Fall 2022 Bringing you behind-the-curtain news and showing you how your donation makes a difference at Playhouse playhousesquare.org/supportSquare!
It’s natural to associate fall with a new season of Broadway. But when I think of the sights and sounds of the season, perhaps no scene registers more delight than the yellow school buses lining Euclid Avenue. At Playhouse Square, fall begins a new school year of arts education and student matinees. Performing arts programs like Disney Musicals in Schools and the Dazzle Awards will prepare hundreds of students to take their place in the spotlight. Live shows will fill the Mimi Ohio Theatre with children eager to see their first in-person performance. Online programming and quality productions will provide tens of thousands of students virtual access to children’s shows from all around the world. Last year Playhouse Square served close to 120,000 students in 26 counties through live and virtual arts education initiatives. Since announcing the 202223 KeyBank Broadway Series, the number of season ticket holders has grown to more than 40,000! With Tony-award winning shows including Six the Musical, Hadestown and Moulin Rouge in the line-up, it’s no wonder there is such excitement for the season to come. Of course, kicking the season off with the national tour launch of Les Misérables only adds to the Thisanticipation!issueof Props! highlights some wonderful events that recently have taken place. Whether looking to the future or celebrating the past, Playhouse Square has you to thank for making possible all that we do. Cheers to a new season and I look forward to seeing you soon!
A MESSAGE FROM MICHELLE
Michelle Ryan Stewart Senior Vice President of Advancement
cheryl.helden@playhousesquare.org216-640-8406
jason.bogdany@playhousesquare.org216-640-8428
Victoria Gray Advancement Coordinator, Annual victoria.gray@playhousesquare.org216-640-8422Giving
Claudia Medlin Gift Processing & Data Entry Coordinator claudia.medlin@playhousesquare.org216-640-8409
Mary Winchester Assistant Director of Advancement mary.winchester@playhousesquare.org216-640-8412
Jason Brown Donor Relations Coordinator
Visit playhousesquare.org/100years for a special video message from Michelle for our 100th anniversary.
Anthony DiBacco Guest Services anthony.dibacco@playhousesquare.org216-640-8553Coordinator
Jason Bogdany Advancement Database Coordinator
Steven Deliman Donor Relations & Special Projects steven.deliman@playhousesquare.org216-640-8426Coordinator
jason.brown@playhousesquare.org216-640-8421
Meg Colwell Senior Manager Volunteers & Guest meg.colwell@playhousesquare.org216-640-8559Services
Meg Kearns Volunteer Administrative Support meg.kearns@playhousesquare.org216-640-8551Assistant
Cheryl Helden Foundations & Major Gifts Manager
Katie Lang Donor Communications & Education Fund katie.lang@playhousesquare.org216-640-8664Coordinator
Annie Singer Advancement annie.singer@playhousesquare.org216-640-8407Coordinator
Front Cover: Hamilton, Playhouse Square District, a RedCoat volunteer greets guests, students perform 101 Dalmations as part of Disney Musicals in Schools, Moulin Rouge, buses arrive for a field trip.
Leanne Dewyer Director of leanne.dewyer@playhousesquare.org216-640-8411Advancement
David Turner Advancement Ticketing Manager david.turner@playhousesquare.org216-640-8432
Beth Kauppila Donor Relations & Special Programs beth.kauppila@playhousesquare.org216-640-8422Coordinator
Karen Bridegum Donor Relations Coordinator karen.bridegum@playhousesquare.org216-640-8419
Michelle Ryan Stewart Senior Vice President of Advancement michelle.stewart@playhousesquare.org216-640-8410
Sarah Stengel Partners Advancement Manager sarah.stengel@playhousesquare.org216-640-8408
ADVANCEMENT AND GUEST SERVICES STAFF
Ed Broderick Senior Manager, Front of House edward.broderick@playhousesquare.org216-640-8535
16TH ANNUAL PLAYHOUSE SQUARE GOLF OUTING The 16th Annual Playhouse Square Golf Outing, presented by Penske Cleveland Automotive, was hosted June 6 at Westfield Country Club. There were 120 players in attendance and the event raised nearly $40,000 to support Playhouse Square’s education programs. H HOSTED BY H H PRESENTED BY H H COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR H H AT THE TURN SPONSOR H H CARTING AROUND SPONSOR H H HOLE SPONSORS H BakerHostetler Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP The Fedeli ParkerIntegrityHughie’sGroupParkingKeyBankHannifinCorpRoetzel&AndressRSMSchindlerElevatorAsof5/16/2022 THANK YOU TO SPONSORSOUR Union Home Mortgage Medical KeyBankMutual MAIWestfield
PLAYHOUSE SQUARE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS CHAIR Amy Brady PRESIDENT*& CEO Gina Vernaci* VICE ADVANCEMENTCHAIR, Rick Buoncore* VICE EDUCATIONCHAIR, Margaret M. Judd* VICE CHAIR, FINANCE Mark Ross* VICE GOVERNMENTCHAIR, AFFAIRS Paul J. Dolan* VICE NOMINATINGCHAIR, GOVERNANCE& Brent Ballard* VICE CHAIR, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Bill Cosgrove* VICE SALESCHAIR,&MARKETING Andrea Hogben* VICE STRATEGICCHAIR,PLANNING Jim Merlino SECRETARY/TREASURER* Heather Lennox* BOARD MEMBERS Terry JohnScottPaulLauraGinaStevenWarrenHimanshuThomasAdelmanW.Adler*AminAnderson*M.AuvilBeredoBloombergCarletonChaikin*G.Chapman, Sr.* James JeffreyDebraDeniseNeilFrancesDanielLeilaKurtK.K.KevinSaraDougDanielDavidWilliamLuciSeanJamesJamesJonHeathToddEdwardPatriceLouisMichaelJulieDavidA.J.JasonBobAmyLawrenceGrahamH.HatchC.HeldHelmerHillmanHylandJacobs*JaconoJeansG.Joseph(Patsy)KouvasJ.LargentLeombrunoMonesmithH.Outcalt*R.PenderA.Ratner*RichardsonScheyR.SeelbachB.SewellI.SimonSpikerEllenStashower*SteinSullivan*TreuL.VespoliP.Walsh,Jr.CudjoeWatersWeinbergerG.WellsA.WertJ.Wild NATIONAL TRUSTEE Thomas C. Stevens TRUSTEE FOR LIFE Oliver C. Henkel, Jr. William B. Lawrence Rena J. Olshansky Victor J. JamesLawrenceScaravilliJ.WilkerB.Wolf,Jr. CHAIRS EMERITUS (chronological order) Oliver C. Henkel, Jr. John F. Lewis † Julien L. McCall† Forrest D. Hayes† Glenn R. Brown† Jon H. Outcalt Henry F. Eaton† K.K. JamesDavidThomasThomasSullivanW.AdlerC.StevensS.GoodmanRatner PARTNERS CO-CHAIRS Ryan LindseyHermanJump EX-OFFICIO Armond D. Budish Cuyahoga County Executive *Executive Committee † Deceased As of August 22, 2022
2022-23 Partners Co-chairs Lindsey Jump & Ryan Herman2022-23 Partners Board TRUSTEESNEW Steven M. Auvil Managing Partner Cleveland Office Squire Patton Boggs Dr. Laura Bloomberg ClevelandPresident State University Robert C. Helmer BaldwinPresidentWallace University Patrice (Patsy) Kouvas Vice Chair AVI Foodsystems Todd M. Leombruno Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Parker Hannifin Corporation Frances Cudjoe Waters Community Volunteer Jason Hillman Basketball Chief of Staff/ Team ClevelandCounselCavaliers Julie Jacono Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy and Innovation MetroHealthOfficer Michael Jeans President & CEO Growth Opps
JUNE 4, 2022
SUPPORTING CAST Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP The Davey Tree Expert Company Deloitte • Hatzel & Buehler, Inc. and Bluestone Communications, Inc. Jones Day • Majestic Steel USA Medical Mutual • Ohio CAT Penske Cleveland Automotive Roetzel & Andress William M. Weiss Foundation CREW MEMBERS Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff First National Bank • J.W. Didado Electric McDonald Hopkins • Neil Weinberger nicholas guglielmo The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Safeguard Properties • Taft LEADPRODUCERDIRECTORACTORS SHOP NIGHT SPONSOR Pope’s Kitchen MARKETING SPONSOR PRINT & DESIGN SPONSORS Playhouse Square’s young professionals group, Partners, hosted the 30th Annual Jump Back Ball on June 4! The Penske Cleveland Red Carpet greeted guests as they entered the party. Inside the theaters, partygoers enjoyed endless cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres as they danced the night away to The Scenic Route, Apostle Jones, and NicNacc. The event raised a net income of $56,766! These funds will help support Playhouse Square’s education programs, including sensory-friendly performances, Family Theater Day, the Dazzle Awards, and Disney Musicals in BetweenSchools.the ages of 21-40? Get involved and learn more! Visit playhousesquare.org/partners or sarah.stengel@playhousesquare.org.email Partners is the official young professionals group of Playhouse Square. Their mission is to provide those in their 20s and 30s with unique social, leadership, and volunteer opportunities, all while supporting Playhouse Square.
DONOR CIRCLE SPOTLIGHT: THE VIGH FAMILY
DONOR CIRCLE
Every trip to Playhouse Square feels like a special event. There’s just no other place like it. If you are interested in learning more, visit playhousesquare.org/donorcircle.
Playhouse Square is one of the shining stars of the city. Playhouse Square brings so much joy and happiness to us and to so many others and truly separates Cleveland from so many other major cities.”
share stories of families who have passed on their love of Playhouse Square to the next generation. For the Vigh family, Playhouse Square has been a source of wonderful family fun over the last two decades.
Vigh TinselFamilyTown 2011 Jump Back Ball 2016 WeWickedloveto
“Playhouse Square has provided us so many memories over the years it’s hard to think of just one or two. Our three children have each grown up at Playhouse Square and it’s the only entertainment that excited them whether they were 2, 12 or now 21. From the first time they saw the chandelier falling during The Phantom of the Opera, the steam erupting from the dragon in Wicked, or they demanded the soundtrack after a show, Playhouse Square memories will never be forgotten. I’d also be hard pressed to not mention our first Jump Back Ball as another special memory that introduced us to a whole new perspective of the Youtheater.can see the excitement of the audience, the delight on the faces of the RedCoats and then the smiles from the cast members following a performance, knowing that Cleveland appreciates them like no other city does. After hundreds of performances watched, we all still get chills and escape through the magic of Playhouse Square’s theaters.
Playhouse Square brings people together. It’s an escape from the everyday and a chance to let go and immerse yourself into a new adventure. Playhouse Square brings downtown a buzz that can’t be repeated by any other venues. In addition to the world class shows, there’s so many other types of entertainment and programming that there’s truly something for everyone.
When we –Playhousecomesorganizationsupport,organizationsconsidertothere’snothattomindbeforeSquare.Tracy&NicoleVigh
If you are interested in learning more, visit playhousesquare.org/legacy.
For Truline Industries, Playhouse Square is Cleveland’s brightest spot – literally and figuratively! They love being a corporate donor so much, they couldn’t choose a favorite benefit between our donor concierge services, access to the RJF Presidents’ Club, first-floor parking, pre-sales and so many more. Ultimately, it simply brings them great joy to know that their annual contribution helps sustain Cleveland as a vibrant and thriving city.
CORPORATE SPOTLIGHT: TRULINE INDUSTRIES
LEGACY CIRCLE
Our support for Playhouse Square and the arts ensures that this landmark and all that it provides will continue for years to come. It is both a wonderful place to be entertained and to entertain. – Court Durkalski, CEO
Playhouse Square brings great joy to us. Early in their marriage, Donna and Bruce Jackson began coming to shows at Playhouse Square. Bruce had not been exposed much in the way of big musical productions, but he quickly became hooked. Attending performances at Playhouse Square became a family affair, as they started bringing their kids as soon as they were old enough. “The first time we took our young children to The Phantom of the Opera, Donna explained to them that the chandelier was going to fall onto the stage, and to not be scared. Our son was closely watching that chandelier until it finally fell!”
If you are interested in learning more, visit playhousesquare.org/corporatedonorcircle.
Truline Industries employees enjoy outings at Playhouse Square with their families
DONORCORPORATECIRCLE
Donna & Bruce Jackson
As long-time season ticket holders, annual donors, and Legacy Circle members, Donna and Bruce are great advocates and supporters of Playhouse Square. “We look back and realize what an important part of our lives these performances have been, and how much they contribute to the quality of life in the Cleveland area. Not only does Playhouse Square bring great joy to us and many other devoted theater goers, it is a destination for out of towners that would not otherwise have access to quality theater. The variety of entertainment that Playhouse Square brings to Cleveland is amazing and the theaters are beautiful! Joining others in supporting the organization that brings this to our city is very important to us.”
STREAMING PERFORMANCES: 4,724 CLASSROOMS 108,620 PARTICIPANTS 2021-2022 Education Impact 9,701 PERFORMANCES:IN-PERSONTICKETS 3,000+ FAMILY THEATER DAY: GUESTS 13 PROFESSIONAL MASTER CLASSES / PANEL DISCUSSIONS SERVING 164 STUDENTS 4 AUDITION WORKSHOPS SERVING 82 STUDENTS 195 STUDENT DAZZLE PERFORMERSAWARD 1,718 STUDENTS FROM 29 PARTICIPATEDSCHOOLS 20+ VIDEOS PRODUCEDDISNEY MUSICAL IN SCHOOLS 4 FIRSTSCHOOLSYEAR 130 FOR A TOTAL OF STUDENT PARTICIPANTS 17 ALUMNIENGAGEDSCHOOLS YOUR SUPPORT MAKES THIS POSSIBLE! 26 COUNTIESSERVED
Sensory-FriendlySeptemberPerformance3
Supported by Denise G. and Norman E. Wells, Jr., Playhouse Square is proud to present a sensory- friendly performance of Disney’s FROZEN. This performance is intended for individuals with sensory sensitivities, autism spectrum disorders and other sensory, social and cognitive challenges or issues. We welcome family and friends to experience the show together.
Dance Showcase
Partners YP SeptemberCelebration1
Presented by Sheldon & Terry Adelman
Honoring Christopher M. Connor with the 2022 Playhouse Square Falco Award. *Founder Levels DonorCircle
EVENTS
New Donor Circle members are invited to take a VIP look behind the scenes of Playhouse Square and have an opportunity to meet your Donor Relations Representatives.
Enjoy an evening of dance with some of Northeast Ohio’s finest dancers with a special guest appearance from Riverdance! This year’s Showcase will include a wide range of dance styles ballet to hip hop to classical Indian dance. Featured companies include: ABREPASO Flamenco, ELEVATED, GroundWorks DanceTheater, Inlet Dance Theatre, Shri Kalaa Mandir and Verb Ballets.
Enjoy a night out at the theater with fellow Partners members! Meet at the Hofbrauhaus for pre-show dinner and drinks then head over to the Mimi Ohio Theatre for the one-night performance of The Dysfunctional Family, a Ronnie Holman stage play.
Those in their 20s and 30s are invited to this free event to network, socialize and discover how they can actively get involved in Playhouse Square’s young professionals group.
September 16
President’sNovemberDinner*21
Partners Night at the Theater
New Donor Circle Theater Tour
September 26 and October 3
September 17
