the focal points of the building is the movable 44-ton ceiling which can close off either the Flying Balcony or both the Flying Balcony and Grand Tier creating a one, two or three level auditorium. Located in Goodrich Lobby and weighing in excess of 40 tons are the 27 chrome Witzman Counterweights which balance the ceiling in the house and are computer controlled. The configuration of the counterweights determines the position of the ceiling in the house. The entire transformation takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
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The Hall also serves as home to The Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical Association, Children’s Concert Society and Akron Youth Symphony.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
My heartfelt thanks to all of you who have stuck by us through this challenging journey. I know it’s not over yet, but “One step at a time, one hope then another.” — Anastasia, The New Broadway Musical
EJ THOMAS HALL
The staff and I sincerely miss the “old normal” when arts lovers from around the region and beyond can share experiences, live and in-person. We have been hard at work making sure we will be here to provide art and cultural experiences for the University community as we have for the last 47 years. While the Hall has been closed to the public, our staff has cleaned up and reorganized our lobbies, rearranged some of our spaces, and learned some new skills which will enable us to serve you better and safer.
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2021-2022 Season
EJ THOMAS HALL
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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Phone Numbers you should know: Ticket Office..........................330-253-2488 Information Counter..........330-972-6828 General Information...........330-972-7595 Website............................ejthomashall.com
Ticket Office
Guest Services
Advance tickets are available at the E.J. Thomas Hall Ticket Office Monday through Friday 10 am-4 pm. On days of shows, the Box Office is open two hours prior to show times and is located in the parking deck.
Assistive Listening System The Williams Personal Assisted Sound System is available at the McCormick Information Counter for all performances. This is a special receiver with headphones or loop to enable a listener to hear the spoken word more clearly.
Tickets may also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster Charge-by-Phone at 1-800-745-3000, or at Ticketmaster outlets. There is a per ticket service charge and handling fee for all Ticketmaster purchases. Discounts are not available. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the Hall. Refunds – Please check your tickets carefully, as all sales are final. Exchanges are not permitted. Refunds are given if an event is canceled and are refunded to the original purchaser at the point of purchase. Beware of Ticket Scalpers E.J. Thomas Hall is not responsible for tickets purchased through unauthorized third parties. Tickets to E.J. Thomas Hall events may not be resold at a premium. Tickets ordered within nine (9) days of the performance will be held at Will Call. A photo ID is required to pick up Will Call tickets. Gift Certificates are available and are valid for up to one year from the date of purchase. Cancellations, postponed events, or inclement weather – On rare occasions severe weather may cause E.J. Thomas Hall to cancel or postpone an event. Event cancellation information is available by calling The University of Akron emergency information number at 330-972-SNOW (7669.) You may also visit our website, Facebook page, or Twitter for the most upto-date information.
Accessible Seating E.J. Thomas Hall has seating for patrons in wheelchairs and special needs at Entry 10 in the Orchestra and Entry 14 on the Grand Tier level. Patrons needing assistance to their seat may stop at the Information Counter in McCormick Lobby. An usher will assist you with wheelchair transportation to your seating area. Requests should be made when ordering tickets by calling the Ticket Office at 330-253-2488. Handicap Parking There are a limited number of handicap parking spaces available in the E.J. Thomas Hall parking deck. Additional spaces are located in Lots 26 and 27, directly across from the Hill Street entrance. Show a valid H/C permit and traffic police will direct you to the nearest spot. There is a $5 charge for all parking. Accessible Restrooms Accessible restrooms are located at the bottom of both ramps on either side of the building. Family Events Some events at E.J. Thomas Hall are specifically designed for children and families, and we encourage you to enjoy these events. For performances not suitable for young children, parents are asked to use discretion. continued on page 6
That’s what a donor can do. More steps. More joy. More birthdays. Your gift of
2021-2022 Season
More moments like this. 100% kid-dedicated care provides the therapies, treatments and breakthroughs that make more childhood possible.
Give today at akronchildrens.org/donate.
More childhood, please.
®
EJ THOMAS HALL
Make a moment like this possible.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON uaevents.com 5
uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2021-2022 Season 6
Seating Latecomers Please note the curtain time printed on your tickets as performances begin promptly. Latecomers will be seated at a suitable pause in the program. This includes patrons who leave the auditorium before or during a selection.
n Read the program notes.
Intermission Intermissions are 20 minutes in length. Lobby lights will flash as your signal to return to your seat for the start of the performance.
Theater Policies n Cameras or any other recording devices are not permitted – this includes cell phones. Please silence all electronic devices as a courtesy to both other audience members and the performers.
Subscriber Lounge As a season subscriber to the Broadway in Akron performances, you not only “lock in” your seats from season-to-season, but you also enjoy live music, snacks and a private bar in Goodrich Lobby before performances and during intermission. Season subscribers also receive complimentary parking for performances, get priority offers to special events and have a personal Ticket Office contact for ticket exchange and replacement services.
n When in doubt, ask the ushers. They are here to help. Following these general rules of the theater will ensure that everyone can enjoy the show.
n Patrons on emergency call status should leave their name and seat location at the Information Desk so that we may reach you during a pause in the performance. n Smoke Free/Tobacco Free – E.J. Thomas Hall is a smoke and tobacco free building. This includes e-cigarettes. n Unless instructed to do so by the performers, do not talk, hum, sing along or beat time.
For a Wonderful Evening … Live performance is truly magical; art created from the energy flowing between people on both sides of the curtain. When you attend a show, you are part of the experience. There is no rewind or instant replay at a live event.
n Aisles must be kept free of any obstructions for safety.
In general: n Leave home early enough to find parking and locate your seats before the performance begins. Remember to allow time for poor weather conditions, heavy traffic, road construction and parking congestion, especially on school nights.
n In the event of an emergency, ushers and other members of the staff will advise audience members as to the appropriate procedures to exit the theater as quickly and safely as possible. Patrons needing special assistance should contact the ushers.
n Safety First – Listen to the pre-show announcements and note the emergency exit routes.
E.J. THOMAS ONLINE ejthomashall.com facebook.com/EJThomasHall twitter.com/EJThomasHall instagram.com/e.j.thomashall
n For your enjoyment, food and beverages purchased at E.J. Thomas Hall are permitted inside the theatre for select shows.
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2021-2022 Season
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EJ THOMAS HALL
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THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON uaevents.com 7
uaevents.com THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON EJ THOMAS HALL 2021-2022 Season 8
2021-2022 E.J. THOMAS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 2021 Sat 25 DANCEcleveland: Monica Bill Barnes and Company The Running Show 7:30pm OCTOBER 2021 Thu 7 Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience 7:30pm Fri 8-Sat 9 W aitress Broadway in Akron Series 7:30pm Tue 19 Tuesday Music Association Voces8 7:00pm Fri 22 The Rocky Horror Picture Show 45th Anniversary Spectacular 8:00pm Wed 27 Collage 2021 7:30pm NOVEMBER 2021 Sun 7 School of Music NEO Regional Honors Orchestra Sat 13 Akron Symphony Orchestra: BEETHOVEN, PRICE, ELLINGTON 8:00pm Tue 16 Tuesday Musical Association: Naughton Piano Duo 7:30pm Tue 30 Anastasia Broadway in Akron Series 7:30pm
Sun 30 The Greatest Love of All, Tribute to Whitney Houston FEBRUARY 2022 Sat 5 Chubby Checker Tue 8 Tuesday Musical Association: Joshua Bell & Soprano Larisa Martinez Sat 12 Akron Symphony Orchestra Meets Gospel Wed 16 Golden Girls Live! Thu 17 UA Vocal Choral Festival Fri 18-Sun 20 B eyond the Stars Dance Competition Tue 22 Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly – The Rock ‘N’ Roll Hologram Dream Sat 26 Verb Ballets Sun 27 George Michael Life Tribute MARCH 2022 Tue 1 Tuesday Musical Harlem Quartet with pianist Aldo Lopez-Gavilan Sat 5 Akron Symphony Orchestra: EARTHQUAKER SYMPHONY 8:00pm Fri 11-Sun 13 B eyond the Stars Dance Competition Wed 16-Thu 17 School of Music Jazzfest Fri 18 Kulas Concert Series vocalist Diane Schuur 7:30pm
DECEMBER 2021 Wed 1 Anastasia Broadway in Akron Series 7:30pm Fri 3-Sun 5 4 1st Christmas Arts & Crafts Show at E.J. Thomas Hall Tue 7 Tuesday Musical Association: The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Band 7:30pm Wed 8 Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith Tue 14 Cirque Dreams Holidaze 7:30pm Fri 17 The Akron Nutcracker 7:30pm Sat 18 TubaChristmas 12:00pm Sun 19 Mannheim Steamroller 35th Anniversary Tour by Chip Davis 7:00pm Mon 20 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party 7:30pm Wed 22 A Carpenter’s Christmas with Helen Welch 7:30pm
APRIL 2022 Sat 2 Akron Symphony Orchestra: SYMPHONIC DANCES 8:00pm Wed 6 The Electric Light Orchestra Experience Sat 9 The McCartney Project Sun 10 UA Songfest Tue 12-Wed 13 H airspray Broadway in Akron Series 7:30pm Sat 16 School of Music Steel Drum Band Fri 22 Colin Improv Wed 27 Motown with a Twist Thu 28 Madagascar LIVE! Sat 30 Akron Symphony Orchestra: THE CREATION 8:00 pm
JANUARY 2022 Sat 15 Akron Symphony Orchestra: BAROQUE VIRTUOSOS 8:00pm Wed 19 RHPB presents Sailesh Thu 20 Piano Men Sat 29 Vagina Monologues
MAY 2022 Wed 4 Tuesday Musical Association: Du Deco Ensemble Tue 10-Wed 11 C harlie and the Chocolate Factory: A New Musical Broadway in Akron Series
EJ THOMAS HALL
Born in 1899, the son of an East Akron postman, “Eddie” Thomas started with The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1926 as a stenographer and worked his way up to President at age 41 (1940), Chief Executive Officer (1956) and Chairman of the Board (1958). Upon his retirement in 1964, at a time where most people would have put their feet up and relaxed, Thomas, who had been a Director of The University of Akron since 1952, turned his energies toward the future of Akron itself. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Area Progress Board, he helped raise large sums of money to pump life into “the old hometown.” Projects focused on downtown redevelopment became a reality and his dedication to the United Fund and other local charities helped untold numbers of Akron residents. Even today, The E. J. Thomas Foundation continues to support many local charities and benefits the community. So persuasive were his powers and his personality that in 1967 Goodyear made a pacesetting gift of $1.25 million, the largest ever given to the University at the time, to name the performing arts hall on its campus in his honor.
2021-2022 Season
Edwin J. “Eddie” Thomas, 1899-1986
A Thank You…
Founded by brothers Jack and Jim Knight, newsmen who owned the Akron Beacon Journal, Knight Foundation fosters more informed and engaged communities. The foundation’s arts program works to make art general in Knight communities, so that a range of programming is seen and felt across the city. Knight invests in some of the city’s anchor arts institutions, helping them better engage the public, and in smaller initiatives through the Knight Arts Challenge, which funds the best ideas for the arts. Over the past several years, the arts program has invested millions in the Akron arts, including funding for a new national choreography center at The University of Akron and support for grassroots efforts through the challenge.
Learn more about the foundation at knightfoundation.org.
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The University of Akron and E.J. Thomas Hall would like to thank John Palfrey, chairman of the foundation’s board, and Alberto Ibargüen, president, for their continued support of E.J. Thomas Hall. The University also wishes to recognize the leadership of Hodding Carter, III, former president, CEO and trustee and his predecessors Creed Black, C. Colmery Gibson and Ben Maidenburg. Special recognition is also extended to Dr. W. Gerald Austen, University of Akron Honorary alumnus, as former chairman and trustee of Knight Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Special appreciation is extended to the John S. Knight and James L. Knight Foundation for the generous support of E.J. Thomas Hall. Knight Foundation has funded E.J. Thomas Hall to enhance programming, established the John S. Knight Lectureship at The University of Akron and continues to fund contemporary performers at E.J. Thomas Hall.
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FLYING BALCONY CLUB MEMBERSHIP E.J. Thomas Hall is a treasure—for arts, for culture, for The University of Akron, and for the region! Located on the top floor of the Hall, the Flying Balcony Club is a members-only area that features a full-service bar and hors d’oeuvres on selected evenings. Memberships include such perks as:
EJ THOMAS HALL
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
n Reserved or complimentary parking n Food and beverage vouchers n Access to special club members services n Program recognition—and much more! Membership in the Flying Balcony Club also does something else: It provides E.J. Thomas Hall with a vital source of funding. Membership proceeds are used to make improvements at the Hall that otherwise would not be possible. If you would like to become a member of the Flying Balcony Club, contact Christin Shannon at 330-972-2440 or cnw27@uakron.edu.
BRAVO! ($1,500+) Miklos & Lorita Gaspar David Harris Michael Kaludy Thomas Luck Julia Myers Randy & Mary Jo Worthington STANDING OVATION ($750+) Mark & Sandra Auburn Barbara Crucs Eric Jones Sherryl & Steve Owen Linda & Wes Vanfossen Tom & Shirley Waltermire
2021-2022 Season
Advertise in E.J. Thomas Hall Programs
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Contact Ruth Krise 330.714.2704 rkrise@livepub.com
RAVE REVIEW ($500+) Marcia Adair Laura Ball Patricia Brown Kevin & Leslie Christensen Thane & Faith Cook Tom Dudek Duwayne & Dorothy Hansen Jay Hershey James & Lindsey Hindel Michael & Virginia Hoffman Marc & Sharon Merklin Roger Read & Sally Miller Tom & Connie Repko Thomas & Diane Vukovich William & Lesley Waldman Chuck & Sue Walker
Volunteer at E.J. Thomas Hall – Make Friends, Make Memories, Make a Difference
Margo Ohlson Director of Theatre Operations mohlson@uakron.edu
Would you like to join our volunteer usher program? Our volunteer ushers greet patrons at the door or assist them to their seat while helping to enhance the theatre experience. Ushers generously give their time and talents to support and inspire performing arts at E.J. Thomas Hall. Duties include reading tickets, scanning tickets, and directing patrons to their seats.
Dominic Cardarelli Senior Accounts Coordinator dc21@uakron.edu Christin Shannon Front of House/Patron Services cnw27@uakron.edu
Joe Shannon Production Manager jshannon@uakron.edu
As a team member, you see a variety of programs while assisting the public. If you love to share your passion for the arts, we would love to have you on our team! For more information on our volunteer usher program, call 330-972-2440 or volunteers@ejthomashall.com “Volunteer ushering at E.J. Thomas Hall rewards me with one interesting experience after another!”—Carol, volunteer usher.
Start Giving Today VISIT AKRONCF.ORG/DAF
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DON’T JUST MAKE DONATIONS—MAKE A DIFFERENCE Give to your own donor-advised fund and provide grants to the causes you’re passionate about. Grow your charitable impact today—and forever.
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
Money DOES Grow on Trees
EJ THOMAS HALL
Keli Schimelpfenig Marketing Manager keli@uakron.edu
2021-2022 Season
E.J. THOMAS HALL STAFF
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