Spotlight On

Together We Shine

TOGETHER WE SHINE WITH ... OUR VISIONARIES

Picture it. Playhouse Square. 1972. Our now fully restored historic theaters sit boarded up, abandoned. Plans are made to demolish them, making way for parking lots.

But fate has other plans.

While searching for a meeting space for teachers, a young Cleveland Board of Education employee stumbles across the dilapidated theaters and a dream begins to take shape: save the theaters and transform downtown Cleveland. He shares his dream with others and Marianne Miller, David Frazier, Lainie Hadden, Joe Garry, Ray Shepardson rallies them to the cause.

On May 25, 1972, a story about the looming demolition of the Mimi Ohio and KeyBank State Theatres lands on the front page of The Plain Dealer. Five days later, The Junior League of Cleveland pledges $25,000 to delay the wrecking ball, a contribution that is matched dollar for dollar by others.

A young lawyer convinces the City of Cleveland Fine Arts Council to temporarily halt the approved demolition, buying the fledgling group of visionaries just 30 days to come up with a plan for the theaters. He then negotiates a five-year lease on the Loew’s Building, saving the Mimi Ohio and KeyBank State Theatres.

In April 1973, the then Playhouse Square Association opens a cabaret show in the lobby of the KeyBank State Theatre, intending for the two-and-a-half-week run to prove that peo- Pudge Henkel, Lainie Hadden ple would come to downtown Cleveland for a performance.

That show — Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris — runs for two and a half years.

The dreams of our visionaries are becoming reality.

Playhouse Square is forever grateful to those pioneers: the first visionary Ray Shepardson; journalist William “Bill” Miller, who would document efforts to save and revitalize the theaters for 15 years; Elaine “Lainie” Hadden, then president of The Junior League who would go on to become president of Playhouse Square Association; lawyer Oliver “Pudge” Henkel, Jr., who would become the first chairman of the Playhouse Square Board of Trustees; and Jacques Brel director Joe Garry and his cast Cliff Bemis, David Frazier, Providence Hollander and Theresa Pitteo, along with many, many others who dedicated their time, talents and treasures to the saving of Playhouse Square.

Learn more about our history and hear from some of these visionaries and others by watching the “Staging Success” documentary, created for our 90th Anniversary, on our YouTube channel.

Donors

RICK & SHEILA CHIRICOSTA – LEADING THE WAY TO “ARTS FOR ALL”

Rick and Sheila Chiricosta are long-time supporters of Playhouse Square as annual donors and season ticket holders. Their commitment to envisioning a world where no one is left behind has left a great impact on Playhouse Square.

In honor of Rick’s retirement as Chairman, President and CEO of Medical Mutual, the company made a significant gift to support funding of accessibility services. This new grant, called the Rick & Sheila Chiricosta Arts for All Grant, will provide resources to make live theater more accessible to those with disabilities. One of the first improvements is including sign language interpreters for KeyBank Broadway Series and Huntington Featured Performances with plans to have seating options for ASL viewing accessibility on the second Saturday matinee of every Broadway show.

In parallel to Rick and Sheila’s vision, Playhouse Square strives to offer barrier-free access to performances and events. As a recipient of support from generous gifts such as the Rick & Sheila Chircosta Arts for All Grant, we continue to ensure the performing arts can be accessible to everyone.