ARTS
SUPPORTING THEATER AND THE ARTS, VIRTUALLY
WRITTEN BY
Lynn Nichols ILLUSTRATED BY
Emma Splete
Upcoming online events hosted by theaters and stage companies
C
leveland is home to a rich culture and
to wider audiences and more accessible to disabled patrons, whose accommodations in a physical venue are often limited. Below are seven virtual programs to enjoy this spring, from organizations in Cleveland and across the country.
a vibrant live theater scene. The city is well-known for the companies and tours hosted by Playhouse Square, the second-largest theater complex in the
country (second only to Lincoln Center on Broadway). But as professionals, students and theatergoers are painfully aware, the ongoing pandemic has placed live theater on pause. Before March 2020, patrons in Playhouse Square’s intimate Hanna Theatre nearly always found themselves elbow-to-elbow with a stranger, while performances at the historic Connor Palace would easily sell out all 2,800 seats. With safety in mind, Playhouse Square venues remain dark today. In-person performances with social distancing and mask precautions are scheduled starting in June, with plans for the return of the Broadway series in fall 2021. We can look forward to the return of the atmosphere and experience that only comes from live performances, and do our part to make that return as soon as possible by practicing social distancing and wearing masks. But even as most curtains remain down, the show must go on through virtual productions which audiences can attend from home. Not only does this make it possible for us to appreciate something close to live theater, but the shift to online programming makes theater more affordable
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AREA EVENTS “BARS,” Playhouse Square and Baldwin Wallace University (April 9–11) The 14th annual collaboration between Playhouse Square and the Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre program will be “BARS” — which stands for Beatboxing, Acting, Rapping, Singing. Student performers will improvise comedy and musical acts which blend classic and modern styles, creating a unique virtual experience for audiences every night of the show. Tickets start at $20 for performances Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 5 and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m. For further details and to purchase tickets, visit the Playhouse Square website at playhousesquare. org/events/detail/bars. “National Geographic Live: Women and Migration,” Playhouse Square (April 13) As part of the Nat Geo Live series of documentary and speaking events, “Women and Migration” will showcase content and conversations exploring the gendered experience of migration. The program will feature discussion by photographers Danielle Villasana, Miora Rajaonary and Saiyna Bashir, as well as photo editor Jennifer Samuel, who have all worked
